Saturday Selections is a chance for me to share some of the most relevant news stores that grabbed my attention this past week. As a follower of Jesus we’re called to be informed about the world we live in, so that we can center our lives on a Savior that is not of this world.
GENDER IDENTITY & EQUALITY
Last year I preached a series called “SEXY” that was voted by our church to be on of their favorite series we’ve done. During that series we examined God’s plan to make us male AND female, and took a look at how this world has corrupted that plan.
Former President Jimmy Carter was interviewed about international affairs and shared his views on what the Scriptures say about gender equality. [click this link to read the entire article]
A young girl was kicked out of a Christian school for being too much of a tomboy. This story has drawn a lot of media attention this week. [click this link to read the entire article]
PARENTING
I love that we live in a world that has so much research and help available to parents. Obviously, we want our parenting practices informed first by the Scriptures, but we can also grow as parents by understanding where others have had success and failed.
Here’s a good article called “6 Things Overprotective Parents Do Wrong”. I think that one of the things the Scriptures ask us to refuse to give our children is fear, so there was a lot in this article that I liked. [click this link to read the entire article]
This article highlights research that shows that most parents surveyed steal from their kids. This is a whole sermon in-and-of-itself, but it goes to prove that our culture views children as assets that we own not treasures we have been asked to steward. [click this link to read the entire article]
Here’s an op-ed piece written by a guy that practices what he calls “experimental parenting”. Some of the research he quotes is interesting, but I like the fact that there is a reason for everything. Remember: Life happens by default or design. Parenting is the same. [click here to read the article]
HOBBY LOBBY APPEARS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
Part of what we’ve termed “Obamacare” is an ’employer mandate’ that would require employers to provide insurance that provides certain types of FDA approved birth-control. If you didn’t know, Hobby Lobby is a family business that is ran by Christians. Here are several articles with perspectives on the case: USA Today Op-Ed Piece: [click here to read the article] Huffington Post Report: [click here to read the article] Washington Post Op-Ed Piece: [click here to read the article]
HOW TO GET A TEACHER FIRED
For my teacher friends, this is one of the most disturbing articles I’ve read in a long time. With the formal classroom not so far behind in my rearview, I can see how this is not only plausible, but very possible. [click here to read the article]
‘NOAH’ OPENS THIS WEEKEND IN THE WAKE OF ‘SON OF GOD’ & ‘GOD’S NOT DEAD’
I’m going to save my opinions on this whole debate, but in my circles people have been throwing a lot of rocks at ‘Noah’ and a lot of praise at the other two films. I’ll probably write a piece next week on this. Faith-Based Movies Are More Profitable For Hollywood: [click here to read] A Perspective On The Making Of Noah: [click here to read] A Good Piece On Christian Film-Making & It’s Challenges: [click here to read]
WORLD VISION ANNOUNCES A NEW POLICY GOVERNING IT’S EMPLOYEES SEXUALITY
This past week the President of World Vision, a Christian Missions organization that supports missional projects all over the world supporting underdeveloped cultures and primarily children, announced that they would recognize homosexual marriages as a healthy expression of sexuality. Evangelicals went on the attack after. Here are a few articles I thought that were good… The original announcement, as written in Christianity Today: [read more here] How one denomination has chosen to advice its churches: [read more here] Probably the best response I’ve read from TGC: [read more here]
A FATHERS PERSPECTIVE ON BEAUTY
Here’s two great blogs by a clinical psychologist to his daughter about what it truly means to be beautiful. One of these has been shared a bit on Facebook. Letter #1 “From The Makeup Aisle” Letter #2 “Can’t We All Agree On This One Thing”
A FEW OTHERS
America’s Least Healthy Counties…. WE DIDN’T WIN!!!! [CLICK HERE TO READ]
Kim Jong Un is now requiring every male in N. Korea to have the same haircut. This is one of the funniest stories that I’ve read in a while. I spent about 15 minutes picturing this craziness and laughing. [CLICK HERE TO READ]
Have you ever wondered which states you would most likely to die in if there was a Zombie Apocalypse? Well, if you’ve had that thought, here’s an article to scratch that itch: [CLICK HERE TO READ]
Are you tired of watching the same video promoting every company? No. Well, apparently someone wanted to have a little fun and poke at how most companies are portraying themselves these days. [CLICK HERE TO WATCH]