Aaron Armstrong's Blog, page 39

A resolution for finite people

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The new year is here, and with it comes a plethora of posts, status updates, and various encouragements about how this year is going to be different.

Maybe this year you’ll read the Bible all the way through.You’ll read 12, 20, or 100 books.You’ll lose that 15 pounds you wanted to lose last year that brought reinforcements.

Giving, serving, praying, working, resting… whatever you’re thinking of as your “resolution,” don’t let it be just that.

A resolution is, for many of us, a desire. I want...

Aaron reads a sports book

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Of all the people on this podcast, I (Aaron) am the least interested in sports. Hockey, baseball, football, curling, lacrosse, lawn darts… none of it. But in a recent effort to try a new genre, I downloaded a sports book. On this episode we talk about that experience and more. Listen to hear:

How a non-sports fan can enjoy sports booksWhy Aaron is the worst Canadian ever because he doesn’t care about hockeyWhat Aaron liked (and didn’t) about Gretzky’s hockey bookWhat’s similar about Michael...

Links I like (12/28)

[image error] 5 Books You Perhaps Haven’t Heard of That Impacted Me in 2018

I always enjoy when leaders share the books that are shaping them. Eric’s got some interesting ones here.

Is It a Sin Not to Pray? 10 Critical Religious Liberty Cases Coming in 2019

These are going to be worth paying attention to in the coming year.

4 Marks of a Potential Bible Study Leader

Keri Folmar:

In Dubai, we have a women’s Bible study leadership problem. Dubai isn’t a place where people stay. It’s a stopover—an exciti...

Good listening for “Making Spirits Bright”

With the three of us having gone our separate ways to enjoy the Christmas holidays, we’re not releasing a new episode today. But we know you’re going to need a rest from all the peopling, so we’d encourage you to check out any episode of the series so far.

Our favorite books of the year What have we lied about reading? What got us hooked on reading? We talk to Leif Enger about Leif Enger (and other things too) We answer Goodreads’ questions! Books that should have been TED Talks

Listen to...

Links I like (12/21)

World Vision Forced Out of Pakistan After 13 Years

This is very sad news.

Thom Rainer’s LifeWay Legacy

With our CEO’s retirement fast approaching, it’s interesting to get some perspective on just how much he’s been a part of in the last 13 years.

Right now counts forever

Ray Ortlund:

This is our ultimate accountability. Let’s get ready. Let’s live with purpose. Let’s live in repentance. Let be aware, moment by moment, that right now counts forever. What we think, what we say, what we fee...

What are our favorite books of the year?

Yeah, we know. There are a bajillion lists out there describing people’s top books of the year. But we’re not doing that… at least, not exactly. Instead, Barnabas, Dave and Aaron are sharing a few of their favorite reads from 2018 (with more than a little mocking and teasing along the way). Listen in as:

We share the books we feel are overratedAaron and Barnabas disagree over Aaron’s assessment of Spiritual Leadership by Oswald SandersWe explore what a good “best of” book list should beBarna...

Links I like (12/14)

Bad Biblical Theology Leads to Bad Sermons

Sam Emadi:

But I’ve also witnessed—and been guilty of—some bad uses of biblical theology. Over time, this bad biblical theology will undercut a congregation’s health—warping the message of Scripture and stunting a church’s growth in the knowledge of God.

All of us—not just preachers—should beware bad biblical theology. But what does exactly bad biblical theology look like?

Books that Might Change the World with Leif Enger

Dave Schroeder shares a gre...

3 thoughts on what I’m reading right now

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As always, I’ve got a few books on the go. The mix this time around is a bit heavier on the Christian living side, which is actually a bit of a shift for me of late. But it’s a good thing since a solid Christian book can be a great help in growing in my faith. Here are a few thoughts on what I’m reading:

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson. I’ve read bits and pieces of this, but I really should have sat down with it a long time ago. This book is good for my soul. 

On Re...

Have Yourself a Theologically Accurate Christmas (A Yuletide Playlist)

As most everyone knows, I’m not a great lover of Christmas music. Which isn’t to say I don’t like any… it’s just that I don’t like a lot of it. So, just for kicks, my wife recently challenged me to make a playlist of songs I do like, one called “Have Yourself a Theologically Accurate Christmas”. 

Which I’ve done, and am now sharing as a Spotify playlist. However, since I cannot (for some reason) embed the playlist, I’m doing the next best thing. I’ve included a couple of the songs on the lis...

What have we lied about reading?

Sometimes there’s a book that it seems like everyone’s read… but you haven’t. Some of us are normal and take it in stride. But a few of us feel a deep sense of shame about having not read it. Has that shame ever led us to lie about reading a book? That’s what we’re talking about today. 

Listen in as we discuss:

The differences between Minnesotan and Canadian accentsWhat big, cultural milestone series has Dave not read?How one type of literature haunts Barnabas every dayWhy Aaron didn’t read...