Five Star Links

Each Friday, we share links we found especially interesting or inspiring during the previous week. 

Rebecca:

Natasha Crain models one excellent way to help older kids (middle school aged and up) think through some of the so-called wisdom they hear: Choose Kind Over Being Right?

This morning I attended weekly chapel with my kids at their school. At the end, one of the kids from student government shared an “inspirational quote” . . . 

I was happy that both of my 10-year-olds immediately looked up at me with a questioning glance. This is the kind of secular wisdom that sounds good but has layers of problems. Like other quotes of this nature, there is some truth, but it’s also very misleading.

Persis:

Amy Mantravadi continues her articles on the doctrine of God - How Can We Know God? 

Christianity is a religion of revelation, and our God is a God who reveals himself. Perhaps you, like me, experience dark days when you feel that God is distant or even absent from your life, but it is a great comfort to know that God has not left us as ignorant orphans. He has condescended and spoken, authoritatively and finally, into our lives. Human history is the story of the revelation of God.

Kim:

Matthew Boffey shares "Three Rules for Using Commentaries." I am thankful that he points out that we need to think ahead before choosing one. 

When you know the kind of question you have, you know the kind of commentary to reach for. If it’s a textual question, a critical commentary is best suited to help you. If it’s interpretive, reach for a critical or expository commentary. And if it’s about theology or application, scan a theological or application commentary. Conveniently, the type is usually in the name. 

A very helpful site that I have benefitted from is Best Commentaries. It has the added help of indicating whether the commentary is technical, pastoral, or devotional.