05/24/2023
Pastor Tim’s Summer Reading Group
Calling All Fans of well written History
I’m in the mood this summer to do some reading, and I love history when it is delivered well. So I am inviting you to join me in reading three books between now and September. Two of the books I can vouch for as being both accessible and insightful—about the subject matter and about the life of faith. Neither is about God or Jesus but they provide interesting insights on who we are as an American people in one case, and the world in which Jesus was born and lived out his earthly life. The third book I only just now saw reviewed and it will definitely generate its fair share of discussion.
I want to start our with One Summer, 1927 by Bill Bryson, then follow it up with the biography of Augustus: The Life of Rome’s First Emperor by Anthony Everitt, and then close out the summer with a new book, A Fever In the Heartland by Timothy Egan.
One Summer, 1927 is about the making of Modern America by looking only at the events of one spring/summer/early fall in our nation’s history. Bryson makes a good case for this being a defining moment when several important threads come together to shape our modern sensibility. A fascinating and easy read, but not a short one.
Augustus is not just a biography of the first and greatest of the Roman Emperors, but in helping us understand Augustus, the author also reveals a great deal about the society that dominated the world before, during, and after the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s hardly an academic tome, but it will require a little concentration to pick out the insights that are relevant to our faith.
And finally, A Fever In the Heartland promises to be an exciting read on how the Klu Klux Klan made a resurgence in the 1920’s, especially in the state of Indiana. It is about the man who took advantage of the times he lived in to amass power and influence over the powers that be in our state. His climb to power ends when in an act of complete hubris, he kidnaps a woman and takes her across state lines and forces himself on her. It may not be the brightest moment in our state’s history, but I’m told it does an excellent job of explaining how one man, in the right place at the right time could leave such a devastating trail of anger and hate in his wake. As a year of historical milestones for Hamilton county and our church, a historical look at what took place on our doorstep seems very apropos.
If you’re interested in joining me with my summer reading list, let me know by sending an email (tburchill@carmelumc.org) and get yourself started on Bill Bryson’s One Summer. We’ll figure out when and where when it’s clearer who is interested.
CLICK HERE to SEND AN EMAIL: tburchill@carmelumc.org
Archived Posts
One Final Scene About Scrooge
There was one more scene in Dickens’s novel that reveals something of what has happened to Scrooge over the years. I did not have time to share it on Sunday, but I believe it reveals a great deal about the regrets in Scrooge’s life....
What Jacob Marley Would Do,
If He Could Do It…
I thought about using the following for a benediction—since Jacob Marley was warning Scrooge about the danger of loving money and what it could buy. Ends up with the Cantata and everything else going on, I didn’t have the time. So here is what you might have heard if the sermon itself was 5 minutes shorter!
A Confirming Word on Old King Herod
I just want to echo what Rick said in his fine sermon yesterday (Nov. 23). Herod was a ruthless tyrant and skilled politician. When the Magi don’t report back to him, he decides to kill all the male children of Bethlehem under the age of 2. That’s one paranoid dude.
Power Without Conscience?
I ran out of room for this vignette in Sunday’s sermon. Remember the quote that could be the headline for Ahab and Naboth: “All that’s needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.” The following reinforces that truth.
The Cars Are Looking for A King
I don’t have a thing to add to Pastor Jessica’s excellent sermon this last Sunday. The fable/parable she shared has been one of my favorites for all the lessons she pulled from it in her message. I was playing around with my friend Chat GPT and after several abortive attempts, we came up with the following modernized version of Judges 9:7-15.
The Lost Benediction
Depending on the length of the sermon, I try to add a little something extra in my benedictions. This week I wrote up a benediction but then realized we’d be singing and waving our umbrellas to some New Orleans jazz.
Change of Focus This Week
Instead of sharing with you about yesterday’s sermon I’d like to invite you to do some background reading for next Sunday’s “Only Murders in the Bible.” Seeing that it is All Saints Day this Sunday, we are going to look at the very first Christian martyr, Stephen.