It’s rare when a book lives up to the hype. By the time I opened the book, I had read the myriad of glowing reviews and I admit some skepticism. The doubts increased as the first 100 pages or so appeared slow and aimless. But then after that- pure magic. The love story that dominates the final half of the book is breathtaking and impossibly well-written, and the setting of a freedom-less nation only adds to the poignancy. After I finished, I had trouble sleeping as themes and characters felt woven through my brain and heart. I agree with the Daily Beast’s review: “The year is young, but The Orphan Master’s Son has an early lead on novel of 2012.”

Couldn’t have said it better! My favorite novel of all-time (I really haven’t read that many) is The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (which you can read for free on the Kindle!). But this book by Johnson has easily become my favorite modern novel. I’ll try to write a longer review another time, but for now, let me excerpt one of many deliciously written parts. This takes place when a girl realizes that  Jun Do (that main character) is kidnapping her:

“My God,” she said. “You’re one of them.”
Sand blew into the bag, into her eyes.
“Believe me,” he said. “I know what you’re going through.”
“You don’t have to be a bad guy,” she said. “There’s goodness in you, I can see it. Let me go, and I’ll sing for you. You won’t believe how I can sing.”
“Your song has been troubling me,” he said. “The one about the boy who chooses to quit rowing in the middle of the lake.”
“That was only an aria,” she said. “From a whole opera, one filled with subplots and reversals and betrayals.”
Jun Do leaned close now. “Does the boy stop because he has rescued the girl and on the far shore he will have to give her to his superiors? Or has the boy stolen the girl and therefore knows that punishment awaits?”
“It’s a love story,” she said. “I understand that,” he said. “But what is the answer? Could it be that he knows he’s marked for a labor camp?”
She searched his face, as if he knew the answer.
“How does it end?” he asked. “What happens to them?”
“Let me out and I’ll tell you,” she said. “Open this bag and I’ll sing you the ending.”

Finding love in a loveless land and culture is one of the indelible themes of this novel. And there’s many, many more wonderful scenes like this one.

Read. This. Book.

Love seeketh not itself to please
Nor for itself hath any care
But for another gives its ease
And builds a heaven in hell’s despair.
Love seeketh only self to please,
To bind another to its delight,
Joys in another’s loss of ease,
And builds a hell in heaven’s despite.
-”The Clod and the Pebble,” William Blake

—–

Today is the 39th anniversary of the worst Supreme Court decision ever. It’s a day that has led to the American slaughter of over 50 million babies in the name of choice.

Check out what our assuredly unashamed pro-abortion president said in ‘celebration’:

President Barack Obama says the 39^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade is the chance to recognize the “fundamental constitutional right” to abortion and to “continue our efforts to ensure that our daughters have the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams.”

Our president is right, of course. Legalized abortion on demand has given to both our daughters and sons no rights, no freedoms, and certainly no opportunities when they’re aborted.

It continues to sadden me to no end that our first black president is stridently in favor of something that is literally decimating the African-American population in our country. Consider these stats from blackgenocide.org (a site I highly recommend if you want to be educated on this issue):

For every two African American women that get pregnant one will choose to abort. A black baby is 5 times more likely to be killed in the womb than a white Baby.

Did you know that the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger (whom I remember was presented to me as a saint in my high school history class), was a blatant racist and eugenicist who once said, “Colored people are like human weeds and are to be exterminated”? No wonder about 2/3 of Planned Parenthoods are found in areas with a high percentage of blacks; Sanger’s vision and legacy lives on.

Meanwhile, we have an African-American president who is so radical that he had no problem voting three times against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act as a state senator in Illinois. Even the most pro-choice politicians tend to vote in favor of this act. But not our leader of the free world. Sigh.

Hmm, I got served. Shortly after posting my last blog which included a pot shot at liberals, I read this book excerpt. Well done, Mr. Crabtree; I could certainly a lot from that technique. And I’m about to start your book as well as I plan on sharing its insights with my student leaders.

Then again, our vice president is the gift that keeps on giving. And the Solyndra story continues to remind us of the follies of greater government intervention.

The March for Life is this Monday. Wish I could be there like I was in 2005. Here’s a good reminder that as Christians, it is our duty to pray for the ending of abortion.

