Cicero supposedly once said, “Times are bad. Children are disobeying their parents and everyone is writing a book.” Today, we might change the last clause to “everybody is making content.” Content is that non-descript term for everything from bad dad jokes to dash-cam wrecks, from panda and capybara videos to apologetic arguments (that last one ranging from the worst straw-man arguments to some wonderfully nuanced and charitable dialogue).
One of the ministries, therefore, of Alcuin Study Center, is to sift through the glut of words and images until we find a few resources that we believe are truly helpful for thoughtful Christians to live life more faithfully and lovingly in the Already-but-Not-Yet Kingdom of God. We hope you find them enriching.
From Alcuin’s Own Brian Allred
Brian Allred has been teaching our Biblical Literacy classes for nearly 5 years now. If you haven’t yet watched any them yet, we strongly suggest you do so. The photo to the right is of students, professors, and community folks eagerly waiting for Brian’s class to begin. Join them by clicking the button below:
Brian also writes for our blog. You can read his latest here:
From NPR’sTiny Desk Concert: The Red Clay Strays
One of the first comments under one of their videos on YouTube is “Lead singer walked out of 1958, rest of the band from 1974. Somehow it all works.” Another says “Elvis and Lynyrd Skynyrd had a love child and it was raised by the Black Crows. It grew up to become the Red Clay Strays.”
But those comments only describe the surface—their look and sound. We are recommending them here for different reasons. First of all, they are extremely talented, and though certainly old souls swimming against the current of pop mediocrity, they are rapidly growing in popularity. Secondly, their songs are imbued with their Christian faith, and yet they play to mainly secular audience. They have learned how to be winsome to their unbelieving neighbors while being true to their love of God. Excellence and honesty in their work as young Christians. This is how it’s done.
If you want to dig a bit more, you might enjoy this interview.
Becoming Priests of History
Collin Hansen hosts author Sarah Irving-Stonebraker on his Gospelbound podcast. This interview is as fascinating as it is insightful and timely. They discuss her new book Priests of History: Stewarding the Past in an Ahistoric Age. This summer we will be hosting a Zoom book discussion group on the book, and you’re all invited to join. Stay tuned!
If you’re more of a listener than a watcher, you can find the interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify:
21 Martyrs: A True Story of Modern Persecution
This Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Short is powerful. Take 12 minutes to watch. Then consider viewing it with your youth group, small group, or just a group of friends. You can find more resources here: