Serious Times

Did you know that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the second and third presidents of the United States, died on the same day, and that it was July 4th, 1826, our nation's fiftieth anniversary? Toward the end of their lives, Adams wrote in a letter to Jefferson,

My friend, you and I have lived in serious times.

This information and quote come from the introduction of a great book I'm reading. Indeed, this quote provides the title for the book, Serious Times, by James Emery White. The subtitle is Making Your Life Matter in an Urgent Day. It's an extremely easy read (though its message is a distinct challenge). The first three chapters establish the fact that we live in serious times, and the last four present a call to live serious lives in response. The latter deal with (among other topics) deepening our souls and developing our minds. In addition, each chapter is followed by a brief biographical sketch--Wilberforce, Bonhoeffer, St. Benedict, etc.

I highly recommend this book to any Christian who dreams of making his or her life matter.