Photo Credit: NAMB
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.”
Videos of the Week
How do you pray without ceasing? Donald Whitney. I (Chris) have been thinking of this a bit more as our staff reads through Paul Miller’s A Praying Life. What did the Apostle Paul mean when he said, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)? Paul Miller takes that to mean adopting a posture of dependence and prayer throughout all of our daily activities. Dr. Donald Whitney gives a few more options.
Should You Call a Transgender Person “Him” or “Her”? Andrew T. Walker. We’re thankful for voices like Walker’s, who are helping to lead the church as we engage in the growing conversation about transgenderism. Walker’s new book, God and the Transgender Debate, is an excellent one-stop resource on the issue. To hear a little of the heart behind the book, listen to Walker’s answer about how to use pronouns with those that self-identify as transgender.
Articles of the Week
From the Flooded Grounds of Houston, J.A. Medders. We’ve all been seeing the astounding and tragic images of flooding rolling in from Houston this week. Hurricane Harvey has created an emergency situation that is unprecedented in Houston’s history. J.A. Medders, a pastor of a church in Houston, gives three ways Christians can respond during the crisis. As we says, “Christians, we should be at our best when affliction does its worst.” (For a little more about the church’s response to Houston, Beth Moore and Trevin Wax have also written moving responses.)
Why I Preach About Racism, Daniel Hyun. Many pastors are reluctant to preach about racism in their churches, not because they’re wishy-washy on the issue, but because they feel like most people in their church aren’t overtly racist. Hyun shows why racism isn’t a moot issue, however, and gives four reasons why pastors should address it by name.
Wartime Living Is Not the Same As Minimalism, John Piper. Minimalism is gaining some steam in our culture today. It appears to be a reaction to the hyper-connected, hyper-complex, and hyper-consumerist world around us. There’s a certain draw to a minimalist life, of course, but many have also started to criticize minimalism as an inherently selfish endeavor. What’s a Christian to do? Piper weighs in with a balanced approach that punches back at both sides of our culture.
On the Lighter Side
Guy on a Buffalo (Episode 2), Jomo. I’m not entirely sure I understand what’s going on here, but it’s hard to look away. Where did this footage originally come from? What kind of human can actually ride atop a buffalo? Was that a real cougar?
