Each week (give or take one or two here and there) I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too.
1) Why Christianity Makes Sense: A Book About Jesus, the Mysteries of the World, and the Longings in Your Heart by Gavin Ortlund
I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a pre-release copy of Gavin Ortlund’s new book (which officially releases next Tuesday). Some books, when you read them, are like emotional or spiritual time capsules. They speak to you in a particular way at a particular time that would be hard to duplicate and may not be true everyone. Such books are treasures in their own right. This is not one of those. This is the kind of book that I would like to put in the hands of as many people as possible to bolster their faith and confidence in Jesus. It is not light reading, but neither will it scare off any bot the most lackadaisical reader. In fact, it’s thoughtfulness dignifies both the truth of Christianity and the mind of the reader. For generations Mere Christianity was the popular level Christian explainer. I think Why Christianity Makes Sense could step in for it, speaking to the questions and challenges of the present day with the appropriate voice and arguments. It’s exceptional.
2) Saucer Swing
Now that temperatures have dropped below hellscape levels in Tennessee, we have the luxury of sending our children outside to play again. (I mean, we had the chance for the last several weeks, just with a moderate risk of heatstroke and dehydration.) And these swings are pretty fantastic. I realize they aren’t a new thing to many of you, but they didn’t exist when I was a kid and they weren’t popular when my older kids were play-in-the-yard small. But now that I have another little one I am discovering the genius of their design and the fun they provide. You can hang them from a tree limb or a frame, hang them with a single strap so they can rotate or a double strap so they are more traditional, and put one child on them or a few. They can provide light and leisurely fun or concussion-level risks, whichever floats your children’s boat. Frankly, I wish they had existed when I was a kid, despite the (additional) brain damage it might have caused me
3) MLB players first hits with their families in the stands
As the baseball regular season comes to end, there is one particular kind of moment that deserves celebration. It is the moment when a player gets his first career hit with his family in the stands. It’s their reaction, their pride, that makes these moments so cool. As a parent, I have loved watching my kids take on challenges and find success. I have felt the nerves on their behalf and the ache when they have failed. So the elation of parents when their son gets his first hit, especially if it’s a home run, is magnificent. Just this month Emmanuel Rodriguez, a highly touted prospect for the Minnesota Twins, got called up to the majors and blasted a homer for his first hit. And his family loved it.