July 18, 2016 Highlights

Guns, guns, guns
What a graphic example of why we MUST start to look at reasonable limits to guns.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/opinion/pistols-at-the-pool-machine-guns-on-parade-and-nothing-we-can-do.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share

Here's a site that looks worth going back to often. It is a Christian site concerned with gun violence:

http://www.swordofthespiritministry.org/about/

and John Piper on guns and Christians:

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/should-christians-be-encouraged-to-arm-themselves

...and then a good summary of the "firestorm" of reactions to the original post:

http://www.challies.com/articles/how-should-christians-use-guns

Finally, for this week at least, a thought-provoking column asking why so many Christians trust the 2nd Amendment more than the Bible:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/paperbacktheology/2016/07/why-do-american-christians-trust-the-2nd-amendment-more-than-the-sermon-on-the-mount.html 

On writing:

http://network.crcna.org/pastors/writing-writing-writing

Affordable housing:
This site looks at the impact of increasing affordable housing in both low and higher income neighborhoods and comes to some welcome conclusions. Now, how do we help our leaders and reluctant residents of higher income areas know more about this?

http://www.citylab.com/housing/2016/05/which-neighborhoods-win-by-building-affordable-housing/481209/?utm_source=SFFB

VBS and Church Outreach
Interesting take on ways churches might want to re-look at VBS and ways they are reaching out to their community's families and their real needs:

https://thinkchristian.reframemedia.com/rebooting-vbs?utm_campaign=TC_RSS_Campaign&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=31777454&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9-VyVMCRp9FphsgeyX6Uq_mlQT_ORg1H0uRZ1yxs1scdmeXel7OXjfY8AmXY0houlPjJ7si_ffBU4ixwSOsGQ4KBg2zA&_hsmi=31777454

Trump, and the Presidential Election
It is so hard not to share one article after another regarding the disaster that is Trump on FB, but what good, really, does it do? Still, this is an article I'd like to hold on to for some kind of reference:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/opinion/campaign-stops/what-wouldnt-jesus-do.html?_r=0

The Gospel Coalition has summarized much of the Republican platform, attempting to stay neutral in their presentation, promising to do the same next week with the Democrat positions. Putting it here as a reference for the coming months.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-you-should-know-about-the-republican-party-platform

Some thoughts that put a positive spin on the possibility of a total Democratic "takeover" of all parts of government:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/opinion/the-gop-partys-over.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0
 

Child Rearing
This is one I should listen to now, but I am holding it here for later. Jen Wilkins is a person I am hearing a lot about from wise friends.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-to-raise-an-alien-child

Aging
And, on the other end of the spectrum, here is an article I really would like to put on FB, but I hope I don't have to worry about these kinds of attitudes from the kids for another decade or so!

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/03/when-youre-the-aging-parent/472290/?utm_source=atlfb