July 2023: 'Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools' + Little Changes, Outsized Impacts
Your monthly recap is here.
To the Iowans reading this...how ready are you for the Iowa State Fair?
Here’s your monthly recap:
Best Book I Read This Month
Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer is the best book I’ve read this year, and may be my favorite book of 2023. With humility, vulnerability, and a heart clearly developed over years and years spent in prayer himself, Tyler Staton has written a book that is both practical and deeply moving. You can find it here.
Best Article I Read This Month
"Within evangelicalism, the answer is to continue efforts, like Moore's, to persuade our coreligionists that something has gone awry among us. Outside evangelicalism, though, there's something we should be doing, too: shaping our government to better weather this kind of cultural storm."
The quote above is an excerpt from a story we ran at Reason on how evangelicals still overwhelmingly love Trump. I highly recommend the read, and you can find it here.
Tip + Trick of the Month
“If all you did in 2023 was:
Walk.
Have fun.
Read books.
Strength train.
Enjoy fresh foods.
Make time for family.
Build local community.
Ignore internet fights.
Drink mostly water.
Quiet your ego.
Be playful.
Breathe.
Sleep.
You’ll be in the top 1% without even trying.”
Quote of the Month
“The life of the godly is not a straight line to glory, but they do get there.” -John Piper
Kelvey’s Thought for the Month
What’s something very little you could change that would make a positive impact in your life?
I made a small change this month that had an outsized impact. I try to get at least 10 minutes of sunlight immediately upon waking up in the morning, and I’m also trying to read 75 books this year. Plus, I have a little dog that needs to go out as soon as we get out of bed.
So, for July, instead of taking Watson out, going outside by myself for the sun, and then coming in to read, I made things easier. Now, I grab a book and Watson and I head outside immediately upon waking up. I sit in the sun and read while he romps around the yard. Suddenly, three things are being checked off at once.
How about you? What little change would have a huge impact on your life?
Enjoy your August! I’ll catch you next month.