December 30, 2025 • 15 mins
Time is flying by so fast—it’s hard to believe. “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” As Hank reflects on another year, a phrase has been echoing through his mind: “You will be the same person next year as you are right now except for two things—the people you meet and the books you read.” Hank would add a third: the things you memorize.Some of the greatest breakthroughs Hank has ever experienced have come directly from reading.Both in America and abroad, reading is in decline across the board. That’s the bad news. The good news? You can get hooked on reading today. We live in a moment when truth is being assaulted from every side. And if ever there was a time to double down on the discipline of reading, it is now.Are you ready for a breakthrough? Read.
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Click here to read Hank’s full message. https://www.equip.org/letter-from-hank/
Click here to partner with us for Calendar Year End Giving. https://www.equip.org/product/year-end-gift-2025-toa/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
By. This is Saint Undergraph, president of the Christian Research Institute,
hosts of the Bible answer Man broadcast and the handcum
Plug podcast, with a short message for you today. Every year,
at about this time, I have sad down and had
the intention of writing a year end letter. And every year,
(00:51):
as I begin to write, I have been amazed that
another year is already coming to an end. Time is
flying by so rapidly it's just hard to believe. I think,
are the words only when life soon twill be passed,
(01:13):
Only what's done for Christ will last. But today, as
I begin to think about what to say, a phrase
I heard early on in my ministry keeps echoing through
my mind. It was actually a phrase by a guy
(01:34):
named Charlie Tremendous Jones. He was a great motivational speaker,
but I'll never forget him saying that you will be
the same person next year as you are right now,
except for two things, the people you meet and the
books you read. And I have augmented that phrase by saying,
(01:54):
it's not only the people you meet and the books
you read, but the things you memorize. But at any rate,
some of the greatest breakthroughs that I have ever experienced
in the entire course of my life and ministry have
come as a direct result of reading. And of course
(02:16):
I'm not alone. I think of Sir Isaac Newton. He
could not have developed calculus, he could not have discovered
the law of gravity, he could not have designed the
first reflecting telescope entirely on his own. He read, and
(02:41):
he reflected on the accumulated knowledge of those who had
come before him. And the greatest of all such revelations
is the Bible. Newton read it every single day, and
so must we. Nothing, and I mean nothing, should take
(03:05):
precedence over getting into the Word and getting the Word
into us. If we fail to eat well balanced meals
on a regular basis, we will eventually suffer the physical consequences.
But likewise, if we do not regularly feed on the
Word of God, we will suffer the spiritual consequences. The
(03:32):
numbers of people not reading the Bible or books in
general is staggering. A recent survey revealed that a majority
of Americans have not read a single book this year.
Let that sink in not one single book. And the
(03:54):
decline in reading is even more acute amongst our youth.
In place of books where we see them habitually stooped
over smartphones and tablets. But there's good news, and that
(04:15):
good news is that all of us can get hooked
on reading all over again. And there are so many benefits,
so many benefits, it's hard to know where to begin.
Reading improves discipline, vocabulary, It improves memory, creativity, reasoning, prowess, relaxation.
(04:46):
It can even stave off diseases, diseases like Alzheimer's. But
more importantly, reading engages you with another mind. Reading scripture,
the implications are simply staggering. By the words of Scripture,
(05:08):
we are brought into direct communication with the mind of God.
And not only so, we have access to the minds
of writers directly inspired by the divine, and thus by
reading we gain an enhanced perspective on reality. I've often
(05:28):
said that if there was a secret to John Wesley's
other worldly ministry, that I am convinced it was his reading.
In fact, he used to exhort other preachers to read,
and he pulled no punches. He told them that what
was impoverishing their preaching was the lack of reading. Of
(05:53):
Coursius Lewis is another great example of a person that
was a prodigious readers young child, he immersed himself in
the classics. But it wasn't just the classics. He left
a wide variety of genres, not the least of course,
was fantasy and fiction. Even though he was a prodigious intellect,
(06:17):
these genres piquked his imagination. He knew that by drawing
readers through the wardrobe into Narnia, they might well emerge
with renewed sensitivity to everything that is real. My point
is simply this reading is a life practice by which
(06:37):
our minds may be renewed, by which our minds may
be transformed, is a principal tool through which God changes us.
So here's the takeaway. Turn off the television, immerse yourself
in the habit of reading, Engage the mind of God
(06:58):
and the marvelous mind of those who have learned to
think God's thoughts after him. So, as the new year approaches,
I want to know that far from it, time flies,
I urge you to recommit yourself to the joy of reading.
(07:19):
Read the Bible and experience the mind of God, and
of course read books that fortify you in life and truth,
as I have done so for the last four decades.
In the coming year, I will continue to suggest great titles,
(07:41):
titles destined to enricher life. This is a way to
inoculate you and your loved ones, particularly your children, from
a fractured existence and from distortions of truth. Simply put,
want to change the country, even the course of history.
(08:04):
It is axiomatic that you and your progeny read. That
is how they will fortify themselves against the materialist worldview.
That is how they will comprehend the Marxist underpinnings of
acronyms like the EI. How else will they be transformed
(08:29):
from cultural conformists to cultural change engines. Think about it,
How do we equip ourselves to stand firm in the
face of mounting cultural chaos? How do we answer the
torrent of counterfeit claims, claims from the kingdom of the cults,
(08:51):
the world of the occult, and from ideologies hostile to
historic Christianity? How do we heed the exhortation of the
apostle Peter, who urges us to always be prepared, always
be prepared to give an answer, an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the reason for the hope
that you have. Of course, do it with gentleness and respect.
(09:14):
Being ready go Being ready requires more than surface level knowledge.
It demands the kind of depth that comes through only
one thing. Careful, prayerful, reflective reading, the discipline that trains
(09:36):
us to think clearly, to discern wisely, and to engage
with conviction in a sound bite culture. Concerted reflective reading
a scripture in books of proven worth forces us to
(09:58):
slow down, to digest, to pay attention. It's how we
move beyond surface theologies and to the rich tapestry of
biblical truth. We live in a moment when truth is
(10:18):
being assaulted from every side. And if ever there was
a time to double down on the discipline of reading,
now is that time. We don't need more Christians wasting
their days in self indulgent, mindless preoccupations on their smartphones.
(10:41):
We need instead, believers who are deeply rooted in truth,
Believers who know their Bibles, who can spot counterfeits because
they know the authentic Christian life, who read culture through
the lens of scripture the other way around. That's why
(11:03):
we do what we do at the Christian Research Institute,
who exist to prote truth and to expose error. That's
why we've published more than two thousand, maybe three thousand
written resources resources that are freely accessible at equipped dot
org equip dot org. Now included in those freely accessible
(11:27):
resources is a Christian research journal. It's now online with
a new article appearing weekly, all supported by your gifts
to the ongoing work of the Christian Research Institute. And
I want to thank you for your partnership, if you
are indeed a partner, because of you were reaching people
(11:47):
across the globe. Over the past year, people from more
than ninety percent of the world's nations. Think about thatations
and territories have accessed our vast library at equip equip
dot org, which is a treasure trove of material. In
(12:10):
addition to over two thousand, five hundred written resources, more
than seven thousand audio and video recordings, podcasts like Han't Unplugged,
the Bible answer Man YouTube channel, and so much more
(12:32):
that while the content is freely available, is anything but
free to produce and maintain. That's again why I'm asking
you who love our ministry, who love the Lord and
want to stand with this ministry, and asking you to
engage with us as we fly towards your end. Would
(12:55):
you stand with me and the Minister of the Christian
Research Institute, as together we equip the body of Christ
to read wisely, to live faithfully in Him, to contend
earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the Saints.
Your gift is an investment. It's an investment in the
(13:17):
Kingdom of Christ until he comes a second time. It
enables us to produce content that transforms minds and hearts
for His glory, and of course strengthens the Church of
Jesus Christ worldwide, the church for which Christ died. Help
(13:43):
us to continue to equip believers with trustworthy resources that
renew minds and defend truth in a world that is
a wash in confusion. Your generous year and gift today
keeps the vital work of Christian Research Institute CRI going strong.
(14:05):
God bless you for the difference you make in shaping
minds and changing lives. You can give them a safe,
secure fashion on the web at equipped dot org. You can,
of course has always write me at Post Office Box
eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, zip code two eight
(14:25):
two seven one. Thanks again for your support this year.
