Happy Thanksgiving! We revisited two of our favorites this week: Praying Before Meals like the Men of Gondor by Sara Kyoungah White and The Land of Many Meetings by Joshua Budimlic.
More from our library: Mindless Food Moments by Tim St. John and Why I’m Thankful for the Chinese Immigrant Church by Tom Sugimura.
Keep in touch on X and Instagram. For more, check out my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group and TGIF Playlist on Spotify. This weekly newsletter is one of the many ways you can get connected with SOLA Network. Find us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Aaron Lee, Editorial Curator
Enter our giveaway! Thanks to Baker Books for providing, in partnership with @diveindigdeep, SOLA Network, and FCBC Walnut. 1 winner will receive these excellent books! Links open to my reviews:
- Becoming by Beholding: Lanta Davis displays the power of the imagination in spiritual formation.
- Biblical Theology in the Life of the Early Church: Stephen O. Presley recovers an ancient vision that recasts biblical theology as a practice cultivated in Christian community.
- You Have a Calling: Karen Swallow Prior writes about finding your vocation in what is true, good, and beautiful.
ARTICLES FROM AROUND THE WEB
1. Stephen Chen: Autumn and the Emotion of Time Travel
H/T Heidi Wong. “Our perception of time contributes to a distinct emotion, and it points to eternity.”
Published in The Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society.
3. Matt Bennett: Is Acts a Missionary Manual?: How the Apostles’ Practice Shapes Our Own
“Acts does not offer a missionary manual, but it does provide principles and patterns that inform how the church pursues its mission.”
Our Books and Reviews page is your one-stop resource for all of your reading needs. It features Asian American authors and issues, recommendations, and interviews.
BOOKS, PODCASTS, MUSIC, MOVIES, AND MORE
1. Benjamin Shaw: To Foster Biblical Literacy, Teach People to Read
“You can’t read the Bible well if you don’t read.”
2. Ryanne J. Molinari: How Can I Make the Most of Musical Worship If I’m Not Musical?
“Take heart, struggling singer: you are offering our Lord a double portion in your obedient singing, so rejoice with whatever voice you have been given!”
3. Aaron Lee: Related Works
Book Reviews: Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof. Listen to our TGIF playlist on Spotify. Join my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group.
Edited by Tom Sugimura, Here We Stand: Reformation Truths for the Church Today celebrates the legacy of the Reformation and its impact in shaping our faith even to this day. In addition to Tom, the book features chapters written by Nam Park, Tranwei Yu, Geoff Chang, and Johnson Pang. Read more about the book from Tom, and be on the lookout for an author interview coming soon.
FEATURED THIS WEEK ON SOLA NETWORK
1. SLP EP 9: Ambition and Humility: A Leadership Paradox with Dave Park, Drew Hyun, and Aaron Chung
In this episode of the Sola Network Leaders podcast, Dave Park, Aaron Chung, and Drew Hyun discuss the complex topic of ambition, particularly within the context of Christian ministry and the Asian American experience. They explore the dual nature of ambition, both godly and selfish, and how cultural backgrounds influence perceptions of ambition. The conversation delves into the importance of balancing ambition with humility and the role of risk-taking in leadership. The hosts share personal stories and insights on how ambition can be harnessed for positive impact in their communities and beyond.
2. Sara Kyoungah White: Praying Before Meals like the Men of Gondor
“During this season of thanksgiving, may we gaze past the soup and the spoon to look into the face of the One who cares for us. Over our leftovers and our heaped plates, may we hear our Lord calling us to his banqueting table, where the banner over us is love. Like Faramir and his men, may our prayers be a symbol of our longing, an acknowledgement that it is not by bread alone we live, nor is it bread alone we live for.”
3. Joshua Budimlic: The Land of Many Meetings
“This Thanksgiving season, whether you are celebrating in the midst of sorrow or joy, set your heart on these truths. If you are wading through a season of sorrow, continue to praise the Lord and rest in the Gospel; if joy, praise the Lord all the same, and continue to rest in the hope of the Gospel. Remember the words of C.S. Lewis when he said, ‘He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.’”
4. TGIF: Roundup for November 21, 2025
Keeping Your Well Full: Pouring Out Without Running Dry / The ‘Unreached’ Aren’t Over There / Are You Still Gospel-Centered? / The Post-Literate Pastor / The Power of Song in the Life of the Church
5. SOLA Network: TGIF Subscription
Get our TGIF installments delivered straight to your inbox for free every Friday. Join today so you never miss out.
General disclaimer: Our link roundups are not endorsements of the positions or lives of the authors. Header image by Anita Austvika on Unsplash.
Aaron Lee is our Editorial Curator. Aaron also serves as the Social Media Officer of First Chinese Baptist Church of Walnut in California’s San Gabriel Valley, home to the largest concentration of Asian American communities in the United States. Visit him online at DiveInDigDeep.com.