Here are some of the thought-provoking reads discovered this week:
Why Doesn't God Make His Existence More Evident? HT to Challies. "God is not interested in merely proving His existence. But for those with eyes to see, and ears to hear, God has made Himself known. He has offered sufficient evidence for rational faith. The question is—Will we trust Him?"
Soft Discipleship Through Friendship, HT to Challies. "It wasn't through formal, set up discipleship, but what I call 'soft discipleship' by my college roommates that I lived with for 3 years: Charissa, Lucy, and Julianne. They didn't even know that they were discipling me, but because we shared a home together, I was able to see how they lived and walked with the Lord, and understand what it looks like and feels like to have intimacy with God." I love that term.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Taylor Swift's New Album, HT to Challies. I'm not familiar with most of her music, but I have been hearing lots about her new album. "It feels like I'm making a moral decision when I listen to her music. How will it affect my girls to hear and see a beautiful young woman sing about a lifestyle that isn't only objectionable but is in outright defiance to God? Even though my daughters have had a strong Christian upbringing and hold their own personal convictions, will they be able to discern the subtle influences and outright lies they'll be exposed to when listening to Swift's music?"
Hospitality Toward the Indwelling God. "This indwelling is not something we earn, nor is it something we lose. It is a gift of grace, added on to the gracious gift of salvation. Still, it's worth asking, how can I show hospitality to the God living within me? What kind of heart is He pleased to dwell in?"
Preaching Goliath's Sword, HT to Challies. I've heard sermons like the one described--full of "conjecture, guesswork, and speculation," but not accurately representing the passage. This was written for preachers, but I think it's applicable to teachers, Bible study students, bloggers---anyone who shares truth from God's Word.
A Mother's Love: God's Love on Display. "Throughout the Bible, God (Who is not human, so neither male nor female) consistently reveals Himself as Father rather than Mother, King rather than Queen, Shepherd rather than Shepherdess, and Husband rather than Wife. However, there are a few occasions when He reveals the greatness of His love by comparing Himself to a mother."
This Piece of Land, HT to Challies. This is lovely writing. "But isn't that the way of it? We all crouch down at every starting line, clueless as to what lies ahead. The unknowns start with our first cry and extend to every beginning to come: The turn of the tassel, a job acceptance, the walk down the aisle, two pink lines, or an empty home. What will come of our own piece of land called life? Like Abraham, we hold only a promise."
A Time We Never Knew, HT to Redeeming Productivity. "I think there is something distinctly different and deserving of our attention about online forums filled with Zoomers wishing that they lived before social media. Wishing it didn't exist. These are children grieving their youth while they are still children. These are teens mourning childhoods they wasted on the internet, writing laments such as "I know I'm still young (14F), and I have so many years to make up for that, but I can't help but hate myself for those years I wasted doing nothing all day but go on my stupid phone." I think this site is a secular resource, but this piece was quite thought-provoking.
Make the Internet Modest Again, HT to Challies. This has nothing to do with hemlines or necklines. "Constantly exposing ourselves online desensitizes us, making it difficult to honor the sacredness of our lives. Modesty may run counter to prevailing wisdom, but I believe it works for the good of my soul."
How to Love Every Version of Your Wide. This almost made me teary. "I could share so many stories about all of the versions of me that Chad has dealt with through the years. But if I could tell husbands one thing about how to not just deal with your wife in all of her many forms, but to love her well, the way Christ loves the church as you are commanded, I would say this. To truly love all the versions of your wife, you have to develop endless amounts of grace."
And just for fun: one of my youngest son's favorite games when he was little was Guess Who? Each player has a tray of cards with people on them. Each player chooses one, and the other player has to guess which one the other chose by asking about clues on the cards (Does he have black hair? A red shirt? and so on). Well, I saw an ad on Instagram the other day for a Jane Austen "Guess Who?" game. I don't know if there's anyone I know in real life who would enjoy playing it with me. But perhaps some of you might know fellow Jane fans. (This is not an affiliate link. I just saw it and thought it was a neat idea.)
The Bible is not an end in itself,
but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God,
that they may enter into Him,
that they may delight in His Presence,
may taste and know the inner sweetness
of the very God Himself in the core and center of their well-being.
-- A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
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