Welcome to the Nerd…the Weekly Nerd…
Today’s Top Read:
The “It’s Just A Movie” Mistake
While I agree with the premise of the article, I do not agree with the article. There is a lot of truth in this, but I think that the assumption that movies imitate life and that life imitates movies is too broad. While there are a lot of nuances that can go there, thinking that movies imitate life is a bit of a stretch. I love movies and the stories they tell, however, I have disciplined myself to know that they are just that, stories. It is all a matter of discipleship, in my opinion, when it comes to movies.
Note: I write this from my Christian worldview, as a Christian parent and pastor. When it comes to the lost world, I agree with this wholeheartedly.
Flocknote
This isn’t an article. But it’s amazing. I’ve only been using it for less than 48 hours by the time this publishes on my blog, and I love it. For doing mass emails and texts, (esp. texts), this is an awesome service for quickly reaching out to your congregation. We have been using Remind.com in the past, however this allows for lengthier texts and greater customization. Also, like Remind, it’s free (up to 40 users). So, if you’re a church and looking for something to do texting with, here’s your answer.
Have You Tasted Heaven?
“Amidst all the depravity some rightly ask—does heaven really exist? Is there actually a place marked by rest and peace, by joy and bliss, by care and love? Could there be a place that is so very different from our own? Could there be a place where we can experience the things we hope for, the things we long for, the things we were most truly created for?”
Jesus Owns Your Phone: How Christ Frees Us from Screen Slavery
“Now, I understand how that can sound abstract and theological, but I mean for this to be practical. If you hate that you keep wasting so much time scrolling through YouTube, trolling your Facebook feed, or obsessing over the latest headlines, and if you wish you could be free from your screen but you just don’t know how then Paul’s word is for you. Jesus owns you, and that should change everything.”
Why Friendship Is Worth Fighting For
“Studies are confirming what many of us already know by observation and experience: As men grow older, they typically lose close connection with male friends. By the time they reach middle age, many men in Western cultures (including Christian men) have few or no close friends — friends who really know them. It’s a troubling trend. We have a growing population of lonely older men, and we’re discovering that loneliness is as damaging to our health as smoking.”
Maintain a Good Relationship with Christians from Other Churches
This is a great read and is something that I think all Christians must do better on, even (and maybe especially) pastors. Your church is not the only church. Your friends don’t have to be all right there.