Fire and Knowledge

Part of the The Reading Interviews series.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Steve McCoy. I’m married to Molly, the Queen of Hotness. God has graciously produced through us four unbelievable kids: Sarah (10), Jack (8), Elijah (6), and Daniel (4). I pastor a 47 year old church in Woodstock, IL named Calvary Baptist Church. My blog, Reformissionary, is found at stevekmccoy.com. I also keep a blog I use to connect with people in my city called Living In Woodstock, IL. I have started to write some articles for The High Calling of Our Daily Work website. I’m also into photography.

What are your favorite books? What do you like about them and how have they influenced you?

No specific order, and I’m sure I’ll leave something out that I’ll think of later.

• The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink – Introduced me to the Scriptural foundations of God’s sovereignty and Calvinism. I remember theological fireworks going off as I worked through this book.
• Finding God by Larry Crabb – This book taught me how deeply sinful I am and how profound the love and acceptance of God is. It was formative in my first two years as a Christian. I actually listened to this dozens of times as an audio book as well.
• Desiring God (or most anything) by John Piper – I know this is probably on a lot of lists of guys who are younger and more reformed, but it’s just too good to not mention. I learned about how to pursue God in all areas of life. I’ve also been influenced heavily by Let the Nations Be Glad, Future Grace, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals and others.
• Love Walked Among Us by Paul Miller – Whenever I get hardened and lose compassion for others, I run to this book again. I have many notes inside the back cover for easy reference. One of the best books I’ve ever read on how Jesus lived.
• Getting Things Done by David Allen – It completely changed the way I work. People who like and use GTD are like evangelists telling others the good news. You should read it.

Who are your favorite writers?

I won’t belabor my debt to John Piper, but he’s up there. I really enjoy the Puritans and guys like Jonathan Edwards, though I read them too little anymore. I’m trying to change that. I find them deeply doctrinal and very practical. I love Dana Gioia’s poetry and the writing of Wendell Berry. And Tim Keller’s articles are some of the best reading around on the local church.

What is the best non-fiction and fiction book you have read recently?

Non-fiction: John Piper’s When the Darkness Will Not Lift. Encouraging and needed in my life.

Fiction: Dana Gioia’s The God’s of Winter (poetry). I read a lot more poetry than prose. This is great, modern poetry by an important, living American poet.

Why do you think reading is important? What has led you to make it a priority in your life?

I didn’t read much until college, just before my conversion. I really became convinced that I needed to take life by the horns and prepare to accomplish something, like a good, ambitious American. Then I became a Christian and realized that it’s God who has called me and wants to use me, and I need to be full of truth and wisdom to be the most useful for my calling. So I consider authors mentors, disciplers. I need the wisdom and experience of others, and reading takes me into their lives and families and churches.

How many books do you normally read at a time?

Between three and ten-ish. I’m a firm believer in not just reading straight through books and feeling like I’ve failed if I don’t finish a book. I read until I get their point sometimes. Or I read until I’m bored. Or I read until I change my interests. A wise seminary prof and friend once told me to study what I enjoy at the moment. That works for me. I do a lot of skimming, rereading pieces, skipping to conclusions, and so on. So right now I have about seven books I’m working on. Tomorrow that list may be four or nine. I’m always reading a variety of articles as well.

Do you mark and take notes while you read? If so, how?

Yeah, and only with a Bic 0.5 lead pencil. I’ve used various methods and utensils. I’ll probably change again. But for now it’s only Bic pencils. I generally underline, put vertical lines in margins where quotes are longer, and use dashes, stars, exclamation points and notes. I hate highlighters, for the record. I generally will put really good or important quotes or stats on index cards and file them.

Do you have any advice about reading that others might find helpful?

Buy lots of books. I often buy books that I know I won’t read immediately. I find having them around as readily available resources very helpful. Just make sure you buy the right ones. Get to know people who can give good advice about books to buy. Read blogs you respect and see what they are reading. I get emails about books all the time from blog readers.

Read Mortimer Adler’s How to Read a Book. I don’t follow his methods, but thinking through them is help enough.

If you have a good biblical/theological foundation, read books that stretch you. Read to learn, not merely to critique. If you are reading for ammo to shoot down an author or idea alone, you will just become a jerk. We have enough of those. I read Brian McLaren, Jonathan Edwards, Martin Luther, and Rob Bell. I read books with cuss words and those who think reading books with cuss words are sinful. Some of the books that have helped me the most are the ones that make me want to throw it across the room.

Make a reading plan. I’m reworking my plan right now. I know people who read a book a day, others read a book a week. Schedule the time and read.