Pastor Writer: Conversations on Reading, Writing, and the Christian Life

Author Tommy Brown joins me to talk about his new book, The Speed of Soul: Four Rhythms for a Quiet Life. We explore what it means to love deeply, live quietly, mind our own affairs, and work with our hands. We all feel like the speed of life is accelerating, but how does the Bible call us to a different way of living? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Janet Kobobel Grant is the President and Founder of Books & Such Literary management. She is also an experienced writer and has experience within top publishing positions. Janet and I have had the privilege of working together on several publishing projects. She joins me on the podcast to talk about developing a great book proposal and why the hook is so important to publishers. She also shares details on a new writing initiative her agency is launching to help authors take the next step in their publishing career. You can learn more at booksandsuch.com/writing-intensive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the Graveyard of the Pacific to the paradise of the Polynesian Islands… This is the true story of a journey with real people, real places, and the adventures that inevitably follow. Katherine and Andrés leave lucrative jobs and a stable life to accomplish his dream of sailing the world. She worries what awaits them beyond the horizon: Failure? Pirates? Poverty? Will they make it to the South Pacific, and will they survive the voyage? (Better yet, will their marriage?) The epic expedition puts them face-to-face with waves that threaten to take their lives, whales that take their breath away, and strangers who show serendipitous hospitality. Katherine, a natural storyteller, invites you aboard to experience first-hand an immersive, multimedia journey that places you on deck as they cross the world’s largest ocean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

These days, brokenness feels more comfortable to discuss than holiness. It’s easier to say that we are messy than holy, that healing is a long way off. To say that we are holy seems like one step away from holier than thou, and no one ever wants to be that. Holiness Here offers practical and inspiring ways to transform your life by helping you see the holiness within your ordinary, everyday life. Holiness is a warm invitation to a new and better way to live a calling for our lives in Scripture a search that marks the life of a Christian (even when we don’t live fully into that reality) a most basic urge―to live and love differently that we did before―because what we believe changes the way we act As a fellow pilgrim on the journey, Karen Stiller weaves together captivating stories, theological insights, and spiritual reflections to help you discover holiness in the mundane moments of your life. With her engaging style and accessible voice, Karen invites you to embark on a journey of spiritual growth, discipleship, and wisdom. You will explore holiness from a fresh perspective, from the importance of community and the role of the church to ways to cultivate a deeper relationship with God and live out your faith. Karen also explores topics like the fruit of the Spirit, money and work, hospitality, and humility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Life in the Negative World: Learning how to live in today's new social and cultural environment will require examination, trial and error, and adaptation over time. But there are ways to live with integrity and follow Christ today, even in a negative world. From a peak in church attendance in the mid-20th century, Christianity has been on a trajectory of decline in the United States. Once positive toward Christianity and Christian moral teachings, cultural shifts toward the mid-90s led many to adopt a more neutral tone toward the Christian faith, seeing it as one option among many in a pluralistic public square. Today, however, Christianity is viewed negatively, and being known as a Christian often means a lower social status in elite society. Christian morality is openly repudiated and viewed as a threat to the new moral order. In Life in the Negative World, author Aaron M. Renn looks at the lessons from Christian cultural engagement over the past 70 years and suggests specific strategies for churches, institutions, and individuals to live faithfully in the "negative" world—a culture opposed to Christian values and teachings. And since there is no one-size-fits-all solution, living as a follower of Christ in the new, negative world and being missionally engaged will require a diversity of strategies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we close out the year and finish our Christmas shopping amidst a flurry of holiday parties, I took a moment to reflect on my reading over the past twelve months. Each year, I enjoy compiling a list of my reads, as it helps me appreciate the work and thoughts that have shaped my year. I reviewed the shelves in my office, scrolled through my Audible purchases, and checked my Amazon cart history. It’s fascinating how the books I’ve read encapsulate my growth and development over the year. This year was particularly focused on completing and releasing my second book, A Sharp Compassion. