Daily Links 4-28-14

A roundup of links to start off your week. In today's edition: dispelling homeschool myths, how to worship when you don't feel like it, the Christian Industrial complex, and more.

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Matt Walsh skillfully deconstructs two of the worst arguments against homeschooling. It's well worth your time.

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In celebration of the Bard's 450th birthday, a look at 50 common phrases that come from Shakespeare. (Hat tip: Challies)

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There are times when you may not feel like worshiping. What do you do? Here are some helpful things to try.

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How to read more and remember it all. Some interesting tips in this article.

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This is cool: a Macbook designed to look like a real book. (Hat tip: Book Riot)

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I stumbled across this article from Jenny Simmons this week and was startled by these paragraphs:

Please hear me say: I do not believe there is an enemy or hero, a good guy or bad guy scenario at work here. That type of villainizing or hero-worshipping is far too small and minimizes a vastly complicated issue. The Christian music and book publishing industries are complex. Within the Christian industry there are many good people with many good intentions, some not so good people with some not so good intentions and a multitude of results that both further and detract from the work of the Gospel. Amazing music, books and life-changing conferences have emerged from our industry. And I know first hand the power of a song on the radio to change a person’s life. I’ve heard thousands of stories from people all over the world who have been changed by the products coming from our industry. I believe music, books and conferences deeply enhance God’s kingdom and I will always champion the industry that gave those very gifts to me and changed my life. 

My story is similar to many other artists and authors, in a wide variety of genres. But when it happens within the Christian industries, it should raise a small warning light. A reminder that at the end of the day the Christian industry is still a business. It’s still a group of men and women who are trying to find a way to be authentic and gospel-centered while contending with a $4.5 billion industry. And the truth is, as hard as you try, gospel-centered and $4.5 billion dollars just don’t contend very well together.

I want you to know that there are a sea of voices that will never make it to the radio or the shelf of a Christian retail store because they are not popular enough to be picked up and promoted by the current Christian industry. And some of those voices carry the most powerful stories that need to be shared with the Church. So I believe it is up to the local church, Christ-followers and community to invest in art being made outside of the walls of the Christian industrial complex.

I think she is absolutely right in sounding some warnings here. However, it is interesting that just two days after this article was posted her Kickstarter campaign was fully funded. I believe the internet continues to revolutionize the entertainment industry in ways we can't even imagine. The ability to reach consumers directly without having to go through a large (or small) publisher will open up more opportunities for more artists in the future.

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 This is likely to start a few arguments: the most famous book set in each state.

Daily Links 11-18-13

Good morning. Here's the latest roundup of links for your reading enjoyment. How you should read your Bible, why you shouldn't have goals, some thoughts on marriage, and more in today's post.

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Not long ago Tim Challies wrote a post entitled 18 Things I Will Not Regret Doing With My Wife. Now it is his wife Aileen's turn to offer her list of things she doesn't regret doing with her husband.

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Aaron Armstrong concludes his series on getting serious about Bible study by exploring some recommended resources for hermeneutics.

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Are goals a bad thing? Perhaps they are standing in the way of achieving the things we want to achieve. Maybe it's better to have a system designed for success rather than a specific goal to achieve.

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Lovers of Shakespeare know the old joke about everyone dying in the tragedies. But this infographic helps illuminate the point:

Source

It can also be purchased here.

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An app that creates interactive Shakespeare plays:

WordPlay Shakespeare is a study aid that pairs text with videos of professional Shakespearean actors performing the same plays. Each video is short and features the performers reciting the lines on the opposite page, which often amount to less than 10 lines or 150 words at a time. Splitting the play up into these digestible chunks makes it easy to understand the emotion and intent behind every word.

If readers are still stumped, each page features a "tap to translate" button that converts the Shakespearean text — in Wordplay's case, a combination of the First Folio of 1623 and the Globe editions of 1866 — into modern language. For example, touching the translate button turns this line from Macbeth: "He can report/ As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt/ The Newest state" into this: "He can report/ Given the gory state that he's in/ The latest news from the battlefield." Wordplay also offers a pictorial synopsis at each scene's beginning and a clickable cast list with each character's biography (but beware of plot spoilers). 

As with an e-book, readers can highlight portions of text and add notes. Readers can see their notes on digital index cards. Users can share their notes or favorite phrases from the play via email, text message, tweet or Facebook post.

Maybe I should think about buying an iPad. (Hat tip: Book Riot)

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The secret lives of four common condiments. This is a really interesting article.

Daily Links 11-14-13

In this morning's roundup of links: systematic theology, Victorian slang, pop-up reading rooms, whatever happened to Bible study, and more.

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Aaron Armstrong continues his series on Bible study. In this post, he makes the case for needing a systematic theology.

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A fun list of Victorian slang words.

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Tim Challies continues his interview with John MacArthur regarding the criticisms of his Strange Fire conference. As I have mentioned before, I don't have a firm position on this issue. I post these articles only because they interest me in studying this issue. An added bonus: a charismatic responds to MacArthur.

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This pop-up reading room brings books to different parts of New York City. A very cool idea.

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Whatever happened to Bible study?

It seems to me that simple Bible study – when we open a Bible and study it together – is slowly vanishing from the church. 

Oh, we have studies and we call them Bible studies, but the primary source of the study is often a book or curriculum about the Bible, not the Bible itself.  The Ladies ministry has “Bible Studies” but they are really studies the thoughts and writings of Beth Moore or Mary Kassian or Lysa TerKeurst or Liz Curtis Higgs or some other well-known author and speaker. I’m not particularly offended by any of those ladies and I’m sure there is lots to be gleaned from their books and study guides. Men gather and study some book about being godly men and there’s nothing wrong with that! I even hear of preachers who do series based not on a book of the Bible, but based on someone’s book about the Bible. Small groups use this book or that study. And, in full disclosure, my life was radically changed at a pastors’ conference when we studied Henry Blackaby’s “Fresh Encounter” series, and later the “Experiencing God” curriculum was instrumental in a time of revival in my church in Cedar Rapids. 

I am not opposed to Christian books, discipleship curricula and such things.

But I am just wondering, “Where did all the Bible study go?”

Hat tip: Challies

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Take a virtual tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

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An incredible gallery of photographs from Charles Dickens' London.

I Would Challenge You To A Battle of Wits....

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Friday Tweet Recap

It's Friday and it means that it's time for another recap of items that I tweeted recently that caught my attention. Enjoy the links!

Have you ever wondered whether to accept a LinkedIn invitation from someone? Here's some good advice on deciding whether to accept or decline.

If you are like me and work online then e-mail can be your worst enemy. Here are some tips on how to manage your e-mail.

First he was a rock and roll musician. Then he became a hero.

My daughter (who is an aspiring writer) shared the four worst pieces of advice for young writers.

How baseball saved a relationship between a father and son.

The original outfield obstruction.

The Home Run Derby is a fixture at baseball's annual All Star Game festivities. But it was a television show first.

Here are nine traditions that have been lost from baseball.

You don't see this every day: a bunt double.

It's the dream of every blogger to have a post go viral. Here's how one blogger did it without even really trying.

Outfitted and equipped for working at a coffee shop.

Ten really cool lifehacks from 100 years ago.

39 Hidden Mickeys found in Disney animated movies.

This movie looks like it will be really good: Saving Mr. Banks.

10 fabulous pieces of Shakespeare swag.

Can't make it to Monticello? Now you can visit it via Google Street View.

Yesterday was Independence Day. Here are reflections on two great speeches from Abraham Lincoln and Lou Gehrig (yes, there is a connection). Bonus: here's a color photo of Gehrig from that speech.

Young George Washington's experience one July 4th went on to shape our quest for independence.

How to apply the craftsman's work ethic to our everyday lives.

Dumb criminal alert: robber fails to get money from convenience store clerk and the wanders off to the Mug Shot Saloon for a drink (you can't make this stuff up).

One of the most overlooked amendments to the Constitution is the Third which prohibits the quartering of soldiers in citizens' homes during peacetime. This was a common problem in Colonial America especially in Boston. So it doesn't normally come up in the normal course of litigation. However, one homeowner decided to assert his Third Amendment rights against the police who wanted to use his home for a stakeout. It will be interesting to see whether the court agrees with the homeowner's argument.

Whatever you might think of his policies or his time as President you would have to agree that George W. Bush is a decent person. One of his big priorities while he was president was helping the people of Africa. It still is as can be seen from these photos of his recent trip there to do relief work. More photos here.

The cheeseburger is certainly an All American dish but who knew that each state had it's own unique burger?

Speaking of food, I'm all for trying to get a free meal but this is insane (and somehow incredibly cute at the same time).

That's it for this week. Have a great weekend!