If you're not supporting us, please start. If you are, again,
thank you on behalf of the staff of the Christian
Research Institute. I hope your year end is fantastic and
(14:47):
your new year gives you an opportunity to make a
difference for time and for eternity. Only one life soon
will be passed only what's done for Christ. Ultimately, they
lasked its long for now
By. This is Saint Undergraph, president of the Christian Research Institute,
hosts of the Bible answer Man broadcast and the handcum
Plug podcast, with a short message for you today. Every year,
at about this time, I have sad down and had
the intention of writing a year end letter. And every year,
(00:51):
as I begin to write, I have been amazed that
another year is already coming to an end. Time is
flying by so rapidly it's just hard to believe. I think,
are the words only when life soon twill be passed,
(01:13):
Only what's done for Christ will last. But today, as
I begin to think about what to say, a phrase
I heard early on in my ministry keeps echoing through
my mind. It was actually a phrase by a guy
(01:34):
named Charlie Tremendous Jones. He was a great motivational speaker,
but I'll never forget him saying that you will be
the same person next year as you are right now,
except for two things, the people you meet and the
books you read. And I have augmented that phrase by saying,
(01:54):
it's not only the people you meet and the books
you read, but the things you memorize. But at any rate,
some of the greatest breakthroughs that I have ever experienced
in the entire course of my life and ministry have
come as a direct result of reading. And of course
(02:16):
I'm not alone. I think of Sir Isaac Newton. He
could not have developed calculus, he could not have discovered
the law of gravity, he could not have designed the
first reflecting telescope entirely on his own. He read, and
(02:41):
he reflected on the accumulated knowledge of those who had
come before him. And the greatest of all such revelations
is the Bible. Newton read it every single day, and
so must we. Nothing, and I mean nothing, should take
(03:05):
precedence over getting into the Word and getting the Word
into us. If we fail to eat well balanced meals
on a regular basis, we will eventually suffer the physical consequences.
But likewise, if we do not regularly feed on the
Word of God, we will suffer the spiritual consequences. The
(03:32):
numbers of people not reading the Bible or books in
general is staggering. A recent survey revealed that a majority
of Americans have not read a single book this year.
Let that sink in not one single book. And the
(03:54):
decline in reading is even more acute amongst our youth.
In place of books where we see them habitually stooped
over smartphones and tablets. But there's good news, and that
(04:15):
good news is that all of us can get hooked
on reading all over again. And there are so many benefits,
so many benefits, it's hard to know where to begin.
Reading improves discipline, vocabulary, It improves memory, creativity, reasoning, prowess, relaxation.
(04:46):
It can even stave off diseases, diseases like Alzheimer's. But
more importantly, reading engages you with another mind. Reading scripture,
the implications are simply staggering. By the words of Scripture,
(05:08):
we are brought into direct communication with the mind of God.
And not only so, we have access to the minds
of writers directly inspired by the divine, and thus by
reading we gain an enhanced perspective on reality. I've often
(05:28):
said that if there was a secret to John Wesley's
other worldly ministry, that I am convinced it was his reading.
In fact, he used to exhort other preachers to read,
and he pulled no punches. He told them that what
was impoverishing their preaching was the lack of reading. Of
(05:53):
Coursius Lewis is another great example of a person that
was a prodigious readers young child, he immersed himself in
the classics. But it wasn't just the classics. He left
a wide variety of genres, not the least of course,
was fantasy and fiction. Even though he was a prodigious intellect,
(06:17):
these genres piquked his imagination. He knew that by drawing
readers through the wardrobe into Narnia, they might well emerge
with renewed sensitivity to everything that is real. My point
is simply this reading is a life practice by which
(06:37):
our minds may be renewed, by which our minds may
be transformed, is a principal tool through which God changes us.
So here's the takeaway. Turn off the television, immerse yourself
in the habit of reading, Engage the mind of God
(06:58):
and the marvelous mind of those who have learned to
think God's thoughts after him. So, as the new year approaches,
I want to know that far from it, time flies,
I urge you to recommit yourself to the joy of reading.
(07:19):
Read the Bible and experience the mind of God, and
of course read books that fortify you in life and truth,
as I have done so for the last four decades.
