This weekend's song is a jazz standard by Richard Rodgers and Lorenzo Hart that was written for the musical Jumbo and popularized by Doris Day. Like many other standards it's been recorded numerous times. This version by James Taylor was the first time I really heard the song and it's stuck with me ever since then. Although there are arguably better versions of the song this one still feels special to me.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Daily Links 1-31-14
In today's edition: Common Core and reading, faithful thinking, Sherlock and male friendship, ditching social media, and more.
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Lost in the debate over Common Core standards is that they inhibit teachers' ability to instill a love for reading in students:
The problem with putting so much emphasis on standardized tests as a measure of educational progress is that curriculum then is tailored towards teaching to the test rather than actually educating the child.
The other major flaw in such programs is the inherent desire to treat students as a homogeneous group. As we have discussed here before every student is different and so it should not be unreasonable to think that their education should be tailored to the needs and the learning style of the student.
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Seven observations on church discipline from Thom Rainer. These are some good thoughts on an important topic.
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Sherlock as an example of male friendship. The author is probably overstating it a bit that it's the best example ever but it is certainly a very good example of what male friendship should look like.
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A collection of unique town slogans you are unlikely to see anywhere else.
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Dr. Albert Mohler on developing a Christian worldview:
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Secrets of creative success: an interview with Cheers writer Rob Long.
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Food for thought: quitting social media. These are all valid points to consider. Like anything else, you need to be wise in how you use it (if at all).
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Lost in the debate over Common Core standards is that they inhibit teachers' ability to instill a love for reading in students:
How did you develop a love for reading?
Ask George Saunders, Barry Hannah, or Andrea Barrett. For each of these writers, their love for reading was realized in a K-12 classroom. For Maya Angelou, it’s thanks in part to Miss Kirwin, a “brilliant teacher” at the George Washington High School in San Francisco. For John McPhee, it’s thanks in part to Olive McKee, an English teacher he had for three years. Of course, you don’t have to look to lauded authors. Most readers, writers, and book-lovers can point you to a moment in their educational journeys where a love for reading was inspired in them by a passionate K-12 teacher.
However, the ability of schools and teachers to foster a love for reading in students is under assault in today’s educational climate. We live in a time of high-stakes accountability, where quantifiable metrics, namely standardized test scores, are used to judge students, teachers, and schools. Now, we are faced with the Common Core, new standards in Math and English Language Arts that are sweeping the nation. Incentivized by billions in federal grant dollars, 45 states are adopting the Common Core, with some states rolling out their implementations over the last two school years and other states waiting until next school year.
With these new standards come new tests, namely the Smarter Balanced assessment and PARCC, which are expected to take up to 10 hours for students to complete every year, starting in third grade. These tests will dominate students and teachers’ lives and turn many engaging classrooms into test prep zones. This myopic focus on testing places an extraordinary burden on students and teachers — such an extreme focus detracts from students’ educational experiences and greatly impedes schools and teachers’ ability to foster a love for reading in all students.
This should matter not only to students, parents, and teachers, but to publishers, writers, readers, and booksellers across America. If we want reading to flourish as a pastime and a serious pursuit, schools must be able to devote the necessary time and resources toward reading for pleasure.Hat tip: Book Riot
The problem with putting so much emphasis on standardized tests as a measure of educational progress is that curriculum then is tailored towards teaching to the test rather than actually educating the child.
The other major flaw in such programs is the inherent desire to treat students as a homogeneous group. As we have discussed here before every student is different and so it should not be unreasonable to think that their education should be tailored to the needs and the learning style of the student.
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Seven observations on church discipline from Thom Rainer. These are some good thoughts on an important topic.
**************
Sherlock as an example of male friendship. The author is probably overstating it a bit that it's the best example ever but it is certainly a very good example of what male friendship should look like.
**************
A collection of unique town slogans you are unlikely to see anywhere else.
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Dr. Albert Mohler on developing a Christian worldview:
A robust and rich model of Christian thinking—the quality of thinking that culminates in a God-centered worldview—requires that we see all truth as interconnected. Ultimately, the systematic wholeness of truth can be traced to the fact that God is himself the author of all truth. Christianity is not a set of doctrines in the sense that a mechanic operates with a set of tools. Instead, Christianity is a comprehensive worldview and way of life that grows out of Christian reflection on the Bible and the unfolding plan of God revealed in the unity of the Scriptures.
A God-centered worldview brings every issue, question, and cultural concern into submission to all that the Bible reveals, and it frames all understanding within the ultimate purpose of bringing greater glory to God. This task of bringing every thought captive to Christ requires more than episodic Christian thinking and is to be understood as the task of the church, and not merely the concern of individual believers. The recovery of the Christian mind and the development of a comprehensive Christian worldview will require the deepest theological reflection, the most consecrated application of scholarship, the most sensitive commitment to compassion, and the courage to face all questions without fear.
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Secrets of creative success: an interview with Cheers writer Rob Long.
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Food for thought: quitting social media. These are all valid points to consider. Like anything else, you need to be wise in how you use it (if at all).
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Daily Links 1-30-14
In this morning's edition: a softer prosperity gospel, should you go to college, why Christians should create, and more.
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Dealing with the problem of the prosperity gospel: In some instances it's easy to spot a prosperity gospel preacher. But there is also a more subtle form of the prosperity gospel that is sometimes a little more difficult to spot. A good rule of thumb is that if anything is being preached other than Scripture it should be cause for concern. This guide of nine marks of a prosperity gospel church can help discern whether a church is in error. Finally, here's a good way to figure out if you're reading a book by a prosperity gospel preacher.
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What's wrong with higher education? It's a matter of trust. The key question is whether college can deliver on what it promises to students. Increasingly, that answer is no. That begs the question of whether a student should go to college at all. Matt Walsh argues that college isn't for everyone and that (at least in his case) he was better off not going to college at all. (Hat tip: Instapundit) Perhaps we should be shifting our focus from thinking kids have to go to college to whether it's really beneficial for them to do so. After all, with the cost of college skyrocketing we have to look at the costs versus the benefits to decide whether it's the right thing to do.
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Three time management principles to increase your productivity. It's often the simplest of things that can make the biggest impact.
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10 writing tips from acclaimed novelist P. D. James. Some good food for thought.
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Why Christians should create art:
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Dealing with the problem of the prosperity gospel: In some instances it's easy to spot a prosperity gospel preacher. But there is also a more subtle form of the prosperity gospel that is sometimes a little more difficult to spot. A good rule of thumb is that if anything is being preached other than Scripture it should be cause for concern. This guide of nine marks of a prosperity gospel church can help discern whether a church is in error. Finally, here's a good way to figure out if you're reading a book by a prosperity gospel preacher.
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What's wrong with higher education? It's a matter of trust. The key question is whether college can deliver on what it promises to students. Increasingly, that answer is no. That begs the question of whether a student should go to college at all. Matt Walsh argues that college isn't for everyone and that (at least in his case) he was better off not going to college at all. (Hat tip: Instapundit) Perhaps we should be shifting our focus from thinking kids have to go to college to whether it's really beneficial for them to do so. After all, with the cost of college skyrocketing we have to look at the costs versus the benefits to decide whether it's the right thing to do.
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Three time management principles to increase your productivity. It's often the simplest of things that can make the biggest impact.
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10 writing tips from acclaimed novelist P. D. James. Some good food for thought.
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Why Christians should create art:
To those of us trying to live out our beliefs, art can seem dangerous because the art of our culture preaches the beliefs of the culture, and many of these beliefs run counter to the Christian values we hold. But our goal should not be to avoid “secular” art and media, or merely take art as it's given to us and try to fix it, but to create our own art that is unique, meaningful and paradigm-shifting.
Far from sticking to the conventional standards of “Christian” art, Christian artists should be willing to take risks, to express their deep-seated beliefs and convictions in their own ways. For Christians, art is taking part of the material world and making it sacred with our expression of love and devotion to God. The aesthetic isn't what makes it Christian, the artist's purpose does.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Daily Links 1-29-14
In today's edition: a road trip any baseball fan would love to take, re-reading The Screwtape Letters, the many ways to educate a child, and more.
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The ideal road trip for any baseball fan would be to visit every ballpark. But imagine visiting all 30 parks in 30 days. Will Leitch figured out how to do it to start out the 2014 season. Looks like a terrific trip to me.
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What do you do when disillusionment sets in? It's bound to happen to everyone at one time or another. Some very practical tips on how to deal with the all too real crises of faith.
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Aaron Armstrong on re-reading The Screwtape Letters:
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Do you want to be someone or do something? Lessons from the life of John Boyd.
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Rod Dreher: There are many ways to educate a child.
I have to say that my daughters are blessed because their mother has been so committed to making sure that they both get a proper education. She has certainly done the lion's share of work in homeschooling our girls. She's certainly the reason that they both have done so well with school.
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The ideal road trip for any baseball fan would be to visit every ballpark. But imagine visiting all 30 parks in 30 days. Will Leitch figured out how to do it to start out the 2014 season. Looks like a terrific trip to me.
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What do you do when disillusionment sets in? It's bound to happen to everyone at one time or another. Some very practical tips on how to deal with the all too real crises of faith.
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Aaron Armstrong on re-reading The Screwtape Letters:
When I first came to faith, one of the first authors I read was C.S. Lewis. I’d loved Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a child, and had read some of the other books in the series, so when I found out he was a Christian, I was pretty darned excited.
The thing I noticed about Lewis’ theological work in contrast to his fiction, is it tends to be slow-burn material. The kind of stuff that, if you rush through it, you’ll miss something very important.
In other words, re-reading is necessary.
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Do you want to be someone or do something? Lessons from the life of John Boyd.
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Rod Dreher: There are many ways to educate a child.
We always wanted to try homeschooling, but when our firstborn became of school age, we put him in kindergarten in Dallas, and then in school, just to see how he would do. Because of his Asperger’s, and the accompanying sensory processing disorder, he couldn’t handle it. So we had to embrace homeschooling because our son needed us to. I say “we,” but really, it was 99 percent Julie. It was she who threw herself into researching Matt’s condition, consulting with experts, and working, through trial and error, to find programs that worked for him. It was, and remains, an extraordinary feat of perseverance and love. More than once I have been grateful for the fact that we live in a time and place in which it is possible to educate our son on our own, and tailor his educational experience to his own strengths and weaknesses. I think about how our boy, the squarest of square pegs, would have done in a previous generation, when this wasn’t available, or how he would be doing if he didn’t have a mom like the one he has, and it’s hard to imagine. It would have broken him, most likely.
I have to say that my daughters are blessed because their mother has been so committed to making sure that they both get a proper education. She has certainly done the lion's share of work in homeschooling our girls. She's certainly the reason that they both have done so well with school.
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Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Daily Links 1-28-14
In today's edition: who I'll root for in the Super Bowl, some really cool kids bookstores, our marriage obsessed culture, and more.
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I don't follow football at all. I doubt that I'll even watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. But if I had to pick a team to root for it would be the Broncos. Why, you ask? Peyton Manning gives me a pretty good reason:
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Three reasons why our culture is obsessed with marriage. I do seem to notice a lot of articles about marriage show up in my news feed.
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How to give childhood back to children:
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A fun slideshow of hip children's bookstores. Yes, kids always get the neatest stores. (Hat tip: Book Riot)
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The triumphant return of wet shaving. I am a fairly new convert to wet shaving having received all the materials for Christmas last month. I thought with as tough a beard as mine it was going to be difficult. Not only has it been surprisingly easy to switch but I'm actually able to achieve much closer shaves that I had ever been able to get with a multi-blade razor.
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Are you more productive when working in a coffee shop? There's a reason that you might be.
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I don't follow football at all. I doubt that I'll even watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. But if I had to pick a team to root for it would be the Broncos. Why, you ask? Peyton Manning gives me a pretty good reason:
Like my dad, I make it a point when I speak to groups to talk about priorities, and when it’s schoolkids, I rank those priorities as: faith, family, and education, then football. For me generally it had always been the big four: faith, family, friends, and football. And I tell all of them that as important as football is to me, it can never be higher than fourth.My faith has been number one since I was thirteen years old and heard from the pulpit on a Sunday morning in New Orleans a simple question: “If you died today, are you one hundred percent sure you’d go to heaven?” Cooper was there and Eli [Peyton's two brothers] but it didn’t hit them at the time the way it did me. It was a big church, and I felt very small, but my heart was pounding. The minister invited those who would like that assurance through Jesus Christ to raise their hands, and I did. Then he invited us to come forward, to take a stand, and my heart really started pounding. And from where we sat, it looked like a mile to the front.
But I got up and did it. And I committed my life to Christ, and that faith has been most important to me ever since. Some players get more vocal about it—the Reggie Whites, for example—and some point to Heaven after scoring a touchdown and praise God after games. I have no problem with that. But I don’t do it, and don’t think it makes me any less a Christian. I just want my actions to speak louder, and I don’t want to be more of a target for criticism than I already am. Somebody sees you drinking a beer, which I do, and they think, “Hmmmm, Peyton says he’s this, that, or the other, and there he is drinking alcohol. What’s that all about?”
Christians drink beer. So do non-Christians. Christians also make mistakes, just as non-Christians do. My faith doesn’t make me perfect, it makes me forgiven, and provides me the assurance I looked for half my life ago. I think God answered our prayers with Cooper, and that was a test of our faith. But I also think I’ve been blessed—having so little go wrong in my life, and being given so much. I pray every night, sometimes long prayers about a lot of things and a lot of people, but I don’t talk about it or brag about it because that’s between God and me, and I’m no better than anybody else in God’s sight.
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Three reasons why our culture is obsessed with marriage. I do seem to notice a lot of articles about marriage show up in my news feed.
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How to give childhood back to children:
All young children are creative. In their play and self-directed exploration they create their own mental models of the world around them and also models of imaginary worlds. Adults whom we call geniuses are those who somehow retain and build upon that childlike capacity throughout their lives. Albert Einstein said his schooling almost destroyed his interest in mathematics and physics, but he recovered it when he left school. He referred to his innovative work as “combinatorial play”. He claimed that he developed his concept of relativity by imagining himself chasing a sunbeam and catching up with it, and then thinking about the consequences. We can’t teach creativity, but we can drive it out of people through schooling that centres not on children’s own questions but on questions dictated by an imposed curriculum that operates as if all questions have one right answer and everyone must learn the same things.
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A fun slideshow of hip children's bookstores. Yes, kids always get the neatest stores. (Hat tip: Book Riot)
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The triumphant return of wet shaving. I am a fairly new convert to wet shaving having received all the materials for Christmas last month. I thought with as tough a beard as mine it was going to be difficult. Not only has it been surprisingly easy to switch but I'm actually able to achieve much closer shaves that I had ever been able to get with a multi-blade razor.
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Are you more productive when working in a coffee shop? There's a reason that you might be.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Daily Links 1-27-14
Good morning. Here are a collection of links to help get your week off to the right start. In today's edition: planning for the worst, too much media is bad for your brain, classic time management advice, and more.
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Some sage advice on dealing with temptation from Tim Challies:
Be sure to read the whole thing,
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Kathy Harris has a wonderful interview with one of my favorite historians, Jane Hampton Cook, about her book American Phoenix.
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More proof that too much media consumption can make you crazy: five mental disorders caused by media.
