{"id":7234,"date":"2023-07-14T19:41:34","date_gmt":"2023-07-15T02:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/?p=7234"},"modified":"2023-07-14T19:41:34","modified_gmt":"2023-07-15T02:41:34","slug":"things-glen-found-interesting-volume-411","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2023\/07\/14\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-411","title":{"rendered":"Things Glen Found Interesting, Volume 411"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4396\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?resize=1200%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/issachar-update-logo-wordswag.png?w=1680&amp;ssl=1 1680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 85vw, 300px\"><\/a>     On Fridays I share articles\/resources about broad cultural, societal and theological issues. Be sure to see the explanation and disclaimers at the bottom. I welcome your suggestions. If you read something fascinating please pass it my&nbsp;way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is volume 411, which is the number you used to dial to get directory assistance from the phone company. It\u2019s now slang for information, so an eminently appropriate number for today\u2019s compilation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things Glen Found Interesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"simple-list wp-block-list\">\n<li>This roundup has more spiritually enriching content than&nbsp;usual.&nbsp;<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/ct\/2023\/july-august\/shepherd-boy-david-goliath-other-giant.html?share=2etJhB9eIZW%2bZ2Gcq%2f4tJiBNn4Z6MSCy\" target=\"_blank\">The Shepherd Boy Who Wasn\u2019t<\/a> (Jordan K. Monson, Christianity Today): \u201cIf we stick only to the \u2018God can use anyone\u2019 reading of David\u2019s origin story, we celebrate God\u2019s elevation of the overlooked and risk missing God\u2019s clear warning to the elevated: It can happen to you. But if we see David for who he really was, we realize that every great man or woman who rises to power in the church is only one rooftop stroll away from a David-sized crash.\u201d&nbsp;<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I have unlocked this article. It\u2019s longer than it needs to be, but good. The author is a professor of Old Testament at Huntington University.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/dbts.edu\/2023\/07\/10\/fearing-god-as-sons-not-slaves\/\" target=\"_blank\">Fearing God as Sons, Not Slaves<\/a> (Ben Edwards, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary): \u201cThis distinction is perhaps most clearly seen in Exodus 20: \u2018And all the people were watching <em>and hearing<\/em> the thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw <em>it all<\/em>, <strong>they trembled and stood at a distance<\/strong>. <strong>19 <\/strong>Then they said to Moses, \u2018Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but do not have God speak to us, or we will die!\u2019 However, Moses said to the people, \u2018<strong>Do not be afraid<\/strong>; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that <strong>the fear of Him may remain with you<\/strong>, so that you will not sin.\u2019\u2019 Moses tells Israel: \u2018Don\u2019t be afraid, but fear.\u2019 The Israelites were tempted to cower in terror as they beheld God\u2019s majesty. But the fear they truly needed was one that would lead them to avoid&nbsp;sin.\u201d&nbsp;<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Emphasis in original<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/relevantmagazine.com\/life5\/why-i-gave-up-alcohol\/\" target=\"_blank\">Why I Gave Up Drinking<\/a> (Sarah Bessey, Relevant Magazine): \u201cI think that conviction has gotten a bit of a bad rap in the Church over the past little while. It\u2019s understandable. We have an overcorrection to a lot of the legalism and boundary-marker Christianity that damaged so many, the behaviour modification and rule-making and imposition of other people\u2019s convictions onto our own souls. But in our steering away from legalism, I wonder if we left the road to holiness or began to forget that God also cares about what we do and how we do it and&nbsp;why.\u201d&nbsp;<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From last year, but was just recommended to me by a friend. It\u2019s&nbsp;good.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/scotmcknight.substack.com\/p\/why-do-we-go-to-church?utm_source=%2Finbox&amp;utm_medium=reader2\" target=\"_blank\">Why Do We Go to Church<\/a>? (Mike Glenn, Substack): \u201cWhy do so many of us who claim to be Christians never attend church? I know everyone has their reasons, but here\u2019s the hard truth: Jesus loves the church. He gave His life for the church. Jesus considers the church to be His bride. I don\u2019t care how close you are to Jesus, you can\u2019t tell Him His wife is ugly. If we love Jesus, then we love His church. If you don\u2019t love the church, then there\u2019s reason to question if you love&nbsp;Jesus.