Weekend Reading, 7 August

Wow, what I week! I didn’t think I spent that much time online and thought this would be a short shout-out, but this list kept getting longer and longer. So, grab a large cup of coffee and read what I read this week:

• First, a neglected post from the week before by Michael Perkins: Fake Cowboy, about finding identity and remembering that God made us unique.
• Another older post from Patrick Mead at Tentpegs: An Open Letter to Those Who Wish They Could. A perfect segue over to Thom Rainer’s post on Cathartic Experiences in the Church, one of the themes in his new book, Transformational Church.
• New ways of “doing church” doesn’t mean that Christians are a Dying Breed, reminds Matt Appling.
• Meanwhile in our churches, Do We Over-Celebrate the Cross?, asks Jonathan Pearson.
• Some stormy posts from Peter Pollock and Dusty Rayburn which is good perspective when facing life’s trials.
• Kevin Martineau and Michael Ellis are keeping perspective through their trials.
• Makes you wish life was as easy as a Stain Remover (from Billy Coffey courtesy of Katdish).
• Which are all great reminders that we need to Pray for our Pastors (from Scott Couchenour).
• Joel J Miller reminds us that the Psalms are just as valuable to Christians as they were to the Jews.
• Former Seattle Seahawk gives some hints for the Spiritual Athlete, courtesy of Christian Ray Flores.
• Diana Butler Bass thinks about the Proverbs 31 Housewife when confronted with “reality” TV over at the Huffington Post.
• Finally, even though the Haiti Quake has long since passed, there are still people affected. The New York Times looks at US adoptions and Haiti in the aftermath.