Category: interesting stuff

You can tell it’s July here in the sunny South. It’s hot and humid and there is a chance of storms every afternoon. It seems to be heating up in other ways all around the country. Coronavirus cases keep going up, unrest continues in some cities, and it seems that everyone is disagreeing with everyone else about everything. We are certainly going through interesting times. Speaking of interesting…

Here are the links of the week:

Rest in Peace, J.I. Packer. I’m sure you have heard the Father say, “Well done.”

Where is the concern for religious liberty?

A side effect of the pandemic.

What would you rather do?

Good article from John Eldredge.

Donavon Riley asks a good question.

Looks like drive-ins may be making a comeback.

This is a sad state of affairs.

So now there’s virtual camp.

A lament from David Brooks.

A Letter on Justice and Open Debate.

Daniel Williams on monuments.

David French on a fundamentalist revival.

Good question.

These pictures are pretty great.

Scot McKnight asks if we hate.

A tale of two plagues.

It is a lost art.

Excellent photos.

Stay safe and have a blessed week!

This is the last links post for the month of June. Summer is fully upon us here in the sunny South. The temperatures are higher and the weather is unstable. The latest thing to happen in 2020 is the Saharan Dust Cloud. The air around here was definitely not as clear as normal, but the “stunning sunsets and sunrises” we were told could happen didn’t materialize in this little corner of the world. Any predictions for July? Enjoy these links. They will have to last for a couple of weeks. Next weekend, Jan and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary and the following weekend we’ll be out of town for a much needed trip.

On to the links:

We’ll start off with a funny post.

Chaplain Mike on adding grace to the world.

I am not surprised by this poll.

Challenging post by Donavon Riley.

Someone’s moving ahead.

Will other states follow suit?

Chad Bird on hashtag preaching.

A change of pace post from Fred Smith.

Derrick Day is at the intersection.

Remember when we were banning travel from Europe? Things have turned around, and not for the better.

Kindness rocks. Really.

Benjamin Corey on remembering history.

Snow ghosts.

On being a juggler.

A pandemic commencement.

I am glad for this.

Stay safe and have a blessed week!

It’s the middle of June already. Even though we’re in the middle of the sixth month, does it seems to anyone else that we’ve been through a year already? It seems like the question for each month is, “What is going to happen this month?” It’s only two weeks into hurricane season and we’ve already had three named storms. I hope that is not an indicator of how many we’ll get this summer.

On to the links:

Thoughtful post from Jackson Clemmer.

Donavon Riley on love, hate, and dying.

Sheltering in place is nothing new for this couple.

Not everyone’s homeschool experience is good.

Here is something to brighten your weekend.

This is a good story.

Shadows and lost causes.

This is pretty cool.

Johnathan Aigner has a word for worship leaders.

Becoming visible.

Keeping focus.

Sometimes the impeded stream is the best place.

Pay attention.

The way of peace.

Stay safe and have a blessed week!

Today is Pentecost Sunday, and Christians celebrate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church. Looking at all that is going on in the world right makes me realize that we need the Spirit more than ever before.

On to the good stuff:

A bit of the history of Pentecost observances.

Sometimes recycling is not a good idea.

This is a good question.

Encouraging post from Bruce Hillman.

Risk ratings for summer activities.

Useless? Maybe not.

How many remember the milkman?

In case you’re wondering where bands get their names.

Light and dark.

Pothole art.

Mike Glenn on sacred space.

Good post from Chad West.

Thoughtful article from Jelani Cobb.

Scot McKnight on politics and Christians.

Michael Spencer on effort and denial.

Searching and slowing.

Good article from Fred Smith.

Chris Williams on the big hills.

Stay safe and have a blessed week!

After a week that seemed like a week in March, weather wise, it is getting more like it should be in May. Our yard is still squishy from all the rain, but it is supposed to be a little drier this next week. South Carolina, like most other states is opening things up a bit more. Jan and I went out eat at a restaurant last night for the first time in over two months. This morning we ventured out to a local coffee shop for coffee and a pastry. Both places seem to be doing a good job of being very careful with things, and I don’t think we were in any danger. It will be interesting to see if the changes the restaurants and other public places have made will carry on to some degree after this is over. Whenever that may be. It’s Memorial Day weekend, when we here in the US honor the sacrifices made by those who died serving our country. Regardless of how you may feel about military service, I think it is good to respect the those who felt bound to serve and who died doing so.

On to the good stuff:

Erin Wathen on being essential.

This is also the time when the Ascension of Jesus is celebrated.

Wandering.

Christianity is not a project.

This is not an easy game to play. See how well you do.

A very well thought out statement from some of the churches in Oregon.

Memorial Day essay by Mark Feldmeir.

Provocative post by Jayson Bradley.

Covid dining creativity.

Powerful article from Fred Smith.

Mike Glenn on moving forward.

On Church and buildings.

Good post from Stephanie Phillips.

Brad Roth on joy.

Funny stuff.

Bonhoeffer asks a good question.

Frank Viola also has a question.

A lot is changing.

Michael Spencer on Job and complaints.

Stay safe and have a blessed week!

The pandemic continues. Many states are beginning to reopen, some quicker than others. What will happen in the coming weeks remains to be seen. I pray that we figure out a way to balance opening things up with keeping people safe. I also pray that we figure out a way to work together, rather than at cross purposes.

On to the good stuff:

Are we creating a dangerous world?

Chuck DeGroat writes on narcissism in the church.

Challenging article by Tom Holland.

How college might look different in the fall.

Frank Viola on conspiracy theories.

Good post from Zack Hunt.

Finishing a father’s journey.

Michael Spencer on being complex.

Worst corporate buzzword.

Are you having trouble reading right now?

Thoreau defends himself.

Mike Glenn tells us to not waste this.

Sometimes you can’t see the steeple.

Some schools have struggled with Zoom classes.

Evidently, scolding doesn’t work.

I think I would choose the same.

Enjoy!

It has the place all to itself.

Stay safe and have a blessed week!

Another week has gone by. I would imagine that for some, the days and weeks have begun to blend together. States are beginning to relax some of the stay at home orders. It remains to be seen what the result of this will be. In sports news (really), NASCAR will begin racing this month, without fans. I’m sure it will be a different experience for the drivers and their crews.

On to the good stuff:

A collection from Chaplain Mike.

Scot McKnight on Christianity’s biggest challenge.

Martin Luther tells us to not flirt.

Good post from Alex Early.

Zack Hunt asks a good question.

Wesley Hill on looking for new life.

So evidently singing can be dangerous?

Just in case you were wondering what’s next.

One view on the quarantine relaxation.

Interesting article from The Atlantic.

How to get out of a Zoom call.

What happens when AI gets hold of memes.

Good post from Juliette Alvey.

News from another world.

Self care helps from Karl Vaters.

Not to worry.

Empty cities.

Stay safe and have a blessed week!

Things are changing a bit here. Some of the states are starting to loosen up the quarantine restrictions, while others are keeping them in place. We’ll see how it all plays out. It’s starting to warm up here in the sunny South. Other than that, there’s not a whole lot going on.

On to the good stuff:

Mike Bell has come up with some interesting articles about the future of the church.

It’s one or the other.

Good idea.

Problems at Oxford.

Donavon Riley says we should slow down.

Good post from Ben Witherington.

I agree with Karl Vaters.

I guess this is a thing.

I’m looking forward to it.

Scot McKnight on the salvation/kingship kerfuffle.

Adapting to social distancing.

Fred Smith on small things.

Things are rough all over.

Giles Fraser asks a question.

Still in Babylon.

Jeff Clark has a question.

Judy Bratten on bread.

Chaplain Mike weighs in on the gospel.

Taylor S. Brown on myths.

Stay safe and have a blessed week!

The health crisis continues. Depending on who you listen to: It’s all a hoax, it’s the worst thing to ever hit mankind, we need to let people get back to their normal lives, we need to keep the country locked down, we’ll get through this, or we’re all going to die. Sometimes it looks like everyone is just throwing ideas against the wall to see which ones stick. We need prayer, because there is only One who really knows what is going on.

On to the good stuff:

Good words from Wendell Barry.

When things are disrupted.

The rights of Christians.

Changing the standards.

Chaplain Mike asks a good question.

Looking at the bigger picture.

Five guidelines for humor right now.

Good example from California.

That’s just weird.

Jason Isbell on John Prine.

Kelly Edmiston on fear.

Good article on Easter.

Good article from Mike Glenn.

Good post from Sammy Rhodes.

A modest proposal from Fred Smith.

Amazing photos.

Classic post from Michael Spencer.

Stay safe and have a blessed week!

It has been an interesting week. The coronavirus continues to plague, and the worst may be yet to come. Some parts of the country are in danger of being overwhelmed. Our world certainly has been turned upside down. While there are reports of folks taking advantage of others, there are many stories of people stepping up to help those in need. This will probably be a defining moment for us, and it will be interesting to see who we become.

In case, you’re sitting around with nothing to do, here are some links to check out:

Wise words from Karl Vaters.

Good advice for parents working from home

Are you a pain?

Encouraging words from Donavon Riley.

I’m sure the folks worshiping at home appreciate this.

Something to keep you busy if you’re stuck at home.

Good working at home tips.

Good things coming out of the pandemic.

So, it seems the show is over.

Mike Glenn on simple church.

Jared Wilson on a severe mercy.

Thought provoking post by Jim Coppoc.

A do it yourself face mask.

Here’s a term I hadn’t heard before: Evangocentrism.

Taylor Lorenz urges us to stop being productive.

Evidently it’s okay to be a little bit crazy.

Funny post from The New Yorker.

Good post from Fred Smith.

Amazing photos.

Chaplain Mike on Holy Saturday.

Stay safe. Have a blessed week!