BOBBY MCGRAW

speaker + instigator of hope

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Monday Mentions 4.19.21

A Book I’m Re-Reading – The Story of Christianity vol. 1

I initially read this book while I was in seminary. To honest, I never was a great history student. But the older I get, the hungrier I am to learn from our past. I’ve found this book to be a really helpful text is understanding the larger story of Christianity. 

From Amazon:

In this fully revised and updated edition, the lauded church historian Justo González tells the story of Christianity from its fragile infancy to its pervasive dominance at the dawn of the Protestant Reformation. The Story of Christianity, volume 1, relates the dramatic events, the colorful characters, and the revolutionary ideas that shaped the first fifteen centuries of the church’s life and thought.

From Jesus’s faithful apostles to the early reformist John Wycliffe, González skillfully weaves details from the lives of prominent figures tracing core theological issues and developments within the various traditions of the church. The Story of Christianity demonstrates at each point what new challenges and opportunities faced the church and how Christians struggled with the various options open to them, thereby shaping the future direction of the church.

This new edition of The Story of Christianity incorporates recent archaeological discoveries to give us a better view of the early Christian communities. Among these are advances in the recovery of Gnostic texts that have revealed a richer diversity of “Christianities” in the first century. González also includes important research done in the past twenty-five years revealing the significant role of women throughout the history of the church.

With lively storytelling incorporating the latest research, The Story of Christianity provides a fascinating introduction to the panoramic history of Christianity.

My Recent Message on Abiding – Restless

Jesus repeated a phrase over and over again in the gospels: Follow Me. But when Jesus addressed his closest followers before his death, he didn’t tell them to follow him. He told them to remain in him.

I’d love for you to watch this message. In it, I cover why remaining is important and then close with two practical ways to live it out. I hope you find it helpful.

A Pillow I Can’t Wait To Try – Proper Pillow

As a side sleeper, I am on the hunt for a great pillow. I’ve tried a lot of them! Pastor Mau recently gave away a Proper Pillow as a door prize. I immediately looked it up and ordered one. It will arrive in a few days.

From Amazon:

  • The Proper Pillow is a revolutionary, new, sleeping pillow designed for your comfort and health
  • It provides proper support to the head and neck for both side and back sleeping positions
  • The Proper Pillow has two components: The plush, quilted outer pillow for a luxurious look and feel
  • The second component is the inner design, with a low density & viscoelastic memory foam insert
  • It provides support for both back and side sleeping via the patent pending inner “orthotic.”

A Quote from I’m Thinking About

You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.” – John C. Maxwell

    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

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