Lightning fast read. Thanks for stopping by.
1) Beyond the Guitar’s Batman Theme – Nathan Mills posted two arrangements this week – super nice for his fans and community.
The Batman Teaser – film scheduled for release October, 2021
Plus this one:
2) The Good Ones – Let’s celebrate those “good ones” in our lives. Country artist Gabby Barrett was inspired by her husband Cade Foehner) to write The Good Ones.
YouTube Video – The Good Ones – Official Video (watch it to the end – sweet story of a couple dealing with her paralysis).
Your good one may be a spouse…or it could include a parent or friend. Thank God, for those who love us well. May we love well also.
3) Some Favorite Thinkers – Fake news abounds these days. Social media gurus don’t deny it. In fact, documentaries are being produced about how we are being manipulated by news and social media makers – The Twisted Truth and The Social Dilemma are two.
As conversations heat up about politics, racial unrest, and COVID (heading toward the US Presidential election), we should check our news sources for where we get our opinions on all the above. Even if we try to sample a mix of liberal and conservative sources, we still have to wonder if what we hear is true. How deep does news and political bias go?
We need to seek out thinkers who themselves are burdened by the state of our streets, our politics and policies, and the next generation. Just thinking we’re right and resting on those laurels will no get us to a better place. Reasoning, thinking deeply, listening, talking together (especially with those with whom we don’t necessarily agree)…we need people who will help guide us through to higher understanding and healthier actions than we see around us.
Glenn Loury and Coleman Hughes are two of those men who currently influence my thinking. You can find them at least weekly in some conversation on their own podcasts or others. Blogging Heads is one of my favorite platforms.
Another fascinating person (on Twitter and his/her own blog) is @EthicalSkeptic. I’m not smart enough to understand most of what he says, but it gives pause (especially related to COVID).
How disinformation harms. The 4 key charts.
There were those in the US who pushed this false 3.4% iCFR, raw test-positive counts, & purposely confused concepts of risk – so as to terrify and coerce its population.
Those in authority who did this – need to be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/A56EH7tlzc
— Ethical Skeptic ☀ (@EthicalSkeptic) September 13, 2020
The thing about thinkers…you may not always agree with them but what they say can be a check of your own thinking. Are you teachable? Are you listening? Are you willing to consider?
Three, among the many Christian thinkers I follow these days, are Scott Sauls, Karen Swallow Prior, and Jackie Hill Perry.
Who do you follow? Listen to? Read?
4) The Human Library– Twenty years ago, this non-profit was established in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Human Library was designed to give people an opportunity to just tell their stories to other people. For the purpose of understanding, inclusion, and dealing with prejudice or bias. From what I can gather from the website and this Facebook page, people can gather in a library environment and, instead of reading books found there, they share and listen to life stories. The people are “the books”. I want to know more about this…maybe even figure out how to create such an environment or event.
Photo Credit: Facebook, Wieteke Koolhof, Facebook
5) “This Is Your Time” – The recently deceased actor Chadwick Boseman spoke at the commencement service at Howard University, his alma mater, in 2018. He was magnificent. Boseman told stories about his life – powerful stories of his experiences as a student, a young black man, and a believer in God. He quoted the Bible ( Jeremiah 29:11), about God’s plans for our lives. He urged the graduates to steer clear of victimhood but to move toward their purpose with faith and fortitude.
“…Sometimes you need to get knocked down before you can really figure out what your fight is and how you need to fight it…When I dared to challenge the systems that would relegate us to victims and stereotypes with no clear historical backgrounds, no hopes or talents, when I questioned that method of portrayal, a different path opened up for me — the path to my destiny. When God has something for you, it doesn’t matter who stands against it…God will move someone that is holding you back away from the door and put someone there who will open it for you…if it’s meant for you. I don’t know what your future is, but if you are willing to take the harder way, the more complicated one, the one with more failures at first than successes, the one that’s ultimately proven to have more victory, more glory, then you will not regret it. Now…this is your time.”
[In the tweet below, you’ll find the closing comments of this speech.]
I can’t even… ?
I think I’m done for the day, I’ll leave with this.pic.twitter.com/EfngYox6uZ— Kyle J. Howard (@KyleJamesHoward) August 29, 2020
YouTube Video – Chadwick Boseman’s Howard University 2018 Commencement Speech – 7 minutes into the video is the beginning of his 28-minute powerful speech.
Bonuses:
6 Ways We Make Life Harder Than It Needs to Be – Paul Tripp
De-Escalating a Conflict – Scott Sauls
Are Christians More Confident in Politics Than in Christ? – Eugene Park
Coronavirus: Tests ‘Could Be Picking Up Dead Virus’ – Rachel Schraer
Photo Credit: Of Verona, Facebook
7 years ago, a friend of ours taught English in China for a year. She offered names of her American friends as ways her students could address each other so they could learn name pronunciation, too. This beautiful little girl picked my name. I wonder where she is today and how she’s doing.
Photo Credit: Hailey Mullins, Facebook – September 2013
5 Traits of People with High EQ [Emotional Intelligence] – Peter Economy