Articles:

Why the Mental Health of Liberal Girls Sank First and Fastest by Jon Haidt

This article isn’t about politics; it’s about the power of ideas.

“Many young people had suddenly—around 2013—embraced three great untruths:

They came to believe that they were fragile and would be harmed by books, speakers, and words, which they learned were forms of violence (Great Untruth #1). 

They came to believe that their emotions—especially their anxieties—were reliable guides to reality (Great Untruth #2).

They came to see society as comprised of victims and oppressors—good people and bad people (Great Untruth #3).”

Do Christians Really Suffer in America? by John Piper

“So, we don’t just wait for others to persecute us and take away our pleasures and privileges and securities. Instead, we voluntarily make choices that deny ourselves some of these things freely, willingly, joyfully in order to serve others.”

Our Missions Approach is Too Western by Elliot Clark

“There’s a double mistake here. First, missionaries of a bygone era weren’t as complicit in colonialism as many think. Second, for all our anthropological acumen, we may not be as culturally savvy as we suppose. I’m convinced current missiological strategies can still be deeply Western in potentially harmful ways.”

Books:

Walking with Grace: Embracing God’s Goodness in Trauma Grace Utomo’s story is extraordinary. She was a newly married 23-year-old and a rising violin star when she was hit by a car in a crosswalk. The ensuing trauma to her body and mind equals a depth that few of us will ever experience, yet through it all she continues to keep her focus and hope fixed on Christ. Her story is sobering and inspiring.

Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman

If you are bewildered or just curious about where our current cultural perspectives came from, this is an excellent place to start. Think of it this way: If you were going to live in India, you would want to research Hinduism so that you could understand the way people think. If you live in America or Europe, this book is that equivalent.

How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery in America by Clint Smith

The longer I live, the more I am astonished at what was left out of my 80’s/90’s American education regarding slavery. If we want to find any hope for lasting racial reconciliation in our country, it’s got to start with reckoning with our history.

We rejoice that our Grace (age 17 ) chose to be baptized in September!