Wisdom That Transforms
A little over a week ago, Tim Keller died after a three year battle with pancreatic cancer.
He has been named the C.S. Lewis of this generation.
His wisdom transformed every part of my life and saved me from fear, doubt, insecurity, and hopelessness.
These are the 12 books of his that I have read, as well as 7 others that I am either currently reading or are in my ‘read next’ stack.
The most important conversation happening today is how we regard each other as human beings; the respect, honor, and love we are commanded, by our Creator, to have for one another. "We sneer at people more liberal than us as social justice warriors; we disdain those more conservative than us as hateful bigots.”
I admit that I’ve been incredibly self-focused in my marriage with Corey. Yes, I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for him, but I’ve often done so for my own peace of mind and benefit. I’ve read a lot of books about relationships and marriage, and consider this one of the very best.
I have long claimed that work is meant to be something that we enjoy doing and that causes us to thrive. Keller brings in examples, both modern and historical, that prove that work was created and intended to be meaningful and good, not something that is just a means to an end (and definitely not something that is a punishment).
We’re fearful of one another because we’re not spending time getting to know each other and communing with one another. We’re propagating half-truths because we’re not actually taking the time to listen to one another. The divisive spirit of today would be diminished if the words of these men and women, from diverse walks of life with varying perspectives, were taken to heart and acted on.
I absolutely love this book. It’s a daily read that breaks down the book of Psalms to a passage each day with thoughts on that day’s scriptures and a prayer to focus the heart and mind. It is a wonderful way to start each day.
A daily reader/devotional through the book of Proverbs that is incredible!
Each day’s meditation is enlightening, often with insights and perspectives that I haven’t previously considered. A wonderful guide through the Proverbs that I re-read annually alongside the one above on Psalms.
Dr. Keller says that we take “good things” – things like money, sex, power, achievement, freedom, and strength – and turn them into “ultimate things.” Meaning that we place our identity, our security, our fulfillment, our safety, our significance in these good things, thinking they are our reason for being. I place this book in the category of revolutionary.
We tend to have an ethereal view of prayer; that it’s only for the pious or a last resort.
Enter Keller, who brings meaning and clarity to this form of communication through a study of the historical roots of prayer, the different types of prayer, and several models of prayer. I talk about my practice of prayer in this episode of the Courage Becomes Her podcast.
Am I loved? Am I forgiven? Does my life matter? What is evil? Why is there suffering?
Keller dives into the deep end of the questions that nag and trouble us, and answers them through rich vignettes of the life of Jesus Christ and the interactions he had with specific people like the marginalized, the wealthy, and the religious.
A handful of years ago I was burnt out and disappointed by Christmas. It had turned into a season of sadness. This book truly brought meaning back to Christmas for me.
I’ve read it every Christmas for the past 5 years and each time I rediscover joy and learn something new about this season of hope.
God never desired for the Israelites to submit to the rulership of kings, He wanted them to trust that He would take care of them (as He had been doing for hundreds of years) through the use of stewards (aka judges). This study goes through the Old Testament book of Judges and does a deep dive on each of the judges/stewards that God put in place – who they were, what their background was, how they helped or failed the Israelites, and their personal characteristics (strengths and weaknesses). It is a fascinating look at history and human behavior, with learnings that are definitely applicable to life today.
We all have an innate need to be valued and important. That need drives both our being and our doing – what we think and how we act. I have never read anything that so succinctly defines our need and meets our need at the deepest level.
My current reads and ‘read next’:
You can always find my reading lists from previous years here.
And the books that literally transformed my life are here.
As always, please share your must-reads with me!! I’m specifically looking to fill the year with inspiring biographies and memoirs, life-giving soul care, and stimulating thought leadership on culture.
