Podcast Pick of the Week: Marvin Olasky interviews Paul Miller, a Bible teacher, theologian, and the author of J-Curve, which was World magazine’s 2019 Book of the Year for accessible theology. This was a spiritually enriching conversation.
Kindle Deal: The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge. $2.99.
Coronavirus Article: Facts and Trends has posted an interview with me about the pandemic as a “painful opportunity” for the church. How should the the church be postured for change during this season of ministry? What kind of pruning should congregations welcome amid the impact of the coronavirus?
Seven of the best articles I came across this week:
1. Brian J. Tabb – Theological Reflections on the Pandemic. This is an excellent look at disease from a biblical perspective, with some historical precedent for how Christians have responded.
2. Curt Thompson, M.D. – A Body of Work. People who work from home are describing how much more exhausted they are compared to before. All of this highlights one element of what it truly means to be human that our encounter with the coronavirus has drawn our attention to: our bodies. See also L. M. Sacasas – A Theory of Zoom Fatigue. Another article on why teleconferencing and using Zoom is so exhausting. This one is the best explanation I’ve seen so far.
3. Melba Pearson – Harvard Law School Calls for Ban on Homeschooling; Homeschooled Harvard Graduate On Why This is Wrong. “I excelled at Harvard because I was homeschooled, and of that I am proud. It’s deeply disappointing that Harvard is choosing and promoting an intellectual totalitarian path that calls for a ban of the liberties that helped me and countless others succeed.”
4. Ken Braddy – 24 Questions Your Church Should Answer Before People Return. Many church leaders are now in active discussions about what reopening their churches will look like. Ken has a list of excellent questions to consider.
5. Scott Barry Kaufman – Taking Sex Differences in Personality Seriously. What’s striking about this article is how many caveats and justifications the author feels he has to make, while demonstrating how science backs up what human beings have instinctively known for millennia.
6. Sophia Lee – My wonderfully strange wedding. “Despite all our plans continuously falling apart, our little unconventional ceremony turned out extra-special, extra-meaningful, extra-beautiful, all the more so because it happened in the face of adversities.”
7. Laura Miller – There’s an Eighth Chronicle of Narnia, and Now Is the Perfect Time to Read It. An 8th Narnia chronicle? Ever since I heard of this, I’ve wanted to read it — mostly out of curiosity.
