Weekend Links 12-22-17

Here are some interesting things I found on the internet this week.

Why has "Fixer Upper" been such a success? 

Viewers tuned in to ‘Fixer Upper’ to be reminded that—in spite of all the voices insisting otherwise—maturity, family, and faith are possible. They tuned in for hope.

Read the whole thing.


Classy move: last week the St. Louis Cardinals traded outfielder Stephen Piscotty to the Oakland A's so he could be closer to his mother who is battling ALS.

This is interesting: how It's A Wonderful Life went from box office dud to Christmas classic. It was because of a clerical error.

This past Sunday, Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, known as the busiest airport in the United States, suffered a power outage stranding thousand of passengers. Chick-Fil-A, which is famously closed on Sundays, sprang into action to feed the stranded travelers.

In light of the recent elections some Christians are reticent to use the term evangelical. An interesting read. Also, a helpful explanation from Tim Keller why there is such hesitation among Christians to call themselves evangelicals.

Christmas time in our house means lots of Hallmark Channel movies. Based on the ratings, we're not alone. Here's the reason why Hallmark movies are such a big deal this time of year. (Hat tip: Acculturated)

When we're not binge watching Hallmark Christmas movies, we are working our way through Season 2 of The Crown. One of the most surprising elements is the emphasis on Queen Elizabeth's faith. Like a lot of other people I am surprised by how popular the series is here in the United States.

This is neat: Russell Moore on how his ministry was twice saved by A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Instead of selling their multi-million dollar mansion and making a profit, Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife decided to donate the property to underprivileged kids instead.

One of the biggest dilemmas parents face this time of year is whether to tell their kids the truth about Santa Claus.  The best thing to do is not lie to your kids.

Finally, my daughter introduced me to this version of the a Christmas classic this week. It's quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Daily Links 12-17-13

In this morning's roundup: how to deal with a job you don't like, responding to the "In Christ Alone controversy", lessons from It's A Wonderful Life, and more.

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From the indispensable Art of Manliness, how to deal with a job you don't like. These are some really good tips that anyone in the workplace should consider since it's more than likely you're going to have at least one job you're not going to enjoy over the course of your career.

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Some thoughts on developing skills in critical thinking. This is something that's not only confined to reviewing books but in other areas as well. By the way, I agree with the author's assertion that it's a good idea to occasionally read books that I am not likely to line up with theologically. It is a helpful process.

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Bull Durham on Broadway? I'm not sure how I feel about that.

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Mark Driscoll has been a hot topic of conversation in Christian circles over a lack of citation of sources in his latest book. But that's not the real problem. Nor is plagiarism. The real problem is the lack of attribution for those who helped him write the book. 

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Keith Getty, co-writer of "In Christ Alone" responds to criticism of the song. Two groups had wanted a lyric changed that dealt with the fact that God's wrath was satisfied through Christ's death on the cross. Here is Getty's succinct answer on why it was important that the lyric was not changed:

First, it's important to express how truly honored we feel that these groups would consider adding "In Christ Alone" to their hymnals. We support the approach they take of studying the lyrics of hymns as they select music worthy to be sung and preserved. 

However, we believe altering the lyrics would remove an essential part of the gospel story as explained throughout Scripture. The main thread of what we see revealed throughout the Old and New Testament is the need for man to be made right with God. The provided path toward reconciliation came through Christ's predetermined and perfect sacrifice on the cross, satisfying God's wrath once and for all. The two hymnal committees wanted to change the lyrics to focus on how Christ's death on the cross magnifies God's love for the world. And indeed, God's love was magnified on Calvary's hill. Yet the way this occurred was through Christ doing for us what we could not do for ourselves—shedding his own perfect blood to atone for our sins.

Be sure to read the whole thing. (Hat tip: Challies)

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7 enduring lessons from It's a Wonderful Life.

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Finally, a little Calvin and Hobbes: