Joseph F. Radosevich

 What I learned last year. I turned 41. I learned that my body can get stronger and do more exercise than ever before, but I will pay a price if I don't rest enough. I enjoy my workouts. I enjoy training 5 days a week, and I love kettlebells. I often did 5 days of kettlebells per week if I was feeling good. I learned that if I train hard 5 days a week, my body won't recover ,and I'll gain weight from it. I'm stronger and fitter than I've probably ever been, but I gained 10 lbs this year and my waist is bigger. Geoff Neupert helped me understand what was going on because he focuses on helping 40-50 year old men. He said that this is normal, so you have to cut down on the workouts.  I thought it was the food that I ate, so I cut out cheese and peanut butter and limited portions. None of that worked. I enjoyed the workouts from Pat Flynn's book Strong On! , but those workouts don't work for my body anymore. The reps and stress were just too high for my 41 year-...

These are the entries in my reading journal from the last year. As I finish a book, I write down a few thoughts. I've found that I read a lot of four star books because I choose carefully and because I put down books that I'm not enjoying.

Here are my favorite books that I read this year. Some of them, I've read before. I went through my reading log and found all of the books I rated a five on a one to five scale. I'm planning on posting my whole reading log for the year later this week. One thing you may notice is that none of the books on this list are new to 2025. I've written before on my guideline to read books 5 years old or older. I think if a book can't last and be worth reading for 5 years, then it's probably not worth my time. I've only got time to read around 65 books a year, so I have to be careful with what I choose to read. I don't know how many books I read this year that were published this year, but it is very few. 1057. Holiness , J.C. Ryle. 1/8/25 * * * * * (This book is dynamite. The last chapter alone is one of the best sermons I’ve ever read--I think most chapters are sermons. The book title sounds like code for “legalism.” It is not, and it is well-worth your reading.) 1...

If you want to read story Bibles to your kids or grandkids, here is my list of the best story Bibles. If you want to give one as a gift to a child or family, this is also the list for you. The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible by Jared Kennedy. This is most likely to help your kids get saved. This is the best all-around story Bible. It tells the stories correctly while still being fun. It is clear about the gospel and how to be saved, and it has an engaging question with each story. Kennedy presents the gospel explicitly many times in his book. The other story Bibles below do not present it so clearly or call for a response in the same way. The gospel is more implicit in those than explicit. Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. This is most likely to make you cry for joy. This is the story Bible that kicked off the modern story Bible movement. The story is so beautifully told. It's strength is how Lloyd-Jones explains how every story in the Bible points to Jesus (Luke 24)....

 Here are seven quotes that help me think about preaching as a pastor. Most of them are uncommon (two are from novels), but they help me and may help you. "It's not me, really," she replied., smiling wide. "It's a feast I just showed up to. I showed up to serve. I didn't make the feast." (245) Jack Zulu and the Girl with the Golden Wings S.D. Smith and J.C. Smith I love this one from a children's novel because it reminds me that I'm serving the people and the text. I didn't make either one. Whatever else you count yourself in the ministry, never lose this fundamental idea of yourself as a messenger. (32) It is good to be a Herschel who describes the sun; but it is better to be a Prometheus who brings the sun's fire to the earth. (35) "The true way to get rid of the boniness of your sermon is not by leaving out the skeleton, but by clothing it with flesh. (134) The Joy of Preaching Phillips Brooks Chauntecleer's crowing had become...