Wisdom for Your Weekend is your regular installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web. Presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with guidance from Pastor J.D., this is our attempt to reflect Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
While we do not always agree with everything these authors post, we share these resources because we find them challenging and enriching. As we often say around the Summit, “Eat the fish and spit out the bones.”
Articles of the Week
10 Ways to Pray for Survivors of Mass Shootings, Taylor Schumann. “As a shooting survivor, I believe in action. At the same time, I believe in the power of prayer. I know firsthand what living through a shooting does to a mind and what a bullet does to a body, and I believe that my recovery and healing is a direct result of prayers that were prayed for me.”
Six Steps to Become an Effective Witness for Jesus, Ashley Unzicker. If you’re anything like me, the hardest part of evangelism isn’t explaining the gospel but actually striking up a conversation. As Ashley puts it, “The problem isn’t that the gospel makes conversation awkward; it’s that we’re too awkward to engage in conversation in the first place.” But it doesn’t have to be this way. And, thankfully, it’s not too hard for us to change.
Is American Religious Liberty in Peril? Al Mohler. Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal hosted a print debate, asking the question, “Is religious liberty in peril in the United States?” Answering “yes” was David French, senior writer for National Review magazine. Answering “no” was Marci Hamilton, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and former clerk for Sandra Day O’Connor. Mohler finds French’s case compelling, as do we. (Note: Mohler’s comments on the debate begin at 0:00 and run until 17:24.)
An Open Letter to Someone Considering Renouncing Their Faith, Brad Hambrick. There has been a lot of discussion recently about the way Christians should respond when a well-known pastor walks away from the faith. But the question should be much more personal for each of us. I (Chris) have often wished that someone would put to words the questions I have when dear friends say they no longer believe. Hambrick has provided those words.
Jesus, Deliver Us from This Racist Evil Age, Jarvis J. Williams and Curtis A. Woods. Christians may disagree about many things. But we all agree that any kind of racial superiority is evil to the core. We want to stand united against it and pray that God would use his church to bring hope, healing, and redemption through the gospel to a broken world. As J.T. English says, “White supremacy is the antithesis of the Kingdom of God. Our mission is to all nations, and our King is a man from Nazareth.”
On the Lighter Side
Why Do People Say “Jesus H. Christ”? No, Jesus never had a middle name. So where did that “H” come from? (This one was news to me!)
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