John Mark Comer

Monday Mentions 3.6.23

Hi friends,

This week’s Monday Mentions contains several books I’ve recently read or intend to read soon.

What are you reading?

Bobby

Live No Lies by John Mark Comer

I am re-reading John Mark’s latest book for a group I am part of. John Mark does such a great job of outlining the battle we are in. If you’re not familiar with the battle, I highly encourage you to check out this book.

From Amazon

We are at war. Not with a foreign government or domestic terrorists or a creepy new artificial intelligence hell-bent on taking over the world. No, it’s a war we feel deep inside our own chests: we are at war with lies.

The problem isn’t so much that we tell lies but that we livethem. We let them into our bodies, and they sabotage our peace. All around us in the culture and deep within our own body memories are lies: deceptive ideas that wreak havoc on our emotional health and spiritual well-being, and deceptive ideas about who God is, who we are, and what the good life truly is.

The choice is not whether to fight or not fight, but whether we win or surrender.

Ancient apprentices of Jesus developed a paradigm for this war; they spoke of the three enemies of the soul: the devil, the flesh, and the world. Live No Lies taps into this ancient wisdom from saints of the Way and translates the three enemies for the modern era, with all its secularism and sophistication. As a generation, we chuckle at the devil as a premodern myth, we are confused by Scripture’s teaching on the flesh in an age where sensual indulgence is a virtue not a vice, and we have little to no category for the New Testament concept of the world.

In this provocative and practical book, bestselling author John Mark Comer combines cultural analysis with spiritual formation. He identifies the role lies play in our spiritual deformation and lays out a strategic plan to overcome them.

Do you feel the tug-of-war in your own heart, the inner conflict between truth and lies? The spirit and the flesh? The Way of Jesus and the world? It’s time to start winning. It’s time to live no lies…

A Cool YouTube Stream – Nambia Waterhole

Take a look at this live feed from a waterhole in the heart of Namibia. I find it very relaxing to watch.

A Cool YouTube Stream – Bald Eagle Nest

Take a look at this live feed from a bald eagle nest in Big Bear Valley.

Monday Mentions 1.30.22

A Book I Just Started – Garden City

From Amazon:

A purposeful guide for twenty- and thirty-somethings to understand and embrace their calling as well as immediate next steps for their lives.

You’ve heard people say, “Who you are matters more than what you do.” But does the Bible really teach that?

In Garden City, popular pastor and speaker John Mark Comer gives a surprisingly counter-cultural take on the typical “spiritual” answer of the church. Comer explores Scripture to discover God’s original intent for how we are meant to spend our time, reshaping how you view and do your work, rest, and life.

Here, you’ll find answers to questions like:

Does God care where I work?
Does he have a clear direction for me?
What about what I do with my free time or how much rest I get?

In these pages, you’ll learn that it’s ultimately about the reality that what we do matters, just as much as who we are.

A Great Supplement to Boost Your Immunity – Zinc + Vitamin C + Vitamin D

This one supplement includes 3 of the most recommended supplements for boosting your immunity. While I’m no doctor, I do know most of us could use a little immunity help.

A Great Set of Markers – Pentel Color Pen, Set of 36

I use these markers for highlighting and writing in my Bible. They, of course, work with all sorts of books. I have a basic system for what each color means. I like these since they are thin and neat.

A Quote from I’m Thinking About

Our job is to make the invisible God visible — to mirror and mimic what he is like to the world. We can glorify God by doing our work in such a way that we make the invisible God visible by what we do and how we do it.” — John Mark Comer

Monday Mentions 10.25.21

A Fun Outing – The Buford Corn Maze

My wife LOVES all things fall: apple cider, fire pits, s’mores, sweaters and yes, corn mazes & hay rides!

We have made an annual tradition of going to the Buford Corn Maze with great friends. It is always a lot of fun. If you’re in the area, I’d recommend checking it out. If you’re not, find something like it and have some fun with your friends.

A Great Mexican Resturant – La Cazuela

La Cazuela has locations in Buford and Lawrenceville. They have a great menu and a friendly team. Laura really likes their ceviche. I like just about anything! My friend Nate recommends trying their alambre: Chunks of marinated and charbroiled fajita steak or chicken, along with bacon, peppers and onions. Presented sizzling on your table. Side of charro beans, rice, lettuce, guacamole, tomatoes and sour cream. I will be trying this next!

A Great Sermon – The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

John Mark Comer has a great book and a sermon by the same title. The thoughts in this message are really impactful. If you are able to watch it, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

A Quote from I’m Thinking About

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness. We pardon to the extent that we love. Love is knowing that even when you are alone, you will never be lonely again, and great happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. Loved for ourselves, and even loved in spite of ourselves.” — Victor Hugo

Monday Mentions 4.12.21

A Book I’m Reading – The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

John Mark Comer wrote an incredible book that provides a path toward emotional and spiritual health. I previously recommended the podcast built around the same concepts last year. If you didn’t check out the book then, I’d highly recommend checking it out now.

From Amazon:

“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.

A Fascinating Conversation About What Happens in our Brains When We Engage in Spiritual Practices

Pastor Chuck Allen and Julie Homrich, LPC sat down Sunday to talk about the integration of faith and counseling. In particular, they talked about what’s happening in our brains when we engage in spiritual practices. They introduced me to a new concept – Neurotheology.

A Mindfulness App Built on Scripture – Soulspace

Chuck Allen introduced this app to me a few days ago. It is a meditation app that is built on scripture. If you use the link above, you’ll receive a free month of their premium offering.

I have made it a habit to spend about 10 minutes a day in mindfulness at least 5 days a week. These relatively few minutes have a fantastic return on investment: lower stress, clearer thinking, & better sleep to name a few.

A Quote from I’m Thinking About

Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life.” – Dallas Willard

A Quote from I’m Thinking About

Let’s change the world together!