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.preceptaustin.org\/revelation-topics-rapture#4.14\" target=\"_blank\">Rapture<\/a> (Precept Austin): \u201cIn our day, the Rapture has come under attack by many. Some think it represents the novel teachings of \u2018defeatist Christians.\u2019 Others think it is pure fantasy. Still others seem to savor the idea of the Church going through the events of the Tribulation in order to \u2018prove her metal\u2019 or refine her. We find it difficult to understand why there is such opposition <em>by Christians<\/em> to the idea that the bridegroom would come for His bride prior to pouring forth His wrath (John 14:1\u20133)?\u201d\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recommended by a student and I quite liked this one. I\u2019m pretty familiar with the arguments in favor of a pretribulational rapture (a position I myself hold), but there was stuff in here that was new to&nbsp;me.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/astralcodexten.substack.com\/p\/why-match-school-and-student-rank\" target=\"_blank\">Why Match School And Student Rank<\/a>? (Scott Alexander, Astral Codex Ten): \u201c\u2026elite colleges are machines for laundering privilege. That is: Harvard accepts (let\u2019s say) 75% smart\/talented people, and 25% rich\/powerful people. This is a good deal for both sides. The smart people get to network with elites, which is the first step to becoming elite themselves. And the rich people get mixed in so thoroughly with a pool of smart\/talented people that everyone assumes they must be smart\/talented themselves. After all, they have a degree from Harvard!\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tabletmag.com\/sections\/community\/articles\/pentecostal-search-enchantment-hillsong\" target=\"_blank\">A Church\u2019s Quest for Enchantment<\/a> (Maggie Phllips, Tablet): \u201c[Pentecostalism] began in the 19th century, with the parallel development throughout the Anglosphere of a grassroots spiritual enthusiasm grounded in personal experience. Its theology is rooted in history both ancient and more contemporary: a key event in the Christian Bible\u2019s Book of the Acts of the Apostles, as well as the theology of John Wesley, who is recognized as the father of Methodism. In the U.S., its catalyst is usually identified as a religious revival movement that began in Los Angeles in 1906; over a century later, it still enjoys a widespread presence in the U.S., and is a rapidly growing global phenomenon.\u201d&nbsp;<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This is actually a pretty good overview of Pentecostal Christianity for a secular audience. She gets a few details wrong, but overall this is&nbsp;solid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalliturgies.net\/p\/the-church-in-a-time-of-gender-war?utm_source=%2Finbox&amp;utm_medium=reader2\" target=\"_blank\">The Church in a Time of Gender War<\/a> (Samuel D. James, Substack): \u201cWhat I am saying is that I now believe most evangelical churches should look at their single members with both eyes open: an appreciation for the wonderful potential of their season of life, but also a desire and strategy, as the Lord permits, to find ways to get these people Christian spouses. In other words, I don\u2019t think we should fear admitting that marriage is, in the majority of situations we will come across, preferable to singleness.\u201d&nbsp;<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some people think I emphasize romance too much. I actually wonder if I emphasize it too little.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Also, not reflected in the excerpt but very much at the heart of the piece is the author\u2019s concern that men and women in our culture are collectively believing the worst of each other and assuming the answer is for the other gender to become more like them. He\u2019s getting at something real here. I think Chi Alpha has a healthier dating culture than other places at Stanford, and I still see the tendencies James critiques in this piece in members of our community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Men are awesome. Women are awesome. You should probably want to get married. Which means you should probably go on&nbsp;dates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/wapo.st\/46Jgu6p\" target=\"_blank\">Men are lost. Here\u2019s a map out of the wilderness.<\/a> (Christine Emba, Washington Post): \u201cTo the extent that any vision of \u2018nontoxic\u2019 masculinity is proposed, it ends up sounding more like stereotypical femininity than anything else: Guys should learn to be more sensitive, quiet and socially apt, seemingly overnight.\u2026 I\u2019m convinced that men are in a crisis. And I strongly suspect that ending it will require a positive vision of what masculinity entails that is <em>particular \u2014 <\/em>that is, neither neutral nor interchangeable with femininity. Still, I find myself reluctant to fully articulate one. There\u2019s a reason a lot of the writing on the crisis in masculinity ends at the diagnosis stage.\u201d&nbsp;<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unlocked. Solid overall but amusingly clueless at a few points.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Related, although the author disclaims it: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/pmarca.substack.com\/p\/fighting?utm_source=%2Finbox&amp;utm_medium=reader2\" target=\"_blank\">Fighting<\/a> (Marc Andreesen, Substack): \u201cAt a private conference this week, I was asked what I think of Mark Zuckerberg\u2019s recent Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training, Elon Musk\u2019s challenge to a cage fight, and public reports that a Zuckerberg\/Musk MMA fight may well happen later this year, perhaps in the <em>actual Roman Colosseum<\/em>. I said, \u2018I think that\u2019s all <em>great<\/em>.\u2019 And in this post I explain why.\u2026 I was also asked whether I consider Mark and Elon to be role models to children in their embrace of fighting, and I said, enthusiastically, <em>yes<\/em>. And I further recommended to the audience that they have their children trained in MMA, as my wife and I&nbsp;are.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.palladiummag.com\/2023\/07\/06\/the-triumph-of-the-good-samaritan\" target=\"_blank\">The Triumph of the Good Samaritan<\/a> (Ash Milton, Palladium Magazine): \u201cThe activist defenders of the tent cities had seized on a moral language deeply ingrained in Western societies. The notion of duty to neighbors, especially those who are poor and vulnerable, is a particularly strong inheritance from Christianity. But they were using concepts they did not care to understand. For the activists, the homeless weren\u2019t neighbors in any reciprocal sense, just a battering ram to use in their own conflicts with society. By rhetorically re-premising neighborly duties as a one-way relationship of tribute and deference paid to the wretched by society, they rendered the very moral concepts they invoked useless. They demanded neighborly duties from strangers but provided no possibility of those involved ever becoming anything like real neighbors to each&nbsp;other.\u201d&nbsp;<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A bit longer than necessary, but quite&nbsp;good.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/whos-afraid-of-moms-for-liberty?utm_source=%2Finbox&amp;utm_medium=reader2\" target=\"_blank\">Who\u2019s Afraid of Moms for Liberty?<\/a> (Robert Pondiscio, The Free Press): \u201cMoms for Liberty is the beating heart of this country\u2019s movement of angry parents\u2014and American education has never seen anything quite like it.\u2026 The basic thrust of Moms for Liberty\u2019s advocacy\u2014that parents, not the government, should have the ultimate say in what children are taught in public schools\u2014has legs. Not one subgroup in McLaughlin\u2019s crosstabs\u2014Trump or Biden voters; pro-life or pro-choice; black, white, or Hispanic; urban, rural, or suburban\u2014disagrees.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Less Serious Things Which Also Interested\/Amused Glen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"simple-list wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gocomics.com\/pearlsbeforeswine\/2023\/07\/12\" target=\"_blank\">Cast The First Stone<\/a> (Pearls Before Swine)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OylsuNV7d7I\" target=\"_blank\">Every Christian Music Video<\/a> (John Crist, YouTube): four minutes. Not great, but amusing at times. My favorite line was \u201cits mainly soccer moms listening to us so we had to make it clear that its the man who messed things up\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/xkcd.com\/2801\/\" target=\"_blank\">Contact Merge<\/a> (xkcd) \u2014 the hovertext is&nbsp;gold<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gocomics.com\/pearlsbeforeswine\/2023\/07\/13\" target=\"_blank\">Modern Dating<\/a> (Pearls Before Swine)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YourCalvinist\/status\/1679941950957338626\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Denominations Order Coffee<\/a> (Twitter video)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things Glen Found Interesting A While&nbsp;Ago<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every week I\u2019ll highlight an older link still worth your consideration. This week we have <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/astralcodexten.substack.com\/p\/book-review-the-cult-of-smart?