Aaron Armstrong's Blog, page 74
August 2, 2017
What I read in July
[image error]
I am always consuming books, whether they’re physical, digital or audio. Every month, I like to share a breakdown of everything I read, including the books I abandoned. I do this because it gives me an opportunity to introduce you to books you might not have had an opportunity to read while practicing the art of writing concise book reviews.
In July, I read 8 books to completion and started a couple of others that have yet to complete. Here’s what I read:
Teen Titans Vol. 1: Damian Knows Be...
August 1, 2017
Links I like (8/01)
[image error]
The Best Thing to Do When You’re Stuck in DoubtMichael Kelley:
Were these words of sadness, redirected to verbalize a lack of faith, but more honestly expressing a deep sadness for his absence?
We don’t know. What we do know, though, is that these are definite words. They’re words of resolution: “I. Will. NEVER. Believe.” Thomas had made up his mind, and whether that was motivated by insecurity, anger, or sadness, he was resolute. He would not be caught up in the foolishness that was before...
July 31, 2017
When a book isn’t enough
[image error]
For the last year, I’ve been trying to better understand the experience of people of different ethnicities—particularly African Americans. I’m not going to pretend that I’m unfamiliar with racism. Racism exists within Canadian culture, just as much as in any other. But what we read and see on the news here… It’s different.
Coming to America, I didn’t get it. Now here for a little over a year, I still don’t. Reading multiple books, some detailing recent experiences, others a little more dista...
July 30, 2017
The way is before us
[image error]
Think about the advice we hear, read, and maybe even share: Be true to yourself. Follow your dreams. Have faith in yourself. Stuff like this. Y’know, basically everything that you find in the self-help section of Barnes & Noble, and Star Wars. Emily and I listened to a video where a ministry asked Jim Carrey to speak to attendees at an event, and his encouragement was much the same.1 It’s the kind of advice that leaves us choosing our own paths, serving as our own guides toward our spiritual...
July 29, 2017
Weekend reading (7/29)
[image error]
Paleo, Kale, Crossfit, and the Glory of GodKatie Hughes:
Doing More Harm Than GoodIt’s this trend that I’ve got something to say about. However, lest you think I’m going to be one of those “I’m too cool for all of these trends and you should be, too” types, let me assure you that I respond to these things from a place of experience, not judgment, by listing a few of the health and fitness trends I’ve attempted (with varying levels of success) in the last several years.
Joel Rainey:
What st...
July 28, 2017
Sit with the Psalms
[image error]
Sometimes we race through the Bible, trying to get through our reading plans, as though we can win at spiritual growth. (Or maybe this is just me.) When I start a reading plan, it never fails: I get into a good pace, stay on top of things, sometimes even getting a bit ahead. This continues right up until I hit the Psalms. And then…
I stop.
By “stop,” I don’t mean I stop reading. No, I stop trying to win at reading the Bible. The Psalms always do this to me. Always. Every time. No matter what...
July 27, 2017
Links I like (7/27)
[image error]
Church, Slow Down The Video CrewJeff Medders:
Three Problems...Everyone loves a good story of redemption. Our joy swells when we hear how someone came to believe in Jesus. Add some candid footage, spacey guitar riffs, and it’s gold. I love it. I’m sure you do too. But I have one bit of counsel when it comes to the video crew.
Slow them down.
Fresh sprouted stories come with a higher risk profile. It could derail before you know it. The story could be dead by next year. I’ve seen it firsthand.
July 26, 2017
Five books I forgot I even had (but still really want to read)
[image error]
One of the dangers of having a lot of books is… well, having a lot of books. But a second danger is forgetting what books you actually have. Thankfully, I’ve yet to purchase a book twice in recent years. But there are some that I knew I wanted to read that I forgot about entirely. Which is a shame because I remember being really pumped about them. Today, I’m going to share with you five of those:
Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis by George Sayer. What intrigued me about this book from the get-go wa...
July 25, 2017
Links I like (7/25)
[image error]
Superhero movie trailers from SDCC 2017This past comic book fans, gamers, and media enthusiasts from around the world convened in San Diego for Comic Con, where a couple of pretty rad new movie trailers were released:
First, Justice League:
Second, Thor: Ragnarok:
As far as trailers are concerned, both are excellent. Hopefully the movies will be, too.
The One Place Where All Leadership Principles Fall ApartMichael Kelley:
Long before Hal Moore embodied this and certainly before the princ...
July 24, 2017
God’s truly true Word
[image error]
If there’s one thing that makes people uncomfortable, it’s the idea that the Bible is actually true. And not just sort of true, or true in parts—like, true as far as spiritual realities, but not about anything else—but really true.
Truly true, if you will.
(And if I still had comments on the blog, I’m sure there’d be many a straw man coming my way right about now.)
What you and I need to know is that there are good reasons to believe this is true, this doctrine which goes by the name “inerra...
