I am on day 27 of a 30-day digital detox. And yes, it has been glorious. Difficult, but a much-needed rest for my tech-saturated soul.

Last month I began feeling a restlessness and dissatisfaction with how often I am on my phone. Don't get me wrong - I love my iPhone. YouTube, podcasts, texting, task lists, and reading articles make me happy. But the temptation to run to my phone instead of spending time with Jesus, my wife, kids, or friends is a problem.

While I didn't throw my phone into a dumpster for the month, I deleted the things on it that capture my attention most. Deleting YouTube, Amazon, Spotify, and Goodreads was a slightly painful experience. What if I miss out on a new episode of my favorite podcast? What if I fall behind because I am out of the loop on a specific event or topic? What will happen if I don't see the new books that are released from my favorite authors? What will I do on this 2-hour drive in complete silence?

Here is what happened: I survived. Actually, I did better than just survive... I feel deeply at peace.

This month away from the noise has been a gift. My soul is lighter. My mind is clearer. My heart is happier. I may just extend this detox...

I will leave you with a prayer I have been repeating many times each day amid the silence I find myself in:

Jesus. Thank you for waking me up in this present moment to your loving presence. I don't need to worry about the future. Or wallow in the past. Because you are with me. And I have everything I need.

Top Books from October 2023:

Shout out to Stephen Johns for recommending this one to me. Sorry it took me 5 years to believe you. Science Fiction and Fantasy books have become my favorite genres to read in the evenings. (Which is a sentence my 20-year-old self would have never believed.) After a long day of work and ministry, diving into a distant world is delightful (some call it escapism, I call it awakening my imagination to the supernatural.) Red Rising is about a future caste-based society. People are born into different 'colors' (Reds are slaves, Greens are technicians, Golds rule the world, etc.) But when Darrow, a Red, is invited to lead a revolt to upend the whole system, he finds it may take longer than anticipated. Throughout the long process, will he keep his eyes on the mission, or will comforts, love, or the power of his position prevent him from his mission?

This is one of those books you love and hate at the same time. I loved it because Bonnie Garmus is an incredible storyteller who helped me get lost in the novel. I hated it, because throughout the book, Garmus shares story after story that remind the reader how poorly women were viewed and treated in the 60's (which is when the story takes place). The main character, Elizabeth Zott, is a brilliant chemist. But she is belittled, taken advantage of, and used for her talents while rarely ever getting the credit. There is much heartbreak throughout the story, but the beautiful resilience of Zott and the way the story ends make it an easy recommendation for you all.

Please, go read this book. Seriously. Part of my 30-day digital detox was inspired by this book and I can't recommend it enough. I have read quite a few books on technology, but Digital Liturgies is a new favorite. Samuel James does an incredible job explaining why we need wisdom in the tech age, and why our tech is rarely leading us into wisdom. I was asked to lead a breakout session at our Family of Churches Retreat this month and was grateful for this book as a resource. Here are my notes from that teaching.​

My research for the ongoing debate around complementarianism and egalitarianism led me to this gem of a book. Nijay Gupta is a New Testament scholar and an author I deeply respect. Tell Her Story does a deep dive on multiple woman leaders in the Bible (Deborah, Phoebe, Prisca, and Junia) and argues that the Bible consistently supports women leading in every way. While most complementarians will not be fully convinced after reading this book, I think it is a great addition to the conversation and helpfully showcases the Scripture's empowerment of women leading in the church and world.

There are few books that I listen to via audiobook and then go out and buy the hard copy. This is one of those books and I am grateful I did. Swoboda is a professor (formerly a pastor) who has a deep grasp on the subject and process of deconstruction. With a gracious tone and artistic style, Swoboda helps the reader understand the 3-part process of construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction. He highlights the positives and negatives aspects of it and keeps our eyes focused on Jesus. I just started a 5-week sermon series on Christian deconstruction and am grateful for this excellent resource! If you want to follow along, you can do so here.​

Top Quotes from Oct. 2023:

• "A lack of self-knowledge can construct false barriers between us and God." -A.J. Swoboda
• “You’re a scientist,” he said. “Your job is to question things—to search for answers. But sometimes—and I know this for a fact—there just aren’t any.” -Bonnie Garmus
• "The reality is that the default in much of Western culture is to rely on internet technology to fill the gaps in our minds and hearts. We don't know what we want to watch, so we click the "recommended" options. We don't know what we want to think about, so our social media filters deliver us the posts that are algorithmically the most likely to get us to respond. We don't know who our friends are, so we comb through the internet's "suggested follows," farming out our relationships to its technology. Our spiritual and intellectual menu is held by technologies that are designed not to help us savor what we find, but only to ensure that we binge, and then binge again." -Samuel D. James
• "The longings for wholeness, justice, and significance are three aspects of a universal longing for goodness found within the human heart." -Paul Gould
• “I live for the dream that my children will be born free. That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them.'
  'I live for you,' I say sadly.
  She kisses my cheek. 'Then you must live for more.” - Pierce Brown

Other Books Read in Oct. 2023:

• Cultural Apologetics by Paul M. Gould - 4 stars

Reading Goal for 2023:100 Books

​If you have a Goodreads account, be sure to add me as your friend! @BradSarian​

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Catch up on previous Monthly Book Lists here: Archives​

*Just because I recommend a book does not mean I endorse everything in it. Like the biblical narrative, there is always brokenness in the midst of beauty.

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