On a much lighter note, this news would be a major boon for Mets fans. Lewin is very good. For those who have ever listened to Wayne Hagin call a baseball game, let us rejoice that he will no longer be the radio man for the Mets. I remember constantly getting upset that he would use up 50 words before finally telling me what happened on a specific play. Mr. Hagin, Robert Southy once wrote, “It is with words as with sunbeams.  The more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.” Your way with words did make me burn though, that’s for sure.

Interesting post by Timothy Dalrymple, who is becoming one of my favorite modern philosophers. He is also an evangelical that fervently supports Mitt Romney for President. His Open Letter to the Romney Skeptics is worth pondering. I’m still thinking about it.

Some of you probably already know the story about the cowardice of the captain of the Costa Concordia. If not, here’s a well-written recap. Utterly despicable, and I hope he gets prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

I recently finished Candice Millard’s The Destiny of the Republic, a phenomenal tale of the rise and assassination of President James A. Garfield. It’s an easy and engaging read. For a Cliffs’ Notes version, check out this piece from Smithsonian Magazine. It’s such a tragedy that Garfield would’ve easily survived if he had been shot 15 years later; most doctors at that time just didn’t understand how infections were so insidious.

Finally, here’s a trailer of a new documentary coming out. Its title is the three deadliest words in the world: “It’s a Girl.”

Dickey is an absolute joy to watch on the field. His knuckleball dances and baffles the batter, catcher, umpire, and even Dickey all at the same time. He pitches with a missing ligament in his right elbow, and has enjoyed a late career renaissance in which he’s been one of the more valuable pitchers in baseball over the last two seasons. I try not to miss any of his starts; collectively, they’ll probably be one of the few highlights of the 2012 Mets.

Off the field, he’s also a deep and engaging individual who reads a lot and loves Star Wars. He interacts with his fans via Twitter, and his profile there (Father, Husband, Christian, Pitcher, Author, Adventurer, Star Wars Nerd, Reader, Ninja in Training & Cyclist) is nothing short of pure awesomeness. Go read his interview (Part One, Two, Three, Four) with Amazin’ Avenue back in December 2010; like me, you’ll be struck by how thoughtful his answers are. Man’s got heart. I cannot wait to read his memoir, which I believe is coming out in the next couple months.

*Switching over to politics, I would like to give props to my man Rick Santorum. Ever since I read his book It Takes a Family years ago at a Fort Lee Borders (that’s now been long closed down), I have a been a big fan. I’ve always appreciated his convicted and principled stands on abortion and traditional marriage. He does a great job explaining conservative positions (for one recent example, read his answer to the first question in this interview. Good stuff.).

He was the one candidate in the Republican presidential primary that actually stopped in every single county in Iowa, and his efforts proved worthwhile as he could be certified the winner there. So even though he most likely won’t get the nomination (Romney’s practically a shoo-in at this point), props to you Rick.

One more thing I’d like to mention about Santorum. As you may know, two prominent liberal commentators– Alan Colmes and Eugene Robinson, the latter whose columns are so comically devoid of sound logic that he might as well be called the male Maureen Dowd– callously made fun of Santorum regarding his decision to show his dead baby to his children before burial. Both attacks were utterly despicable, and quickly retracted.

It floors me how liberals attack conservative politicians and their personal decisions (the way people went after Sarah Palin and her Down Syndrome baby was equally appalling). The column to which I just linked above states that it comes with the territory with running for national office, and I can agree with that regarding the expectation of increased scrutiny. But I thought liberals were all about respecting a woman’s and family’s private decisions. Oh, maybe that’s only the case when said woman/family chooses to abort. In that case, they’re to be applauded. Indeed, we live in a perverse culture.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (I’m hoping to learn from the life of this entrepreneurial savant.)

The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood by William J. Bennett (I want to help the boys in my youth group become men.)

When Teens Pray: Powerful Stories of How God Works by Cheri Fuller and Ron Luce (I hope to inspire my kids concerning the power of prayer while being inspired myself.)

Practicing Affirmation by Sam Crabtree and John Piper (I’m looking to share insights from this book with my student leaders.)

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God by Timothy Keller (This book will be useful in my sex & dating series come Februrary. And of course, I hope this book is very relevant in my life soon enough!)

Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson by D.A. Carson (I’m definitely looking  to be sharpened in ministry by this work.)

There are others on my to-read list (including simply for pleasure books), which I’ll share at another time. The reading and learning has begun!

