What Is Bringing Us Joy in October
Once a month, I enjoy sharing with you about my latest favorites in music, movies, TV shows, books, and podcasts. One of my favorite questions to ask friends when we get together is, “What is bringing you joy lately?” I love hearing the variety of answers to this question! My hope is that in sharing what brought me joy will help you to reflect on what brought you joy.
The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values To Root Us in the Way of Jesus by Rich Villodas (book): Villodas is the lead pastor of a multi-racial church in Queens, NY where more than 70 countries are represented in their membership and I have long admired his pastoral writing. This is his first book, and it is a timely read for churches to recenter and root ourselves in values that matter. Even though he writes from the context of the church he serves, these values are applicable to congregations of all sizes and locations. It would be a wonderful book for a small group to study as well.
Call The Midwife: Season 10 (TV Show): It is rare for a television show not only to air for ten seasons but to get better and better with time. Call the Midwife’s latest season is currently airing on PBS on Sunday evenings, and I love it as much as I did years ago. Set in the Poplar neighborhood of London, it tells the story of midwives based in Nonnatus House. Some of the midwives are nuns, and some are not, but they all work together to make their community better. Like Rich Villodas’ book, the show is very rooted in a time and location, and I love visiting it every week.
Worship Forever by Michael W Smith (Music): When Michael W Smith recorded his first live worship album in early 2001, little he know that the album would release on a day we all remember. The album, Worship, released on September 11, 2001, and in the midst of tragedy and chaos called the church to worship. For the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Smith gathered friends and a symphony orchestra to record the same songs in the same order from the original album. It is amazing, and I hope you will check it out.
all good things to each of you,
Dr. Darian