Fascinating Finds
fascinating Finds
Discover Something New & Inspiring
This will be a place where we can share articles, videos, and podcasts that we think are fascinating and worth your time to check out. Sharing something here does not mean that we are 100% in agreement with what we share. It is not necessarily an endorsement of the source. If something is shared here, it means that we think it is worthwhile for Christians to read, watch, or listen to.
Relief for persecuted Lutherans in Sudan by Pastor Mark Surburg An update on Sudan and an opportunity to give.
Ben Sasse’s Theology of Suffering for a Death-Phobic Culture: In the shadow of a death sentence measured in months, Sasse’s public witness reveals our need for a theology of suffering that can speak to culture today. by Bethany Miller This is fantastic. Take some time to read it.
The Challenge and the Hope of Magnifica Humanitas The call for Christians is therefore to be like Nehemiah and his fellow countrymen rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. We must not be “passive spectators of social and cultural fractures, nor mere commentators on what is crumbling.” by Amy Mantravadi This is a good overview of the Pope's new encyclical on AI. (I have read the Pope's entire encyclical.)
Ben Sasse’s Theology of Suffering for a Death-Phobic Culture: In the shadow of a death sentence measured in months, Sasse’s public witness reveals our need for a theology of suffering that can speak to culture today. by Bethany Miller This is fantastic. Take some time to read it.
The Challenge and the Hope of Magnifica Humanitas The call for Christians is therefore to be like Nehemiah and his fellow countrymen rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. We must not be “passive spectators of social and cultural fractures, nor mere commentators on what is crumbling.” by Amy Mantravadi This is a good overview of the Pope's new encyclical on AI. (I have read the Pope's entire encyclical.)
Christians Can Give Two Cheers for AI by Mitchell G. Bahnsen Some will say he is overly optimistic, but it is a thoughtful take that we should at least consider.
Panic Smells Like Unbelief: Corrective Lessons from St. Perpetua by Scott Stiegemeyer Another fantastic post by him. As a good friend says, there is never a sky is falling moment for the church.
I want to keep commending the On the Line podcast and YouTube channel. They have interviewed two of the Synod President candidates so far. Both interviews are worth your time. Those can be found here and here.
Panic Smells Like Unbelief: Corrective Lessons from St. Perpetua by Scott Stiegemeyer Another fantastic post by him. As a good friend says, there is never a sky is falling moment for the church.
I want to keep commending the On the Line podcast and YouTube channel. They have interviewed two of the Synod President candidates so far. Both interviews are worth your time. Those can be found here and here.
A 'Personless' Purity Isn't Pure At All by Chase Krug A thought provoking reflection on this quote: The problem with pornography is not that it shows too much of the person, but that it shows far too little.
The Imperishable Charm of Lutheran Hymns by Pastor Packer Some thoughts on the importance of our hymns.
12 Theses on Fasting and Feasting by Stephen Williams This is an excellent overview of fasting, disciplines, and feasting.
The Hazards of Compassion by the Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer You should read this insightful post and then go read others he has. He is always insightful and is tackling tough issues.
The Imperishable Charm of Lutheran Hymns by Pastor Packer Some thoughts on the importance of our hymns.
12 Theses on Fasting and Feasting by Stephen Williams This is an excellent overview of fasting, disciplines, and feasting.
The Hazards of Compassion by the Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer You should read this insightful post and then go read others he has. He is always insightful and is tackling tough issues.
A calling to die: Ben Sasse shows what it means to approach dying as a Christian by James Wood If you have not been listening to Ben Sasse lately, stop what you are doing and take the time to read this and then find several of his recent interviews.
I Don't Want the Lord To End Up In This Box: Reflections on Hank Hill and making Jesus "cool." by Andrew Packer One of my latest articles.
Eugenics as Self-Loathing by Colin Redemer "There is a particular kind of modern person who, upon encountering the messiness of human life, its sheer ungovernable profusion, and the suffering it entails, recoils not with pity or solidarity but with disgust. And because disgust is rarely accepted as its own justification, such a person dresses his disgust in the language of optimization, selection, species-level improvement—that is, eugenics. But if you listen carefully, he is not really saying, “Humanity could be better.” He is saying, “I cannot bear what I am.""
Follow the Science . . . to God by Brett McCracken I have not seen the documentary mentioned in this article...yet. But I plan to soon. The reviews have been excellent.
I Don't Want the Lord To End Up In This Box: Reflections on Hank Hill and making Jesus "cool." by Andrew Packer One of my latest articles.
Eugenics as Self-Loathing by Colin Redemer "There is a particular kind of modern person who, upon encountering the messiness of human life, its sheer ungovernable profusion, and the suffering it entails, recoils not with pity or solidarity but with disgust. And because disgust is rarely accepted as its own justification, such a person dresses his disgust in the language of optimization, selection, species-level improvement—that is, eugenics. But if you listen carefully, he is not really saying, “Humanity could be better.” He is saying, “I cannot bear what I am.""
Follow the Science . . . to God by Brett McCracken I have not seen the documentary mentioned in this article...yet. But I plan to soon. The reviews have been excellent.
I have started a new Substack and you can find it here - https://pastorpacker.substack.com/
AI Is Coming For Your Systematic Theology by Tim Challies - I have been asked about one of the books for kids by at least two people. Please be aware that there is a lot of junk (theologically) and otherwise out there.
Why Christians Should Read More Poetry by Steven Witmer - Yes, a 1000x, yes. The Bible contains a lot of poetry. Read more of it.
Why Smart Christians Lose Arguments About God by Wes Huff (watch/listen) - This is really fantastic. Wonderful wisdom from Wes Huff.
AI Is Coming For Your Systematic Theology by Tim Challies - I have been asked about one of the books for kids by at least two people. Please be aware that there is a lot of junk (theologically) and otherwise out there.
Why Christians Should Read More Poetry by Steven Witmer - Yes, a 1000x, yes. The Bible contains a lot of poetry. Read more of it.
Why Smart Christians Lose Arguments About God by Wes Huff (watch/listen) - This is really fantastic. Wonderful wisdom from Wes Huff.
An Arthurian Epic for the Dark Age of the Bright Screen by Haley Wildt I am very excited about this book. My copy should arrive this Friday. Hopefully this article encourages you to check it out as well.
AI is teaching us to speak like bots, and it’s a problem AI is creeping into our everyday conversations, making us less patient and teaching us to ‘prompt’ others instead of talking to them. by Meredith Grundei
Christians must make dating great again: We need to bring back a structured dating process by Katy Faust
AI is teaching us to speak like bots, and it’s a problem AI is creeping into our everyday conversations, making us less patient and teaching us to ‘prompt’ others instead of talking to them. by Meredith Grundei
Christians must make dating great again: We need to bring back a structured dating process by Katy Faust
The Iranian Church Persists by David Yeghnazar A very helpful overview of what Christians there are currently facing.
10 Things You Should Know About Critical Theory by Bradley Green This is a great overview of Critical Theory.
Country diary: It is our duty to delight in the dandelion by Josie George A very short and interesting refleciton on dandelions - I think it is especially interesting for us as Christians.
The Book of Concord Explained in 8 Minutes - It's a video that does exactly what the title says!