Commit Magazine
A few weeks ago we launched the first issue of Commit magazine, a gospel-centered magazine engaging vital issues of our time, written (mostly) by young, ordinary Christians living in the San Francisco Bay Area. This first issue is devoted to the Gospel. A bunch of friends from my church and D.A. Carson contributed to this inaugural issue of Commit.
We’ve almost sold out of the first printing. To order copies of Commit and to read 2 sample articles online, go here.
If You Can’t Communicate a Truth, You Don’t Understand It
"Regarding writing, let me simply say that there is no discipline more suited to force the mind to organize and communicate truth than that of writing. If you can’t communicate a truth, you don’t understand it. If you can’t communicate it in more than one way, you don’t understand it. If you can’t communicate it clearly you don’t understand it. Writing helps in all these areas."
-Ligon Duncan, Dear Timothy, p. 207
Genesis
I’m preparing to write a study guide on Genesis which, Lord willing, will be ready for use in our church this next fall. I plan on covering the 50 chapters in 25 studies. I’ve assembled most of my books. So far, here’s my bibliography:
- Alter, Robert. The Art of Biblical Narrative (Basic Books, 1981)
- Alter, Robert. Genesis, Translation and Commentary (W.W. Norton & Company, 1996)
- Blocher, Henri. In the Beginning: The Opening Chapters of Genesis (IVP, 1984)
- Collins, C. John. Genesis 1–4: a linguistic, literary, and theological commentary (P&R Publishing, 2006)
- Duguid, Iain. Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality: The Gospel According to Abraham (P&R, 1999)
- Duguid, Iain. Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace: The Gospel in the Lives of Isaac and Jacob (P&R, 2002)
- Fesko, John V. Last Things First (Christian Focus: 2007)
- Greidanus, Sydney. Preaching Christ from Genesis: foundations for expository sermons (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007)
- Jolley, Reed. Studies in Genesis (Santa Barbara Community Church, 1998)
- Keller, Timothy J. What were we put in the world to do? (Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2006)
- Kidner, Derek. Genesis, The Tyndale Old Testament Commentary Series (Inter-Varsity Press, 1967)
- Longman, Tremper. How to read Genesis (InterVarsity Press, 2005)
- Ross, Allen. Creation and Blessing: A Guide to the Study and Exposition of Genesis (Baker, 1988)
- Sarna, Nahum. Understanding Genesis (Schocken, 1966)
- Waltke, Bruce K. An Old Testament Theology (Zondervan, 2007)
- Waltke, Bruce K. Genesis, A Commentary (Zondervan, 2001)
- Williams, Michael E. Genesis, A Storyteller’s companion to the Bible; v1(Abingdon Press, 1991)
The Hard Part
“There’s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don’t, and the secret is this: It’s not the writing part that’s hard. What’s hard is sitting down to write.”
-Steve Pressfield
E.B. White, One Man’s Meat
I love staring at the cover photo on my edition of E.B. White’s, One Man’s Meat. Of all the books I own, this may be the one with the best looking front cover. I don’t know what it is, the photo just captures my attention.
E.B.’s writing captures my attention as well. He can put a sentence together. Who would’ve thought that one man’s observations on daily life in rural Maine during WWII would prove so intriguing. I’d like to write more like White–succint, clever, clear. White is one of those few authors whom, as you read, make you want to write.
My favorite essays from One Man’s Meat include:
-Sabbath Morn
-A Shepherd’s Life
-Maine Speech (I’m now going to start using the word “Bayster”)
-The Trailer Park
&
-Once More to the Lake
The only other book I’ve read by White is Charlotte’s Web. I must have been 7 years old when I read about Wilbur and Charlotte. It’s been good getting re-aquainted with the author who brought those characters to life.
Good Writing Equals Re-writing
Somebody smart once said, “good writing equals re-writing.” When it comes to writing sermons I’m finding that I must do some bad writing very early in the week so that I have some good writing to bring into the pulpit on Sunday.
Right now I’m trying to learn to write in two stages, trying to learn to not be such a paralyzed perfectionist who only precedes to sentence number two once sentence number one is perfectly polished. That’s an inefficient way to write. I guess the Junior High English teacher was right when she required a rough draft and a final draft. Good writing equals re-writing.
Brenda Ueland, If You Want to Write
Brenda Ueland’s, If You Want to Write, is one of my favorite books on writing. I first read this book as part of my Rhetoric course at Westmont College. If you like to write, or if you’re someone who would like to like to write, I highly recommend this book. I don’t know of a better book for stimulating an excitement for writing, cultivating enjoyment in the process of writing, and teaching the importance of writing with exacting truthfulness.
Here are a few of my favorite Ueland quotes:
For when you write, if it is to be any good at all, you must feel free–free and not anxious.
The only way to become a better writer is to become a better person.
My little brother wrote a composition when he was twelve and almost every third sentence was: “But alas, to no avail!” That is the sort of thing that everybody does for many years. That is because they have been taught that writing is something special and not just talking on paper.
The secret of being interesting is to move along as fast as the mind of the reader (or listener) can take in. Both must march along in the same tempo. That is why it is good to read your writing aloud to yourself. As soon as your voice drags, cross that part out.
And my favorite chapter title is the title of chapter 7:
Be careless, reckless! Be a lion, be a pirate, when you write.
