These are the links that cluttered my tabs this week. I know they tend toward depressing, but that’s not my intention. I hope that we are informed and that our knowledge of this world drives us back to our knees in our pursuit of knowledge of the Lord. Because, goodness, I don’t know what to do about all this.

In this article, “On Grudges and Generosity” Tony Reinke shares what Jonathan Edwards described as the root of all grudges: envy, contempt, resentment. In contrast, Edwards looks at God’s attitude of generosity toward us. This is an article I should probably read over and over again.

The documentary “Decadence: Decline of the Western World“ looks more than intriguing to me. You can view an interview with Pria Viswalingam (writer, director and presenter) below. From Center for Public Christianity’s website, “It is set in ten countries and features leading authors and academics as it traces the slow decline of the West. He came into CPX to discuss his documentary including why he sees the decline of family and religion as important markers of this decline.”

Remember that movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? Well, now there is research that shows just how close to reality that might become. In the film, there is a treatment one can have that will erase memories. It’s strange and (of course) involves characters manipulating the memory erasing process for selfish means and sexual sins. Several days ago, I found this article, “The Forgetting Pill Erases Painful Memories Forever.”  How much louder must our culture cry out before we respond with what they really want: a Savior.

In 2002, the Netherlands voted to make euthanasia legal. Now, there is a mobile team of doctors, knocking on doors and offering their euthanasia services (Euthanasia Squads Offer Death by Delivery). Doctors making house calls to help people kill themselves. Wow.

I’m not sure what is more disturbing – doctors traveling to speed death of the elderly or doctors proposing that a newborn baby isn’t actually a person. This article, “After-birth abortion: Why should the baby live?” (the article has since been removed)published by BMJ (whose purpose is to “improve health and make a real difference to clinical practice worldwide“), is not some fluke. These are doctors from around the world, Oxford educated folks who study bio-ethics and all the fields I’m not qualified to talk about. These guys say that the fetus and the newborn are equally “morally irrelevant” and only “potential persons.” In this article, they defend their belief that killing a baby after birth is not wrong. In the words of my cousin, “That is the most selfish thing I’ve ever heard.” This is not about abortion. This is about the value of life. Read an article from the Telegraph about the findings here.

Okay, that deserves a breather. We need to remember the Sovereign One who has ordered the universe and who desires that all would hear His plan for redemption. John Owen said we need but sit down by the fountain and the delight we find in Him will mean we won’t ever stray too far. God is too good for us not to come back to sit at the fountain again. Tim Challies quotes John Owen today in his blogpost.

Because I want you to keep reading my “this & that” posts, I’m ending with a song by Josh Garrels – Pilot Me. The only way we’re equipped to bear the brokenness in the world is if we put on Christ. Only Christ pilots in a way that both navigates shoals AND moves forward. God did not intend for His followers to hide in caves while the world goes to pot. God invites us to jump on board His ship as He draws His creation to Himself.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
(Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV)