SOLA editor Hannah Chao interviewed SOLA council member Pastor Owen Lee on pastoring an Asian American church. It serves as an excellent introduction to our vision and what we are trying to do as the SOLA Network.
We held our fifth and final book bundle giveaway this week on Instagram with over 400 entries! I would like to say a special hello to our new readers. If you discovered us during this giveaway, be sure to like us on Facebook so you never miss out.
I produced some music with my friends at FCBC Walnut. We recorded some of our favorite worship songs from the Psalms. Give it a listen and let me know if your church has some music to share by tweeting me @musicgoon or emailing me at aaron@musicgoon.com.
Link Roundup
1. Russell Moore: What the Church Can Learn from Sesame Street
Russell Moore, President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, on how the 50-year-old quintessential children’s television show still speaks on culture, contextualization, the kingdom of God, and a messianic mission.
2. Jenny Lu: Why I Dropped Out Of An Ivy League College Just 3 Weeks Into Freshman Year
A guest writer for the Huffpost Personal column, Jenny Lu shares her perspective on the model minority and mental health.
3. Andrew Peterson: My Advice to Struggling Artists – Seek First God’s Kingdom
Award-winning singer-songwriter and author Andrew Peterson writes for Christianity Today and reminds us that the key to creativity is worship and prayer.
4. Sapna Maheshwari: One Family Built Forever 21, and Fueled Its Collapse
A New York Times Business feature by business reporter Sapna Maheshwari on the founding family of Forever 21 that touches upon their apparent Christian faith.
5. Janelle Bitker: Death, migration and the loss of culture
San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Janelle Bitker on Chinese culture and family traditions that have many theological implications.
Weekend Recommendations
1. Pastor’s Talk: On Pastoring a Small Church
“Pastoring small churches comes with unique challenges. In this Pastors’ Talk episode, Jonathan Leeman, Mark Dever, PJ Tibayan, and Jonathan Worsley discuss the blessings and burdens of shepherding a small flock.”
2. Ligonier: Crucial Questions: 32 Free eBooks from R.C. Sproul
“To further help Christians know what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it, in May 2013 we made the ebook editions of R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series free forever. We continue to publish new ebooks in this series and this year have added What Is Predestination? and Why Should I Join a Church?”
3. Tabletalk Magazine: Gratefulness
“This issue of Tabletalk explores the place of gratitude in the Christian life and offers practical guidance for avoiding ingratitude and for expressing thankfulness in multiple spheres.”
4. Aaron Lee: Book Reviews
This week I reviewed Separated by the Border by Gena Thomas and Genesis (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries) by Andrew E. Steinmann.
5. Aaron Lee: My King Has Crushed The Curse Of Death
I produced some new music with my friends at FCBC Walnut. We recorded some of our favorite songs based off the Psalms.
From SOLA
1. Daniel K. Eng: Church Hospitality 101: Words Matter!
“Remember, newcomers to church notice a lot more than a regular attendee. Let’s make them feel welcome and comfortable. Here are some simple ways you can make your church welcoming, especially with your words.”
2. Lisa Wong: Overcoming the Challenges of Church Appreciation
“In a church context, I have experienced two types of appreciation. One type is directed “up” to our church leaders, and the other is directed “down” to the volunteers we oversee. For both types, some expressions of appreciation are simple and small, and sometimes they are grand, coordinated efforts. Through success and failure to express appreciation to my church family, I have learned to vary my approach.”
3. Hannah Chao and Owen Lee: Beyond Varsity – An Interview with Owen Lee on Pastoring an Asian American Church
“But now, Lee is the joyful senior pastor of a Korean American church in the greater metro D.C. area. During his pastoral journey, God revealed that he had been downplaying and even hating his culture and ethnicity, when it was actually his cultural background that God had given him to steward and use.”
4. Christopher Wong: Finding Peace in an Anxious World
“Fall is a busy season for many. Families return from summer vacation and transition back to a regular but hectic routine. Children and youth head back to school and an endless array of extracurricular activities. Many churches kick off a new church year with new ministries and exciting events. From the moment we wake to the moment we retire to bed, our lives are scheduled to the very minute. Because of the hurriedness of our lives, it can be difficult to find moments of rest and peace. But is there a way?”
5. Thank God It’s Friday: Weekend Roundup
In case you missed it, here are some headlines from last week: Kanye West: From ‘I Am a God’ to ‘Jesus Is King,’ Hope for Hong Kong, 3 Blind Spots of the Young Christian Leader, and Evangelizing Youth in a Selfie Age.
6. SOLA: TGIF Subscription
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General disclaimer: Our link roundups are not endorsements of the positions or lives of the authors.