This Week’s Good Reads

Here’s some articles you may enjoy:

1. “I am Not Abraham’s Mistake” by Derek Rishmaway

I loved this piece when it was originally posted over at Christ and Pop Culture, and am so glad that they guys at The Gospel Coalition saw fit to pick it up. It highlights the ignorance and insensitivity of a common Christian cultural assumption.

2. “As More Chains Hit The City Could Mom and Pop Be in Trouble?” by Tim Herrera

I can sympathize with many of the complaints of this article. I am no fan of chains, and yet I recognize that in our economy many of these are just a part of life.

3. “Gospel-Centered Manhood: Three Correctives” by Joseph Rhea

I am so tired of reading articles on manhood that I almost skipped this one…I am glad I didn’t. Here Rhea offers a better perspective on manhood than the annoying and frustrating trope so commonly repeated by Evangelical leaders today. This is worth your time, men.

4. “Immigration Reform and the Church: Are Churches Responding with Care for the Sojourner?” by Ed Stetzer

Stetzer reveals some research evidencing the involvement of churches in caring for immigrants. He indicates that we have much work to do to improve in this area, but I am glad to see this is at least an ongoing discussion.

5. “9 Things You Should Know About Female Body Image Issues” by Joe Carter

The church really needs to study up on this and be prepared to help the women in our congregation wrestle with this in a Biblical fashion. Carter provides us some real hard numbers to begin with.

6. “Four Models of Counseling in Pastoral Ministry” by Tim Keller

I’ve featured this piece before but in light of my new position at Cornerstone I refreshed myself on it. I really appreciate Keller’s perspective. While I am a huge advocate of the Nouthetic approach, and a major fan of the CCEF group, I have often been frustrated by their lack of acknowledging the common grace of God as applied to the area of psychology. Keller stresses here some issues that pastoral counselors need to consider more carefully.