As well as reading a lot of books, I also read a ton of articles every week. Here are some of the articles that I’ve read recently and have found interesting, helpful, challenging and encouraging. I hope that they will be the same for you, my dear readers…
Frozen in Grief – the Pain of Ambiguous Loss
“While any loss is extremely painful, recognizing the unique aspects of ambiguous loss has given us a helpful framework for understanding why we often feel “frozen in our grief” and has helped us learn how to persevere with the hope of gospel and the strength of Christ in the face of it. As I’ve considered our own losses in light of their ambiguity, I’m learning that it’s a grieving process that often repeats itself on a daily basis. But it’s these three truths that have drawn me closer to the Lord through that process – “
Pandemic pressure on clergy has tripled psychiatric referrals
This is an interesting article highlighting some of the difficulties for clergy during the pandemic.
Tyndale House Ink Magazine
It’s always good to have a bank of good only resources that you can go to. Here’s another one for the list. It’s more academic than some of the other stuff I promote.
Shears in the Hands Of A Good God
“Shears in the hands of a good God reveal our misplaced confidence and idolatry. Pruning can identify the things that we cling to for hope. Pruning can reveal the idols that fill up our hearts and draw our attention away from the vinedresser.”
MEEKNESS MEANS BEING A DOORWAY NOT A DOORMAT
“While I’m certain that God doesn’t desire for us to be verbally (or in any other way) abused, I’m amazed how in his economy I can learn from Jesus’s perfect life in the broken one I live with other broken image bearers. While I felt like a doormat that day, the lesson would be much deeper and life-giving than I could have imagined.”
Biblical CBT vs Worldly CBT
Helpful insights from Kneale on CBT. He also highlights some of the lies that people might be more likely to believe.
We Have the Light So We Can Be the Light
“Jesus is the light of the world and the light that was in him has been given to us so that we are now the very sons of light. We have the light so we might bethe light. We are the light to the sons of darkness who cannot see the way to salvation, but also to our fellow sons of light who know the way but whose hearts have grown heavy, whose feet have become weary, who have been waylaid on their journey.”
We love because
“I’m not Daddy, I’m David. I can’t replace her father, and I can’t be the person who cares for her forever. But for the short time a child is with us, we have the honour of reflecting a little of the love that our Father in Heaven has shown us; by providing safety and security, providing what they need, comforting them, walking alongside them and pouring out love.”
Fight for Your Pastor
“The Christian life is difficult. Christian ministers do not have a monopoly on suffering—not at all. But in my experience, and from the Scriptures, it often seems that pastors are under the most pressure. As Paul notes, “apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Cor 11:28). Their role in teaching the gospel and guarding congregations means that they are generally going to be under more intense spiritual attack than the rest of us.”
Banning What?
“So with the proposed conversion therapy ban: something that doesn’t happen, and for which existing legislation could be employed if it did, is going to be banned in order to further underscore the claim of the immutability of gender and sexual orientation. It’s about the symbolism.”
Chalmers' Blog 