Weekend Links: Bible reading, kids' books, the Hobbit, and more!

(Updated this to fix a broken link!)

I'll continue with the New Year's Resolutions series on Monday, but meanwhile, here's some good stuff for your weekend:

"How to Change Your Mind":

Christians often talk about having a Biblical worldview yet most have only a rudimentary knowledge of the Bible. They attempt to build a framework without first gathering the lumber and cement needed to create a solid foundation. The benefits of following this process should therefore be obvious. By fully immersing yourself into the text you'll come to truly know the text. You'll deepen your understanding of each book and knowledge of the Bible as a whole.

The 2013 Cybils Finalists: I had fun using this list to request some new-to-us books from our library.

A Thief in the Night: The Christian Ethic at the Heart of The Hobbit: (Jess' note: I loved this!):

If Christopher is correct and this is a case of the filmmakers brazenly cashing in, allowing commercial considerations to override esthetic judgments, the irony could not be more complete, because The Hobbit is above all about greed—and the overcoming of greed. Christians who may wonder whether The Hobbit has a moral message worth engaging with should look to this aspect of the tale, for Tolkien’s diagnosis of the sinfulness of greed and his description of its cure are both central to the story and presented with brilliant imaginative skill.

"Sooner or later: yet at last": I just rediscovered this amazing poem by Christina Rossetti. This part is especially amazing:

I plead Thyself with Thee, I plead

Thee in our utter need:

Jesus, most merciful of men,  

Show mercy on us then;

Lord God of mercy and of men

Show mercy on us then.

But the whole thing is so good - go read!

"The Saturday Evening Blog Post": This is a great place to find the best posts of a whole range of different bloggers - fun weekend reading! (ETA: fixed this link!)

"Theology of First John": And if you're looking for something good to listen to this weekend, look no further. A short description:

The title of the one-hour lecture is “The Theology of First John,” and while that accurately captures the main task, the lecture also spends a fair bit of time motivating and orienting readers so they can engage the text well. There are tips on how to benefit from, rather than suffer from, the repetitive and non-linear character of John’s writing, for example. I also compare and contrast John’s literary persona with those of the apostles Peter and Paul.

It's wise and good (and funny!).

"On Keeping a Logbook" - nifty idea for the new year!