Best Reads of 2019

We are two days into the New Year and I already feel behind and that’s primarily because I am behind. It’s been a number since I have posted on the blog and that’s because I have been busy with ministry and the start of a new podcast called The Confessional Taco. You should check it out as our first episode drops next week! I digress.

I think I have come to the conclusion that I write and post blogs seasonally and I’m beginning to be okay with that. I tend to place a lot of pressure on myself to write content—not because I have so many people visiting the site, but because I am a writer, therefore, I must write. And I do. I just don’t always write on here. And for the last week or so, I have been off from work which has been good for me, my soul, and my family. As the New Year kicks off, I thought I’d enter my season of writing with “easier” posts to gain some momentum so I decided to open up with the books that I read in 2019.

Do commentaries count?

Here you go, hope you enjoy:

BEST OF 2019

1. The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity In An Age of Counterfeits by Al Mohler Jr.
This was a great read because it was both historic and biblical so that combination was of great help to me especially as I preached a sermon series on The Apostles’ Creed in the summer of 2019 (as if it was so long ago). Creeds and confessions are making a wild comeback and I think it’s because they point us back to the pages of Scripture in a way that connects us to the historic church and forces to examine what we say we believe.

2. A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories That Stretch and Stir by Hansen Woodbridge
This is another book that I read before starting a sermon series and it was very appropriate. We were about to end our series in 1 Peter and after meeting with several members in our church, I could sense that there was almost a spiritual dryness in the lives of many. This book was a great exhortation to the work of the Spirit in the people of God in the midst of the ordinary. So, if you’re experiencing a spiritually dry season then consider reading this book.

3. The Mestizo Augustine: A Theology Between Two Cultures by Justo L. Gonzalez
As I see it, Justo Gonzalez has been a trailblazer as a Hispanic writing about cultural identity within the church. The Mestizo Augustine is a helpful look into the life of St. Augustine as he, too, was of two cultures and how that helped, effected, and impacted his life and ministry.

4. Wretched Saints: Transformed By The Relentless Grace of God by Joel Heikkinen
This was one of my favorite reads of last year. Joel writes beautifully on God’s lavishing his grace upon wretched saints continually and abundantly for the purpose of transforming into the image of Jesus. I wrote a review on his book at some point. You can check it out here.

5. Gospel-Centered Discipleship by Jonathan Dodson
I read this book a long time ago and revisited in the early parts of last year and it was a great reminder into the theology and practice of making and maturing disciples of Jesus. This book also helped us launch what we call, at Storehouse McAllen, Discipleship Groups which are smaller gatherings of groups of 2-3 people meet to study Scripture, pray for one another, and confess sin to one another. An excellent resource on discipleship.

6. Small Church Essentials by Karl Vaters
If you’re a pastor, leader, or church member at a small church then this is a wonderful resource filled with rich theological truths, practical approaches to ministry, and overall encouragement. I think many pastors who lead a smaller church, such as myself, often compare themselves to larger congregations or leaders who have tremendous influence and almost walk away discouraged because you’re “not there yet.” But the truth is, leading a smaller church is such a sobering and rewarding call from the Lord because there’s a lot that the smaller church can do that the larger churches can’t. Additionally, it often feels like when walking away from a conference or workshop, you simply lack the resources. Karl Vaters helps you to realize that you have more resources than you think.

7. Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope by Matthew McCullough
I can’t remember if I read this book in 2019 or before. Either way, you should read it. It was surprisingly eye-opening, particularly the first chapter. McCullough sets you up with loads of information that makes you think about how you and I and the culture around us view death. He makes the point that 200 years ago death was a common conversational piece at the dinner table and sex was taboo. Today, it’s the other way around. Nevertheless, how we view death impacts how we view the redemptive work and return of Christ. This was a great read and study as we prepared for our Ash Wednesday service.

8. The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men by Richard Phillips
This is a wonderful read. One of the reasons I greatly appreciated this book is because Phillips’ tone was pastoral. I felt shepherded throughout the reading of this book and that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t convicted of sin or challenged in my life—especially among the leadership of my family—but I wasn’t being yelled at to “man up!” It’s been one of the best books of manhood that I’ve read and I encourage any and every man to pick up a copy.

9. Sticky Teams by Larry Osbourne
I’ve read this book about four times and it’s always a classic. I have walked or taught part of this book with my staff and currently, have been walking through it with one of our interns at Storehouse McAllen. Osbourne is great at combining biblical knowledge with practical insight on what it looks like to develop healthy teams. There isn’t great stress on “how,” but that’s okay because he stresses the “why” so much that it helps you formulate what may work for you in your context.

10. Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering The Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
As I think about it, this may have been my favorite book from 2019. Vroegop does a phenomenal job of unpacking a theology of lament and it’s practice. It’s was deeply convicting, sobering, and comforting. I wrote a review of his book here.

11. On The Block: Developing A Biblical Picture For Missional Engagement by Doug Logan
Often, I have said that I am not an evangelist but I am capable of evangelizing and while that still rings true, I have used it as a cover-up to slack in the ministry of evangelism and outreach in the neighborhood we’re in. Logan’s book is an excellent resource for the theology and practice of “sentness.” It definitely convicted me but also gave me great insight on how to create further intentionality on some of the things I’m already doing and in some of the places I’m already at within central McAllen.

12. The Mingling of Souls: God’s Design for Love, Marriage, Sex, and Redemption by Matt Chandler
We did an eight-week sermon series on The Song of Solomon this past fall and this was a great resource for continued bible study and discussion. I wanted to walk through The Song of Songs sound theology, but contextualize it in a way that could be clearly understood and within our groups, I wanted to challenge singles, couples, men, and women on what the Song of Songs was pressing within our culture. This book helped accomplish that.

13. Throw: A Novel by Ruben Degollado
Ruben has been a great friend to me for almost a decade and I have always loved his writing and I was so proud of him when his first book, Throw, was published and released! Throw takes place in the Rio Grande Valley back in the day so if you're from the Valley, you will catch all of the references to the smaller towns. If you’re not from the Valley, you’ll still enjoy this book because it’s a beautiful collection of Mexican American literature. Get your hands on this book here or visit Ruben’s page.

ONWARD

I think those are all of the books that I read in 2019. I’m excluding commentaries and systematic theologies because I don’t necessarily read those cover to cover, but if you’d like I can walk through some of my favorite systematic theologies. In fact, I think I should as I have received a couple of questions on which are my favorite (hint: it’s not Grudem’s systematic theology).

I would love to hear about what you have read this past year or what you’re planning on reading for 2020. And if I could offer you any piece of literary advice, it would be the wise words of St. Augustine:

“Tolle Lege! Tolle Lege!”
(take up and read; take up and read!)
- St. Augustine

Whether it’s one book or several, be faithful with what’s in your hands; take up and read!

Summer Hobby: Cocktails

I have written a few articles on my enjoyment for coffee and cigars and I realized something about myself this summer, regarding hobbies. I really enjoy learning about and investing in hobbies that force me to slow down and think through a process; almost like a delayed gratification. Earlier this summer, I picked up making cocktails and they have been a lot of fun and have learned a great deal about them. I don’t know if I’m any good, but I’m certainly having fun and my wife is very gracious when she says that my gold rush is like the “nectar of the gods.”

If you have the time, you should definitely pick up a couple of hobbies and interests. I think they’re very healthy because they can provide you with an outlet or help you in processing a few things that are on your mind. I am pretty sure there are incredible physical and emotional benefits to hobbies that I am unaware of so if you want to do some research, tell me what you find. But I do know, at least, they’re a great tool and outlet.