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has purchased the book since its release in September. If you’ve read it, I would love to hear your thoughts—perhaps you might consider leaving an Amazon review. Additionally, I completed my final year of the Doctor of Ministry program in the Art of Sacred Writing in 2024. This program involved extensive reading over the past three years, alongside my work on a novel. I’m still figuring out what that book will cover, so stay tuned for updates. Toward the end of this year, I’ve also been working on an exciting new YouTube project that I look forward to sharing with you soon. All this to say, it’s been a uniquely busy year. Despite the hustle and bustle, I’ve discovered some remarkable books that I want to share in my annual list of best reads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Judeo-Christian faith has long been formed by books and reading. From synagogue scrolls to circulating letters, believers have been nurtured, disciplined, and matured through ongoing conversations in the form of written words. We are people of The Book, and alongside it is an ever-growing shelf of more books. I am a reader, in large part, because I am a believer. From the literature of the Second Temple period to the writings of Lewis, Chesterton, and Peterson, books have had an incalculable influence on my life and faith. Our house shows it. We converted our formal dining room into a reading room lined with bookcases. There’s a built-in bookcase in our entryway filled with books. My home study is lined with books. And much to my wife’s annoyance, there’s usually a pile beneath my side of the bed. I’m not even counting the two-credit-a-month audible subscription I’ve kept for nearly a decade. We have a rule in my house—if my kids will read it—I’ll buy it. There’s no book budget. It’s always a yes to more books. (Thankfully our pace of reading has kept the budget in check.) For all the books we’ve purchased, my largest investment is not on my physical shelves. Since seminary, my largest book purchases have taken place through Logos Bible Software. Logos Bible Software for Families and Pastors My first copy of Logos came on a pack of CDs, and I just pulled up my order history to confirm that my first book purchased on Logos was in March 2010. I’ve been using Logos for almost 15 years, and I use it almost every day. Over the years, I have developed a strategy for book buying. If I want to read a book straight through, usually in our reading room or lying in bed, I usually purchase a physical copy. If I may need to reference the book in the future, I buy it in Logos. My Logos library currently contains more than 2,700 books. The key to understanding the value of Logos is recognizing it’s two things: a tool and a library. Of course, there is the benefit of having access to this library anywhere I take my phone or laptop, but these days, most books can easily be purchased in a digital format. The real value is that Logos offers a suite of tools to help you organize your study of the Bible and your growing Biblical library. It’s the tools and the books that make it powerful. For pastors, I’ll go so far as to say that I think Logos is indispensable. In its early days, Logos seemed mostly designed for clergy and academics. But over the last decade, Logos has made impressive strides to make its software a tool for pastors and any individual or family serious about the Bible. Recently, I’m not the only one using Logos. Each year, my son’s school hosts a history day. Each child is assigned a famous person from the past. My son was assigned the Apostle Peter (it’s a classical Christian school). One of the first things we did was open Logos’ factbook and search for facts about Peter. I was excited to give him not only an answer to his question but also to show him how anyone can study and learn more about scripture. I think every believer and family needs to think about the resources they turn to and the value of the tools needed for serious study. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Blackaby is a pastor and church planter in Victoria, BC, Canada. He earned a PhD in worldview and apologetics from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was formerly a pastor to young adults and current church planter. Daniel Blackaby earned a PhD in Christianity and the arts and a Masters in philosophy, apologetics, and worldview from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He runs The Collision, a multi-media ministry equipping Christians for cultural engagement. They join me to discuss their new book, Straight to the Heart: Communicating the Gospel in an Emotionally Driven Culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin Gravitt is a disciple making leader and writer. Justin has served with The Navigators since 2000 and is the founder and executive director of the Dayton Disciple Makers Network, as well as the host of the popular Practitioners’ Podcast. He’s an avid Reds fan, loves the beach, and Dad-joking his kids. He lives in Dayton, Ohio, with his wife, Kristen, and their four children.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I'm excited for today to be the official release of A Sharp Compassion. It's now available wherever books are sold. In our episode today, I'm reading from the final pages of the book and suggesting a couple of ways you can help with sharing the book. A big thanks to everyone who has already pre-ordered it. It means so much to me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the last few weeks, I've be releasing the first three chapters of A Sharp Compassion in audio form on the podcast. I hope its been a chance for you to learn more about the book and to better understand the significance of offense in the Bible. You can learn more about the book at asharpcompassion.com. It would mean a lot to me if you would pick up a copy of the book. Buy a copy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the next few weeks, I'll be releasing the first three chapters of A Sharp Compassion in audio form on the podcast. I hope its a chance for you to learn more about the book and to better understand the significance of offense in the Bible. You can learn more about the book at asharpcompassion.com. It would mean a lot to me if you would pick up a copy of the book. Buy a copy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the next few weeks, I'll be releasing the first three chapters of A Sharp Compassion in audio form on