In the coming year, I will continue to suggest great titles,
(07:41):
titles destined to enricher life. This is a way to
inoculate you and your loved ones, particularly your children, from
a fractured existence and from distortions of truth. Simply put,
want to change the country, even the course of history.
(08:04):
It is axiomatic that you and your progeny read. That
is how they will fortify themselves against the materialist worldview.
That is how they will comprehend the Marxist underpinnings of
acronyms like the EI. How else will they be transformed
(08:29):
from cultural conformists to cultural change engines. Think about it,
How do we equip ourselves to stand firm in the
face of mounting cultural chaos? How do we answer the
torrent of counterfeit claims, claims from the kingdom of the cults,
(08:51):
the world of the occult, and from ideologies hostile to
historic Christianity? How do we heed the exhortation of the
apostle Peter, who urges us to always be prepared, always
be prepared to give an answer, an answer to everyone
who asks you to give the reason for the hope
that you have. Of course, do it with gentleness and respect.
(09:14):
Being ready go Being ready requires more than surface level knowledge.
It demands the kind of depth that comes through only
one thing. Careful, prayerful, reflective reading, the discipline that trains
(09:36):
us to think clearly, to discern wisely, and to engage
with conviction in a sound bite culture. Concerted reflective reading
a scripture in books of proven worth forces us to
(09:58):
slow down, to digest, to pay attention. It's how we
move beyond surface theologies and to the rich tapestry of
biblical truth. We live in a moment when truth is
(10:18):
being assaulted from every side. And if ever there was
a time to double down on the discipline of reading,
now is that time. We don't need more Christians wasting
their days in self indulgent, mindless preoccupations on their smartphones.
(10:41):
We need instead, believers who are deeply rooted in truth,
Believers who know their Bibles, who can spot counterfeits because
they know the authentic Christian life, who read culture through
the lens of scripture the other way around. That's why
(11:03):
we do what we do at the Christian Research Institute,
who exist to prote truth and to expose error. That's
why we've published more than two thousand, maybe three thousand
written resources resources that are freely accessible at equipped dot
org equip dot org. Now included in those freely accessible
(11:27):
resources is a Christian research journal. It's now online with
a new article appearing weekly, all supported by your gifts
to the ongoing work of the Christian Research Institute. And
I want to thank you for your partnership, if you
are indeed a partner, because of you were reaching people
(11:47):
across the globe. Over the past year, people from more
than ninety percent of the world's nations. Think about thatations
and territories have accessed our vast library at equip equip
dot org, which is a treasure trove of material. In
(12:10):
addition to over two thousand, five hundred written resources, more
than seven thousand audio and video recordings, podcasts like Han't Unplugged,
the Bible answer Man YouTube channel, and so much more
(12:32):
that while the content is freely available, is anything but
free to produce and maintain. That's again why I'm asking
you who love our ministry, who love the Lord and
want to stand with this ministry, and asking you to
engage with us as we fly towards your end. Would
(12:55):
you stand with me and the Minister of the Christian
Research Institute, as together we equip the body of Christ
to read wisely, to live faithfully in Him, to contend
earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the Saints.
Your gift is an investment. It's an investment in the
(13:17):
Kingdom of Christ until he comes a second time. It
enables us to produce content that transforms minds and hearts
for His glory, and of course strengthens the Church of
Jesus Christ worldwide, the church for which Christ died. Help
(13:43):
us to continue to equip believers with trustworthy resources that
renew minds and defend truth in a world that is
a wash in confusion. Your generous year and gift today
keeps the vital work of Christian Research Institute CRI going strong.
(14:05):
God bless you for the difference you make in shaping
minds and changing lives. You can give them a safe,
secure fashion on the web at equipped dot org. You can,
of course has always write me at Post Office Box
eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, zip code two eight
(14:25):
two seven one. Thanks again for your support this year.
If you're not supporting us, please start. If you are, again,
thank you on behalf of the staff of the Christian
Research Institute. I hope your year end is fantastic and
(14:47):
your new year gives you an opportunity to make a
difference for time and for eternity. Only one life soon
will be passed only what's done for Christ. Ultimately, they
lasked its long for now
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