A Book, An Article and A Podcast
Once in awhile I like to share some resources I’ve found helpful over the past month. Here are a book, article and podcast I enjoyed in March.
Article: Children Who Bloom in an Instant by Tim Challies
A great question deep in the hearts of many Christian parents is why some children bloom quickly when they profess faith while others take much longer. Why is it that some seem to burst into life while others seem to drag? One child comes to Christ and backs her conversion with immediate habits of devotion—she reads the Scripture and meditates upon it, she prays regularly and fervently, she reads good books and delights to discuss what she has learned. This comes quickly, easily, and joyfully. Then another child comes to Christ, truly and genuinely, yet has far less interest in reading the Bible, less interest in prayer, little interest at all in reading good books and engaging in spiritual conversation. How could this be?
I have one son who seems to be an early bloomer. I once asked him why Jesus gives us hope and he answered with one of the clearest and concise explanations of the resurrection I’d heard in a while. I have another son who is one of the funniest people I know, but if you asked him a question about Jesus he is much slower to answer. I assume my kids are not unique. Kids bloom at different times and this article is thoughtful and extremely helpful. A great reminder to be joyful for the early fruit, but to always take the long view in parenting.
Book: Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life by John Calvin.
I’m reading through Calvins Institutes of the Christian Religion this year. The Golden Book takes a section from the Institutes where Calvin talks about the Christian life. It’s Calvin at his most pastoral. He talks about our imitation of Christ in humility and self-denial, our hope in Christ of eternal life, and how we redeem the time now for the glory of Christ. Less than a hundred pages. Well worth a read.
Podcast: How Christianity Gained Dominion — An Interview With Tom Holland
I recently wrote a review of Glen Scriveners excellent book The Air We Breathe. In this podcast he interviews historian Tom Holland (who is not a Christian) about how the Jesus revolution radically shaped Western culture as we know it. I got a copy of Holland’s book Dominion from the Library a couple of days ago and am excited to read it.