So, how did I get into making cocktails? I think it’s a mix of realizing that I like something that slows me down and insecurity. For starters, and I’ve already mentioned this, when it comes to coffee, cigars, cooking, and weightlifting I find a great deal of myself invested in these areas because they provide me with delayed gratification, serve as outlets, they help me process a lot that’s on my mind, and they are interests that I can share with my friends and family. I think cocktails are similar. It takes a little bit of time getting everything together, takes some basic knowledge, and has some technique involved. The insecurity for me came from learning that I don’t generally like to drink whiskey or bourbon neat. Does that make me less of a man? It’s foolish, but it certainly did and still does come across my mind, but as I have been learning more about cocktails, I don’t care.

I think making cocktails is fun and I have been able to share some of my learned skills with my family and friends and either they really did enjoy what I made or they’re super gracious; hopefully a mix of both. Also, apart from buying liquor, cocktail making is fairly inexpensive. All of the ingredients are cheap and can be made at home which was very surprising to me. I think any skill or interest you want to invest in can have a level of intimidation because you (at least I am) can be exposed to the fancy video production, clever filters, and advanced experience and knowledge from others.

FAVORITE COCKTAILS SO FAR?

Here are my top five favorite cocktails that I really enjoy, but am still tinkering with:

1. Gordon’s Cup
A Gordon’s Cup, I think, can be enjoyed any time of the day. It’s a gin based drink with a hint of sweetness and plenty of citrus from lime, cucumbers, and salt. There are a few different versions out there, but this particular one is certainly my favorite. And I’m also not ashamed to say, I really like gin. It’s pretty legit. Further, here in Texas, it’s over 100 degrees almost every day so having something as refreshing as a Gordon’s Cup really helps.

2. Gold Rush
Another sweet drink. This is a whiskey based drink that is, as my wife say, the “nectar of the gods.” The honey syrup compliments the whiskey so well that mixing it is almost invigorating. There is some lemon which helps bring your soul to life on a hot day.

3. Irish Buck
Also, another whiskey based drink that’s really easy to make. It’s whiskey and ginger ale and it’s magical on a hot summer day.

4. Moscow Mule
I just learned how to make this one a few days ago and I have been tinkering with this one the most. The first time I made it, the ginger beer was almost too over powering for me and that was a little too much heat. I’ve messed with it a few times since then and I’m really digging this vodka based drink. The sweetness I use is a simple syrup, but I’m looking to make a ginger syrup to remove the simple syrup and ginger beer in the future.

5. Carreta (Ranch Water)
This is always going to be a favorite of mine because it was the first cocktail I learned how to make after my friend James introduced me. It’s tequila, lime, and mineral water; less is certainly more and this is the perfect drink on a hot summer day, after a long day, brunch, and everything in between. It’s certainly a staple for me and always will be.

I have learned how to make other drinks, but I’m either still tinkering with them for me to find full enjoyment or I simply didn’t like them afterward. For instance, I made my wife and I a Whiskey Sour and she loved it because she digs frothy drinks and this one requires using an egg white so it foams really nice, but I wasn’t feeling it. It wasn’t bad, but I’m not sure that I like my cocktails frothy.

Either way, if you’re looking to learn a thing or two and not interested in doing too much reading, then I recommend How To Drink on YouTube. Greg is an amateur bartender and does a great job in walking you through the making of cocktails; not to mention his video production quality is excellent.

What are some of your favorite hobbies and interests?

Resources on The Apostles' Creed

We started a sermon series on The Apostles’ Creed a few weeks ago (I’ve written a little about it) and I have been frequently asked about the resources I use for sermon prep or further reading. I thought I’d lay out the short list of books I have read or am using; hope you enjoy.

RESOURCES

1. The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity in an Age of Counterfeits by Dr. Al Mohler

2. Affirming the Apostles’ Creed by J.I. Packer (great for devotion)

3. “I Believe”: Exploring The Apostles’ Creed by Alister McGrath

4. The Apostles’ Creed: A Guide to the Ancient Catechism by Ben Myers

5. The Heidelberg Catechism (helpful resource)

That’s everything that I’m currently using. If you find something out there that you’re using and it’s shown itself to be really beneficial, hit me up.

