Books I Read in 2023, Vol. XIII

 

SHE'S MY DAD: A Father's Transition and a Son's Redemption
Jonathan S. Williams with Paula Stone Williams

Jonathan S. Williams was three months into pastoring an evangelical church plant when his father confessed a secret: he was transgender. His father, Paul, a prominent evangelical pastor, soon became Paula, and Jonathan's life and ministry went into a tailspin. Feeling betrayed by his mentor and confidante and scared that his church would lose funding and support if Paula's secret was exposed, Jonathan sunk into depression and alcoholism. [This book] explores Jonathan's long and winding journey toward reconciliation, forgiveness, and acceptance of his father as well as his church's journey to become one of the few fully LGBTQ-inclusive, evangelical churches in America.

Those of us who are elders at Valley Christian Church are currently having a long-form discussion and study about marriage and homosexuality and gender fluidity. We know many people searching for a church home want to know "how we stand" on these issues and we want to be clear on what Scripture has to say and also have a clear understanding of the LGBTQ community. It was that search for understanding that led me to read this book...that, and the fact that I had enjoyed many a sermon by Paula Williams back when she was Paul.

I must say that I still don't understand how someone born "male" can reject that and just feel more like a "female", though the book DID include some mention of neural pathways and brain stuff. What the book helped me see more clearly is that when you start with an attitude of the Bible maybe not meaning what it clearly says, the path gets very slippery very fast. The author goes so far as to say "My friends and mentors were right about the fact that I no longer believed in sin and separation."

Having heard him say that, it should have come as no surprise to me that  -  even though Jesus said if we want to follow him we must deny ourselves  -  the author says he doesn't "believe in forsaking our one, wild life here for whatever was above."

First line: There was a moment I thought my father might be a woman.

Page 56, Line 5: I pursued a new narrative that let me keep my dad.

Last line: It was really, really good.

Books I Read in 2023, Vol. XII

 

MY 2ND CHAPTER: The Matthew Ward Story
Matthew Ward

Known for such classics as "Easter Song," the Second Chapter of Acts was one of the major music groups at the forefront of the Jesus movement. But what happened, in the wake of personal tragedy, to bring together a brother and his two sisters to sing so boldly for their Lord? And what was life really like for a major contemporary Christian band in those early days? In [this book], Matthew Ward tells his part of the story  -  full of intriguing and humorous behind-the-scenes anecdotes and observations: growing up in a large family, orphaned at age twelve, finding the Lord in the California Jesus movement, becoming a music star, traveling the world, battling cancer, and much more  -  all revealing God's faithfulness in every circumstance.

Having been part of the crowd of record purchasers and concertgoers that helped make 2nd Chapter of Acts the huge success they were, I was eager to hear Ward tell his inside story. His humility and humor come through loud and clear and there wasn't a single page that disappointed. Matthew's singing voice is one-of-a-kind and so is his life's story.

First line: Writing a definitive autobiography in seventy thousand words or less is impossible, unless perhaps you've only lived eight or nine years.

Page 56, Line 5: So when people had physical complaints, we asked God to heal, and He did.

Last line: The trick for me  -  for all of us  -  is to remain in that place where I'm willing to listen to God for guidance, to be obedient to what He asks of me, and to be prayerfully ready to carry out that mission.