A La Carte (7/29)

The Friends with Benefits Epidemic [2] - Here’s the best couple of lines from this article: “Your desire for sex is proof that God loves you. Your physical draw to another human being is proof that God created you to want to experience unparalleled intimacy in a way that reflects His desire for intimacy with us. God designed sex and the acts and attitudes preceding it to access aspects of your heart, soul, body and mind that could not be accessed any other way.”

Playhouses [3] - This is every child’s dream. “Even in a troubled economy, it seems, some parents of means are willing to spend significant (if not eye-popping) sums on playhouses for their children that also function as a kind of backyard installation art.”

A Disciple’s Tomb? [4] - Most of these things never pan out, of course. But still… “An Italian professor has announced the apparent discovery of the tomb of St. Philip, one of Jesus Christ's apostles, at the ancient city of Hierapolis in the Aegean province of Denizli.”

Norway [5] - I don’t agree with all of this, but it makes an interesting read. “It's something of a stretch to compare Norway's reaction to Friday's appalling attacks to the Anglosphere's reaction to 9/11. If Norway decided to freak out, it would look a lot different -- most notably, there would be no other countries to invade, rightly or wrongly. Still, Oslo could do a lot of the same types of things Washington, Ottawa and London did, if it so chose.”

Happy, Holy, Beautiful Mess [6] - “Ever hear the old adage: ‘Marriage isn't primarily intended for your happiness, but for your holiness?’ Well, it's true and it's a glorious thing.The growing in holiness part doesn't always seem blissful. But it means that God isn't finished with you yet, either. The purpose and hope in marriage isn't defined by you or your spouse, but by God.”

Brian Regan on Aging [7] - This guy pretty much always makes me laugh.

As the profane take the liberty to force their irreligion upon you, so you take the liberty to force your religion upon them. —C.H. Spurgeon