Friday Finds (19 June)
Friday Finds, is a collection of recommended reads, resources and creative projects from the web. Are you the owner of an online platform or engaged in a creative project that touches on topics of life, faith and culture? Please get in touch. I would love to hear about it!
1. Portals of Belonging (Ekstasis Magazine)
Jon Tyson reflects on hospitality, immigrants and living in the city of New York: “…the diversity of the city—socially, politically, culturally, socioeconomically, and racially—has confronted so many stereotypes and prejudices in my heart that I didn’t even know existed. Over the years my posture has changed from seeking to reach the city and change it, to loving the city to serve it.”
2. Wrongly Incarcerated Singer Archie Williams sings “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”
“I went to prison, but I never let my mind go to prison. When faced with dark times, I would pray and sing. This is how I got peace.”
Archie Williams was sentenced to life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. After 37 years, DNA tests set him free. In 2020, Archie auditioned for America’s Got Talent with a rendition of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”. I was so touched by his song and story.
3. The thoughts circling my mind about racism right now
Alana B McCambridge reflects on growing up as a ‘half-caste’ in Australia, her first memories of racism, and the contrast of her ‘white privilege’ to the racial prejudice that her Polynesian grandparents were subject to.
4. Let’s Talk: Sharing Your Faith
Jackie Hill Perry, Melissa Kruger, and Jasmine Holmes, share their own stories of coming to faith in Christ and discuss how we can begin sharing our faith with others in the everyday.
5. Canceled: How the Eastern Honor-Shame Mentality Traveled West
Abdu Murray makes an insightful observation about ‘Cancel Culture’ in the West: “Now when a person does or says something that runs afoul of current cultural preferences, we cancel that person…we will engage you and shame you out of existence…As someone who is bicultural, I see just how Eastern this Western phenomenon really is.”
I LOVE hearing worship songs in different languages. ‘The Blessing’ sung in Tamil has been my favourite so far! Goosebumps galore!
7. Nature Is Anything But Natural
Marshall Segal invites us to enjoy creation through the poetry of the Psalms: The pouring of water between the banks is its own applause to the satisfying goodness of God. “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together” (Psalm 98:8).
Are you the owner of an online platform or engaged in a creative project that touches on topics of life, faith and culture? Please get in touch. I would love to hear about it!
