Pastor’s June Book Selection

Fire Road by Kim Phuc Phan Thi

After a hiatus from doing book reviews, I am happy to suggest “Fire Road” as a possible read on your summer vacation. Having recently listened to an interview with the author, I was moved to purchase her memoir. Kim Phuc was a happy 9 year old girl, living in a relatively safe part of South Vietnam even though war continued to rage throughout the country. Her life was changed dramatically on June 8, 1972, when South Vietnamese troops dropped napalm on her village to stem the flow of communist forces. The tragedy that entered her life was captured in a Pulitzer prize-winning photograph, showing her running naked and burning down Highway Route 1 along with her brothers.

What that picture could not depict would be the years of pain, emotional suffering, manipulation by a victorious communist government, and the anger and bitterness that consumed her. Her biography tells the story of how Jesus Christ entered into her life, brought peace into her heart, and put her on a road of forgiveness, healing, and sanctification. I highly recommend this book as one that encourages faith and demonstrates the hope of the Lord even in the most trying of circumstances. Read this work, it will be a blessing to your soul.

Pastor’s January Book Selection

Augustine on the Christian Life by Gerald Bray

Throughout the years I have recommended a number of works by or about Saint Augustine. “Augustine on the Christian life” is one volume in a series of works about various Christians throughout the ages. If you’ve never read a biography about Augustine or his famous “Confessions”, this is a work that not only offers an overview of his life, but discusses his ministry as a teacher, pastor, and his significance for us today.

When I first began reading, I wasn’t impressed because much of the material was covered elsewhere in greater detail. However, the section on Augustine as a teacher, which is a synopsis of some of his most important ideas, and the chapter on Augustine as a pastor made the book well worth the read. Therefore, I would recommend Bray’s work for those who are not familiar with the life of this important figure, as well as those who would like to become more familiar with his theology and pastoral ministry without trying to wade through an entire volume of his own writings.

Pastor’s December Book Selection

Trusting God by Jerry Bridges

Difficulties, especially those that are unexpected or inexplicable, can leave us questioning God and even doubting his care for us. “Trusting God” is a work that is meant to glorify God by offering a thorough explanation of his sovereignty and goodness, while encouraging Christians from Scripture that God is in control of their lives, that he loves them, and that he does indeed work all things for their ultimate good.

In a caring and pastoral way, the author tackles some of the more perplexing questions we may have when facing various trials. He does not shy away from wrestling with why a good God would allow suffering in our lives or what the point is in praying if God is truly sovereign. His discussion of Divine Providence acts as a great encouragement to trust the Lord even when his purposes do not seem immediately clear to us.

Jerry Bridges has written a work that will challenge the more theologically minded reader, but also bring hope and comfort to those who are struggling with God’s frowning providence as it unfolds in their personal experiences. I highly recommend this book as a help in drawing close to God whose loving control of all things is a reassuring comfort when things so often seem out of control.

Pastor’s November Book Selection

One Holy Passion: The Consuming Thirst to Know God by R. C. Sproul

Over the years as a Christian and a pastor, I have come to the conclusion that the greatest remedy for the feelings of depression and despair, for our worries, for the habitual sins that simply seem to hang on to us, and for many of the other spiritual and emotional afflictions that weigh us down is … to dwell upon, and develop a passion, for the incomprehensible God of Scripture. While such an undertaking may seem paradoxical R.C. Sproul helps us to do just that in his marvelous book, “One Holy Passion”.
Beginning with his own thirst to know God, he takes the reader on a journey through the attributes of God that force us to think deeply about our Maker. The author encourages us

  • to consider those aspects of God that set him apart from all other creatures
  • to understand that this God has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ
  • to know that he loves us,
  • to recognize that he has redeemed us as his own. Contemplating these ideas will help us to grow in a holy passion that lifts our souls and inspires us to pursue our Father above all else.

I cannot suggest a work on the attributes of God more than “One Holy Passion”. I encourage us all to read this book so as to develop a consuming thirst to know God.

Pastor’s October Book Selection

Hide Or Seek: When Men Get Real With God About Sex by John Freeman

In today’s world, and in the Church, sexual struggles are too often kept in the closet by people wanting to be set free, but terrified about opening up to others. Consequently, they live in the shadows, vainly trying to shed the guilt and shame of their battles, while growing more and more hopeless as time wears on. John Freeman, founder and director of Harvest Ministries, has provided a great resource for this problem. Drawing from real-life accounts, and years of experience the author describes, analyzes, and offers hope to men caught in the relentless cycle of sin, shame, repentance, and further sin. Freeman does not simply offer shallow self-help techniques that never seem to work, rather, he walks with the reader through the lonely and debilitating helplessness that accompanies habitual sexual sin. Shining the light of the gospel into the darkness of despair “Hide or Seek” lets the reader see Jesus standing with him in the midst of his sin, pain, and confusion. If you are one that struggles with pornography or other unhealthy sexual practices, this book will give you confidence that God is able and willing to change your heart, that he has provided the means to do so, and that (as it says in chapter 9) he will lead you out of the fog and into the light of a life of repentance. I cannot recommend a book on this topic more highly than Hide or Seek.

