“Why do we seek spectacles? Because we’re human—hardwired with an unquenchable appetite to see glory. Our hearts seek splendor as our eyes scan for greatness. We cannot help it. ‘The world aches to be awed. That ache was made for God. The world seeks it mainly through movies’—and in entertainment and politics and true crime and celebrity gossip and warfare and live sports. Unfortunately, we are all very easily conned into wasting our time on what adds no value to our lives. Aldous Huxley called it ‘man’s almost infinite appetite for distraction.'” (Tony Reinke, Competing Spectacles: Treasuring Christ in the Media Age)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! I hope your week has been a blessed one of growth in Christlikeness. Here are this week’s links!

• According to many in our culture today, science will eventually be able to explain away God as an explanation. Is this true? Christian apologist Tim Barnett gives a succinct answer that will move this conversation forward.
• What are some of the false messages directed at Christian women today, and how can they deal with an increase in anxiety and depression amongst believers? Author Lydia Brownback is interviewed on The Crossway Podcast this week about these topics and more.
• Pastor John MacArthur calls for every believer to pursue integrity relentlessly. May we all be faithful in this.
• How should you move in a conversation, especially when offering counsel, when the person you’re talking to has a moral relativistic mindset? ACBC counselor Lucy Ann Moll gives some helpful wisdom for you to consider.
• Is there benefit in using a certain cleaning method if Christ is not mentioned? Many have recently benefited from using the KonMari Method to cleaning their homes, but hold some reservations about some of her tips. Stephanie Anderson of Eternal Perspective Ministries points out the blessings of using Marie Kondo’s cleaning method, but suggests an examination of our own hearts to be a higher priority than the decluttering of our homes.
• Whenever you hear of a personal quiet time, what comes to your mind? How does it look like in daily practice? Do you even have one? In their Making Disciples Podcast, Pastor Robby Gallaty provides some helpful tips for how to begin a quiet time, and why many don’t do it. I think this is one you shouldn’t pass up.
• What does it mean to live well with others? Pastor Clint Archer explains 1 Peter 3:8 in answer to this question by laying out five characteristics of Christian relationships. I pray this is characteristic of every friendship within the body of Christ.
• Joe Carter at The Gospel Coalition fact checks the claim that U.S. churches could take care of the orphan crisis alone. Whatever the numbers, we as a church should pray for those who are without one or both parents in need of care.
• Kenneth Samples gave some family characteristics of secular naturalism in two parts. This week, he posted part two. Make sure to read part one!
• Paul Tautges posted a snippet from Wayne Mack’s Your Family God’s Way, specifically 22 benefits of fearing God. Coming from a section specifically written for husbands, this applies to both men and women who fear the Lord. Very humbling, and very hopeful for every believer!

That’s all for this week! Please be in prayer for all who are meeting for flocks tonight and tomorrow. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria