Calling All Adventurers
A company of books for summer travelers.
My noble steed, which has borne me on many great “adventures.”
Greek of the Week: ἐντολή | en-toe-LAY (commandment)
Used in John 15:12:
[12] This is my commandment (ἐντολή), that you love one another as I have loved you.
— English Standard Version
Let the Summer Adventure Begin:
All those who travel know that nothing is better than traveling with a friend. Indeed, as I sat on my plane coming home from seminary last January, I was pleased to find a classmate of mine on the same flight. How much better is a flight with a friend than a flight alone?
Summer is often a season of traveling. Many of you at Immanuel CRC will be taking vacations, venturing off to camp, and even trying your hands at some mission trips. Others, no doubt, will be staying put and holding down the fort. Yet, even for those who will not be physically wandering around the country (or the world), I want to invite you all on a different sort of journey.
Reading a good book is a journey. As we use our minds and God-given imaginations to process and work through the words on a page, we are invited on an adventure. So whether you are on a plane, in the car, or simply sitting at home in your easy chair, you can travel almost anywhere you like. And along the way, you will meet a number of companions.
This summer, I’ll be running all around the country with various camps, weddings, classes, and mission trips. Consequently, I anticipate a terribly meager stream of articles here at Field Notes. So, instead of leaving you all high and dry, let me suggest a few traveling companions should you choose to accept the call to an adventure of summer reading.
These books and authors include some of my favorite reads from seminary over the past year. However, you’ll also find a few titles that are simply my gifts to you. These are books that have replenished me, authors who have challenged me, and companions that have given me safe haven during my wanderings. I hope that you’ll find something you like and dare to step out onto the road with this merry company.
As a note: Clicking on the titles in the headings will take you to Amazon where you can buy these books. The links are not affiliate. I benefit from them in no way. They are merely for your convenience.
BOOK 1:
The Unquenchable Flame by Michael Reeves
It may surprise you, but most seminarians, pastors, and theologians don’t enjoy reading stuffy, boring theological tomes anymore than you do. One way to grow deeper in our theological understanding while at the same time remaining engaged and (dare I say it) even entertained is by reading historical theology: a blend of both history and theology in a single delightful combination — like peanut-butter and chocolate.
What Michael Reeves accomplishes in The Unquenchable Flame is probably the most engaging, provoking, and downright entertaining book on the history and theology of the Protestant Reformation I have ever read. Honestly, it reads far more like a series of bedtime stories than an academic work.
As Reeves introduces you to bold and eccentric characters like Johann Tetzel, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin, you will be swept into the narrative highs and lows of pre- and post-Reformation Europe. At the same time, you will be given an enlightening primer on the theology of the Reformation and come away praising God for his providential orchestration of the events that called Christendom to return to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Fit for readers young and old, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
BOOK 2:
Spiritual Mindedness by John Owen (AD 1616-1683)
Have you ever spent a long time poring over a single passage of Scripture that captured your conscience and your desires and just refused to let go? For John Owen, that was what happened when he wrote Spiritual Mindedness. He was caught by the eighth chapter of Romans, where Paul writes:
[6] For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom. 8:6)
— English Standard Version
And then, for over 200 pages, Owen drew out every ounce of truth he could from this apparently simple passage.
The edition I’ve linked above is an updated version for modern readers from Banner of Truth, and it contains some of the most helpful instruction I’ve found on finding life and peace in the Christian walk. According to Paul, Christians are spiritually minded people; that is, Christians are people whose thoughts and minds dwell with and upon the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 3:1-4). So, one of the most important questions we may ask ourselves is, “Am I truly spiritually minded? Are my thoughts the thoughts of someone who truly knows Christ and has received his grace through faith?”
As Owen unpacks the answers to these questions, you will be filled with Scripture, reminders of God’s grace in the gospel, and calls to serve the Lord with your minds. It is a challenging and encouraging book. I’d recommend it to those of you who have been Christians for some time and are ready to venture further towards the finish line of the great race which our Lord has given you to run.
BOOK 3:
The Confessions by St. Augustine (AD 354-430)
Perhaps no thinker, Christian or otherwise, has impacted Western theology and philosophy more than St. Augustine of Hippo. Augustine is known by all three major branches of world Christianity as an important, godly, and faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ for good reason.
In The Confessions, Augustine quite literally invents a new genre of literature: the spiritual autobiography. He traces his spiritual development from the time before he was born to the middle of his life, explaining to God his confessions of past sins and of his present faith and confidence in Christ.
I found Augustine’s journey and struggles with sin, worldly philosophy, and ultimately with God deeply stirring. However, Augustine doesn’t mince his words, and his style (being nearly 1,500 years removed from our day) can at times be a challenge to read. Nevertheless, this classic deserves the attention of any Christian willing to put in the effort to walk with Augustine through his life and see the sovereign and triune God of creation at work. As you see how God has orchestrated the events of Augustine’s life, you will also be challenged to consider how God has been using all the things in your life — the good and the bad — for his glory.
BOOK 4:
The Sabbath as Rest and Hope for the People of God by Guy Prentiss Waters
And all the Adult Sunday School and Youth Group students of Immanuel CRC let out a great sigh!
I jest ;)
During the spring semester in our Adult Sunday School and Youth Groups at Immanuel, I taught a Biblical theology of the Sabbath. One of my inspirations and greatest companions on that journey was this little book by Dr. Guy Prentiss Waters. Waters captures, in only 160 pages, the gist of the Sabbath as it appears in Scripture stretching from Genesis to Revelation, and he invites readers to see that the Sabbath is not merely a list of “dos and do nots.” In fact, through the Sabbath, God is primarily pointing his people to the eternal rest and life that will be found through faith in Jesus Christ when he returns in glory at the end of the age.
In this book, you’ll be invited to trace the Sabbath through the Bible, seeing how this theme develops throughout God’s history with his people. All the while, you’ll be faced again and again with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful way to think about the whole story of the Bible together as a unit that points us to our Savior.
There are also some helpful practical thoughts towards the end of the book on how we might make better use of the Lord’s Day as a means of resting in, worshiping, and enjoying the Lord. I found it very accessible and fit for Christians young and old who are looking for a better grasp on the whole story of Scripture.
BOOK(S) 5:
The Chronicles of Prydain (Series) by Lloyd Alexander
In January of 2020, I sat across the table having lunch with Dr. A. Craig Troxel of Westminster Seminary California. I was visiting the seminary at the time and considering becoming a student at WSC. One piece of advice he gave me which I will never forget was, “Always have a book of fiction that you enjoy on your nightstand in seminary.”
Why? Reading is about more than mere intellectual instruction. Reading is also about delight. God has given us minds able to imagine faraway worlds. He’s given us minds able to take pleasure walking alongside unique characters that cause us to stop and reflect on our own journeys.
The Chronicles of Prydain is a delightful series. Based loosely on Welsh folklore, these short, fast-paced, easy-reading books will introduce you to the world of Prydain and characters like Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper, the snarky Princess Eilonwy, Gurgi the “whatever-he-is”, Fflewdur Fflam the colorful traveling bard, and so many others. This series is particularly suited for boys and those parents raising boys, as Alexander traces the journey from boyhood to manhood.
If you have a family road trip coming up and need something to read in the car, or a child who can’t seem to satisfy his or her bookish cravings, or just want something easy to read before bed, I heartily endorse The Chronicles of Prydain.
Farewell:
I’m not leaving. I’ll be here, posting and writing as the Lord gives me the time in between my travels. Yet, if I’m a bit quiet, I pray you’ll find this bunch of books a happy troop to keep you company and take you on a journey all your own this summer. Now…
To Those from Substack:
Welcome! My name is Corey Viss, and I currently serve as the Youth Director of Immanuel CRC in Ripon, CA. While this column is primarily intended for the members of my church, you are more than welcome to join in the fun. I’m glad God, in His providence, has brought us together. Blessings!
Chronicles of Prydain is amazing! Great recommendation! I read them as a boy and recently reread them aloud to my son. Just wonderful fiction!
I agree about Prydain. I read them in high school for a fantasy fix and still remember them. I had made notes of some quotes for them which my mother saw and used as a teacher in middle school.
Never could interest my kids in them.