The Deep Dive...
Go beyond Sunday mornings with these great book suggestions from Pastor Chuck!
HABITS OF PURPOSE FOR AN AGE OF DISTRACTION
by Justin Whitmel Earley
Habits form us more than we form them. The modern world is a machine of 1,000 invisible habits, forming us into anxious, busy, and depressed people. We yearn for the freedom and peace of the gospel but remain addicted to our technology, shackled by our screens, and exhausted by our routines. But because our habits are the water we swim in, they are almost invisible to us. What can we do about it?
THE URGENCY OF SLOWING DOWN
BIBLICAL WISDOM FOR EVERYDAY RENEWAL
If Jesus took time away from the demands of life for stillness, rest, and prayer, shouldn’t His followers do the same? Laura Smith invites you to pause, exhale, and explore what the Bible says about slowing down. With scriptural insights and relatable personal stories, Laura offers practical habits for resisting the hectic and holding on to the slow. Packed with different ways Christians over the centuries have tapped into the abundant life of Jesus, 24 short chapters lay out spiritual and physical practices such as prayer, Sabbath, saying no, gratitude, decluttering, celebration, and worship.
A (MERCIFULLY) SHORT BOOK ABOUT A (REALLY) BIG PROBLEM
by Kevin DeYoung
“I’m too busy!” We’ve all heard it. We’ve all said it. All too often, busyness gets the best of us.
Just one look at our jam-packed schedules tells us how hard it can be to strike a well-reasoned balance between doing nothing and doing it all. That’s why award-winning author and pastor Kevin DeYoung addresses the busyness problem head on in his newest book, Crazy Busy — and not with the typical arsenal of time management tips, but rather with the biblical tools we need to get to the source of the issue and pull the problem out by the roots.
THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
by John Mark Comer
“Who am I becoming?” That was the question nagging pastor and author John Mark Comer. Outwardly, he appeared successful. But inwardly, things weren’t pretty. So he turned to a trusted mentor for guidance and heard these words: “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life.” It wasn’t the response he expected, but it was—and continues to be—the answer he needs. Too often we treat the symptoms of toxicity in our modern world instead of trying to pinpoint the cause. A growing number of voices are pointing at hurry, or busyness, as a root of much evil. Within the pages of this book, you’ll find a fascinating roadmap to staying emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.
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WHEN I RELAX I FEEL GUILTY
by Tim Hansel
In our no-fun, all-work, too-intensive world of demands and deadlines, Tim Hansel's When I Relax I Feel Guilty is required reading. To all who find themselves caught in a hurry-worry sin-drome. This book is recommended by Chuck Swindoll; he suggests that you take your time and read it slowly, to tell yourself the truth. Allow the words in this book to break the spell of monotonous and mediocre existence.
Who knows? You may get so relaxed you'll have to cancel your plans for a nervous breakdown!