Friday Findings

I often file away interesting tidbits that I come across while meandering (um, wasting time) on the internet.  However, life has been incredibly busy as of late, so I’ve not had a chance to post in quite a while.  It’s good to be back – Here are a few things I’ve come across lately, that I’ve found interesting or helpful.

Stephen King’s Favorite Books

I always enjoy reading other’s lists of their favorite books – and so I was glad to come across this list from Stephen King.  While the genre that King writes is not my favorite to read, he is a fantastic storyteller, so it was fun to read his list, which contained a few of my own personal favorites.  Check out King’s list here:  King’s Favorite Books

Speaking of Books….

The finalists have been named for the 2018 Christian Book Awards.  I always enjoy reading this list as well – though maybe for different reasons.  I have, over the last several years, found the list to be worth a chuckle, because often the books chosen have (in my opinion) not contained solid theology or to have been written with a Biblical foundation or worldview.  This year, however, my opportunity to chuckle and shake my head in stunned disbelief at how far off target this award has often been, has been taken away – because this year’s list contains several solid options.  There were still plenty of questionable choices – but it was great to see more solid finalists.  Read through the list here:  ECPA 2018 Christian Book Award Finalists

Johnny Cash

Of course, anything I read in the news or online or in a book that has to do with Johnny Cash, catches my eye.  Finding this article at NPR, about a new album containing some never-before published poems of Johnny’s set to music, was a delight – and, of course, I instantly downloaded the album and bought the accompanying book, which I am already enjoying.  If interested in purchasing the book (with such a fantastic title), you can find it here:  Forever Words

To read the NPR article, click here:  Just As True

Martin Luther – Musician?

I don’t know why, but I always forget that we have Martin Luther to thank for some rich hymns such as “A Mighty Fortress is our God”, and the rediscovery of the importance of music in worship during the reformation.  Christianity Today did a great job recently, in covering this aspect of Luther’s life.  The article gives some interesting background and historical context – but my favorite section of the article may be this quote from Luther:

Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. …But any who remain unaffected [by music] are clodhoppers indeed and are fit to only hear the words of dung-poets and the music of pigs. ~ Luther

What’s not to love about that?  Check out the article here:  Luther: The Musician

Diverging Diamonds

My boy showed me this video about a week ago – and then he tried to explain the traffic patter to me, and how incredibly genius it is.  I’m still befuddled by it – it’s way cool – but it completely confuses me.  It’s kind of neat that this video was taken in Springfield, MO – near where I went to college.