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMzIyMjQyLCJwb3N0X2lkIjozMjY1NzAzNCwiXyI6IjVzWDJwIiwiaWF0IjoxNjEzNjMyMzA3LCJleHAiOjE2MTM2MzU5MDcsImlzcyI6InB1Yi04OTEyMCIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.LpIlIee6Fbvn_fBrDwH1pl_YZjQBe3aU4UDme0OxcDk\" target=\"_blank\">Book Review: The Cult Of Smart<\/a> (Scott Alexander, Astral Codex Ten): \u201cDeBoer recalls hearing an immigrant mother proudly describe her older kid\u2019s achievements in math, science, etc, \u201cand then her younger son ran by, and she said, offhand, \u2018This one, he is maybe not so smart.\u2019 \u201d DeBoer was originally shocked to hear someone describe her own son that way, then realized that he wouldn\u2019t have thought twice if she\u2019d dismissed him as unathletic, or bad at music. Intelligence is considered such a basic measure of human worth that to dismiss someone as unintelligent seems like consigning them into the outer darkness.\u201d Normally the best thing about Alexander\u2019s blog is his book reviews. This one was just okay (smart and well-written but not astounding) and then all of a sudden he turned his rant up to 11. Hang in until you reach the phrase \u201cchild prison.\u201d If you\u2019re not sold at that point, stop reading. From <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2021\/02\/19\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-289\" target=\"_blank\">volume 289<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Why Do You Send This&nbsp;Email?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the time of King David, the tribe of Issachar produced shrewd warriors \u201cwho understood the times and knew what Israel should do\u201d (1 Chron 12:32). In a similar way, we need to become wise people whose faith interacts with the world. I pray this email gives you greater insight, so that you may continue the tradition of Issachar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Disclaimer<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Chi Alpha is not a partisan organization. To paraphrase another minister: we are not about the donkey\u2019s agenda and we are not about the elephant\u2019s agenda \u2014 we are about the Lamb\u2019s agenda. Having said that, I read widely (in part because I believe we should aspire to pass <a href=\"http:\/\/econlog.econlib.org\/archives\/2011\/06\/the_ideological.html\">the ideological Turing test<\/a> and in part because I do not believe I can fairly say \u201cI agree\u201d or \u201cI disagree\u201d until I can say \u201cI understand\u201d) and may at times share articles that have a strong partisan bias simply because I find the article stimulating. The upshot: you should not assume I agree with everything an author says in an article I mention, much less things the author has said in other articles (although if I strongly disagree with something in the article I\u2019ll usually mention it). And to the extent you can discern my opinions, please understand that they are my own and not necessarily those of Chi Alpha or any other organization I may be perceived to represent.\n\nAlso, remember that I\u2019m not reporting news \u2014 I\u2019m giving you a selection of things I found interesting. There\u2019s a lot happening in the world that\u2019s not making an appearance here because I haven\u2019t found stimulating articles written about it.\n\nIf this was forwarded to you and you want to receive future emails, sign up <a href=\"https:\/\/theglendavis.substack.com\/\">here<\/a>. You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/category\/links\">view the archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Fridays I share articles\/resources about broad cultural, societal and theological issues. Be sure to see the explanation and disclaimers at the bottom. I welcome your suggestions. If you read something fascinating please pass it my&nbsp;way. This is volume 411, which is the number you used to dial to get directory assistance from the phone \u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/archives\/2023\/07\/14\/things-glen-found-interesting-volume-411\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> \u201cThings Glen Found Interesting, Volume 411\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"More spiritually-enriching content than usual. Also, it's volume 411. Get the 411!","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[16],"tags":[170,182,240,195,234,112,297,316],"class_list":["post-7234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-links","tag-devotional","tag-education","tag-elite-colleges","tag-gender","tag-homelessness","tag-marriage","tag-masculinity","tag-pentecostalism"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6Ded-1SG","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7234"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7236,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7234\/revisions\/7236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glenandpaula.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}