Weekend Links 2-9-18

It's a cornucopia of interesting links this week.

This is interesting: 16 facts about Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. This makes me want to go read the book.

Articles like this make it harder to enjoy football. There was a time when I was truly interesting in watching it. Not anymore.

If you are a football fan enjoy it while you can because the sport is doomed.

Thomas Boswell was right - baseball is better than football. There's also this from George Carlin.

Spring training starts next week. Here are the report dates for every team.

One of the best shows currently on television is the Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour (shown on PBS here in the United States). This is a fascinating interview with Russell Lewis, the series creator and sole writer.

America is at her greatest when she accomplishes great things. Just ask Elon Musk. (As a side note, I am currently reading a second book on the Apollo space program and find myself longing for the days when we dared to do difficult things).

This seems to fall more in the category of "don't try this at home". However, I know of at least one person who does one of the things on this list regularly.

How Groundhog Day (released 25 years ago!) shows we are "stuck with virtue".

Quote of the week:

Abide is an old fashioned word. It simply means remain, stay, or dwell.  The challenge is for us to continue to be immersed in, satisfied by, surrounded by, empowered by, protected by, and infused with Jesus.

Read the whole thing.

Some interesting thoughts on The Post and the current state of the press. Lots of stuff here to think about.

This is an amazing article written by a long-time photojournalist. The story - about one man and a photograph - is pretty remarkable.

This article from WORLD Magazine on the current turmoil at Moody Bible Institute is incredibly detailed and provides a pretty comprehensive account of the challenges facing the college.

Recommended reading: The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.

This book wasn't on my to be read list at the beginning of the year but I ran across it a library book sale and couldn't resist. I had seen it recommended several places and now I understand why it was getting such tremendous endorsements. It's an amazing account of a group of working-class boys who fought theri way through the Great Depression to defeat the heavily favored German team in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. It's a terrific read and well worth your time.

Incidentally, pay particular attention to the prologue of the book. I love the story of how the author stumbled onto this tale. It made reading the book even more enjoyable.

Daily Links 5-6-14

Good morning! A few articles to help you start your day. In today's edition: the problem with seeking God's will, baseball in India, the woman who put herself in the nuthouse, and more.

************

Matt Papa on the problem with seeking God's will:

I have spent too much of my life, and my prayer life, asking for God to lead me into His “perfect will”.  “God lead me”.  “Guide me”.  “Use me”.  “Bless me”.  While I know that God is a gracious, condescending God who meets us wherever we are, I something wonder if God has been up there saying…. 

“Um…yeah.  I’m Your Shepherd.  That’s what I do.” 

So there’s a problem revealed here.  If I really believed that God was good….that He was my dad who was all powerful and all knowing and all loving….then I wouldn’t be repeatedly begging him to lead me with this certain twinge of anxiety.  I would relax.  Dad’s got me.  Chill.

Hat tip: Challies

************

Could it be that America's favorite books are its favorite movies?

************

The new movie Million Dollar Arm (which judging by the previews looks really good) will open in theaters next week. But will the movie spark interest in baseball in India?

************

A collection of the best C. S. Lewis quotes.

************

Taking God at His word: an interview with Kevin DeYoung about his new book.

************

The amazing story of Nellie Bly who once intentionally got herself committed to an insane asylum to expose brutal treatment of the patients.

************

Daily Links 4-17-14

In today's edition: Reader's Digest Christianity, revisiting the great Dungeons and Dragons scare, confessions of a Christian film critic, the aggregation of marginal gains, and more.

************

Exposing the flaws of Reader's Digest Christianity. Unfortunately this is what too many sermons have started to sound like.

************

How do I talk to my teenage daughter? This is a struggle that every father of girls faces.

************

The 4 Stages of Writing and 3 Common Mistakes We Make. I can relate to every bit of this article (particularly the mistakes).

************

Recalling the great 1980s panic about Dungeons and Dragons. I recently shocked my kids when I confessed to them I had played the game (more than a few times) when I was younger. Somehow I managed to survive. (Hat tip: Challies)

************

12 Places in Pixar movies that exist in real life. Some of these are less obvious than others.

************

This is an interesting read: Confessions of a Christian Film Reviewer:

If it’s a challenge to write about Christian films as a Christian, it can be just as problematic to review nonreligious films, especially the bad ones: The humility and loving kindness I try so hard to cultivate in my daily life doesn’t hew to the snark and downright cruelty that can be the occupational hazard of the reviewer’s job. Where I’ve become much more unforgiving, however, is in depictions of violence. As a student of film history, I know that violence is a long-standing, even essential element of cinematic grammar and audience catharsis; as a Christian, I find it increasingly difficult to accept portrayals of brutality that are glib, meaningless, played for laughs or cynically nihilistic. As Underhill wrote, “We cannot begin the day by a real act of communion with the Author of peace and Lover of concord, and then go on to read a bloodthirsty newspaper at breakfast.” If a bellicose tabloid is enough to give peace-lovers a case of indigestion, they should try watching a Quentin Tarantino film on an empty stomach.

Hat tip: Breakpoint

************

How to keep your marriage strong. These are great tips. #5 is the one I find the hardest.

************

This is very interesting: the aggregation of marginal gains. Having the patience to make small changes will result in bigger changes.

Daily Links 3-6-14

In today's edition: Wasting time on Pinterest, the spouse checklist, the making of a bestseller, spiritual schizophrenia, and more.

*************

Top 10 Pinterest time wasters - tips that don't work. Good to know that these have already been tested. I can safely disregard them.

*************

This is fun: 16 signs your sidekick material.

*************

The Spouse Checklist:

It dawned on me a few years later when I heard a wise man mention a spouse checklist (hey, I know what that is!), but not one that I'd made for my spouse (oh, guess not), one that I would create for myself (all right, now I'm listening). He suggested a list of requirements to prepare myself to be the person I knew my spouse would need. As I listened to him explain, I felt a small pressure in my chest. Yes, this would have helped me earlier.

So I've begun a different list. This is by no means exhaustive! There's still plenty of room to add more ways to grow as a spouse. Also, for any given couple, some things will come easily in the relationship, and some will feel unnatural or even impossible. I'll share my own spouse checklist along with updates on how things are going — all the while fully acknowledging that no line-item will ever be perfectly complete in this lifetime.

**************

The dark underbelly of marketing of Christian books: how a marketing company turned a Mark Driscoll book into a New York Times bestseller. Whatever you may think of Driscoll these tactics give one cause for concern.

**************

Are those Star Trek Federation symbols I see? Maybe.

Hat tip: Neatorama

**************

Paul David Tripp on the problem of Spiritual Schizophrenia:

I want to write today about something that I call Spiritual Schizophrenia. I can summarize it with a question: does the public persona of your faith live in harmony with the private realities of your life?

Hat tip: Challies

Daily Links 3-4-14

In today's edition: avoiding the appearance of evil, John Steinbeck was a spy, how to get an online MBA for free, memorable quotes from Dr. Seuss, and more.

************

I've heard it said many times to "avoid every appearance of evil". The source is from 1 Thessalonians 5:22 in the King James Version. The trouble is that the KJV is translating the verse incorrectly. Here's an explanation of how this verse has been so frequently misused.

************

A crash course in jazz appreciation from Art of Manliness.

************

Did John Steinbeck spy for the CIA? It certainly looks that way. (Hat tip: Book Riot)

************

According to Yelp, the best rated restaurant in the country is a shack. I will say this: when I travel I do rely on Yelp for reviews of restaurants. Usually they are fairly reliable. (Hat tip: Neatorama)

************

How to earn an MBA online for free.

************

Dr. Seuss would have been 110 this past Sunday. Here are ten memorable quotes about his life and work.

Daily Links 3-3-14

In today's post: how Netflix beat Blockbuster, do vaccines cause autism, how not to be a man, the one thing Christians should stop saying, and more.

**************

Netflix vs. Blockbuster in an infographic:



Source: TopAccountingDegrees.org

************

Do vaccines cause autism? This doctor says no.

************

19 problems only book nerds would understand.

************

Learning how not to be a man from Victor Frankenstein.

************

Gut check: the one thing Christians should stop saying. The writer makes some good points.

************

How to rock a library book sale. My to be read list is so long that I would have to avoid such sales.

************

Interesting history: Welch's grape juice was originally developed as a substitute for sacramental wine. While I knew that many churches who don't use real wine in communion relied on Welch's I had no idea that's how it got started.

Daily Links 2-10-14

Good morning. Here's a collection of links to start your week off right. In today's edition: is Pinterest like porn, must-see bookstores, why go to church, and more.

