SOLA Contributor Patreeya Prasertvit has written powerful devotions to take us through Easter. Start with the first on our website and see the work of Jesus and the power of the cross.
Presented during Evangelical Press Association’s 2019 convention, the Higher Goals awards honor the best work done in specific categories during the 2018 calendar year. For this Good Friday edition of our weekend roundup, here is David Schelhaas’ poetry winner Thinking He Was the Gardener.
If you would like your work to be on my radar, please tweet me @musicgoon or email me at aaron@musicgoon.com. Grace and peace to you as we rest in Christ’s resurrection this Easter!
Link Roundup
1. Albert Mohler: History Burning Before Our Eyes: The Tragedy of Notre Dame and the Soul of Modern France
The best analysis on the biggest news story this week.
2. Nicole Chung: Stories of transracial adoptees must be heard – even uncomfortable ones
Author Nicole Chung writes for The Guardian. “As a Korean American adoptee, the strength of my connection to my white family is what makes me feel safe, relatable, approachable to some.”
3. Brett McCracken: The Super Bloom’s Easter Lessons
SOLA Editorial Board member Brett McCracken writes for TGC and shares a story specific to our SoCal readers.
3. Elizabeth Drummond: A Pizza-Box Sign
EPA’s Evangelism Article winner. An unexpected encounter with a homeless man fills the heart of Elizabeth Drummond, freelance news correspondent for The Banner.
4. Jonathan Hayashi: What is the Purpose of Life? Why Do I Exist?
SOLA contributor Jonathan Hayashi writes on his personal blog and reminds us that “true worship turns mere words into works, a duty into delight, an obligation into a celebration!”
Weekend Recommendations
1. Monergism: 17 Free Classic eBooks on the Atonement
Monergism.com has curated this list of books for Easter.
2. Sandra McCracken: Creativity and the Way of the Trinity
In this twenty-minute podcast from Doxology & Theology, independent singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken shows how walking in the way of the Trinity changes our everyday creativity.
3. Aaron Lee: SOLA Good Friday Playlist
Ten tracks on this Spotify playlist for your Easter weekend.
4. Pastor Writer Podcast: Adam Lewis Greene
Author Chase Replogle interviews Adam Lewis Greene, the designer behind the top Kickstarter Bibliotheca campaign, in this 50-minute podcast.
From SOLA
1. Patreeya Prasertvit: Holy Week Devotion #5: An Offer You Can Refuse
“Those at the dinner were indignant. How could Jesus allow this woman to perform such an extravagant act? How could Jesus allow her to anoint him?”
2. Patreeya Prasertvit: Holy Week Devotion #4: Keep Your Enemies Closer
“Hatred and fear are the most contagious diseases our world suffers from. They make us leave the table quickly — quick to act, quick to condemn. Quick to count someone as our enemy. Are we willing to invite our enemies to the table? Are we willing and brave enough to eat at theirs?”
3. Justin Kim: How Can We Serve the Church Without Burning Out?
“If you monitor these well and try to find a good rhythm and pace within these areas, you can really run hard and have good ministry balance in your life.”
4. Patreeya Prasertvit: Holy Week Devotion #3: Questioning God
“But [Jesus] was left hanging in the silence. His question went unanswered so that our questions will always have an answer. We now have a promise that silence is not the same as absence.”
5. Patreeya Prasertvit: Holy Week Devotion #2: You Make Me Feel
“And yet, this is how the Bible describes [Jesus] throughout his ministry. Not a blank slate of emotion, moving systematically through prophetic fulfillment after prophetic fulfillment, but as a deeply emotional being. Is this how we picture our Savior? Weeping, shaking with rage, laughing uncontrollably, grinning?”
6. Patreeya Prasertvit: Holy Week Devotion #1: Crows for a King
“Jesus had always been King. But on this day, Palm Sunday, he was a King who was given the praise he was due…”
7. Ben Shin: What are the Highest Priorities for Pastors in Training?
“They need to go deep. They can’t just go wide. If they don’t have depth, then they would not survive the storms because pastoral ministry is very difficult.”
8. Thank God It’s Friday: Weekend Roundup
In case you missed it, here is our roundup from last week. PreachersNSneakers and Pastors as Lifestyle Brands, A Manifesto for Christian Women on Instagram, How Lament Can Help with Racial Reconciliation, The Secret to Growth: The Treasure of a Teachable Heart, and Should We Celebrate Interracial Marriage?