Friday Finds (July-December 2021)

Friday Finds is my monthly recommendation of reads, resources and creative projects from across the web. Here are my Friday Finds for the second half of 2021 which are shared in my monthly email newsletter. I hope you find something here that encourages, blesses or challenges you.

Blog Posts

Living by Plan or Living by Promise?
Melbourne pastor, Adam Ch’ng reflects on a year of lockdowns and unfulfilled plans and encourages readers to live as people who trust ultimately in God’s promises. He writes: “When we grieve the loss of our earthly plans, God invites us to enjoy the gift of his better heavenly promises.” 

Rose, Thorn, Bud: Cultivating Dinner Conversations With My Family
Jason Chao shares how implementing the “Rose, Thorn, Bud” exercise around the dinner table has completely transformed his family dynamic. He writes: “Rose, Thorn, Bud” helps me not only to see that God is active every day in my own life, but it gives me the opportunity to articulate that journey to my kids.”

Breaking Intergenerational Pain and Burdens: A Reflection of Shang-Chi
Second-generation Chinese British psychotherapist, Alice Kim, reflects on Shang-Chi and shares how the gospel speaks into the film’s exploration often-silenced topics—intergenerational pain, burdens, and family dysfunction. She writes: “Shame keeps us in hiding and disconnected. Love beckons us home with open arms, restoring connection with our true identity as God’s beloved children…”

Two Unexpected Seasons: Coronavirus and Singleness
Adrienne Ihara shares candidly about her season of singleness during a pandemic, and two lessons she’s learned along the way. 

Immanuel: The reason why I still bother with Christmas
A throwback of mine from 2019! If you’re feeling weighed down by the Christmas craze, it is my hope that these truths will strengthen and encourage you.

Honor Your Mother And Father…Always?
Young W. Yi offers some advice to believers who feel burdened by their parents’ dreams for their lives. He unpacks what it means to honour parents, even if we disagree with them and offers practical steps for discernment around this topic. 

What I Learned From Gen Z’s Faithfulness During the Pandemic
President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (USA), Tom Lin, shares five ways Gen Z college students are modelling a deeper, more resilient faith that older generations can learn from.

Four Things Pastors Wish Their Churches Knew About Them Right Now
Steve S. Chang writes: “You may not know it, but there is a high probability that your pastor is discouraged.” Here are 4 things that leaders pastoring during COVID wished you knew about them right now. 

You Don’t Become Superwoman Overnight—And That’s Okay
Faith Chang writes: “I find that the further I get from past hardships, the easier it is to forget that they really were difficult. When that happens, I fail to respond with compassion and grace to others who are struggling”

Simone Biles, Mental Health and the Church
Hannah Chao writes: Simone Biles made the news because she chose to sit and rest… I hope another reverberation from Biles’ courageous choice will be that the church will also take mental health seriously.

Peace in Decision Making
Patreeya Thorn writes:Too often we conflate peace with permission or blessing. As if peace ensures us that everything will go smoothly or that we won’t be tossed into moments where we struggle with doubt or regret. 

Boundaries in Pleasant Places – Ekstasis Magazine
In this reflection, Writer and Student, Alicia Pollard shares how God has been at work in her life, despite feeling “trapped” and “hemmed in” by COVID. She writes: “…my fear of being trapped is tangled in two lies: the lie that God does not love me, and the lie that my life is about pursuing my own happiness.” 

Music

I Long For You – Emu Music
Written by Emu Music, ‘I Long For You’ is a song which invites us to find full satisfaction in the goodness, power, wisdom and love of God.  

Dami Im – Pray
‘Pray’ is a new single written by Australian-Korean singer and songwriter, Dami Im! Written in lockdown, ‘Pray’ is an anthem for our times and a reflection of her faith! Watch the music video on Youtube, listen on Spotify, or preorder her album! 

Always Good – Emu Music
A gentle and comforting tune by Emu Music for times such as these.
Also available on Spotify and my Hymns of Hope playlist. 

Heaven’s Not Too Far Away – We Three
An oldie but a goodie. In this 2018 AGT audition, brother and sister trio, We Three, share their original song “Heaven’s Not Too Far Away”, a touching and hope-filled tribute to their mother who passed away from cancer. Also available on Spotify.

Quality Christian Music: 16 Artists to Watch
A Spotify Playlist by Brett Mccracken featuring new and upcoming artists from the U.S., U.K., Namibia, Philippines, New Zealand, and Australia. 

Podcasts

Let’s Talk (Live) – Spiritual Disciplines in Busy Seasons
In this live recorded episode of Let’s Talk,Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger discuss the importance of practicing spiritual disciplines, even in life’s busiest seasons. They also discuss the idols that might keep us from spending time with God.

When Strivings Cease – IMBetween Podcast
“When I substitute God’s purpose with my own performance, I make myself a slave to perfection, believing my awesomeness will save me from discomfort, embarrassment, and other fears I dread most.”
Author and speaker, Ruth Chou Simons, shares her experience with growing up as a third-culture kid in a shame-based household, and why the gospel of self-improvement needs to be replaced with the gospel of life-transforming grace. 

Cancel Culture – Thirty Minutes with The Perrys
In this episode, Jackie Hill and Preston Perry discuss Cancel Culture and its pervasiveness both in and out of the church. Together, they look into Scripture to see if “cancelling” people or groups is ever a necessary or righteous thing to do. 

Corona Crazy – Thirty Minutes with the Perrys
Jackie Hill and Preston Perry discuss a wide range of topics with honesty, humour and wisdom. In this episode, they discuss their thoughts on being quarantined, trusting God to provide financially, parenting during a pandemic, and the sovereignty of God. 

Cut Some Slack – In Good Faith
A podcast episode for the weary and overworked! Good friends, Chong Shao and Dan Shih survey the cultural and economic landscape where “efficiency” reigns and share how the pursuit of it has impacted their personal lives. They then share why embracing “slack” is a good thing and what the Bible has to say about it. 

Creative Projects

More Like Jesus
Steven Kryger has launched a new platform which aims to share personal stories from fellow Christians to help with growth and sanctification. So far he has uploaded stories by Rebecca DeYoung, Tim Challies, Michelle Philp and more! You can read my contribution here. 

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