Bill Mayk

Pastor’s July Book Selection

Lessons from the Upper Room by Sinclair Ferguson

If we could choose to be transported back in time to when Jesus walked and taught on this earth, I suppose that we would each have a specific moment when we’d like to simply hear the Master’s voice. For some it might be the “Sermon on the Mount”, for others it might be the day Jesus dinned at the home of Zacchaeus, and yet others might wished to have been eye-witnesses of the context in which Jesus taught in parables. In “Lessons from the Upper Room” Sinclair Ferguson gives the reader an inside view of the final meal Jesus spent with his disciples. We see what motivated him most, how he would comfort those he loved knowing the trials they’d soon face, and hearing him describe the nature of his messiahship.

Having first presented this material as lectures for Ligonier Ministries, Ferguson does us a huge service by putting it in book form. I recommend this work for those who would enjoy drawing closer to Jesus as he teaches his disciples what he wants them to know most, before going back to the Father.​

Pastor’s June Book Selection

The practice of the presence OF GOD by brother Lawrence


This is a book I have been wanting to recommend for some time, but hesitated due to some of the negative press it receives in certain Protestant circles. (Call it, the fear of man.) However, after rereading it a number of times with great personal benefit, I thought I would take the plunge.

As a lay monk, living in France between 1611 and 1691, Brother Lawrence dedicated himself to drawing near to God above everything else. He called this endeavor, “The Practice of the Presence of God.” In whatever circumstances he was engaged, he sought to enjoy God’s presence, offer the moment to Him, and set his heart upon doing all things for the Lord. He truly believed that nothing made him worthy to approach God except for what Christ had done on his behalf. It would seem that the ability to consistently practice God’s presence flowed out of a heartfelt belief that God truly was the lover of his soul. Here was a monk that understood the power of, not only preaching the gospel to oneself, but continually basking in the love of God. This is not a theological treatise that expounds the fine points of doctrine, but a call to marvel at the splendor of your Savior. I recommend this book to anyone that simply wishes to consider the sweetness of living daily with Jesus.

Pastor’s March Book Selection

The Mark of the Christian, by Francis Schaeffer

Although written in the latter half of the 20th Century, this short, but insightful, book continues to speak clearly to the church today. Schaeffer’s theme is that the greatest defense of the Christian faith (i.e. apologetic), and of our claim to be Christians, is that we love one another. While agreeing that we are to love all people as image-bearers of God, the author points out that Christians are especially called to an observable love for each other. This Christian love, practiced in holiness, is the highest demonstration of the veracity of our doctrine, and the character of God before a watching world. Throughout this work, Schaeffer deals with the problem of division among Christians, the need for heartfelt forgiveness, overcoming differences and disagreements, and the costly nature of the love to which all God’s people are called. If Bible-believing Christians are to take seriously their mission to be witnesses of Christ, nothing can be more important than that we love one another.

Written by one of the most well-known Christian thinkers of the last century, this brief, but timeless book serves as a helpful challenge to anyone wishing to live an honest and sincere Christian life.

Pastor Mayk’s Sabbatical

Greetings G&P Family,

As a follow up to the announcement that I will be taking a sabbatical beginning in September, I wanted to send out this very short video clip from Pastor Ligon Duncan regarding the importance and purpose of a pastoral sabbatical. Since G&P has not made use of pastoral sabbaticals before, some folks might have questions as to the reason and value of them.

In this video, Ligon offers a concise and helpful insight into the spiritual benefit for the pastor, as well as the congregation through the implementation of a sabbatical. For that purpose, I would also like to ask the congregation to pray in the following manner during my time away…

  • That I would be refreshed in my walk with the Lord, drawing close and growing in my relationship with Him (This cannont be understated.)
  • That Renee and I would both be refreshed and recharged to carry on the ministries to which God has called us as a couple
  • That my adult children would also grow in the Lord during this time
  • That the Ruling Elders of G&P would be given a measure of grace to minister during this time
  • That the visiting preachers would faithfully bring God’s word to the hearts of our congregation, enabling God’s people to continue to grow in his word
  • That the Lord Jesus would shepherd the pastor and the congregation in a Psalm 23 manner during this time

Ligon Duncan on Sabbaticals for Pastors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tguq1xWtof0

May the Lord bless you today as his joy is fulfilled in you.

Bill Mayk

[Ed. note: Pastor Mayk will be away from mid-September through mid-January.  Please contact one of the elders or deacons if you have pastoral or physical needs during this time.]

WPE