Confession Time

Book Review, Finding Friendship, Spiritual Habits, and Wildly Creative

Hey gang. Welcome back! Same hot newsletter, new day of the week. Now we’re nestled into the middle of your week like your noggin’ in a cozy hoodie on a chilly spring afternoon.

Well, I thought I was all wrapped up with How to Teach Your Kids Theology last week. It turns out I was slacking, and skipped right over Sam and Hunter’s conclusion to their brilliant little book. It’s four short pages, so I really have no excuse to have missed it. Here’s the problem, it’s full of really helpful encouragement and a lovely illustration from Lewis’s Narnia classic, The Silver Chair.

Here’s the confession, I’ve never actually read that book. In fact, I’ve only ever read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I know, I know. How can anyone that loves Jesus and served as a kids pastor not read all the Narnia books? I hear you. I feel just as badly as you do (maybe worse?). Honestly, I just kept waiting for them to make a good movie to jump start my interest. It worked with Lord of the Rings after all!

Anyway, enough about my literary failures. Let’s get back to the literary successes of Lewis, Luce, and Williams in this conclusion (they didn’t even pay me to include their names with Lewis here!). They highlight a conversation up on a mountain that Aslan (a lion who serves as a Christ-like figure) has with a young girl named Jill. He was giving her a list of guides and signposts she’d need to recognize for a journey she was about to set out on. Aslan needed to make sure she knew each of them by heart before she could start her quest.

He then goes on to warn her that up on the mountain everything seems simple. Both the air and Jill’s mind are clear. It’s easy for her to remember exactly what Aslan had taught her to look for and see. He warns her that as she travels back down to the world below the air will thicken. What’s clear on the mountain may be murky down below. He gives her one last charge before she goes, “Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters.” This is the call that the authors leave with parents to hold on to as they’re parenting and discipling their children. Remember and believe. Nothing else matters.

We don’t live in Narnia, but as our kids get older the air around them begins to thicken as well. What used to be crystal clear at home begins to become blurry as they step out into the world. Distractions are everywhere, and conflicting worldviews vie for their attention as they become inundated with streaming services, new friends, social media, obsession with sports, and any number of other things. We want to relentlessly remind them of Jesus. Remember and believe. Nothing else matters.

How do we do that? Well, our kids see what we do and how we spend our time. Do they see us carving out time to help ourselves remember and believe? Do they see us opening up a beat-up Bible to read, or jump into a classroom at church to serve others? Or maybe, do they more often see us with our gaze locked on our phone, mindlessly scrolling or perhaps searching for the one last purchase that will finally make our life complete (for today). This is a call not just for our kids, but for us as well. Remember and believe. Nothing else matters.

While his quote is great, we don’t have to rely solely on Lewis either. Luce and Williams point us toward Hebrews 12, and the encouragement believers can find there as well. Regardless of what they’re going through (difficulty, persecution, sorrow, and frustration), they can trust that Jesus is better. Things may look bleak, but we know that’s just the thick air that’s disrupting our view. Regardless of what we see, the call remains. Remember and believe. Nothing else matters.

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Book Review (Parenting, Kids Ministry)

“The big difference is, for normal folks these defining moments are seldom scheduled in advance. Instead of them taking place on a big stage in front of raucous crowds, they often happen in unexpected ways with no one else looking on. Our defining moments may start with a quiet conversation with a friend, an unexpected test result, or in the case of Betsy Childs Howard’s latest Arlo and the Keep-Out Club, a run-of-the-mill trip to the playground with your dad.” Is this the latest book in the TGC Kids storybook lineup? No. Has this book been on my shelf since September? Yes. Listen, none of that matters now. The point is, Betsy Childs Howard cooked on this one, and we’ve got another great review that you’re going to want to read IMMEDIATELY. Arlo is wrestling with how to fit in with the big boys on the playground, what kind of decisions he’ll have to make to join the club, and discovers how to rest when he’s feeling alone. You’ll want to get your hands on this one.

Finding Friendship (Discipleship)

“Yes, we were friends — but also human. Limited creatures with limited resources. And sometimes it takes veteran saints to bring social media savants gently back down to reality: in a fallen, finite, and seasonal world, friendships come and go.” A great piece on friendship (how to foster them, grow them, and sometimes let them go) from Tanner Kay Swanson over at Crossway’s blog this week. Our lives are constantly changing, and our relationships change with them. A job change removes some folks from your immediate circle, freeing you up to invest more into relationships you already have or forge new ones at the next office you find yourself in. Swanson reminds us that Jesus didn’t pour himself into one thousand disciples. No, he narrowed his focus to twelve particular disciples to invest in deeply. He had space for many conversations, but was on the lookout for fruit that came from his watering. We must have a clear vision of the biblical value of relationships as well as our own limitations in time and relational energy. Really love this beautifully written and observed piece.

Spiritual Habits (Parenting, Discipleship)

“Yes, Building Spiritual Habits is for Moms and Dads, but also for Mimis and Pops, seasoned Christians and new believers, and for those who want to lead others well and those who want to lead themselves well. In short, it’s a book for all of us.” These “Top Ten Quotes” posts are my favorite thing Danny Franks does on his blog. They’re often books that otherwise weren’t on my radar, and I’m able to walk away with a handful of tidbits to ponder or put into practice. I haven’t read Building Spiritual Habits in the Home, but the quotes he highlights have definitely piqued my interest. In particular, I love the idea he highlights of attaching a spiritual habit to something you love (a comfy blanket, a fancy pen, a beautiful mug, etc.) to nudge you toward the habit you’re building. Bible reading feels like less of a chore if I tie it to a fresh latte in my favorite reading chair. It’s easier to journal gratitude if I’m making use of my slick new fountain pen. Perhaps it’s silly, but I’ll take all the help I can get building these rhythms. What’s your favorite quote here?

Wildly Creative

If you’re of a certain age, you remember OK Go. They’re the band dancing on treadmills to Here It Goes Again nearly twenty years ago. While they’re not my favorite band, I’ve recently rediscovered them and their visual creativity has continued ahead at warp speed. This video for Love (from their latest album) is one of the most insane practical effect-driven, all-in-one-take demonstrations of creativity I’ve seen on a screen. Our kids always enjoy seeing what these guys cook up in their videos, and they often include behind-the-scenes videos explaining how they pulled it all off. In an age where so much creative work is shifting toward AI, it’s refreshing to see a group of folks come together to build and execute an idea so beautifully in the real world. Enjoy!