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard. I just finished this book last night. I love the way Millard writes; her storytelling is simply lucid. President James Garfield was a remarkable man, and it’s a shame that his presidency was so short-lived. It’s even more sad to think that if Garfield had been shot 15 years later, he would not have died. (His death was the  result of poor medical care and complete ignorance when it came to infection.)

The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball’s Most Improbable Dynasty by Adrian Wojnarowski. I heard this book mentioned on an early college basketball telecast last month. Then I checked it out on my Kindle, and it was on sale for under $4. Sold! Hurley is now one of my heroes, and I hope that I can impact young men the way he did.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I’ve never enjoyed a dystopian, futuristic story until this one. It’s a story tailor-made for children of the 80′s. And even though I don’t understand all the references, it ‘s a fun read with a classic moralistic ending. Can’t wait to see the movie.

The Pint Man by Steve Rushin. There’s very little plot in this book, but that’s completely OK. Rushin is a master with words, a fact that any readers of  his Sports Illustrated columns can verify. It’s definitely the most unique book on this list.

Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II’s Greatest Rescue Mission by Hampton Sides. I became a big Sides fan after reading his engrossing telling of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. This book, one of his earlier works, is excellent. I could not believe the efforts that American Army Rangers put forth to rescue their comrades from a Japanese prison. If you like reading stories about true heroes, check this one out.

The Next Story: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion by Tim Challies. A timely book written by the best possible author for this subject. I’ll be using snippets from this book throughout the year in my preaching as it explores how we should interact with (and be wary of) the plethora of technology available to us.

Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin. Any Korean-American should read this beautiful story of a Korean family that frantically searches for its missing mom. I almost teared multiple times as I called to mind the love and sacrifice that my own Korean mom has displayed throughout her life for our family. The ending is pure magic.

King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus by Timothy Keller. Anyone who has heard Keller preach will find this book to be vintage. I really needed this book to remind me of the marvelous truths of the gospel. Last night, I bought his new book, The Meaning of Marriage, and I cannot wait to go through it.

Endgame: Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall – from America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness by Frank Brady. I don’t enjoy many biographies, but I’m always intrigued by those that are about geniuses who are sorta insane at the same time. Fischer certainly fits in that category. After reading the story of his life, I certainly wish I had lived during his prime.

Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader’s Eye-Opening Journey Across the Life Line by Abby Johnson. You know what’s ridiculous? How many people believe that most of us on the pro-life side are goons who seek to torture anyone who enters an abortion clinic (liberal media caricatures FTW!.. or not). But as Johnson tells us, it was the love and compassion expressed by the pro-lifers who hung out to pray at her Planned Parenthood that changed her views, and her heart for the preborn.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. It’s an old British novel, and I absolutely enjoyed its delicious prose and cast of memorable characters. The sad thing is that I have trouble recalling the plot. No matter, though: What I do remember is that I couldn’t wait to read more. (Oh, and the best part: This book is available for free!)

I’m getting older and older (a truth which my youth group kids love to remind me of), but I still relish the start of a new year and the fanfare and promise that it brings. I always call to mind Isaiah 43:18-19:

Forget the former things; 
   do not dwell on the past. 
See, I am doing a new thing! 
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 
I am making a way in the desert 
   and streams in the wasteland. (NIV)

I love that we serve a God who absolutely loves to do new things in our lives. Because of Jesus, we’re not prisoners of our past, and we can always start anew today. We don’t have to wait until the Times Square countdown reaches zero; that’s why I’m starting these principles a couple days early!

Here’s what I have so far:

1) Don’t text when a phone call is better. Texting is convenient when you need to inform a group of people about something. Otherwise, I’m planning on going back to real human interaction with all its awkwardness and glory.

2) Sleep earlier. Be in bed by midnight with only (if any) a Kindle in hand. I sleep too late and I wake up too late. And I waste too much on my smartphone in the evenings. If I want to read before sleeping, then let it be purposeful reading (i.e. working on finishing a book).  There are exceptions to this principle, mainly on Sunday (since Monday is my day off) and Friday nights (I usually come home late after church).

3) Read 52 books in 2012. Yes, that’s a book a week. And honestly, I don’t think I can reach it. But why not aim high? More importantly, though:

3a) Read books that will help me grow and go deeper. I’ve realized that much of my reading in 2011 was only for pleasure. There’s nothing wrong with pleasure reading, but I don’t want to mainly hang out in the shallow end.  Specifically, I will be targeting books that will help me with preaching, pastoring, leadership/people skills, and instill in me a deeper understanding and appreciation of the gospel. My favorite genre, the historical nonfiction narrative, and various fiction will always be there, anyway.

