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
Do We Have to Agree Before We Can Talk? Tim Keller and Jonathan Haidt. Keller you know: He’s an author and pastor, as well as the unofficial muse of the Summit’s preaching ministry. Haidt may be new for you: He’s a social psychologist at NYU who focuses on morality, religion, and politics. Their approach to morality and public discourse isn’t identical, but together they have a lot of wisdom for those of us who would like to see more civility in our society. Plus, the brainpower of these two combined is mammoth.
If you have 90 minutes to spare, the entire conversation is well worth your time. Keller and Haidt talk pluralism, unity, immigration, Trump, identity politics, justice, and much more. Just be sure to bring your notebook! Here is the full talk: “The Closing of the Modern Mind.” (Thanks to Matt Love for the lead on this one!)
Articles of the Week
How Do I Bring My Kids Into “Big Church?” Jen Wilkin. My wife and I (Chris) have only just begun to think about this, so articles like Wilkin’s are incredibly helpful. Wilkin puts the cookies on the bottom shelf for us slow learners, and keeps it practical. If you want to transition your kids into the larger weekend worship service, start here.
“Dunkirk” Is Christopher Nolan’s (Flawed) Masterpiece, Brett McCracken. If you’re into film, the names that come together for the recent movie Dunkirk should get your heart fluttering. With Christopher Nolan directing, Hans Zimmer contributing the score, and Tom Hardy acting, you’re bound to get something worthwhile. McCracken goes further, and says that Dunkirk is to Christopher Nolan what the statue David was to Michelangelo. (Pardon me while I buy tickets right now.) Although Nolan’s idea of a “miracle” represents a secular attempt to grasp at transcendence, he still touches on something that Christians can recognize as true and beautiful.
Four Ways Elders’ Wives Can Avoid Fueling Conflict, Nikki Daniel. The wife of a pastor gets a unique behind-the-scenes view of some of the best and worst within a church. Handling the good times may be easy enough. But how should she handle the broiling church conflicts that impact her family without involving her directly?
Has God Left the Suburbs? Ross Lester. It’s always a treat to stumble across someone who has something to say and who says it so enjoyably. Lester seems to have fun while he’s writing; would that were true of all writers! Lester raises an interesting question: What in the world are we supposed to think of suburbs? It’s easy to bash on suburbanites, but we need to honestly recognize that most of our country falls in that category. So how do we minister to this strange “people group?” Even if you’re tempted to quibble with Lester in places where he tries his hand as an economic theorist, don’t miss the power of Lester’s driving point: The suburbs are an attempt to create an alternate Kingdom; as such, the people there need the challenging and life-giving breath of the real Kingdom.
On the Lighter Side
Card Throwing Trick Shots, Dude Perfect. This is awesome. I can’t even get a playing card across the room, and this guy is slicing vegetables and smashing bottles with them. Basically he’s the real-life version of Gambit. (HT: Mike Leake)
