Many years ago, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the influential pastor from England, preached, “Don’t rely too much on labels, for too often they are fables.”

These days we are wise to remember his warning. Labels are often misleading.

My wife, a true child of the South, loves sweet tea. I, on the other hand, prefer mine unsweetened with a slice of lime or lemon.

At least twice recently, while dining out, our server refilled my wife’s sweet tea glass with unsweetened tea. In both cases, when we pointed it out, the server confidently assured us that the label on the pitcher clearly said “sweet tea.” We suggested that somewhere along the way someone had mistakenly poured the wrong tea into the labeled pitcher.

Both times, the servers were visibly surprised. They had placed complete trust in the label without ever verifying the contents.

In the days that followed, I couldn’t shake that moment. I started noticing how often things are mislabeled—and even more concerning, how frequently people assign misleading or limiting labels to others.

A few years ago as we were preparing to move, we spent weeks sorting, decluttering, and packing. As I was cleaning out a junk box, I came across an old Dymo Label Maker—the kind that embosses letters onto colored plastic tape. I hadn’t used one in years, but just holding it brought back memories of labeling school lunch boxes, storage bins, and light switches.

That little device got me thinking about the way we use labels, not just on objects, but on people. Labels serve a purpose when they help us organize or identify things. But when applied to people, they can be limiting, misleading, and even harmful.

If we’re not careful, we can end up trusting the labels we’ve assigned—or received—without ever questioning whether they truly reflect what’s inside. In the current environment, labels can prompt us to dismiss or oppose certain people simply because of the tag we or others have assigned to them.

Here are a few best practices for using labels—both from my Dymo Label Maker and from life:

• Label things, not people. As author Philip Pullman once said, “People are too complicated to have simple labels.” No single word or phrase can fully capture someone’s identity, character, or journey.
  
  
• Only label your own stuff. When packing, we didn’t let the moving company decide which box was labeled “books” and which one was marked “kitchenware.” In the same way, we should be cautious about the labels others assign. People should define their own identities, rather than having them imposed by someone else.
  
  
• The contents define the label, not the other way around. Just because a pitcher is labeled “sweet tea” doesn’t mean it contains sweet tea. Likewise, a person’s true character, values, and actions should be what defines them—not the assumptions of others.
  
  
• Old labels don’t always apply. Some of our moving boxes were marked “Christmas decorations” from a previous move, but we repurposed them to store dishes. In life, people grow, change, and evolve. The labels of the past may no longer be accurate.
  
  
• Labels don’t always stick. The adhesive on most labels is temporary. Likewise, the labels we give or receive—whether negative or positive—don’t have to define us forever.
  
  
• Labels can be used to intentionally mislead. If you own valuable jewelry, storing it in a box labeled “Expensive Jewelry” isn’t a wise move. You may choose to write “Hand-me-downs” or such to throw off any robbers or thieves. In a more manipulative way, political, religious, and social labels can be used to misrepresent or mislead others—sometimes intentionally, sometimes carelessly. Some ruthless leaders attach labels to opponents as a way of attacking them, a deceitful ploy to keep the public from knowing the treasure inside.
  
  
• Jesus defied labels, and maybe we should too. Throughout his ministry, Jesus refused to be confined by political, cultural, or religious labels. He welcomed sinners, dined with tax collectors, and challenged the status quo. Instead of trying to fit into a particular category, perhaps our goal should be to live so faithfully that our actions speak for themselves.

In a polarized culture, those from both extremes tend to label others according to their own biases rather than to reflect the character of the one being labeled. Labeling others is often an expression of our naivete. Adam Jones cautions, “I think putting labels on people is just an easy way of marketing something you don’t understand.”

In our house, after some debate, we decided to part ways with our old Dymo Label Maker. In this season of life, we’re striving to use fewer labels, not more of them.

And maybe, just maybe, the world would be a better place if we all used fewer labels—and handled the ones we do apply with extreme care

(Barry Howard is a retired pastor who currently serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife live on Cove Creek in northeast Alabama.)

Joseph Addison contends, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

For me, reading has become a crucial life discipline—one that sharpens the mind and nourishes the soul. Each year, I intentionally select a variety of books—fiction and nonfiction—to complement my study of Scripture, theology, and devotional literature. This habit has not only deepened my understanding but has also kept my mind engaged, my creativity alive, and my spirit refreshed.

Reading brings mental focus in an age of distraction. We live in an era of constant digital stimulation. With screens at our fingertips, it’s easy to settle for passive entertainment—whether through television, social media, or endless scrolling. But merely watching does not stretch or challenge the great mental muscle that God has given us. Reading, on the other hand, requires active engagement. It forces us to think, process, reflect, and imagine in ways that visual media rarely can.

In Luke 10:27, Jesus commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. To love God with our minds means keeping them sharp, alert, and active—not allowing them to grow dull through neglect.

An inquiring mind needs nourishment. I have noticed a direct correlation between my reading habits and my mental sharpness. During seasons when my schedule interrupts my regular reading routine, I can feel my mind becoming “hungry”—undernourished and sluggish. When I neglect reading, my memory weakens, my creativity fades, and my ability to think deeply diminishes. But when I prioritize time for study and reading, I find that my mind is sharper, my memory is stronger, and my ability to teach and preach is far more effective.

Acquiring a love for reading can be a journey. I wasn’t always a disciplined reader. In high school, working an after-school job left me with little time for required reading, so I often relied on summaries rather than diving into the books themselves. It wasn’t until midway through my university years that I truly discovered the joy of reading. An English professor encouraged me to read multiple books at once, engaging with them as if I were in conversation with different voices and perspectives. This approach transformed my reading habits, and to this day, I often find myself reading several books alternately until I’ve completed them.

For me, reading is a spiritual discipline. For those aiming to grow deeper in their faith, reading should be considered more than just a pastime—it should be recognized as a spiritual discipline. Alongside prayer, Bible study, meditation, worship, and stewardship, reading enriches the soul by expanding our understanding of God’s world and the people in it.

Engaging with a wide variety of genres—novels, biographies, history, poetry, and theological works—broadens our perspective, deepens our wisdom, and helps us see the world through different lenses. Reading cultivates empathy, insight, and a greater appreciation for the richness of God’s creation.

Reading contributes to a healthy life. Several key disciplines contribute to my physical, spiritual, and emotional health:

• My prayer and devotional life
• A balanced diet and regular exercise
• Meaningful time spent with friends and family
• And, just as important—the ongoing discipline of reading

Reading is not just an academic exercise—it is a lifelong habit that strengthens the mind and enriches the soul. It feeds our intellect, fuels our imagination, and fortifies our faith.

I concur with Holbrook Jackson who reminds us, “ Never put off till tomorrow the book you can read today.”

(Barry Howard is a retired pastor who now serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches.)

A wise person once observed, “We lose ourselves in books. We find ourselves there too.” Some people live to read. I think I read to live. Embarking on a journey through an engaging book is a soul-nurturing, mind-stretching adventure.

My appreciation for reading was slow to develop. But when it emerged, it surged. As a teenager, I perceived reading to be a nuisance and somewhat of a necessary evil to attain decent grades in school. However, at some point early in my college experience, I learned to value the gift of reading, not just for assignments or entertainment, but for personal growth and development.

As a pastor, I needed to read widely to stay current and to speak with fresh relevance on a variety of topics. Now that I am retired, I need books like I need food, to satisfy my cognitive hunger and to probe intellectual curiosity. Books stimulate my thinking, exercise my memory muscles, and challenge my presuppositions. They keep me hono

Once again this year, my reading list will include a variety of genres including fiction, spirituality, theology, history, and biography. Typically, I keep from three to five books going at the same time, a practice that was recommended by Opal Lovett, one of the most influential faculty members at Jacksonville State from my college years. This approach invites a panel of authors to be conversation partners in my internal dialogue.

I also intentionally read books I don’t agree with. Rather than making me combative, the practice of reading opposing viewpoints challenges me to test my assumptions and it familiarizes me with a variety of perspectives. This discipline equips me to converse and debate intelligibly, and not just emotively.

Here are 25 books I plan to read in 2025:

Fiction & Thrillers:

1. Strangers in Time– David Baldacci
2. Think Twice- Harlan Coben
3. The Waiting– Michael Connelly
4. The President’s Shadow- James Patterson
5. The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus- Emma Knight

Spirituality & Theology:

6. God Has a Name: What You Believe About God Will Shape Who You Become– John Mark Comer
7. The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage– Richard Rohr
8. The Word of a Humble God: The Origins, Inspiration, and Interpretation of Scripture- Karen Keen
9. De-sizing the Church: How Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What’s Next- Karl Vaters
10.  The Widening of God’s Mercy- Christopher Hays and Richard Hays

Personal Growth & Leadership:

11. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are– Brené Browne
12. Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn’t Enough- John Ortberg
13. Culture Is the Way: How Leaders at Every Level Build an Organization for Speed, Impact, and Excellence- Matt Mayberry
14. Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry- Ruth Haley Barton
15. Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith- Adam Hamilton

Memoirs & Essays:

16. Hope: The Autobiography- Pope Francis
17. Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage– Anne Lamott
18. Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America- Heather Cox Richardson
19. I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet– Shauna Niequist
20. The Most They Ever Had- Rick Bragg

Church & Ministry:

21. The American Religious Landscape: Facts, Trends, and the Future- Ryan P. Burge
22. Reappearing Church: The Hope for Renewal in the Rise of our Post-Christian Culture- Mark Sayers
23. Creating Healthy Church Systems- Brad Ransom
24. The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation– Kevin DeYoung
25. How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going– Susan Beaumont

Life would not be as rich without a treasure trove of books. Regarding the importance of reading, I identify with Anne Lamott who said, “For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”

I hope the books you choose to read in 2025 enrich your life and enlarge your world!

(Barry Howard is a retired pastor who now serves as a columnist and leadership coach with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife live on Cove Creek in northeast Alabama.)