As promised in last week’s Midweek Update, here are some recommendations from my readings in 2025. Many of these books can be accessed at a library as well, some even as audio books through the Libby app. Choose one and use it to fuel your growth in 2026!

Once again another year is winding down. Christmas Eve is a great day for both reflection and anticipation, thinking back over the last year and beginning to dream about what God might do in your life in the coming year. Next week I will list my top books of 2025, but this week I want to make a case for why you should read more in 2026. 

That’s why we shouldn’t have been surprised Sunday when the fire alarm went off near the end of the service. Fires happen every day,  everywhere. That’s why there are fire stations nearby, and why we gladly pay tax money to provide for fire fighters to help us in time of need. Thank you to everyone who quickly found the source of the problem: Jim Stewart, Joe Hillerich, Mark Sweetman, Chad Greathouse and others acted quickly to determine that there was not a fire in the building. The problem was a newly installed HVAC unit that had not been properly sealed and was leaking hot air into the closet where it was located. Thus, that small room became much hotter than it should, triggering a fire sensor. The HVAC company has already been out to do the repair, and everything is now working properly.

I’ve been reading Tim Keller’s book on Prayer and he highlights the role the Word of God plays in building our resilience. One example is the way Psalm 1 speaks about a person who is rooted in God’s Word: They are “like a tree rooted so that the wind cannot blow it away… planted by streams of water… an image of someone who can keep going in hard, dry times.” He also notes how this person who meditates on God’s Word has a substance of character. They have “thought things out and have deep convictions, can explain difficult concepts in simple language, and have good reasons behind everything they do.

It was years later that I really started working on my 3-point shot and learned that if you put in the work, through practice (sorry Mr. Iverson, it is important), you actually can develop a skill. I wasn’t playing on any official team, and the NBA still wasn’t calling, but my shot for pick-up games improved significantly. I also used to be terrified of public speaking, but over time became comfortable in front of people. The point is, you can grow! I’ve since heard this called a ‘growth’ mindset (I can change and improve), versus a ‘fixed’ mindset (I guess this is just the way I am).

Sunday we looked at Philippians 4:6-7, opening with the phrase, “Do not be anxious about anything.” Anxiety is crippling so many people today, but Paul offers a clear antidote to anxiety: Prayer. I challenged us to do two things this week (a homework assignment?).

This is partly why our memory verses for November are Philippians 4:6-7. It starts with the command, “Do not be anxious about anything.” That word “anything” is a hard word for us. Really? Anything? Surely there is something worth being anxious about? Paul was likely writing from prison in Rome. When he first came to them, he had been beaten and jailed in Philippi. He knew the Philippian church was under attack both from without and within. If he can say “anything,” it at least covers the things most of us face day to day.

This week we launched our new theme for the year “Walk by Faith.” We believe God is at work at Valley View, calling each of us to walk by faith in the coming year. What step of faith would He have you take this year? What would you long to see Him do in and through you in the next year? Be praying for God to clearly reveal it to you. Be listening for the Holy Spirit to guide you. Walking by faith is how we grow and how we see God do amazing things in and through our church and all over the South End of Louisville!

Bruce Lee was famous for his amazing strength and speed, especially for his size. He was a pioneer in combining various forms of the martial arts to develop a more effective and well-rounded fighting system. He also understood the power of focus. One could have an immense amount of power, but, if not delivered with focus, it was ineffective. One way he illustrated this was what he called the “1-inch punch.” He had developed the ability to center all of his energy with such focus, that he could start a mere 1-inch away from his opponent and knock a person backwards.

This week I was hanging out with Greg, a guy I hadn’t seen since April. Back then he shared with me how a simple 10 minute prayer strategy had changed his life (I wrote about it here). This week he said, “Since I last saw you I’ve read two books: Desiring God by John Piper and The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. I can’t believe I’ve lived this long without reading those books. Those should be required reading for every Christian!” He then went on to share how Piper’s book especially had completely renewed his joy and his walk with Christ.