Happy summer to my readers! Below is a list of articles, books, movies, and videos that I’ve been collecting over the past several months. Let me know what you enjoy and any recommendations you have for me too.
Articles:
The Unexpected Parenting Comfort of Ecclesiastes by Jen Wilkin
This one spoke directly to the depths of my weary parenting soul:
“We want to protect children from temptation and negative influence, but the task feels insurmountable. We can feel powerless, asked to sail through uncharted waters with monsters left and right. But in the middle of my parenting fears, the Lord brought to mind timeless help to serve as a compass: He reminded me about what does not change.
Did my children face unprecedented challenges with technology and social pressures? In one sense, yes. But on closer observation, these were old challenges with new wrappings. The Book of Ecclesiastes goes to great lengths to drive home the point that there is nothing new under the sun.”
America is Closing Its Elementary Schools, and No One Wants to Say Why by Anthony Bradley
I often wonder if we should be paying more attention to population decline (which is happening almost everywhere in the world except Africa) and what that will mean for the future of governments, missions, and the Church.
“Schools are closing in low-income urban districts where private school is not a realistic option for most families, in rural counties where no private alternative exists within driving distance, and in communities across the economic spectrum where the conversation about homeschooling has never meaningfully taken root. The closures are everywhere because the cause is everywhere.
The cause is a birth rate that has been declining since 2007, long before homeschooling became a culturally visible phenomenon. The United States fertility rate now sits at approximately 1.6 births per woman, well below the 2.1 replacement level required to maintain a stable population. Fewer births in 2007 meant fewer kindergarteners in 2012; fewer births in 2015 mean fewer third-graders today.”
Are Christian Artists Free to Ignore the Fall? by Ryan Currie
I’ve always been interested in Thomas Kinkade since I grew up near his hometown (my mom taught one of his kids) and watched in real time his spectacular rise to fame and equally devastating fall. I liked this article because it helped me to put words to why certain “Christian” books and movies leave me so dissatisfied.
“But a Christian artist’s body of work should include depictions of both light and darkness—ultimately pointing beyond itself to the transcendent fullness of goodness, truth, and beauty. Thomas Kinkade’s life reminds us that art cannot save us. We cannot paint away the fall and the troubles in our lives. But we can look for (and create) art that points to the redemptive pattern of beauty.”
Is Christian Publishing Bad For the Church? by Tabitha McDuffee
Since I’m in the process of publishing a book, this was a helpful and important series to read. “Once Christian publishers hitched their wagons to Facebook and Amazon, they were stuck. Wherever Facebook went, they had to go, too. So, as algorithms developed and existing social media platforms changed and new social media platforms emerged, publishers and authors were tossed about by the shifting winds.”
YouTube:
Mark Wiens at Migrationology. We’ve known Mark’s family since he was in high school, when he was growing up as a ReachGlobal Africa MK. He’s now a popular travel food blogger, and we love his channel! He’s always so positive, fun, and informative, and I can give Johnny free rein to watch any of his videos.
Christus Victor by Getty Music. My current favorite Getty song on repeat.
Black + Evangelical This excellent documentary is one that I wish every white evangelical American would prioritize watching. Listening to other perspectives (especially those grounded in Scripture) is so valuable.
Books:
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra Fuller
This is a compelling memoir of a white girl who grew up in several African countries in what was essentially a colonialist family. I found the underlying historical narrative especially interesting, but also appreciated how Fuller examined the tension she experienced in her genuine love for Africa and Africans while growing up in a racist world.
You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior
I read this book while writing my own and resonated with so much of it. “Every Christian is called to “full-time ministry,” regardless of who signs the paycheck (or even whether there is a paycheck).” I’ve written a whole chapter on this. Stay tuned. But meanwhile, read this one.
The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality by Glen Scrivener
This is a truly fantastic book, and I recommend it to anyone–Christian or not–who wants a better understanding of ourselves and our culture. Here’s the premise: “If you’re a Westerner—whether you’ve stepped foot inside a church or not, whether you’ve clapped eyes on a Bible or not, whether you consider yourself an atheist, pagan or Jedi Knight—you are a goldfish, and Christianity is the water in which you swim.” I plan to write a post about this book–so more to come.
Nourished: Third Culture Kids and the Village They Need by Anna Danforth
If you are raising kids outside of your home culture, you need this book. It’s an incredible resource, meticulously researched, practical, and full of hope.
Could This Be Home? by Brenda Metro
Along the same theme of third culture kids, my friend Brenda has written a wonderful book for kids who are transitioning to a new place. For any family heading towards a big move, you need this story for your kids.
The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan
This is a true story about one house, two families, and that tiny piece of land in the Middle East that can’t seem to ever find peace. If you want to understand both sides of the story behind the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, you will deeply appreciate this book.
The Time of the Child by Niall Williams
I’ve recently read several “Christian” novels which I can’t recommend here because they just felt trite, preachy, and shallow (see the Thomas Kinkade article above). In contrast, this novel felt incredibly Christian, even though I’m not sure the author shares my beliefs. This story has rich themes of a father agonizing over how to show love to his adult daughter, the otherworldly love we can experience for a baby (even one not our own), and most importantly, how vulnerability is what builds connection and community. I loved this story.
This is not a fast read. It is slow and contemplative, but the writing is gorgeous. I often highlight beautiful sentences in books since I can only hope that someday I can create the same kind of art. In this book, I had to stop highlighting because there were so many beautiful sentences.
Movies:
Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy on Netflix: If you’ve read my writing for any length of time, you know I am continually burdened by American consumerism. As Christians, we must be aware of this and push back against it when we can.
The Wild Robot: I never would have guessed that I would wildly sob through an animated movie about a robot and a baby goose, but here we are. As an adoptive mom who is launching children into the world, I have never felt more seen.
Quotes:
“For I have accepted God’s idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be.” – Elisabeth Elliot
