For the month of May, I will dive into the SOLA archives and feature articles specific to Asian American issues in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This week, read Bursting the Asian Bubble by SOLA editor Hannah Chao.
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. We published on the website Thomas Luke’s personal testimony regarding OCD: From Obsessive Compulsion to Redemption.
This week, graduation season brings us an article on motherhood from Melissa Kruger and a commencement message from John Piper.
Will you be writing regarding graduation? If you would like your work to be on my radar, please tweet me @musicgoon or email me at aaron@musicgoon.com.
Link Roundup
1. James Choi: What Western Christians Can Learn from the BTS Phenomenon
Writing for TGC, James Choi challenges to the church to see our changing world.
2. Vera Christian: The Crucible of Submission
SOLA Contributor Vera Christian challenges women to look at their hearts, not just their actions, when honoring their husbands.
3. Steve Bang Lee: What I’ll Miss (And Not Miss) About the Asian American Church
“I attend a multi-ethnic church. Or at least I’m in the process of transitioning to one after spending the first 33 years of my life in Asian-American (AA) church contexts.”
4. Melissa Kruger: Graduation Grief and Gratitude
Melissa Kruger writes for TGC, reflecting on the journey of motherhood and what it means to be sorrowful yet rejoicing.
5. P. J. Tibayan: A Gospel Application to a Recent Transgender Decision
A short and succinct response to the Supreme Court from pastor and SOLA Editorial Board member P. J. Tibayan.
Weekend Recommendations
1. Tim Challies: What does it mean to be a Christian blogger?
“Christians have always been very quick to adopt new technologies to further the great commission. But what are some of the drawbacks that come from using blogs and other social media, and how can we use these relatively new platforms to the glory of God? Tim Challies explains in this video.”
2. Crossway Podcast: The False Messages Facing Women Today
In this interview, Lydia Brownback, author of Flourish: How the Love of Christ Sets Us Free from Self-Focus highlights the false messages directed at Christian women today, reflecting on the increase of anxiety and depression among believers, the importance of discernment when it comes to the Christian leaders we follow, and the danger of a hyperexamined life.
3. John Piper: What do Christians care about most?
“Christians care about all injustice in our fallen world. But our outrage against wrongdoing will fizzle out unless we root our concern in God himself. We care especially about injustice against God. John Piper preached this message at the 2019 Bethlehem College & Seminary commencement.”
From SOLA
1. Jeany Jun: Discipling Women in the Workplace
“At the end of the rotation, one student asked, ‘Dr. Jun, you seem to have a lot of peace. Where does that come from?’ Inwardly, I was so happy to be asked this, but outwardly, all I could say was, ‘uhm, you know…’ Regrettably, I failed to give an answer for the hope that was in me.”
2. Heidi Tai: The Dragon and the Rooster
“I’ll never forget the day Dad and I put our wings and claws to rest. That day, we decided to stop walking over each other with pride and anger, and instead learn to walk side by side with love and empathy.”
3. Irene Paek: 4 Reasons for Christians to Dance
“Dancing is one of those ‘grey areas’ for Christians. Is it okay to do ‘that move’? Is clubbing okay? What if the music has curse words in it? What if people get too close?”
4. Thomas Luke: OCD: From Obsessive Compulsive to Redemption
“The core doubt is always the same. The foreign voice always resounds it repetitive doubt… “are you sure? Even though you can logically take a step back from this and say yes to that question…are you sure?”
5. Thank God It’s Friday: Weekend Roundup
In case you missed it, here is our roundup from last week. A Reflective Post on Abortion, A Reluctant Missionary, What is “Biblical Grief” for Christians Walking Through Sorrows?, Putting a Theology Degree to Work in Unexpected Places, and Taiwan Becomes First Asian Nation to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage: What’s Behind the Headline.