Best of the Week for August 7
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.
Smart Rules About Smartphones for Parents
“It is rare for any child to wisely exert their intellect, moral reasoning, and/or self-control without close parental supervision and wise guidelines. ”
With SO MUCH OUT THERE, it is reckless and bordering on neglect to allow your kids to use a smartphone, social media, or the internet without clear guidelines and close supervision. These are some very wise and thought-through guidelines for how to monitor and allow your kids to use smartphones and social media.
Silly to Blame the Smartphone for Everything We’ve Done Wrong With It
Talking about blaming smartphones for many of our modern-day problems, this author says, “I feel like it lets wealthy, comfortable people off the hook for how bad we are at parlaying wealth and comfort into happiness.”
Good follow-up (complementary) article to the previous one, and the above quote pretty much says it all. Wealth and comfort can NEVER lead us to happiness, and we are living with the ever-increasing consequences of thinking they will.
Keeping the Faith in Lonely Seasons
“Loneliness is a human condition. It won’t go away once you’re married. You will have seasons of incredible loneliness whether you are in a relationship or not. So to face loneliness without losing heart, we must see it for the spiritual condition it is and seek the spiritual solution offered through Jesus Christ.”
Whether it is loneliness or some other struggle, God allows us to struggle through them, sometimes longer than we want, to lead us to desire him–not just his action or his salvation, but his presence.
Retirement Homes and Caring for Aging Parents
“This is the great issue of life. Would we be selfish or would we be servants? The beautiful life, the Christ-honoring, Christlike life, is the life of serving others — not ignoring others or using others while we just go about our self-satisfied way.”
An issue many of us will have to face at some point or another is whether to move a parent into a retirement home. Dr. John Piper makes some very compelling arguments for service and selflessness, while acknowledging the nuances of every situation.
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