Your weekly installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web.
Articles of the Week
Where Did the Footprints Poem Come from? Justin Taylor. You’ve probably seen it a hundred times—framed in glass, embroidered on a pillow, etched in a tiny keychain. It’s the famous “Footprints” story about Jesus carrying us in our times of difficulty. This story is easy to poke fun at, but as Taylor points out, it’s not necessarily another piece of “evangelical kitsch.” And you may be surprised (as we were) to see what famous preacher, when explaining the nearness of God, used the exact same analogy of Jesus’ footprints.
We Have Been Warned, Rod Dreher. This is fascinating, depressing, disturbing, and exciting all at the same time. If religious liberty continues to fade (and it seems likely that it will), Christian organizations—colleges, parachurch groups, and churches—are going to have to choose whether they will stick to their convictions in the face of increasingly negative consequences. Let’s pray that we would all have the courage to stand for Christ, especially when it costs us.
Am I a Controlling Person? David Murray. As Shakespeare might have said, this way conviction lies. Be warned that reading these diagnostic questions is likely to lead you to the same conclusion I (Chris) came to: I am a controlling person. Question 22 especially was a dagger. There’s hope here, as well. As Murray reminds us, perfect control is a myth. Life may be uncertain, but our God is sure, steadfast, and immovable.
“Lesser” or “Never,” but Together: Evangelicals and the American Presidency, Danny Akin, Daniel Heimbach, & Mark Liederbach. Christians will be arguing (with the rest of the country) right up till Election Day about the right way to vote. Many will go to the polls in favor of Donald Trump; some will cast their vote for Hillary Clinton; others still will feel compelled to cast a vote for neither candidate. What remains crucial for us at this point is to remember—even in the midst of convictional and passionate debate—that none of these is the Christians option. This point-counterpoint article helps to show how we can remain united in the Body of Christ, even as we make different political decisions.
Educating Our Kids: Exploring the Options, Trevin Wax. Speaking of education, it’s back-to-school time again. (If you didn’t know, you must have missed all the “first day of school” pictures on your Facebook feed.) Hopefully by now, if you’ve got kids, you know what they’re doing for school this semester. But what should they be doing? Should you send them to public school? Private school? How about homeschooling? Wax looks at some of the pros and cons of each decision in this (often heated) debate.
On The Lighter Side
Ralph the Rex. Ralph is a 21st century Tyrannosaurus Rex, and he just wants to have fun. I just want to be Ralph.
Wisdom For Your Weekend is presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with occasional guidance from J.D. Greear. 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.”
