Your Best Links Now – 2/17/14
Courtship Culture on Trial by Jesse Jost
An in-depth analysis and critique of evangelicalism’s “purity culture” from one raised up in it (and who still resonates with its aims, unlike most of the movement’s critics). Jost writes, “For me, there was the temptation of being so obsessed with marriage that the purpose of friendship was reduced to being a way to evaluate which girls were good marriage material. Wow, this is embarrassing to admit. But my friendships would have been healthier if I could have been more focused on blessing and serving these girls as sisters in Christ rather than just selfishly evaluating their potential!”
Carman’s Cancer Cured Just in Time for Tour
Is it just me, or is there an underlying tone of skepticism in this CT piece about CCM performer Carman? (And I’m not even saying it is unwarranted.)
Eerie Photos of an Abandoned Bible Theme Park
Holy Land U.S.A. was a Christian amusement park in Connecticut. Now it’s one of America’s quirkiest ghost towns.
OCU Student Solves Hundreds-Year Old Artistic Mystery
Basically, an Oklahoma Christian University student is the first person to ever transcribe (and perform) the microscopic sheet music on a guys’ butt in an old painting. “Amelia Hamrick may be the first person to ever play a song, hidden in a centuries old painting. She says she made the discovery by chance and never expected the reaction she’s now getting. When you first look at the painting, created more than 500 years ago, it takes your imagination on a journey . . .”
The Dangers of Entrepreneurship in Pastoral Ministry by Matt Svoboda
“Like with professionalism, not all aspects of an entrepreneurship are bad. In many ways it is quite helpful to have pastors that have some entrepreneur in them. The danger is in putting too much stock into entrepreneurship. A danger that can really dig against the true nature of calling and spiritual leadership in pastoral ministry. Here are some examples of what I mean by ‘dangers’ . . .”
Bible On My Phone
The two yahoos behind this video (Ben the actor and Josiah the director), are cousins of mine. I am equally amused and embarrassed by this. 