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Some classic time management advice worth revisiting. I've heard this same speech given by a time management guru and have long thought it was one of the best pieces of advice I had ever heard.
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This is spot on:
Timeless advice from famous authors on writing. The cool thing about this page is that it is constantly being updated with additional links.
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Some sage advice on dealing with temptation from Tim Challies:
Some time ago we implemented a plan in our home to protect the kids from some of what lurks out there on the Internet. We removed Internet access from some devices, limited it on others, and applied filters that keep tabs on what we are doing online. It has been very smooth from a technological perspective, but a little less so on the interpersonal level.
Recently my son said, “Dad, you’re treating me like I’m addicted to pornography. But I haven’t ever seen it and don’t want to see it!” And he’s right, to some degree. If I’m not treating him like an addict, I am at least treating him like a pre-addict, someone who has the inclination, or who may well have it before long. In this way I think I understand him a little better than he understands himself. Of course our Internet plan is not designed only to protect the children from exposure to pornography, but that is still one of its major purposes.
But his exasperation and hurt feelings gave us opportunity to talk about one of the principles I have found helpful in my own life: When you are at your best, plan for when you are at your worst. I see this as an application of 1 Corinthians 10:12-13: “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Be sure to read the whole thing,
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Kathy Harris has a wonderful interview with one of my favorite historians, Jane Hampton Cook, about her book American Phoenix.
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More proof that too much media consumption can make you crazy: five mental disorders caused by media.
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Some classic time management advice worth revisiting. I've heard this same speech given by a time management guru and have long thought it was one of the best pieces of advice I had ever heard.
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This is spot on:
This describes our education system perfectly. pic.twitter.com/5I0gvW21eW
— Calvin and Hobbes (@Calvinn_Hobbes) January 21, 2014
*****************Timeless advice from famous authors on writing. The cool thing about this page is that it is constantly being updated with additional links.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Weekend Playlist: Frim Fram Sauce
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I'm a big fan of Diana Krall. Peel Me a Grape (which I highlighted here) was the first song of hers I heard and I was hooked immediately. Today's selection is another of my favorites because it again perfectly displays both her vocal and piano talents.
Today's song appears on her album All For You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio. The thing I like about this track is while you can hear a definite nod to the original song she still manages to makes it her own. Be sure to marvel at the extended solo in the middle of the song.
Today's song appears on her album All For You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio. The thing I like about this track is while you can hear a definite nod to the original song she still manages to makes it her own. Be sure to marvel at the extended solo in the middle of the song.
Daily Links 1-24-14
Happy Friday! Here are few links to start off your weekend right: the story behind Pixar, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, and more.
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This is a fascinating history of the Pixar Animation Studios. One of the interesting things is that the company didn't entirely start out as an animation studio. However, it's safe to say it's currently the best one in the business.
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If it seems like your Top 40 radio station is playing the same songs all the time it's because they are. What amazed me is the frequency with which they repeat songs. When I worked in Top 40 radio many years ago the rule was a song that was ranked in the Top 10 was repeated every 2 hours and 15 minutes. I'm sure that it's much more frequent now.
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The origin of Winnie-the-Pooh and writings by A. A. Milne on happiness. Believe it or not, the famous bear actually appeared in a book of poems a full two years before the first Pooh book was published.
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Glenn Harlan Reynolds discusses education and his new book with The Atlantic.
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Did you know that you can view the original manuscript for Alice In Wonderland (including illustrations from Lewis Carroll) online?
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How to make perfect bacon. I'm normally in too much of a hurry to try a procedure like this but it looks like it could be good. Lately, I've been using a bacon tray I found at Wal-Mart for around five bucks that allows me to cook it in the microwave. Plus it pulls the grease away from the bacon and allows me to reuse it for another application.
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Ever wonder why we put money in piggy banks? Here's your answer.
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This is a fascinating history of the Pixar Animation Studios. One of the interesting things is that the company didn't entirely start out as an animation studio. However, it's safe to say it's currently the best one in the business.
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If it seems like your Top 40 radio station is playing the same songs all the time it's because they are. What amazed me is the frequency with which they repeat songs. When I worked in Top 40 radio many years ago the rule was a song that was ranked in the Top 10 was repeated every 2 hours and 15 minutes. I'm sure that it's much more frequent now.
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The origin of Winnie-the-Pooh and writings by A. A. Milne on happiness. Believe it or not, the famous bear actually appeared in a book of poems a full two years before the first Pooh book was published.
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Glenn Harlan Reynolds discusses education and his new book with The Atlantic.
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Did you know that you can view the original manuscript for Alice In Wonderland (including illustrations from Lewis Carroll) online?
How to make perfect bacon. I'm normally in too much of a hurry to try a procedure like this but it looks like it could be good. Lately, I've been using a bacon tray I found at Wal-Mart for around five bucks that allows me to cook it in the microwave. Plus it pulls the grease away from the bacon and allows me to reuse it for another application.
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Ever wonder why we put money in piggy banks? Here's your answer.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Why the Pro-Life Movement Continues to Grow
In the clip below, Brit Hume makes an eloquent case as to why the pro-life movement continues to grow. Take ninety seconds to watch the most impassioned statement in support of life that you are likely to see.
Daily Links 1-23-14
In today's link roundup: an unlikely Oscar nominee, crazy interview questions, words invented by Shakespeare, and more.
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One of the more surprising Oscar nominees is the theme song for the film Alone Yet Not Alone. This is the story behind the song and why it has taken Hollywood by surprise.
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Reading this post A Letter to the Family of My ICU Patient brought a tear to my eyes. I have spent a fair amount of time in the ICU over the past few years with both my wife and late mother-in-law as patients. I have always thought that ICU nurses were special. This post only reaffirms that belief. (Hat tip: Challies)
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This is without a doubt the craziest list of interview questions I think I have ever seen. I'm not sure how I would react if someone asked me one of these questions in a job interview.
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Alton Brown shares some of his tech essentials as well as how to get around Twitter's 140 character limit.
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Beware of parenting advice on the internet. (Hat tip: Home Front)
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William Shakespeare was a genius with language including inventing a number of words that are in common usage today. Just goes to show that there still is value in studying the Bard's works.
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One of the more surprising Oscar nominees is the theme song for the film Alone Yet Not Alone. This is the story behind the song and why it has taken Hollywood by surprise.
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Reading this post A Letter to the Family of My ICU Patient brought a tear to my eyes. I have spent a fair amount of time in the ICU over the past few years with both my wife and late mother-in-law as patients. I have always thought that ICU nurses were special. This post only reaffirms that belief. (Hat tip: Challies)
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This is without a doubt the craziest list of interview questions I think I have ever seen. I'm not sure how I would react if someone asked me one of these questions in a job interview.
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Alton Brown shares some of his tech essentials as well as how to get around Twitter's 140 character limit.
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Beware of parenting advice on the internet. (Hat tip: Home Front)
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William Shakespeare was a genius with language including inventing a number of words that are in common usage today. Just goes to show that there still is value in studying the Bard's works.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Daily Links 1-22-14
In today's edition: the sinner's prayer, a theological toolbox, Sherlock returns, doing hard things, and more.
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Relevant Magazine asks whether the Sinner's Prayer is biblical. The short answer is no. The much longer answer which the article provides is that our focus on the sinner's prayer dilutes the power of the gospel by diminishing the much larger story of how God is at work.
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A Theological Toolbox that every pastor (and for that matter, every Christian) ought to have. I have used the theological triage tool that he references in the article time and time again. It's been an invaluable resource for us especially given some of the issues we have faced over the past few years.
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In honor of the return of Sherlock earlier this week, here is a collection of terrific swag.
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Continuing the introvert/extrovert discussion: 7 Ways Extroverts Can Help Introverts and 6 Lessons Extroverts Can Learn from Introverts.
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Why are pastors pulling so many stunts? Part of it has to done with churches focusing more on entertainment than teaching Scripture.
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19 hard things you need to do in order to be successful. This is a good list to keep in mind.
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Relevant Magazine asks whether the Sinner's Prayer is biblical. The short answer is no. The much longer answer which the article provides is that our focus on the sinner's prayer dilutes the power of the gospel by diminishing the much larger story of how God is at work.
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A Theological Toolbox that every pastor (and for that matter, every Christian) ought to have. I have used the theological triage tool that he references in the article time and time again. It's been an invaluable resource for us especially given some of the issues we have faced over the past few years.
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In honor of the return of Sherlock earlier this week, here is a collection of terrific swag.
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| A Sherlock themed messenger bag |
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Continuing the introvert/extrovert discussion: 7 Ways Extroverts Can Help Introverts and 6 Lessons Extroverts Can Learn from Introverts.
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Why are pastors pulling so many stunts? Part of it has to done with churches focusing more on entertainment than teaching Scripture.
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19 hard things you need to do in order to be successful. This is a good list to keep in mind.
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Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Daily Links 1-21-14
Bite size commentary delivered daily. In today's edition: The Great Divorce on stage, how to know God's will, biblical messages in Frozen, and more.
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Coming soon to a theater near you: a stage adaptation of C. S. Lewis' The Great Divorce. Though his Narnia books have garnered much more attention over the years because of the movie adaptations, I think this is one of his more underrated books. This could be a very promising play.
Hat tip: Breakpoint
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Finding God's will is a lot easier than you think:
Discovering God’s will is one of those topics that Christians (at least, North American ones) never seem to tire of. We want to know if what we’re doing is what God wants for us, his “best” for us, if you will. There are tons of books on the subject (only a couple that are worth reading in my opinion, though), lots of sermons and blog posts. And, honestly, if you read most of them, you’d think there was some sort of big secret—that God was leaving his will for our lives shrouded in mystery.
A mystery you must solve in order to have your best life now™.
Or something.
But God has not left us to flounder on this, as if we were to wander about aimlessly with no hope of finding an answer. But he’s also not provided an answer that will satisfy some to the degree they’d like. Instead, God directs us to his word, where he’s pretty clear-cut about no less than five things that are his will for our lives, which are helpfully detailed in John MacArthur’s book, Found: God’s Will and Kevin DeYoung’s Just Do Something*****************
6 questions writers should ask. Some good advice for anyone who wants to write effectively.
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One of the surprising things about Disney's Frozen (which we really enjoyed) is that it has some biblical truth embedded in the story. I hadn't really thought about it until I read the article. (Hat tip: Home Front)
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When a friend is in crisis what's the best thing to do?
The start of a New Year always seems to bring with it a sense of promise, a renewed hope that life will somehow get better or easier or lovelier. When the first of January came to pass last year, I had a lot of expectations for what the next twelve months would hold. I prayed for new mercies, new opportunities, new avenues for service.
While several months were marked by those truths, the beginning half of the year was also characterized by a lot of difficulty, hurt and overwhelming loss—not on a personal level, but for those close to me, those I care deeply about.
Numerous friends grieved the loss of one or both parents. and multiple couples I know lost a child at birth. While some faced newfound unemployment, others have struggled tirelessly but are still unable to find work. I have friends mourning broken relationships—familial, romantic or otherwise. It’s all incredibly confusing, and yet the heartache is all too real.
Knowing what to say at these times presents us with a challenge. A sentiment doesn’t exist that can change the current condition. As hard as we search for the most consoling words, they still feel empty, they come up short. I learned an important lesson years ago that has never failed me, a phrase that is my North Star in any and all circumstances. It’s a simple truth, which I believe resonate with us the most. It’s one thing true friends do, even when they can’t do anything else.
Show up.
Be sure to read the whole thing.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Daily Links 1-20-14
A roundup of interesting links found on the web. In today's edition: tips for posting on social media, applying "Moneyball" techniques to paying for college, homeschool vs. public school, and more.
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Congratulations to my friend Annie Parsons who was featured in Fortune's Best Companies to Work For. Check out the unusual story of how she got her current job.
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Some food for thought on how we use social media:
I was a freshman in college when Facebook came out and I distinctly remember thinking, “why would I need this? I have AOL Instant Messenger and MySpace!”
Well, times have changed. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram (and a slew of other sites I’m not cool enough to know about) have simultaneously brought us closer together and driven us further apart. With the exception of a few universally offensive statements or pictures, it’s a rule-free zone where we can interact with society while accepting minimal personal responsibility for the implications of what we do.
In absence of guidelines for healthy and polite social media etiquette, we are left to determine our own boundaries for navigating the seemingly endless opportunities available to us.
Before we snap one more picture of our hot chocolate topped with a foam leaf, perhaps we would benefit from a brief pause—an extra 30 seconds to ask five simple questions might suggest it’s time to unplug, or at least reconsider when and how we use social media.*****************
Debunking five popular e-mail myths. In reading over this I realized that I've fallen victim to believing a few of these. Makes me rethink how I am using my e-mail.
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Fun facts to know and tell at parties: why fake phone numbers start with "555".
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Implementing a "Moneyball" approach to a debt free college degree. I have a few friends who have used this approach for either part or all of their college education. While I wouldn't consider doing the entire degree this way it is worth considering as part of the degree.
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Homeschooling is not for everyone. Neither is public school:
If you’ve ever spent any time around homeschool parents (or kids), one of the first things they will tell you is that homeschooling is not for everybody. Not every parent is cut out for homeschooling; more important, neither is every kid.
That is why, unlike those who wish to suppress homeschooling, homeschool parents are rarely if ever heard demanding that the government pass a law demanding that every other family in the country do things the way they do. Unlike our German friends, homeschool parents do not wish to seize custody of other people’s children simply because they prefer a different model of education. The irony here is that more than a few of our public schools are so dangerous and dysfunctional that sending one’s children there really ought to be considered an act of neglect, if not for the fact that those poor parents have practically no choice in the matter.
As an aside, I’d like to put to rest the canard that homeschoolers are socially maladjusted. In my time teaching, I had the pleasure of having a number of students in my class who had been homeschooled. Some were very bright and engaging, some were not; some were super gregarious, some were not; some were the very picture of emotional and social confidence, and some were not. Which is to say, they were more or less the same as the other kids, with the sole exception of having on average slightly better manners. The traditional classroom is an environment that works for many people, but it is a highly unnatural one: If being locked in a room seven hours a day with 20 other people all born within nine months of each other were a condition for proper socialization, then mankind was never properly socialized until the middle of the 19th century or so. And of course it matters who those other 20 kids are, and who their parents are. I was blessed to attend exceptional public schools, and we call things “exceptional” because they are the exception.
We have 900 kinds of shampoo on the shelves and 40 different kinds of fresh fish at my neighborhood Whole Foods. Anybody who sees all that but thinks that there is only one good model of education is in no position to criticize anybody’s education.
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Friday, January 17, 2014
Weekend Playlist: I've Got the World on a String
Here's another song from the Great American Songbook that has been recorded multiple times by a variety of different artists. When I first heard this version of the song I heard the Frank Sinatra version. I've also heard Michael Buble and others provide their own take on the song. But it's hard to do much better than Ella Fitzgerald in the video below. Enjoy!
Daily Links 1-17-14
Here are a few links to kick off your weekend reading. In today's edition: why we need lovely films, why Citizen Kane is considered the best film ever made, how to be a gentlemen and why, and more.
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Peter Robinson weighs in on Saving Mr. Banks and calls it a lovely film. It's the kind of film that we need. I'm planning to see it this weekend.
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Why is Citizen Kane so special? Read the article to find out. For one thing, it broke all the rules of filmmaking. For another, it's simply a great story.
True story: when I was in college I once met Ruth Warrick who made her film debut in Citizen Kane as Charles Foster Kane's first wife Emily. I was acquainted with her grandson at the time and he introduced me to her. However, I had not seen the film yet and had no idea that she had such a famous professional resume. All the things I would have loved to been able to ask her about this film if I had only had the chance....
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Food for thought: six deadly enemies of marriage. This is well worth a read.
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I'm always on the lookout for books to read but this recommendation from Dr. Albert Mohler about a book about books is particularly interesting.
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This is a yummy post: 11 desserts that changed the world.
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Mark Tapson on how to be a gentleman and why:
He also offers eight simple rules for men who want to become gentlemen. Good stuff.
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Quote of the day:
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Peter Robinson weighs in on Saving Mr. Banks and calls it a lovely film. It's the kind of film that we need. I'm planning to see it this weekend.
*****************
Why is Citizen Kane so special? Read the article to find out. For one thing, it broke all the rules of filmmaking. For another, it's simply a great story.
True story: when I was in college I once met Ruth Warrick who made her film debut in Citizen Kane as Charles Foster Kane's first wife Emily. I was acquainted with her grandson at the time and he introduced me to her. However, I had not seen the film yet and had no idea that she had such a famous professional resume. All the things I would have loved to been able to ask her about this film if I had only had the chance....
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Food for thought: six deadly enemies of marriage. This is well worth a read.
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I'm always on the lookout for books to read but this recommendation from Dr. Albert Mohler about a book about books is particularly interesting.
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This is a yummy post: 11 desserts that changed the world.
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Mark Tapson on how to be a gentleman and why:
Because being a gentleman elevates you above the mass of men around you. Not in the shallow sense that knowing how to order a drink with confidence makes you more suave than the other guys in the bar; but in the substantial sense that conducting yourself according to an honorable code of behavior sets you apart from the crowd and sets the standard for other men. It isn’t about your looks, the kind of car you drive, your financial standing, your education, or any other superficial factor; it’s about, if I may borrow from Martin Luther King Jr., the content of your character. And character, to borrow from Heraclitus, is destiny.
He also offers eight simple rules for men who want to become gentlemen. Good stuff.
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Quote of the day:
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Daily Links 1-16-14
In today's edition: Radio goes Radical, a story that will make you feel good, Alfred Hitchcock and the Holocaust, and more.
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This is good news: Moody Radio has announced that it will be hosting Radical with David Platt on its stations this spring. I'm glad to see that he is going to be getting a wider audience.
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A mom's open letter on the internet to a stranger went viral and for good reason:
Be sure to read the whole thing. It is a heartwarming story and a good reminder that in a situation like that its better to extend kindness to a stranger rather than being wrapped up in our own little world.
Hat tip: Powerline
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Chevy's new ad for the Malibu celebrates Dads as the "richest guys on earth".
Right on the money. Kudos to Chevrolet for running this ad.
Hat tip: LifeNews
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The headline on this news story is a little misleading as the film in question is not entirely Alfred Hitchcock's documentary though the famed director did some work on the original project. Reportedly he was quite traumatized by what he saw. Now comes word that the fully restored version of the film will be released later this year. As difficult as it is to watch a film like this we need to not shy away from the evil that was at the heart of Nazi Germany. We must know fully the atrocities of the past so that we don't allow such terrible things to happen again.
Hat tip: Open Culture
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Quote of the day:
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This is good news: Moody Radio has announced that it will be hosting Radical with David Platt on its stations this spring. I'm glad to see that he is going to be getting a wider audience.
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A mom's open letter on the internet to a stranger went viral and for good reason:
A heartfelt open letter from a mother thanking a 'kind stranger' for entertaining her autistic daughter during a two-and-half-hour flight has been read more than 51,000 times with many deeming it a 'touching' and 'beautiful' story.
Shanell Mouland, 36, from New Brunswick, Canada, uploaded a note to her blog Go Team Kate last Thursday detailing how the mystery passenger engaged her three-year-old Kate in conversation instead of ignoring her.
'Thank you for not making me repeat those awful apologetic sentences that I so often say in public,' she wrote. 'Thank you for entertaining Kate so much that she had her most successful plane ride, yet. And, thank you for putting your papers away and playing turtles with our girl.'
Be sure to read the whole thing. It is a heartwarming story and a good reminder that in a situation like that its better to extend kindness to a stranger rather than being wrapped up in our own little world.
Hat tip: Powerline
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Chevy's new ad for the Malibu celebrates Dads as the "richest guys on earth".
Right on the money. Kudos to Chevrolet for running this ad.
Hat tip: LifeNews
*******************
The headline on this news story is a little misleading as the film in question is not entirely Alfred Hitchcock's documentary though the famed director did some work on the original project. Reportedly he was quite traumatized by what he saw. Now comes word that the fully restored version of the film will be released later this year. As difficult as it is to watch a film like this we need to not shy away from the evil that was at the heart of Nazi Germany. We must know fully the atrocities of the past so that we don't allow such terrible things to happen again.
Hat tip: Open Culture
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Quote of the day:
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Daily Links 1-15-14
In today's roundup: a place where it's okay to draw on the walls, new vending machines, some bookish baby gear, and more.
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Moore's Deli in Burbank, CA is known as a place where animators love to go to eat. That's because the walls of their back room is decorated with drawings done by their clientele. It's the only restaurant I've heard of where they encourage customers to draw on the walls.
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The implications of applying Ephesians 4:12 to congregational mobilization and the role of the pastor. Some great insights on what pastoral ministry should look like. Unfortunately, too many churches do not follow this model.
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The University of California Press has made over 700 of its e-book titles available for public use. While they tend to skew towards academic interests there are a wide range of titles available. The only drawback is that you can't load them to an e-reader or tablet. But it is an interesting place to go especially if you are doing research for a school-related project. (Hat tip: Open Culture)
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Speaking of e-books, this may be the future of libraries. The first all-digital library has opened in Texas. The problem with this is that it takes away from the primary reason to visit the library which is a chance to walk through and pick up and browse through books.
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Cute alert: a collection of bookish baby onesies.
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Not satisfied with selling Kindles on their website, Amazon is starting to put Kindle vending machines in airports.
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Popular Science has decided to no longer allow comments on their website. I typically don't read comments on articles because the discussions can become rather uncivil very fast. I expect we will see more of this i n the future.
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This is helpful: a cheat sheet on how to stay gluten free when you are eating out. (Hat tip: Food Riot)
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Moore's Deli in Burbank, CA is known as a place where animators love to go to eat. That's because the walls of their back room is decorated with drawings done by their clientele. It's the only restaurant I've heard of where they encourage customers to draw on the walls.
*****************
The implications of applying Ephesians 4:12 to congregational mobilization and the role of the pastor. Some great insights on what pastoral ministry should look like. Unfortunately, too many churches do not follow this model.
****************
The University of California Press has made over 700 of its e-book titles available for public use. While they tend to skew towards academic interests there are a wide range of titles available. The only drawback is that you can't load them to an e-reader or tablet. But it is an interesting place to go especially if you are doing research for a school-related project. (Hat tip: Open Culture)
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Speaking of e-books, this may be the future of libraries. The first all-digital library has opened in Texas. The problem with this is that it takes away from the primary reason to visit the library which is a chance to walk through and pick up and browse through books.
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Cute alert: a collection of bookish baby onesies.
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| Thing 1 and Thing 2 onesies inspired by The Cat in the Hat. |
Not satisfied with selling Kindles on their website, Amazon is starting to put Kindle vending machines in airports.
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Popular Science has decided to no longer allow comments on their website. I typically don't read comments on articles because the discussions can become rather uncivil very fast. I expect we will see more of this i n the future.
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This is helpful: a cheat sheet on how to stay gluten free when you are eating out. (Hat tip: Food Riot)
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Daily Links 1-14-14
In today's link roundup: how Malcolm Gladwell returned to faith, what we might not notice while watching Downton Abbey, know your Bible translations, and more.
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Malcolm Gladwell shares his journey on a return to faith while writing his latest book David and Goliath:
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Dr. Albert Mohler warns us to not miss the larger story that was taking place during the time of Downton Abbey which is not being fully portrayed on screen.
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A handy graphic guide to Bible translations.
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Word games: 7 words that came about because people kept saying them wrong.
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One writer's list of the 30 best period dramas of the last 30 years. Since we watch more than our fair share of these, here are our favorites from this list in no particular order (we haven't seen all 30 listed);
Sense and Sensibility
Daniel Deronda
Bleak House
The Young Victoria
Wives and Daughters
Little Dorrit
Pride and Prejudice
North and South
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How wealthy was George Washington? Historians at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation try to answer this question.
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Malcolm Gladwell shares his journey on a return to faith while writing his latest book David and Goliath:
When I was writing my book David and Goliath, I went to see a woman in Winnipeg by the name of Wilma Derksen.
Thirty years before, her teenage daughter, Candace, had disappeared on her way home from school. The city had launched the largest manhunt in its history, and after a week, Candace’s body was found in a hut a quarter of a mile from the Derksen’s house. Her hands and feet had been bound.
Wilma and her husband Cliff were called in to the local police station and told the news.
Candace’s funeral was the next day, followed by a news conference. Virtually every news outlet in the province was there because Candace’s disappearance had gripped the city.
“How do you feel about whoever did this to Candace?” a reporter asked the Derksens.
“We would like to know who the person or persons are so we could share, hopefully, a love that seems to be missing in these people’s lives,” Cliff said.
Wilma went next. “Our main concern was to find Candace. We’ve found her.” She went on: “I can’t say at this point I forgive this person,” but the stress was on the phrase at this point. “We have all done something dreadful in our lives, or have felt the urge to.”
I wanted to know where the Derksens found the strength to say those things. A sexual predator had kidnapped and murdered their daughter, and Cliff Derksen could talk about sharing his love with the killer and Wilma could stand up and say, “We have all done something dreadful in our lives, or have felt the urge to.” Where do two people find the power to forgive in a moment like that?Be sure to read the whole thing.
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Dr. Albert Mohler warns us to not miss the larger story that was taking place during the time of Downton Abbey which is not being fully portrayed on screen.
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A handy graphic guide to Bible translations.
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Word games: 7 words that came about because people kept saying them wrong.
*****************
One writer's list of the 30 best period dramas of the last 30 years. Since we watch more than our fair share of these, here are our favorites from this list in no particular order (we haven't seen all 30 listed);
Sense and Sensibility
Daniel Deronda
Bleak House
The Young Victoria
Wives and Daughters
Little Dorrit
Pride and Prejudice
North and South
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How wealthy was George Washington? Historians at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation try to answer this question.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Daily Links 1-13-14
Good morning! Here is a collection of links to help start your week off right. In today's edition: Brothers Grimm fairy tales come to life, redesigning World War II London, school wasn't canceled in 1882, and more.
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A neat collection of photographs that make you think you've stepped into one of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales:
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Buyer beware: 17 ways stores make you spend more money. Good stuff to keep in mind while shopping.
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Neat History: how wartime London was redesigned to fool German bombers during World War II.
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10 pieces of cool Jane Austen swag.
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A story from Laura Ingalls Wilder's These Happy Golden Years (second to last in the Little House series) proves that we have all gone soft when it comes to dealing with cold weather. (Hat tip: Challies)
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Point-counterpoint: Thom Rainer offers 7 tips for introvert leaders while Ed Stetzer responds with his own 3 tips for extrovert leaders.
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A neat collection of photographs that make you think you've stepped into one of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales:
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| Photo by Kilian Schönberger |
Buyer beware: 17 ways stores make you spend more money. Good stuff to keep in mind while shopping.
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Neat History: how wartime London was redesigned to fool German bombers during World War II.
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| This lamp post was repainted black and white (among other things) to fool German bomber crews. |
10 pieces of cool Jane Austen swag.
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| Jane Austen coasters |
A story from Laura Ingalls Wilder's These Happy Golden Years (second to last in the Little House series) proves that we have all gone soft when it comes to dealing with cold weather. (Hat tip: Challies)
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Point-counterpoint: Thom Rainer offers 7 tips for introvert leaders while Ed Stetzer responds with his own 3 tips for extrovert leaders.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Weekend Playlist: Peel Me A Grape
It's a rare thing that a song sticks with me after hearing it for the first time. Normally it takes me hearing a song several times before deciding whether I like it or not. Even more rare is when I can remember exactly when I have heard a song (or an artist) for the first time. But in the case of this song I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard it. From the very first time I heard the song I not only thoroughly enjoyed the song but knew the artist was someone I would want to hear from more often.
That's certainly the case with Diana Krall. When it comes to modern jazz musicians few can hold a candle to her vocally speaking. The added bonus is that she is also an accomplished pianist. This is a quintessential example of her vocal and piano performances. It's one of many of her performances from the Great American Songbook that were hallmarks of the early portion of her career. Her music is also perfect background music for a romantic evening. Enjoy.
That's certainly the case with Diana Krall. When it comes to modern jazz musicians few can hold a candle to her vocally speaking. The added bonus is that she is also an accomplished pianist. This is a quintessential example of her vocal and piano performances. It's one of many of her performances from the Great American Songbook that were hallmarks of the early portion of her career. Her music is also perfect background music for a romantic evening. Enjoy.
Daily Links 1-10-14
Here's a huge roundup of links to get your weekend started off right: some unusual things that have traveled into space, some neat history, perfect spaghetti marinara, and more.
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Over at Mental Floss, a list of 9 unusual things that astronauts brought into space. My personal favorite is the Silver Snoopy Lapel Pin.
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An interview with Glenn Harlan Reynolds over at National Review about the state of higher education and, of course, his new book.
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I always thought the first submarines appeared during the Civil War. Turns out I was wrong. The first submarine was actually invented during the Revolutionary War.
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Tips for becoming a successful writer.
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Kevin DeYoung shares the Ten Commandments of Twitter. Some great advice in this post.
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Chef Scott Conant shares his secrets for making the perfect spaghetti marinara. I've had this dish at Scarpetta Las Vegas (incidentally, one of the best meals I have ever had at a restaurant) and it is fantastic. If you start making spaghetti this way you will never want to prepare it any other way. Trust me on this.
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Is it possible to be a comedian without swearing or talking about sex? Jerry Seinfeld proves that it can be done. (Hat tip: Acculturated)
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A collection of nine sentences guaranteed to make a grammar nerd's head explode. English is tough.
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An interview with Glenn Harlan Reynolds over at National Review about the state of higher education and, of course, his new book.
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I always thought the first submarines appeared during the Civil War. Turns out I was wrong. The first submarine was actually invented during the Revolutionary War.
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Tips for becoming a successful writer.
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Kevin DeYoung shares the Ten Commandments of Twitter. Some great advice in this post.
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Chef Scott Conant shares his secrets for making the perfect spaghetti marinara. I've had this dish at Scarpetta Las Vegas (incidentally, one of the best meals I have ever had at a restaurant) and it is fantastic. If you start making spaghetti this way you will never want to prepare it any other way. Trust me on this.
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Is it possible to be a comedian without swearing or talking about sex? Jerry Seinfeld proves that it can be done. (Hat tip: Acculturated)
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A collection of nine sentences guaranteed to make a grammar nerd's head explode. English is tough.
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Daily Links 1-9-14
Good morning! In today's roundup: celebrating the great year of film that was 1939, don't feed the trolls, considering alternative education, why you can't believe everything you hear, and more.
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This marks the 75th anniversary of what is arguably the best year for movies in the history of Hollywood: 1939. Breakpoint is marking the occasion by highlighting a different film from that year each month. The first installment deals with the classic western Stagecoach.
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Revealed:: the reason why you can't believe everything you hear.
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At Acculturated, Mark Tapson encourages us to not feed the trolls:
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Glenn Reynolds has some advice for parents: consider alternative schooling. After all, why should parents settle for the one-size-fits-all public school? As a parent of two homeschooled girls, I can attest that choosing to educate our children at home was the best decision we ever made.
No one is more in tune with the deterioration of our public schools than Professor Reynolds. His new book just hit the shelves this week.
Related links: A review of the book. Also an interview with Professor Reynolds.
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Decoding the byzantine system of Netflix's 76,000+ microgenres. Fascinating stuff. (Hat tip: Mental Floss)
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In praise of breakfast. To me, it's still the best meal of the day. Unfortunately, technology has done little to improve it. In fact, the author has it right that breakfast is not what it used to be.
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This marks the 75th anniversary of what is arguably the best year for movies in the history of Hollywood: 1939. Breakpoint is marking the occasion by highlighting a different film from that year each month. The first installment deals with the classic western Stagecoach.
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Revealed:: the reason why you can't believe everything you hear.
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At Acculturated, Mark Tapson encourages us to not feed the trolls:
Recently an anonymous commenter responded to an Acculturated article I had written back in February entitled “Why Have Kids? They Make Life Meaningful.” The commenter stated, among other mean-spirited things, that “I hate kids. Always have. See humanity as a disease.” He (or she, but statistically speaking, it was most likely “he”) finished by saying that “women who birth children are dumb farm animals without exception.”
I always try to respond to Acculturated comments, which are almost invariably well-considered and -intended, but I didn’t waste time on this one. It was the very definition of trolling: irrational, hateful, and designed only to provoke and/or bully, not to contribute to a meaningful online conversation. Trolls don’t respond to reason; they seek to agitate, not debate. Responding would have served no purpose except to feed the troll’s perverse need to suck me into a time-wasting, enervating black hole from which even the light of reason cannot escape.
Such a comment may be rare on Acculturated, but the internet at large is hip-deep in trolls waging such (usually) anonymous, virtual guerrilla warfare. Political websites are particularly infested with them. I spend a great deal of time – too much – reading articles online, and have resolved recently not only to be more discriminating about that, but also to liberate myself from the negativity of reading article comments too, partly due to the high concentration of trolls spreading hate and ugliness for the pathetic satisfaction it gives them.
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Glenn Reynolds has some advice for parents: consider alternative schooling. After all, why should parents settle for the one-size-fits-all public school? As a parent of two homeschooled girls, I can attest that choosing to educate our children at home was the best decision we ever made.
No one is more in tune with the deterioration of our public schools than Professor Reynolds. His new book just hit the shelves this week.
Related links: A review of the book. Also an interview with Professor Reynolds.
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Decoding the byzantine system of Netflix's 76,000+ microgenres. Fascinating stuff. (Hat tip: Mental Floss)
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In praise of breakfast. To me, it's still the best meal of the day. Unfortunately, technology has done little to improve it. In fact, the author has it right that breakfast is not what it used to be.
Wednesday, January 08, 2014
Daily Links 1-8-14
In today's links: making college pay off, a caution to Christians about alcohol, a word from a young woman to young men, and more.
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If you don't click through any other link in today's post, take time to read this heartfelt letter from a 19 year old young woman to young men. It is an amazing post.
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Baseball's Hall of Fame will announce their 2014 class of inductees later today. Before the announcement, take time to read this column from Jonah Keri on what's wrong with the current voting process, how to fix it, and what his ballot would look like if he could vote.
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Glenn Harlan Reynolds (a.k.a. Instapundit) on how to make college pay off:
His upcoming book, The New School: How the Information Age Will Save American Education from Itself, looks like it will be an important one to read this year.
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Eric Metaxas interviews Malcolm Gladwell at Socrates in the City:
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31 College Campuses that are the perfect wedding venue:
Hat tip: Neatorama
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Somehow I missed this when it was first published: The Distinct, Positive Impact of a Good Dad.
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A caution to Christians who drink alcohol. I don't have any objections to occasional drink. This article makes some very solid points.
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If you don't click through any other link in today's post, take time to read this heartfelt letter from a 19 year old young woman to young men. It is an amazing post.
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Baseball's Hall of Fame will announce their 2014 class of inductees later today. Before the announcement, take time to read this column from Jonah Keri on what's wrong with the current voting process, how to fix it, and what his ballot would look like if he could vote.
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Glenn Harlan Reynolds (a.k.a. Instapundit) on how to make college pay off:
In the field of higher education, reality is outrunning parody. A recent feature on the satire website the Onion proclaimed, "30-Year-Old Has Earned $11 More Than He Would Have Without College Education." Allowing for tuition, interest on student loans, and four years of foregone income while in school, the fictional student "Patrick Moorhouse" wasn't much better off. His years of stress and study, the article japed, "have been more or less a financial wash."
"Patrick" shouldn't feel too bad. Many college graduates would be happy to be $11 ahead instead of thousands, or hundreds of thousands, behind. The credit-driven higher education bubble of the past several decades has left legions of students deep in debt without improving their job prospects. To make college a good value again, today's parents and students need to be skeptical, frugal and demanding. There is no single solution to what ails higher education in the U.S., but changes are beginning to emerge, from outsourcing to online education, and they could transform the system.
His upcoming book, The New School: How the Information Age Will Save American Education from Itself, looks like it will be an important one to read this year.
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Eric Metaxas interviews Malcolm Gladwell at Socrates in the City:
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31 College Campuses that are the perfect wedding venue:
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| Duke Chapel, Duke University, Durham, NC |
Hat tip: Neatorama
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Somehow I missed this when it was first published: The Distinct, Positive Impact of a Good Dad.
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A caution to Christians who drink alcohol. I don't have any objections to occasional drink. This article makes some very solid points.
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Tuesday, January 07, 2014
Daily Links 1-7-14
A daily roundup of links of interest from the web. In today's edition: how to jumpstart your journaling, alternate covers for books, building a library of literary classics, and more.
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A guide to jumpstarting your journaling. This article is chock full of great ideas how to get started on keeping a journal. If you've never tried it before I highly recommend it.
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Some artistically reimagined book covers. These are pretty amazing.
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An illustrated guide to buying classic books (even if you're on a tight budget). The best thing about some of these collections is that they can easily purchased to help decorate your bookshelves and make them look nicer even if you don't intend to read the books.
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Dr. Albert Mohler offers some great suggestions on how to become a more effective and prolific reader.
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There is a Calvinist revival going on in evangelical churches and The New York Times takes notice with a remarkably good article.
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The results of Baseball Hall of Fame voting will be announced soon but before we get to that we can look at a list of 50 best players not currently in the Hall.
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From Art of Manliness, a terrific article on how to gain the respect you deserve at work.
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How to build the perfect snowman.
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A guide to jumpstarting your journaling. This article is chock full of great ideas how to get started on keeping a journal. If you've never tried it before I highly recommend it.
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Some artistically reimagined book covers. These are pretty amazing.
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| A reimagined cover for Ray Bradbury's classic novel Fahrenheit 451. |
An illustrated guide to buying classic books (even if you're on a tight budget). The best thing about some of these collections is that they can easily purchased to help decorate your bookshelves and make them look nicer even if you don't intend to read the books.
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Dr. Albert Mohler offers some great suggestions on how to become a more effective and prolific reader.
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There is a Calvinist revival going on in evangelical churches and The New York Times takes notice with a remarkably good article.
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The results of Baseball Hall of Fame voting will be announced soon but before we get to that we can look at a list of 50 best players not currently in the Hall.
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From Art of Manliness, a terrific article on how to gain the respect you deserve at work.
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How to build the perfect snowman.
Monday, January 06, 2014
Daily Links 1-6-14
Godd morning! In today's edition: Hugh Hewitt on living The Happiest Life, Sherlock Holmes the scientist, don't waste you weaknesses, essential books on the American Revolution, and more.
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National Review's Kathryn Jean Lopez interviews Hugh Hewitt about his newest book The Happiest Life. Related: my review of the book. It was also one of my favorite books I read last year.
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John Piper encourages us to not waste our weaknesses:
What is your goal in 2014? I hope it is to be humble and to magnify the power of Christ. If it is, then one key strategy is to identify and exploit your weaknesses.
What does this mean? Negatively, it means that we stop complaining (to God and to people) about the things we are constitutionally not good at. And, positively, it means that we look for ways to turn our weaknesses into a Christ-exalting experience.
When I say “constitutionally not good at,” I mean that we have done our best to overcome the weakness, but we can’t. God has ordained that, through genetics or life-experience, we are limited, broken, weak. Paul asked that God would take his weakness away (verse 8), but God said no. Which means that sooner or later, we should stop praying against the weakness and accept it as God’s design for our humility and the glory of Christ.
Hat tip: Challies
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How Sherlock Holmes is the archetypal scientist.
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A symposium on the essential titles to read about the American Revolution. (Hat tip: Washington's Library). I would recommend David McCullough's 1776 and John Adams, David Hackett Fischer's Washington's Crossing, and Jeff Shaara's two Revolutionary War novels Rise to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause as a good place to start.
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What does the future hold for libraries in the digital age? Here are five possibilities.
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Joe Carter offers a more unconventional (and possibly more practical) method for reading the Bible:
A few years ago I stumbled across a variation of the four steps in an article by theologian Fred Sanders and implemented his recommendation that day. I later had the pleasure of meeting Sanders in person and telling him how his post had transformed my life. My hope is that at least one other person will follow this advice and experience the same transformative effect.
Before I reveal the four steps I want to reiterate that while the advice could transform your life, it likely will not. As with most life-altering advice, it is simple, easy to implement, and even easier to ignore. Statistically speaking, the odds are great that you'll ignore this advice.
But a handful of you will try it so for the one or two people who will find this useful, the four steps that will transform your worldview are:
1. Choose a book of the Bible.
2. Read it in its entirety.
3. Repeat step #2 twenty times.
4. Repeat this process for all books of the Bible.
Christians often talk about having a Biblical worldview yet most have only a rudimentary knowledge of the Bible. They attempt to build a framework without first gathering the lumber and cement needed to create a solid foundation. The benefits of following this process should therefore be obvious. By fully immersing yourself into the text you'll come to truly know the text. You'll deepen your understanding of each book and knowledge of the Bible as a whole.
Friday, January 03, 2014
Weekend Playlist: She's No Lady
Each Friday I feature a favorite song. This week it's one of the early hits from Lyle Lovett. This song was definitely written tongue in cheek. Listen closely and you will see why.
Daily Links 1-3-14
In today's roundup: the love letters of Prince Albert, a family that went to the moon, how to be a jerk online, and more.
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The love letters of Prince Albert to (then) Princess Victoria are being displayed at Windsor Castle:
Thanks to my sister-in-law for the tip via Pinterest.
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George Washington outanks all other military officers past, present, and future. Follow this link for the full story.
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Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke took a family photo with him to the moon. Then he left it behind on the lunar surface. As far as anyone knows it's still there.
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10 ways to be a jerk online. Safe to say it's best to avoid all of them.
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Aaron Earls on why you should read through the Bible in a year (if you haven't done it) and not do it again if you already have. Related: an abundance of links to different reading plans for reading through the Bible.
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Where you can go to play classic arcade games online for free.
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The love letters of Prince Albert to (then) Princess Victoria are being displayed at Windsor Castle:
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| This letter, written on November 15, 1839 in German, was composed by Prince Albert. He tells her of how he dreams of their hands touching. |
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George Washington outanks all other military officers past, present, and future. Follow this link for the full story.
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Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke took a family photo with him to the moon. Then he left it behind on the lunar surface. As far as anyone knows it's still there.
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| The family photo left by astronaut Charlie Duke on the moon next to his footprint. |
10 ways to be a jerk online. Safe to say it's best to avoid all of them.
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Aaron Earls on why you should read through the Bible in a year (if you haven't done it) and not do it again if you already have. Related: an abundance of links to different reading plans for reading through the Bible.
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Where you can go to play classic arcade games online for free.
Thursday, January 02, 2014
Daily Links 1-2-14
In today's roundup: zero tolerance and public schools, an update in the war on boys, PEDs in baseball, and more.
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Glenn Reynolds weighs in on new research showing the ability of preschoolers to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Too bad the same can't be said for public school administrators.
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The Washington Examiner weighs in on the war on boys with this editorial:
Read the whole thing.
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Making the argument for voting for players from the Steroid Era for Baseball's Hall of Fame. Their opinion? It's the numbers, stupid. The hard part for me about the steroid debate has always been what distinctive advantage, if any, does use of PEDs give to a player? Baseball is hard game to play and even harder to master. Though I'm opposed to use of PEDs I still remain unconvinced that they give a player a significant edge.
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The polka-dot bomber from World War II:
The full story on why it's painted that way is here. (Hat tip: Neatorama)
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Prince William made the day of a 12 year old girl who was visiting Sandringham on Christmas Day:
Priceless.
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Glenn Reynolds weighs in on new research showing the ability of preschoolers to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Too bad the same can't be said for public school administrators.
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The Washington Examiner weighs in on the war on boys with this editorial:
Lost in all the noise about helping girls achieve their potential is a growing body of evidence that boys are in trouble. It's the real "gender gap." Consider this: A recent study by two MIT economists found that men, not women, are less likely to graduate from high school and finish college. As a result, the study said, "over the last three decades, the labor market trajectory of males in the U.S. has turned downward along four dimensions: skills acquisition, employment rates, occupational stature and real wage levels."
The authors say the declining economic value of men and the rise in women's achievement contributes to the breakdown of the American family by making marriage less valuable. Then, with more out-of-wedlock births and single-parent households headed by women, the lack of a male role model hurts boys in particular, both economically and academically.
This isn't a new finding: Multiple studies over the past 40 years have shown that boys suffer more than girls from divorce because they tend to externalize their reactions and act in ways that make them more likely to cause trouble at school or get arrested. Simply put: Boys need fathers to learn how to become men. And too many of them don't have one.
Read the whole thing.
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Making the argument for voting for players from the Steroid Era for Baseball's Hall of Fame. Their opinion? It's the numbers, stupid. The hard part for me about the steroid debate has always been what distinctive advantage, if any, does use of PEDs give to a player? Baseball is hard game to play and even harder to master. Though I'm opposed to use of PEDs I still remain unconvinced that they give a player a significant edge.
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The polka-dot bomber from World War II:
The full story on why it's painted that way is here. (Hat tip: Neatorama)
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Prince William made the day of a 12 year old girl who was visiting Sandringham on Christmas Day:
In another era, it would have been seen as undignified. But in the newly populist royal family, everyone seems to be getting in on the act.
After Prince Charles and the Queen set the trend by agreeing to pose for mobile phone photos with members of the public, Prince William has joined in.
And this time it was the royal who actually took the picture.
William, 31, photographed himself with Madison Lambe, 12, on her phone – because she was too nervous to press the button. The Duke of Cambridge took the snap after she visited the Sandringham Estate on Christmas Day to watch the Royal family walk from their house to church.
Priceless.