***************

Here's an amazing collection of bookstores that are must-see destinations for book lovers. (Hat tip: Book Riot). I could easily see planning a number of trips around being able to visit these stores.

***************

Two Men Who Marked My Life is a great testimony of two older men who intentionally invested themselves into the life of a younger man. I have been blessed by knowing a handful of such men and hope that one day I might have the opportunity to do the same for someone else. (Hat tip: Challies)

***************

Over at Acculturated, Chelsea Samelson asks Is Pinterest Like Porn (For Women)? Some very interesting insight into the appeal of one of the hottest social media sites around. I would be curious to hear what other women in particular think about this article.

***************

Over the course of one's Christian walk there are inevitably going to be some seasons of spiritual dryness. How do  you work through those times in the desert? Here are a few simple suggestions. 

***************

Why we should be involved in church. As someone who has struggled periodically with finding the right church I can say that it's much  more difficult being without a church than being in church.

Related: Why I still go to church.

***************

9 lessons in entrepreneurship from Shark Tank. I don't get to see this show often but when I do I have really enjoyed it. If you are thinking of starting your own business it's a good show to watch as there is much to learn.

***************

Baseball will be back soon (but not soon enough). Here's a handy guide to Opening Day for every team in the Major  Leagues.

Daily Links 2-6-14

In today's links: was a Christian film a victim of bias, how to become a professional author, how Christians should engage culture without falling into the fundamentalist trap, and more.

************

I previously noted that Alone Yet Not Alone was honored with an Oscar nomination for best song. But not long after the film was honored the Academy decided to rescind the nomination based on the efforts by the song's producer to lobby Academy members for votes. But his behavior does not seem to be all that different from many other producers. This begs the question whether the film was really victim of some anti-Christian bias in Hollywood.

Related: the producer of Schindler's List says the Oscars are bigoted. Perhaps there is something there after all.

*************

There's been an ongoing discussion in evangelical circles about how to properly engage the culture and how much we can safely engage before running the risk of sin. Now, Aaron Earls weighs in with some further observations as well as a word of caution for all concerned.

**************

A good read from Relevant Magazine: the most damaging attitude in our churches.

*************

Seven ways to judge the effectiveness of your church. Notice that none of these are how many people show up for Sunday morning services.

*************

Some advice on becoming a professional author from Dave Barry. Hilarious.

*************

Loads of surprises to be found in these special edition LEGO sets. Fun stuff.

*************

Daily Links 2-3-14

Good morning. Here is an assortment of links to start off your day: the shortest Bible commentaries, men and food, the case for early marriage, and more.

****************

This is interesting: commentaries on each book of the Bible limited to 140 characters or less.

****************

A list of ten television shows that changed the world. Interestingly, all these shows appeared before the advent of cable television which ultimately fractured audiences with its myriad of channel choices. Television does not appear to have the same power to influence our culture that it once did.

****************

How food helps guys bond:

The reason that “dude food” – and I would add “dude drinks” – have become so important to so many dudes is that they represent something that is solely theirs. It’s exclusive. And it’s overwhelmingly other dudes who enjoy these specific things (or at least, only in the quantity and consistency we would like to enjoy them). If we can’t have smoke-filled cigar lounges, we will have brisket-clogged arteries. 

Now, I’m not attempting to defend all of the over-indulgence that goes on. I am first on the list of dudes who need to show more discretion when it comes to what I consume. But there is something special (and important) about “breaking bread” with other male friends. And when the places for this to happen dry up, when the institutions that previously cultivated male camaraderie in relatively safe environments disappear, we will find means and modes to cut loose in such a manner that girls won’t want to be around for them.

****************

The inside story of some of the amazing trickery employed by American forces during World War II. We often think that wars are won because of overwhelming military might. But the fact that remains that intelligence operations can be a difference maker.

****************

Making the case for getting married young. I thought I was old when I got married at 24. But there is a good case to be made for not waiting to get married.

****************

The problem of the stealth prosperity gospel:

The real devil in the details of the prosperity-type teaching permeating so much of evangelicalism is not really that it skips over the stuff about sin. Sure, it does that too, but the pernicious paradox of this stuff is that it champions “victorious Christian living” yet does not equip believers for sustainable discipleship. It emphasizes feelings and “outlook,” not the power of the Spirit, which is hard for some folks to notice since the latter is often conflated with the former (so that being optimistic or a go-getter is ipso facto being Spirit-empowered). The problem over time is that, going from victory to victory, expecting victory after victory, cultivates a contagious form of spiritual greed. (Is it any wonder that this sort of teaching often goes hand and hand with talk of financial riches and prosperity?) The real stuff of discipleship — what Eugene Peterson calls “a long obedience in the same direction” — involves hard stuff like discipline and the fruit of the Spirit. In pop discipleship discipline is replaced by steps, tips, and amazingsupercolossal breakthroughs.

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.

*****************

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.

*****************

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.

*****************

Three time management principles to increase your productivity. It's often the simplest of things that can make the biggest impact.

*****************

10 writing tips from acclaimed novelist P. D. James. Some good food for thought.

*****************

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.

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.

************

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.

************

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.

************

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.

*************

Eric Metaxas interviews Malcolm Gladwell at Socrates in the City:



*************

31 College Campuses that are the perfect wedding venue:

Duke Chapel, Duke University, Durham, NC

Hat tip: Neatorama

***************

Somehow I missed this when it was first published: The Distinct, Positive Impact of a Good Dad.

***************

A caution to Christians who drink alcohol. I don't have any objections to occasional drink. This article makes some very solid points.

***************

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.

*****************

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.

*****************

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

**************

How Sherlock Holmes is the archetypal scientist.

**************

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.

**************

What does the future hold for libraries in the digital age? Here are five possibilities.

**************

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.

Daily Links 12-27-13

In today's edition: the story behind the iconic moonrise photo from Apollo 8, how we need men of gravitas, historic speeches no one has ever heard, and more.

****************

This week marked 45 years since the Apollo 8 moon mission which was the first mission to achieve lunar orbit. NASA has produced this video narrated by Andrew Chaikin, author of the excellent book A Man on the Moon, which explains how the crew managed to capture the photograph.



****************

On a related note, Rick Moran reflects on how Apollo 8 saved 1968. He's absolutely right that if the astronauts had tried the same thing today they would be fired.

****************

This is interesting: A list of speeches that no one has ever heard. Including the speech drafted by Richard Nixon's speechwriting team to be delivered in case the Apollo 11 moon landing failed.

****************

A call for men to be real men in this article entitled "Dude, Where's Your Gravitas?"

Our culture wants men to be featherweights when it comes to conviction, seriousness, responsibility, discipline, courage, and truth. The Creator of these men does not. He wants gravitas.

Gravitas comes from the Latin gravis, which means “dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner.” In line with the expectation upon men seen in the entire breadth of Scripture, it is my argument that every Christian man should aim, by God’s grace and for his glory, to be characterized by this trait, with the effect that people can look at him and say, “That is a man of gravitas. There is a solemn weight to the way he carries himself. He believes in truth. He walks in love, joy, passion, and conviction. There’s an undeniable winsome seriousness evident in his character, his words, his thoughts, and his motivations.”

Hat tip: Challies

****************

Three steps to becoming a more effective reader. I'm planning to do more reading in the coming year. Having a few books on my nightstand from Christmas doesn't hurt, either.

****************

How about a little coffee shop tourism? Here are 7 must-see shops.

****************\

Daily Links 12-26-13

In today's roundup of links: productivity tips from the book of Proverbs, things Christians should stop saying, being careful about what you share on the internet, and more.

*****************

This is interesting: a list of 22 productivity tips from the book of Proverbs. (Hat tip: Aaron Armstrong)

The Book of Proverbs has a lot to say about productivity. Not only does it teach us how we can be more productive, it teaches how we can be more biblically productive. 

Some of these principles you can find in secular productivity literature today. (Indeed, many of the proverbs can be found in secular ancient Near East literature, verbatim.) But seeing them in God-breathed Scripture reminds us to adopt those principles with a God-centered perspective. Other principles in the list don’t get as much ink or pixels in productivity books or blogs. Let us consider how to incorporate those in our mindset and our workflow, so that we can glorify God all the more in the work that we do. 

 *****************

A list of five things that Christians should stop saying. I agree with every single one especially #1 and #3.

*****************

A warning to be careful about what we share on the internet:

It can happen to any of us. It does happen to almost all of us. 

We see a story online that shocks us and seems just true enough. 

Normally, we check things out before we share them, but this is so unbelievable we need to get the news out as soon as possible. 

We post it on Facebook or retweet it. Before we know it, others have shared the story.

Only then do we find out the truth – it was fake.

*****************

Some enterprising Arizona State University students have converted retired food trucks into bookmobiles. What a great idea. (Hat tip: Book Riot)

*****************

Why C. S. Lewis still matters fifty years after his death.

****************

The delightful love letter from Mark Twain to his wife on the occasion of their sixth wedding anniversary.

Daily Links 10-7-13

Learn less and work more, the importance of sound theology, value of the mundane, reflecting on the career of Mariano Rivera, and more in today's roundup of links. 

******************

An Australian tycoon has some simple advice: learn less and work more. (Hat tip Mike Rowe)

******************

What we believe matters:

Ideas are powerful, something we tend to forget in this postmodern age. They can be the fertile seedbed for love and relationship, or they can be a toxic, suffocating brew. For instance, if you believe that a friendly overture is a ploy to use you sexually or financially, this relationship will not bloom. Instead, if you believe that this overture is sincere and caring, there is a much better chance that something will blossom out of it.

The same is true regarding our beliefs about God. Mega-church pastor, Carlton Pierson, had believed that God was eager to throw people into hell, and the best protection against this was going to church. Pierson had placed his faith in an unbiblical, unloving god. Consequently, he rejected this unappealing god in favor of the other extreme – an utterly non-just god who will bring everyone to heaven, without any consideration of their lifestyle.

What we believe about God determines our relationship with Him. There are certain beliefs that undermine this relationship. Paul mentioned one of them – self trust:

·        Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision [to become a Jew and to keep the law, partially trusting in your good deeds to get you into heaven], Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:2-4)

Paul warned that if Christ is just one of several objects of our trust, we are not trusting in Him at all! Why such harsh words? Why is it so wrong for the one who trusts in Christ to also trust that his good deeds have secured him a place in heaven? Isn’t God overly picky and demanding?

If relationship and love depend upon right ideas/beliefs, then our Lord has every reason in the world to insist that we understand certain realities.

******************

Romans 8:38 means everything works together for good. Even the mundane.

******************

10 really cool Etsy stores for book lovers.

******************

This baseball season marked the end of the storied career of Mariano Rivera. Here are some reflections from one fan about what he meant to them. (Hat tip: Challies)

******************

Three questions to wrestle with while choosing worship songs.

******************

There's now scientific evidence of the effects of addiction to pornography:

Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once famously wrote that while “hard-core pornography” is hard to define, “I know it when I see it.” Most of us would agree.

But what about addiction to pornography? Can we know this when we see it? For years people have debated whether we can actually become addicted to pornography. Yet the effects of sexual addiction—defined as “obsessive sexual behavior regardless of the growing negative consequences for the person or their relationships”— are hard to miss.

According to Patrick Carnes of the Gratitude Program at Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services in Mississippi, perhaps eight percent of adult men and three percent of adult women become sexually addicted at some point in their lives, and many of them become addicted through pornography.

For those who demand detailed, scientific evidence of a malady we see every day, well, now we have it. Cambridge University scientists say that compulsive porn users show the same kind of changes to the structure of their brains as those addicted to alcohol or drugs.

*******************

Here's a recipe for book envy: Libraries of the rich and famous. What's striking to me is the wealth of books that these folks own. Also the libraries are just plain cool.

******************

Recently, three blind swimmers accomplished an unusual feat: they escaped from Alcatraz.

A trio of visually impaired swimmers from Phoenix, Ariz., made history this morning when they dove into the chilly San Francisco Bay and braved the waters to successfully escape Alcatraz.

Nineteen-year-old Katie Cuppy, 17-year-old Max Ashton and 25-year-old Tanner Robinson finished the 1.5-mile open-water swim from Alcatraz Island to the foot of the Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco today, according to the Foundation for Blind Children’s Twitter account.

This was the first time blind and visually impaired teammates competed in the 2013 Alcatraz Invitational Swim, a Foundation for Blind Children news release said.

The swimmers have been outspoken that their decision to swim at the 18th Annual Alcatraz Invitational was to tackle the idea that vision loss is just a diagnosis, not a disability.

“I kind of want to prove that blindness isn’t a barrier,” Cuppy told the Arizona Daily Sun. “Blindness isn’t the end of the world.”

Hat tip: Right Field

Daily Links 9-30-13

Ernest Hemingway's Reading List for young adults, just because a book is labeled "young adult" doesn't mean you should ignore it, Instragramming your meal, and more in today's link roundup.


********************

Ernest Hemingway once wrote out a reading list for a young man. But that's only the beginning of the story.
(Hat tip: Buzzfeed)

********************

Young Adult Fiction is better than you think. Or as my daughter (who pointed this out to me) put it, a good story is a good story.

********************

Disney quote of the day:

Any day spent with you is my favorite day. So, today is my new favorite day. –Pooh
— Disney Words (@disneywords) September 21, 2013

*******************

Want to Instragram your meal? Bobby Flay is okay with that:

“Listen, if you want to come to my restaurant, where you’re paying for your meal, and you want to take a picture of my food and advertise it all over the world and the internet, be my guest,” Bobby responded.

Hat tip: Food Riot

*******************

When someone says to you, "God Told Me", how do you react?

Hat tip: Blogging Theologically

*******************

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Sagging, No Service? (via Food Riot)

Daily Links 9-13-13

Happy Friday! Among today's links: the power of five words, why David McCullough writes on a typewriter,

**************************

5 Words vs. 5 Lies:

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” That’s not the whole verse, but those five words say enough to meditate on for a lifetime. The fact that the words of Scripture are the words of God Himself is significant. And I think those five words, “All Scripture is God-breathed,” help us fight some of the lies that we sometimes believe about the Bible.

**************************

Why David McCullough writes on a typewriter:

I write on an old Royal typewriter, a beauty! I bought it secondhand in 1964, before I started  The Johnstown Flood, and I’ve written all my books on it. It was made about 1941 and it works perfectly. I have it cleaned and oiled about once every book and the roller has to be replaced now and then. Otherwise it’s the same machine. Imagine—it’s more than fifty years old and it still does just what it was built to do! There’s not a thing wrong with it.

The entire interview is worth reading. Hat tip Justin Taylor.

***************************

This is the downside of being part of a generation raised on social media: For Millenials Connections are Easy, Friendships are Hard. (hat tip Instapundit)

***************************

11 real weapons used in World War II that you've probably never heard of. (Hat tip Mental Floss)

Daily Links 9-10-13

Vin Scully, statements for leaders, work attitudes and more in today's edition of Daily Links.

*************************

Vin Scully is one of the best storytellers around. But this story about growing up in parochial school is amazing. Best line: "why in the world would you want to change God's work?"

*************************

5 Important Attitudes to Embrace at Work:

American Christians have a rather uneasy relationship with work. On Sunday, the lay person hears an impassioned message about sacrifice, self-denial, and the mission of God. He might be treated to a stirring testimony of a wealthy CEO who gave up a promising career to enter "full-time" ministry.

Then, Monday morning happens. He takes his place on the factory line, at a desk, in a garage, or behind the wheel. The guilt and shame surge up inside of him, for he thinks that if he were truly committed to Jesus, if he were part of the A-team of Christians in the world, he wouldn't get a check from a "secular" corporation or small business, but from a Christian company such as a church or a parachurch organization. 

I've lived on both sides of this secular-sacred divide. My dad is a plumber. He's a committed husband and father who's given himself in service to his church. But still he's ... just a plumber. He's not a pastor or missionary or worship leader. At times, I've felt that Dad was made to feel as if he were on God's junior varsity. As if his entrance into glory won't be met with the same applause as those who delivered the sermons on Sunday.

I'm also a pastor and have had to guard against unwittingly shaming the hardworking lay people I serve, simply because I'm privileged to work, full-time, in the business of church. Some pastors might consider themselves more dedicated and more like Jesus than those who sling it in the real world, getting their hands dirty in jobs that seem less than sacred. Although the pastoral and missionary callings are sober, serious endeavors, they don't ascribe any more glory to the sinners who occupy them. Moreover, if faithfulness is God's measure of success, everywhere you serve is God's theater.

Hat tip: Thom Rainer

***********************

Making the case for not posting your kid's information online (hat tip Challies).

***********************

Some very honest (and important) advice on dating:

Don’t date just for the sake of dating. Sure, you can take a stroll through the park just for the sake of strolling through the park, but dating ain’t a stroll through the park. It’s a complicated and serious thing; it can also be fun, but it isn’t something you should do for pure recreation. Dating is supposed to be a means to an end. Or, maybe a better way of putting it, dating is a means to a beginning.

To put it simply: If you know for a fact that you would never marry a certain person, then you shouldn’t be in a romantic relationship with them. Knowingly staying in a relationship without a future is like riding a dying horse into the desert. It’s a slow, painful death march, and there is no chance of it working out in your favor. So go ahead and date, but date with a purpose. Date with a goal. Date with your eyes toward marriage. I know that might seem old fashioned. In fact it is old fashioned, which is why you should listen to it.

Back in those old, dark days, they didn’t have anything called “dating”; instead they had “courtship.” And courting would have looked a lot like dating, with one difference: There was a point. They had a purpose. They had a goal. They were interested in being adults and making a commitment, and the courting process would tell them whether they should or could make that commitment to each other. Marriage was the ultimate destination, and if it became apparent that this destination could not be reached, they ended the courtship and moved on with their lives. The modern dating strategy is different. You don’t have one common goal or desired destination. Instead, you spin in circles together until someone gets dizzy and jumps off. The sudden stop sends the other person hurtling into space, while you wander aimlessly away, searching desperately for another random stranger to latch onto for an indefinite period of false hopes and disappointments.

Be sure to read the whole thing.\

*************************
Did you know the Star Trek theme song had lyrics?

Daily Links 9-2-13

Happy Labor Day! Here are some links for your edification as you prepare to go back to work tomorrow.

**************************

"What do you do for a living?" is a common question to ask someone you meet for the first time. How should a Christian respond?

**************************

The media trumpets a story on the success of "breadwinner moms" but overlooks the more important (and troubling statistics) that the study reveals.

**************************

5 things you need to unlearn to succeed at work. Yes, there are things you need to unlearn.

**************************

Don't let social media ruin your marriage. Some of these tips may seem pretty basic but there are a number of good tips here.

**************************

Sometimes in business it's better to just pick up the phone. While I don't particularly like spending a lot of time on the phone I do find it's often easier to make a call than send an e-mail. What also seems to be missing today is a lot of the face-to-face interaction that used to take place in business. Technology is great and can be really convenient but sometimes it helps to use old-fashioned methods to build rapport with your business partners.

**************************

Dispelling misconceptions about the value of our work. (hat tip Chailles)

Friday Tweet Recap 8-9-13

Here's a roundup of interesting things that I found on the web and tweeted this week. Quite a boatload of links in today's edition. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for the latest:

A historian makes a case for examining the forgotten presidents.

10 signs you might be a Jane Austen addict. This link should in no way imply that I think any of the women in my household should be classified as addicts.

Two different stories on finding love and both of them are unusual: From Wrong Number to Wedded Bliss and From Hashtags to Holy Matrimony.

For some, college is not worth the debt. More and more, this is something that families have to consider before sending their kids off to school.

"How did you like the sermon?" is the wrong question to ask because sermons are not for liking.

6 Commonly Held Misconceptions about Introverts.

10 reasons parents need a date night (with helpful explanations for the kids).

A fascinating survey of book lovers. Some the stats in this survey are really surprising.

I was sorry to hear this news. I hope they will change their minds.

10 things that "Yahweh" means. I honestly didn't know this.

What strengthens and weakens integrity - it's the small choices that count.

Eric Metaxas argues that cultural elites are the next great unreached people group. He makes a very compelling case.

A controversy has arisen over the word "wrath" in a hymn. Timothy George explains the problem. And Thom Rainer has some insight on what this says about evangelism and the church.

A surprisingly positive New York Times profile of the business practices of Christian companies.

Dispelling 12 common myths about Calvinism.

In honor of the announcement of the 12th doctor, 8 pieces of Doctor Who tea swag.

This is one of the rarest things you will see in baseball: a one pitch strikeout.

Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees received a well-deserved 211 game suspension from Major League Baseball. For those unfamiliar with the story, Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan has an excellent timeline of how this came to pass.

More on Rodriguez: the reason why MLB needs to enforce the rules regarding drug use.

Here's one of the best baseball promos I have ever seen: Vin Scully for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

It's been 25 years since the first night game at Wrigley Field. Some recollections from those who were there.

Reclaiming excellence as a Christian virtue.

Some wonderful and weird places for bookstores.

Here's a great case of suburban renewal: abandoned Wal-Mart turned into America's largest library.

That's it. Have a great weekend!