A Year in Books: An Overview

It's the end of the year, and time to think about what I read over the past 12 months.

This year I was a little slower about reading books. The problem was, I discovered the world of fanfiction in the spring, and that sucked up a lot of book time over the summer. Some fanfic is really bad, but some is really, really good, and held my interest. Also, those stories tend to be shorter and easier to read. So I was read a lot, but not books, and generally nothing deep.

As a result, my total book count for this year sits at 80 books (if I finish that last one today, and that is my plan). It's split pretty much perfectly between fiction and nonfiction (which is also a change, since usually I read more nonfiction). The most interesting fact, for myself at least, is that nonfiction is pretty much a 3:1 ratio between biographies and everything else.

It was, then, a pretty light year for reading, both in terms of numbers and content. It was fun, but I think I missed out on a lot by not focusing my reading better. I find that when I'm reading deeper and focusing more on ideas and bigger thoughts, I feel better about things. I need to keep my brain going or I get sluggish and then it's easier and easier to be lazy about my reading and thinking.

The plan for 2020 is to get back on track with reading more deeply (although I'm not giving up fiction; I just want to knock it back down to no more than a third at most of my overall reading). One way is to pick up the Challies reading challenge again (found here). That way, I'll be deliberately seeking out different genres and authors. I also plan to go back to planning reading; generally, I go with "this week, I will read these chapters of these books" to keep on track. Having goals works.

Over the next couple days, I'll give you my annual lists of fiction and nonfiction.

A Hymn of Prayer

1 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me;
   For I am afflicted and needy.
2 Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man;
   O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
   For to You I cry all day long.
4 Make glad the soul of Your servant,
   For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
   And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
   And give heed to the voice of my supplications!
7 In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You,
   For You will answer me.
8 There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord,
   Nor are there any works like Yours.
9 All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord,
   And they shall glorify Your name.

10 For You are great and do wondrous deeds;
    You alone are God.

Psalm 86:1-10 (NASB)

A Hymn for Christmas

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Luke 2:8=20 (NASB)

Almost Christmas!

I mean, Christmas Eve is practically Christmas, and this afternoon I'm heading off to start the celebration of Christmas with friends, so I guess we could claim that it's Christmas. But if I did, then I wouldn't have an excuse to post this song, from one of my favourite versions of A Christmas Carol!

A Hymn for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7 (NASB)

Sermon Notes

I have been blessed with excellent pastors, and I really enjoy their preaching (even when it hits very close to home and even when it hurts). Over the past few months, there have been a few things that have really stood out in a "that's good and I need to think about that" way. I write these down separately, and now I'm sharing them with you:

Taking yourself out of fellowship is like being at sea with your sail down and waiting for the wind to fill your sail.

God may deliver us from within the trial long before He delivers us from the trial.

There are no inspired writers, just inspired writings.

Everyone is a theologian; the question is, are you a good theologian?

The Spirit bears His fruit in His people, of a lack of the fruit of the Spirit indicates a lack of the Spirit.

A Hymn for the Third Sunday of Advent

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:6-13 (NASB)

A Hymn for the Second Sunday of Advent

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:1-5 (NASB)

A Hymn For the First Sunday of Advent

1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.

2 The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
3 You shall multiply the nation,
You shall increase their gladness;
They will be glad in Your presence
As with the gladness of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,
The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,
And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:1-7 (NASB)