Pastor Writer: Conversations on Reading, Writing, and the Christian Life

David Kim is the discipleship pastor at WestGate Church in Silicon Valley, California and author of Made To Belong: Five Practices for Cultivating Community in a Disconnected. He completed M.Div and Th.M from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and his children's book on dealing with change was selected for Oprah's Favorite Things list. He cares deeply about the intersection of spiritual formation, theology, mental health, and the cultivation of authentic Christian communities. He lives with his wife and two daughters in San Jose, California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Terry Glaspey is a writer, an editor, a creative mentor, and someone who finds various forms of art—painting, films, novels, poetry, and music—to be some of the places where he most deeply connects with God.He has a master’s degree in history from the University of Oregon, as well as undergraduate degrees emphasizing counseling and pastoral studies.He has written over a dozen books and has been the recipient of several major national awards for his writing. In December, he released a new C. S. Lewis biography entitled Not a Tame Lion: The Spiritual Legacy of C.S. Lewis. We discuss Lewis: his life, work, and writing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brian Smith is on staff with Athletes in Action. A former track and cross-country athlete while in college, he now spends his time ministering to athletes. He writes regularly for athletesinaction.org.He likes the Detroit Lions probably a little too much, and graduated with a degree in Communications and Journalism from Wake Forest University.He joins me to talk about his recent book, The Christian Athlete: Glorifying God in Sports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s been my tradition to spend the last episode of the year looking back on my favorite reads from the past twelve months. This time of year, just about everyone is putting out their top list of books and awards. What I want to offer you are the 10 books that have impacted my thinking most this year. They aren’t necessarily the best books I have read or even the most important, but they are the books that have been shaping my own life and thinking this past year.What I’d love to hear is what you’ve been reading. It’s actually really helpful to go back through your Amazon orders or Audible library and think about what you read this past year. What books are you still thinking about? Which books left an impact? What are you planning on reading in 2023? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew Arndt is the lead pastor of New Life East, one of seven congregations of New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Prior to joining New Life's team, he served as the lead pastor of Bloom Church, a network of house churches in Denver.He is the host of the Essential Church podcast, a weekly conversation designed to strengthen the thinking of church and ministry leaders. Andrew received his MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is currently working on his DMin with Western Theological Seminary.He joins me today to talk about his new book, Streams in the Wasteland: Finding Spiritual Renewal with the Desert Fathers & Mothers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Hardy has a passion for helping local churches reach their communities. He has served in various pastoral roles and now helps lead two online platforms, training and equipping pastors and local churches: Leaders.church and Church University.Jonathan recently released his first book, Arrow Striker: Live with Purpose and Leave an Eternal Impact… Every single Day. He joins me to talk about the book and how as believers, we can recognize and make the most out of every God-given opportunity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aaron Damiani serves as the lead pastor of Immanuel Anglican Church in Chicago and is the author of Earth Filled with Heaven: Finding Life in Liturgy, Sacraments and other Ancient Practices of the Church. Aaron writes and regularly speaks about spiritual formation, leadership, and recovering the gifts of the ancient church for today’s challenges. Aaron and his wife Laura live with their four kids in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jim Cymbala has been a pastor for more than fifty years at the Brooklyn Tabernacle.He has a strong burden for the local church and has been blessed with the opportunity to encourage thousands of pastors around the globe. He is the bestselling author of Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire and several other titles.His next book, Fan the Flame, will release in September 2022. He joins me to talk about the book and how pastors can keep their call alive during times of discouragement and burnout.Jim lives in New York City with his wife, Carol Cymbala, who directs the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Nye is a doctoral student at Duke University’s Divinity School and the author of Distant God and Less of More. For fifteen years, he has served as a local church pastor. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and various other publications.He recently released a new book, A Captive Mind, Christianity, Ideologies, and Staying Sane in a World Gone Mad. Chris joins me to talk about his new book and how ideologies can impact our faith and the church.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Dodson is the founding pastor of City Life Church in Austin, TX which he started with his wife, and a small group of people.He is also the founder of Gospel-Centered Discipleship.com, which produces resources to help make, mature, and multiply disciples of Jesus.He is the author of a number of books, including Here in Spirit, The Unbelievable Gospel and Gospel-Centered Discipleship.He joins me to talk about his most recent project, a new book: The Unwavering Pastor: Leading the Church with Grace in Divisive Times. The book discusses Biblical wisdom to help ministry leaders cope with church division and leadership stress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices