Wisdom for Your Weekend is your regular installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web. Presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with occasional guidance from Pastor J.D., this is our attempt to reflect Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
Video of the Week
Kathie Lee Gifford Reacts to Death of Billy Graham. It’s refreshing to hear such a clear articulation of the Christian hope on a show like Today. Kathie Lee just can’t help herself from preaching a little bit here! We love this line: “If I had the cure for cancer, would I keep it to myself? No! I have the cure for the malignancy of the soul. And he has a name—it’s Jesus.”
Articles of the Week
At Home in Wakanda? Greg Morse. If you haven’t heard any of the buzz about the recent movie, Black Panther, we wonder where precisely you’ve been hiding. I (Chris) haven’t seen the flick yet, but I’m more excited about this movie than any of Marvel’s previous offerings. Why? As Morse points out, the hype surrounding Black Panther isn’t primarily about Black Panther the hero; it’s about a vision of paradise that the Black Panther represents. Great thoughts about diversity, brotherhood, and heaven here.
I Have Forgotten How to Read, Michael Harris. In our screen-rich age, we have more of the world opened to us than ever before. But the more of the world we “see” through our screens, tragically, the less of the world we can actually understand. Books, on the other hand, open the world to us much more—ironically, by closing it. A book requires us to close out the rest of the world and lose ourselves in a lengthy (and potentially wasteful) argument or plot. This isn’t natural. It’s not easy. And that’s precisely why books remain so valuable. It’s not too late, dear reader: Pick up a book, a real book, and savor this elegant weapon from a more civilized age.
Studying God’s Word When You’re Tired and Busy, Abbey Wedgeworth. Even the most ardent and consistent Bible reader goes through periods when life seems to be conspiring against a daily time in the Word. We’re too tired, too busy, too run down, too disappointed, too overwhelmed. Wedgeworth has been there, and offers a way out—what she calls “The 3-5 Method.” It’s a practical tool for any weary Bible readers, and could be a welcome change of pace for any of us.
What’s Wrong with Dressing Immodestly for Attention? John Piper. Most Christian women have heard enough talks about modesty that focus more on the fruit than the root. And while it’s important to think about the consequences of immodesty, it’s more fundamental to think through the reasons and causes behind it. Pastor John’s reflections here cover both sides and offer a refreshing perspective on the ever-important issue of modesty.
On the Lighter Side
The Olympics, Jerry Seinfeld. The Winter Olympics aren’t quite over, so we hope you’ll enjoy this classic from Seinfeld. (I wonder what he’d have to say about curling!)
