Rooted & Unwithered

We ended our first week's reading with Christian being sent back to the narrow path toward the wicket-gate by Evangelist. In our present reading, Christian enters the gate, has a brief conversation with Goodwill, and then is given much to meditate upon by Interpreter.

For more articles and resources, visit bcnewton.co

As we begin our reading together through The Pilgrim's Progress, we first discuss Christian's flight from the City of Destruction, Pliable's short-lived pilgrimage, and the counsel of Mr. Worldly-Wiseman, applying these moments to our own walk with Christ. 

To read this article as well as other resources, visit bcnewton.co

Our plan is to read both parts of The Pilgrim’s Progress, although we will likely begin Part II around September. The edition that I will be referencing throughout our reading is produced by Banner of Truth, which is a lovely little hardcover containing both parts, fourteen illustrations, and Scripture references in the margins. Of course, given that the narrative follows the pilgrims along their path, readers should be able to follow along using any edition via the stages of the journey that we will discuss each week.

You can find full week-by-week reading plan as well as other resources at bcnewton.co.

Entertainment producers like Disney, after all, have a tremendous financial incentive for lodging their characters into the imagination of children. Of course, the more fully they are able to catechize children into their narratives the more merchandise they are then able to sell. Yet on an even deeper level, if their tales can become core components of the child’s childhood, then he or she is likely to actively look forward to sharing whichever film or show with his or her own children. In other words, Disney and similar companies are in the multigenerational discipleship game.

To read this article and find more resources, visit bcnewton.co

I think it was a great choice to set the Amazon's series, The Rings of Power, during the Second Age, depicting the downfall of Númenor. Tolkien wrote the least about the Second Age, so that gives creators a bit more room to go their own route. But I most love the potential that the story of Númenor has to reflect upon our own secular age.

Yet, while I will be overjoyed if I am proven wrong, it does not appear that the producers of Amazon’s series understand the heart beneath the story of the fall of the Númenóreans.

Read this article and other resources, at bcnewton.co

As a pastor, "what do you think about The Chosen?" is a question that I get asked a lot. 

Here are my thoughts. 

While the Kyle Rittenhouse shootings were captured by three different videos, the trial and its verdict are still incredibly divisive. 

How can everyone look at the same evidence and come away with such opposite opinions?

The problem isn't what we see but how we see. 

Read this article and other resources at bcnewton.co

Is livestreaming into a church service the same as attending physically? What about metaverse services? And what do either have to do with digital gnosticism and transhumanism? 

To read this article and other resources, visit: bcnewton.co

There is nothing innately noble about being your authentic self, especially whenever our authentic selves are very often wicked.

To read this article and other resources visit bcnewton.co

To read the article and other resources, visit bcnewton.co