the podcast. I hope its a chance for you to learn more about the book and to better understand the significance of offense in the Bible. You can learn more about the book at asharpcompassion.com. It would mean a lot to me if you would pick up a copy of the book. Buy a copy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On September 10th, I’m releasing a new book entitled A Sharp Compassion: 7 Hard Words to Heal Our Insecurities and Free Us from Offense. I think it’s an important conversation for learning to recognize the insecurity within our culture and in our own lives. It would mean a lot to me if you would consider buying a copy and recommending it to friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Author of more than 200 books with sales of over 70 million copies, including the best-selling Left Behind series, Jerry Jenkins is the former vice president for publishing and former chairman of the board of trustees for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. Jerry's writing has appeared in Time, Reader's Digest, Parade, Guideposts, and dozens of Christian periodicals. Twenty-one of his books have reached The New York Times best-seller list (seven debuting number one). Jerry owns the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, through which he trains writers online at www.JerryJenkins.com. A few years ago, I came across his book Writing for the Soul. It is wise and helpful, full of craft, and particularly for Christian writers. I'm excited to bring you my conversation with Jerry on the life of the writer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jared  Wilson is an award-winning author of over 20 books and a popular speaker at churches and conferences around the world. A 30-year ministry veteran, he is especially known for his passionate gospel-centered teaching. Jared serves as Pastor for Preaching and the Director of the Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri and as an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Author in Residence at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Jared is a great writer, and it's been my honor to have him on the podcast before. Today, he joins me to talk about one of his new releases, The Storied Life: Christian Writing as Art and Worship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Karl produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive at KarlVaters.com. He's the author of five books on church leadership, including his newest, De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next. His other books include The Grasshopper Myth and Small Church Essentials. Karl also hosts a bi-weekly podcast, The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry, featuring in-depth interviews about topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context. Karl has served in small-church ministry for over 40 years, so he speaks and writes from decades of hands-on pastoral experience. He and his wife, Shelley have three children and two grandkids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patrick Schreiner is an associate professor of New Testament and Biblical theology at Midwestern baptist Theological Seminary. He is also an elder at Emmaus Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author numerous books, including Matthew, Discipels and Scribe; a commentary on Acts, The Ascension of Christ; and The Kigndom of God and the Glory of the Cross. Patrick joins me on today's episode to discuss his new book, The Transfiguration of Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Reading. We take a closer look at Jesus's transfiguration and why it matters for how we read the gospels and think about Christ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brian Croft is the former Senior Pastor of Au-burn-dale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky and is the Founder of Practical Shepherding. He is also Senior Fellow for the Mathena Center for Church Revitalization and an Adjunct Professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ronnie Martin is founder and lead pastor of Substance Church (EFCA) in Ashland, Ohio. Before pastoral ministry, Ronnie was an internationally known recording artist, producing and releasing over 15 albums for the Tooth and Nail Records label. In addition to pastoring Substance, Ronnie is also the Director of Leader Renewal for Harbor Network, a church planting collective based out of Louisville, Kentucky. He has authored 6 books, including The God Who Is With Us, and regularly speaks at conferences for pastors and church planters. Brian and Ronnie join me to discuss their new book on the unhurried pastor and how we can redefine productivity for a more sustainable ministry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ryan Rush, serves as pastor of Kingsland Baptist Church, in Katy, Texas. He has spent more than 20 years working in ministry, and during that time, he has been on a mission to connect church and home life, becoming a national voice for the “Faith at Home” movement. In over a decade serving as Adjunct Professor at Liberty University, he has taught more than 1,500 students the course he helped to design, “Theology of the Family.” Ryan currently teaches Doctoral students in the Marriage and Family program at Dallas Theological Seminary. Ryan is a graduate of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and holds a PhD in Christian leadership with a ministry concentration from the Cook School at Dallas Baptist University. He is the author of several books, Home on Time, Why Everybody’s Stuck, and his latest book, Restore the Table: Discovering the Powerful Connections of Meaningful Mealtimes. In today's conversation, we'll be exploring the place of tables in the ministry of Jesus and how meals are an important part of the Christian calling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices