Best of the Week for February 20

In Best of the Week we link to a handful of the best articles, videos, books, etc. that we have come across in the last week. We hope this will point you to some of the right places and give you gospel-rich tools and thoughts for life and mission.

Why I Won’t Be Seeing (or Reviewing) The Shack

“God is so other that any visual representation harms instead of helps our understanding. Even as The Shack uses human beings in an attempt to lead people closer to God, it will actually lead them farther away. It must.”

There are so many problems with this book and this movie. I’ll give that it looks very visually and cinematically enticing, and still suggest that you not go see it. From what I have read and found (I have not read the book or seen the movie, and won’t) The Shack looks like a gross misportrayal of the Trinitarian God, and the point this author makes is spot on: seeing infinite, eternal, boundless, and timeless God depicted visually must always diminish our view of Him. It may seem like it will help, but it will not. Please pass.

5 Things Single People Wish Married Couples Knew

“Marriage is hard, and you grow a lot through it. Nobody doubts that. But singleness is also hard, and you grow a lot through it. Marriage paints a picture of Christ’s love for the church; singleness paints a picture of Christ’s sufficiency and the joy of a life that accepts the Father’s will.”

Married people, don’t get scared away. This one has some challenging reminders for us, but the tone is much more how we all can live together in Christ, love each other well, and prioritize things other than our marital status.

Why Monogamy – A Response to Polyamory

“Hollywood treats sin like a monster lurking under the bed; just look, there’s nothing to fear! But the truth is, when sexual confusion is normalized–regardless of consent–people get hurt.”

It seems ridiculous to even need this article, but these are the sexual times we are living in…and we are not going back. We will only continue down this jagged cliff, and we will need to understand how to interact with these kinds of views, both for those around us and those in our own homes. And of course the truth underlying all this is that our hearts are desperately wicked beyond belief, and we will always invent new ways to seek pleasure and fulfillment apart from the One who can actually give it.

Where is God When Things Keep Getting Worse?

“I remember years of crying out to God, thinking my faith would get back on track when life got back to normal. But as the pain grew more intense, I realized…God wanted me to find him sufficient in the midst of trouble rather than just demanding that he deliver me from it.”

Many of us can identify with this author, that while we are hoping and praying for things to get better, often they only get worse…and that leaves asking God why and where he is. I don’t think God is afraid of those questions asked in the right spirit, and I think he actually welcomes them, because through these circumstances, that lead to those questions, we begin to more fully discover who and where he actually is.

A Free Version of Logos 7

Logos is a Bible Study program. It can be as simple or complex as you want it to be, based on the resources you buy and the ways you use it. It can be an incredibly helpful tool for anyone wanting to more deeply study and understand the Bible. It has always been fairly expensive, but now they are offering a basic version for free.

Google Maps: Hyperlapse Around the World

It’s amazing what technology and the internet have give us access to. This is a pretty cool (and fast) flight around the world using the technology of Google Maps.

Have a good week.

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