Mondays with Mike: Reflections and Summer Reading
I hope and pray you had a blessed Independence Day celebration, reflecting on our nation and the miracle of our country.
I dedicate the first portion of this week’s podcast (after last week’s break) to my own reflection. Just in the last few weeks our family welcomed home one of our children from service in Iraq and then held a reunion with our extended family in Maine last week. I also reflect on this last weekend’s assassination attempt, perhaps not as you may expect. In the end, gratitude and calling to serve you and the community of PCA and beyond is strengthened, not diminished by the challenges we face in the great nation God has placed us. I hope you are encouraged.
In the second half of this week’s podcast, I discuss some of the books I either have read or am reading (or just purchased and will be reading). I love to read and learn, and occasionally I share what is on my nightstand and side table by my favorite chair. I hope you are encouraged, and I am always open to recommendations you may have.
Enjoy this week’s podcast!
Summary of the Podcast
Happy Mid-summer, PCA families! I’ve just had a few wonderful weeks with family in and out of New England, and I want to share some thoughts with you. I also hope and pray that you’re having valuable, blessed times with your loved ones. I’m convinced that God has placed rhythms in our lives that we are blessed to follow, from weekly Sabbaths to the educational rhythms of summer. These times are essential for reflection, rest, and preparation for the year ahead. After wrapping up the school year, our staff and faculty took time to reflect, rest, and start thinking about the upcoming year. We’ve broadly laid out next year and are excited to share more in the coming weeks.
The past few weeks have been special for us as a team, allowing us to reconnect and prepare to inspire and educate your children. Three weeks ago, our daughter Sarah returned from a deployment in Iraq, and we were there to welcome her back. It was a powerful moment, especially with the 4th of July and recent events in our country. I want to highlight the beauty of our American community, as seen in the diverse group of people welcoming soldiers home. It’s a reminder of the unity and strength we share as a nation. The two videos below (one 15 seconds, the second about 45 seconds) convey these ideas, I hope!
This short video scans the crowd assembled to welcome their soldier home–they have been waiting for several hours, at this point! I scan the building quickly, but you get a true sense of the cross-section of Americans here–I was so encouraged and hope you are, too!
Our soldiers have arrived home–but where is ours? This video gives you a sense of the “reuniting moment.”
As we approach the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding, I reflect on the uniqueness and challenges of our American Democratic Republic. Our work at PCA, though small in the scope of a great nation and a grand world, plays a significant role in shaping the future for our students and families. I am grateful to be part of this mission, serving and growing our community. Recent events, like the assassination attempt on former President Trump, remind us of the importance of living faithfully and well before God and others. We at PCA are committed to fostering an environment of truth, love, kindness, and service. I encourage you to pray for our leaders and our nation, and to live out our faith joyfully and engagingly.
Mike’s Book Recommendations
On a lighter note, I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful summer with family and friends. Whether at home, the lake, or the beach, I pray this season offers you time to reconnect and recharge. I’ve been reading some books that I’d like to share with you:
- From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks
- A great read for finding purpose in the second half of life.
- Doing Life with Your Adult Children by Jim Burns
- Helpful advice for parenting adult children.
- Playing God by Andy Crouch
- A book on power and how Christians should think about it.
- Authority by Jonathan Lehman
- Discusses godly rule and its impact on communities.
- The Gospel-Shaped Leader by Scott Thomas
- Insights on leadership from a Christian perspective.
- The Pastor as Leader by John Curry
- Connecting preaching and leadership.
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- Explores the impact of modern childhood on mental health.
- Generations by Jean Twenge
- Examines the differences between generations and their implications.
I hope you’re finding time to read, reflect, and pray as we prepare for the new school year. In the coming weeks, I’ll share more about our plans for next year. Until then, know that I’m praying for you and cheering you on. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon. God bless you!
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