4a) Eagerly desire the gift of prophecy. This one came to me as I was praying at church over the weekend. 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV) commands us to “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.” I love how there’s a  clear relationship between the way of love and the gift of prophecy. As I seek to love God and people well, and eagerly desire this gift, I will grow in this gift! Pretty cool stuff! May I be one who “speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort” (1 Cor. 14:3, NIV). Amen.

4b) Seek to grow in the fruit of patience. 

Of course, I won’t be perfect in implementing these principles. Not even close. But they represent goals to which I am aspiring, and I hope that I follow the words of Proverbs 4:25-27 (NIV): “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

Who am I? They often tell me I would step from my cell’s confinement calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house.

Who am I? They often tell me I would talk to my warden freely and friendly and clearly, as though it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me I would bear the days of misfortune equably, smilingly, proudly, like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of, or am I only what I know of myself, restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage, struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat, yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds, thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness, trembling with anger at despotisms and petty humiliation, tossing in expectation of great events, powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance, weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making, faint and ready to say farewell to it all.

Who am I? This or the other? Am I one person today, and tomorrow another? Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others, and before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling? Or is something within me still like a beaten army, fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.

Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine.

Amen to that.

I still hope to blog more, so for today’s entry, I’ll just tie up a couple loose ends. I never finished my Best Books of 2010. Just awful on my part. But without further ado, here is my top 5:

#5- The Help by Kathryn Stockett. The author is currently being sued for unpermitted appropriation. Nevertheless, this novel was a wonderful read. I don’t know if the voices of the black women employed by a white author were accurate, but I enjoyed them very much. I wrote an earlier review of this book.

#4- Radical by David Platt. This book was also reviewed by me (in two parts). Here’s Part I and Part II. This is definitely one of those books that I need to read over and apply in my life. If you are a believer who wants to go to the next level, this is the book for you.

#3- A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. One of my youth group kids recently asked me to recommend a fiction book for her to read for school, and my choice was an easy one. I loved Kite Runner, and was hesitant to read Hosseini’s second book for fear of the dreaded sophomore jinx. That was irrational consternation on my part, and this novel is full of emotional vigor to the point that if you don’t tear up at some point, you’re not human.

#2- Last Call: The Rise and Fall of American Prohibition by Daniel Okrent. I really enjoy historical nonfiction, but I’m no scholar. That means I don’t have the patience or brainpower to digest densely written books that are more for the historian than the pleasure reader. Last Call clearly has a robust scholarly foundation, and yet is eminently readable. Okrent packs his narrative chock full of hilarious anecdotes, and despite its length (480 pages) and occasional esoteric writing (necessary, of course), I could not wait to get back to this book the next day during my summer of reading.

#1- The Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld and the American Dream by Patrick Radden Keefe. Between this masterpiece and one of my favorite movies of 2010 (Sin Nombre, I highly recommend it!!), I remain floored by how desperately so many people in this world are dying to get to America. There are stories in this book that will stay with you forever- whether it’s Sean Chen’s calamity-ridden journey to get to the States (and yes, he would do it all over again), the Christians who joined forces to help a group of imprisoned Chinese illegals (“joined” because some were liberals, and some were conservatives),  or the main character herself (Sister Ping, the snakehead who masterminds the $40 million operation of smuggling in an abundance of Chinese people). Keefe is an unparalleled storyteller who weaves an epic narrative. All I can say is, read this book.

One personal note: I got into a car accident about 10 days ago. It was my fault; I panicked because a car in front of me stopped abruptly. I received a ticket for unsafe lane change as I tried to dart into the left lane while slamming on my brakes. Thankfully, no one was hurt and the cars were still driveable. I even drove my car back to New Jersey despite my driver’s side door looking like a charred-white piece of meat. I am thankful because it could have been much, much worse. Someone could have gotten hurt (I barely felt anything as our cars collided). My car, which I love, could have been totaled and I’d be totally bummed looking for another vehicle to drive. Instead, I’m happily driving a rental car for a couple weeks while my car gets TLC at my stepdad’s shop. Thank you Lord, for protecting me and the couple in the other car. Thank you Lord that I still get to drive my 2006 Honda Accord, which was totally a gift to me and my family. Praise God!