Blog Update
It’s been a big year for my writing. I won an essay contest on C.S. Lewis’ Narnia which resulted in my first published essay on Mere Orthodoxy. I have an article on the communication concept known as mitigated speech awaiting printed publication in a leading firefighter trade journal. And, I am in the process of getting my first novel published through Noble Rogue Publishing. I’ve also written about 40,000 words of my second novel. Like I said, a big year!
The only side effect of this, has been less time for blog posts. I’m still averaging about a post a month (which will remain my goal), but these projects (combined with a few other goals) will continue to take a lot of my writing time and energy. So, if I do miss a month or two, sorry!
2022 Reading
All that said, there has still been plenty of time for reading. I’ve spent more time than ever on literature, including finishing some big ones like Jane Eyre, East of Eden and Gone with the Wind. Nevertheless, I remain committed to reading a sizable amount of non-fiction (without it, I could never get as much out of fiction). As with previous years, I’ll post my top five favorite non-fiction reads of the year in descending order.
5. Return of the God Hypothesis by Stephen Meyer
I’ve been a fan of Meyer for years. Although his books are pretty thick, he has a way of writing that blends high academic rigor with flowing prose. I’ve read quite a bit on the history of life on earth, but I hadn’t really taken a big step back and dove deeply into the intricacies of our universe and its beginnings. This was a long, but very enjoyable way to do that.
4. Did Adam and Eve Really Exist by C. John Collins
In 2020, one of my top books was C. John Collin’s Reading Genesis Well. Today, that book is still one of the most important books I’ve ever read for helping me think through topics of science and faith, and finally being able to rest with a settled hermeneutic for Genesis 1-11. Although this book was written earlier, many of the concepts overlap, yet it was a much simpler read. In fact, I think it is the perfect entry point book for someone starting to ask hard questions about Adam and Eve and the early chapters of Genesis as a whole (would have loved someone to have pointed me in its direction six or so years ago!)
3. How to Inhabit Time by James K.A. Smith
Time matters. When we read a book time will absolutely influence our overall perception and reception of it. I read this book at the perfect time, and even in the perfect place. I’ve been thinking through a lot about what it means to live life as a creature and I found this book extremely helpful in helping to do that with appreciation rather than envy for God’s noncommunicable attributes. Further, this book helped to frame the concept of seasons in life which I found very helpful, and fitting as I read it in Georgia and North Carolina during the peak of color change.
2. Cultural Apologetics by Paul Gould
I’ve had the pleasure of becoming friends with Paul over the last year or so as we started attending the same church. That said, I was already on board with the idea of cultural apologetics prior to meeting him or reading this book. Nevertheless, this is the landmark book on the subject and it was well written. It helped to strengthen convictions I have spent years developing.
1.Discovering God Through the Arts by Terry Glaspey
This was a little different read for me, which probably helped it secure the top spot of the year. I’ve been developing more and more of a taste for the arts over the years, and this was the perfect book to help frame that appreciation towards God.
Cheers to another year of good reading!
Moore Thinking 
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