Favorite Books 2025

Posted on December 22, 2025

The Will of the Many (& The Strength of the Few), Islington – This novel is built on the premise that society is comprised of people who cede their will to those above them, resulting in three competing classes of people who run the world. The central character is an unlikely hero who is trying to subvert a system he is caught up in. The concept of ceding our will to another power is a very powerful metaphor for not only classism and oppression but also who Christians cede their will to temptation and spiritual powers.

When Narcissism Comes to Church, DeGroat – Although this is a difficult book to read, it was helpful to better understand the power dynamics present in churches experiencing moral failure and leadership scandals, and how these impact congregations. It would be wise to read this book if you haven’t had these experiences in order to know a) spot narcissistic temptations b) care for those who have experienced genuine church hurt c) to carefully lead your staff and church away from such perils.

The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoyevsky – The famed Russian author’s deep psychological and spiritual character building is payoff enough. Rich theological insights abound like, “A man cannot commit so great a sin as would exhaust God’s boundless love.” Plus, the intricate plot is also rewarding. It’s hard to imagine such a rich novel being written today, given our persistent distractions in an online world. I’m still reading this one!

Baptized with Heavenly Power: The Holy Spirit and Teaching in the Life of Martin Lloyd Jones – I enjoyed learning more about MLJ’s life, how his medical profession influenced his style of preaching, and how the Spirit shaped his life and ministry. Addressing the temptation to impress in preaching, I appreciated his quip, “Don’t stun them, help them.” Lots of gems in this book, not only about preaching but also the Christian life.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Gibson – I have truly enjoyed Gibson’s beautifully bound, richly arranged liturgies for the church calendar. Although I wasn’t raised in churches that observe the church calendar, and don’t follow it strictly as an adult, these books provoke reflection on the awe-inspiring themes and realities of our Lord Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. A great gift.

Seeing through Frankenstein

Posted on November 1, 2025

Watching del Toro’s Frankenstein, I was struck by Victor’s description of his creation as “obscene, monstrous, grotesque.” a horror to behold. It was uncomfortable to hear the creator speak of his creation in such unrestrained invective. The creature’s longing for companionship and love made this especially painful to watch as he responds to Victor, “I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy one, I will indulge in the other” (Shelly).

The tense relationship between creator and creature, which is eventually cast as father and son, invites us to explore “the chain of pain” in familial relationships, identifying good longings that go unfulfilled. While it is unfair to reduce this relationship to a single metaphor, there are insights to be gleaned by looking at Frankenstein from various angles.

The Father-Son Relationship

The first insight is on the nose–the power of the father-son relationship. It has the power to destroy and to lift up, to demoralize and to empower. Every son longs for the approval of his father, even those who already possess the approval of a good father. We are made to enjoy the sun of our dad’s delight, to live in the confidence of what he thinks of us, and yet, every father fails to do this adequately. We cannot do it consistently or deeply enough–we are made to rest in the approval of a greater Father.

The Image of Self

A second insight comes from the observation I made earlier–the discomfort of Victor’s description of his creation: obscene, monstrous, grotesque. The twist comes when we realize that Victor is looking at an image of himself. The hubris-filled creator cannot settle for anything less than perfection (when the creature did not immediately learn to speak, Victor deems him unintelligent.) The grotesque appearance of his creation is a reflection of his own depravity–a lust for creative glory and success.

The Creator become Disfigured Creature

It is here that we are invited to see ourselves. As Del Toro says, “I am the monster,” his film in part a commentary on humanity’s capacity for evil. We all snub, gossip, slander, silently hate, and worse. We have a grotesque dimension to our humanity. Thinking about this, I found this description stunning:

he had no form or majesty that we should look upon him, and not beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted by grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces (Isaiah 53:2-3)

This ushers in the third insight. In looking at the creature, we not only see ourselves but also the Creator. Christ, the one in whom all things are made, embraces a form from which men hide their faces. Marred beyond recognition at the cross, Jesus wears our depravity and endures our rejection. Why? To reunite Father and son, Creator and daughter, God and humanity.

For this reason, the closing scene of Frankenstein pulls on our deepest longings–to be forgiven and restored, our image renewed and the father’s love enjoyed. In Christ, the distorted son forgives fallen fathers and mothers, men and women, that we may truly live.