Confessions and Creeds

Two weeks ago, we started a new sermon series at Storehouse McAllen on the Apostles’ Creed and while it has been a fruitful study and I briefly walked through the importance of historical creeds and confessions of the Christian faith, I still feel the need to elaborate a little more in a few key areas. The Apostles’ Creed certainly raises the questions of why do creeds matter? isn’t the Bible enough?

And yes, the Bible is certainly more than enough as it is the inerrant Word of God that revives the soul (Psalm 19:7). Creeds, however, present us with a number of opportunities for clarity and worship. Here are a couple of reasons why I believe creeds and confessions are critical to the life of a church:

1. Creeds Point To Scripture
Creeds serve as summaries of the Christian faith. The Apostles’ Creed not only summarizes the Holy Trinity and their distinction and roles, but is almost fully dedicated to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Further, each section of the creed forces us to look back to the pages of Scripture.

2. Creeds Help Defend and Define the Truth
As a summary of the Christian faith, creeds and confessions help to defend against false teaching. In our culture today, truth is preached as something that is subjective. But the Bible teaches that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Creeds and confessions help the church stand on the foundation of scripture during such times of subjectivity by defining what the truth is through proclamation. And while the church in the United States may not be in decline, the gospel is certainly in danger. Creeds help to defend and define the truth of the gospel objectively.

3. Creeds Unite the Church
Creeds and confessions help to unite all believers because the statements made are foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. Creeds and confessions are very important to Christian community for the sake of unity.

4. The Historical Church
The Apostles’ Creed was recited and affirmed by new converts as they were baptized during the 2nd century; catechisms were developed around creeds and confessions as a result of the teachings of Scripture; martyrs would pray the words of the Apostles’ Creed before being burned at the stake or executed. When the church today says “I Believe” independently, but corporately we are connected to the saints that have gone before us. To them, creeds weren’t just a part of the service, but integral to them personally.

5. Christ Centered
Creeds and confessions are not simply a summary of facts, but the exaltation of a person: Jesus Christ. This last reason collects all of the previous ones because without Jesus, you lose Christianity and that’s one of the things that makes Jesus so wonderful and unique. He is not a ideology. If that were true, then Christianity could and would survive without Him at the center just like any other idealogical system of beliefs. However, because Jesus is not a system, but a person then the church thrives in spite of trials and culture shifting. Creeds and confessions draw a line in the sand by exalting the name of Jesus.

I hope this helps. I would love to have a conversation with you on what your thoughts behind creeds and confessions mean to you. As for me, my family, and Storehouse McAllen, we affirm the teaching of the Apostles’ Creed as it directs us to the person and work of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

RECOMMENDED READING
• The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity In An Age of Counterfeits
• Affirming the Apostles’ Creed by J.I. Packer
• I Believe: Exploring the Apostles’ Creed by Alister McGrath

The Confessional Taco Podcast

During the month of June, I made a post and released a few details on the start of a new podcast that I’m doing with my friend Serge called The Confessional Taco. I’m pretty excited about this project for multiple reasons and we are stoked to share this experience with you as we dive into the Christian faith from the depths of Mexican-American culture.

The response has been great so far and we’re hoping to have a lot of fun with our topics and the variety of interviews we’re looking at having. For the months of June and July, we’re fine tuning a lot of the behind the scenes stuff like the website, audio, and listening platforms. But if you’re interested in learning a little more, visit the website for all of the details.

Once you’re on the website, you’ll notice “The Weekly Taco” link at the top of the page and you can listen to our 10 minute trailer as we work through some of the details in conversation concerning The Confessional Taco. Starting in August, we will be releasing new episodes every Tuesday morning.

While we work on all of the BTS material, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Stay posted and we hope that you enjoy!