Thank God it’s Friday
This is excerpted from my TGIF column at SOLA Network.
Articles From Around The Web
Sam Hyeong Rae Jo: The Mirage of the Influencer–Pastor: Why “Gig Eva” and Its Churches Fail
“The church is no longer seen as a covenant community into which we are brought but is treated as a platform for the pastor’s self-expression. The pastor is no longer a servant of the Word under the authority of a session; he becomes an influencer and brand manager whose platform exists independently of, and often at the expense of, the local church. This model promises authenticity, but it is a house of cards.”
The Church in China: Learning to Fly in a Birdcage
“And China is a land of contradictions, where little is as it seems and multiple things can be true. There are churches all over the country that remain small and quiet and are not experiencing harsh crackdowns. At the same time, some churches have been shut down and pastors detained, but they don’t make the headlines in the West.”
Geoff Chang: Pastoral Discouragement Is Normal: Wisdom from Charles Spurgeon
“Brothers, don’t be surprised at your discouragement. It’s part of the burden you carry as a pastor. When you experience these dark seasons, trust that God will accomplish good through it, in you and in your people. Turn to him, believe his promises, receive his comfort, and then minister out of the comfort you’ve received.”
Newsletters, Books, Media, and More
Will Parker Anderson: Your Calling Is a Zigzag
“Even Jesus lived 30 years in obscurity as a carpenter before “going public” for three short years until he was executed. Who knows what lessons he absorbed through his hands as he sanded down planks and lined up angles, and how they informed his ministry.”
Rachel Suffern: Why Today’s Christians Should Care about C. S. Lewis’s Adulterous Affair
“However, it seems to me that we miss something if we don’t at least entertain the idea that the thirty years spent in a complicated relationship with this increasingly difficult woman may have influenced the shaping of one of Lewis’s most well-known villains: The White Witch. Leaving aside the fact that the witch’s actual name, “Jadis,” is not that far from “Janie,” there are too many parallels in their stories to be completely ignored.”
Aaron Lee: Related Works
Reviews: Gathered Today Discussion Cards. Substack: Engaging God’s Word. Listen to our TGIF playlist on Spotify. Join my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group. Find me on Substack. Keep in touch on X and Instagram.
Featured This Week on SOLA Network
Daniel Jung: Speaking Our Language – A Countdown to the Release of Video Sessions from AALC 2026
“At SOLA, we are proud to present content from this past AALC, Reimaging Family: Transforming Family Dynamics Through the Gospel. Releasing on three consecutive Wednesdays, beginning on July 1, the first set of video recordings will feature our six standalone plenary speakers (N. Gray Sutanto, Vivian Mabuni, David Hsu, Aaron Chung, Hanley Liu, and Michael Oh).”
Aaron Lee: In Your Light We See Light: An Interview with Paul Uyen
“Our new Author Interview features a conversation between Aaron Lee and Paul Uyen about Uyen’s life and his book on divine illumination, In Your Light We See Light. Uyen shares his journey from a difficult childhood as an immigrant—struggling in school, getting involved in gangs, and facing serious trouble—to a gradual but powerful transformation through reading the Bible and encountering Christ.”
Tom Sugimura: Dear First-Time Father: An Open Letter to New Dads
“Two biblical principles that I try to keep in balance are affirmation and authority. Affirmation means that you love your child and your child knows it. You tell them with your words, show them by your actions, and model it through lifelong sacrifice.”
TGIF: Roundup for June 19, 2026
More Than a Model Minority: Discovering Diversity in Youth Ministry / The Terrible Possibility of Adultery / Amandus Polanus: Classical Theism’s Reformed Ally / From Crushing Religion to Freedom in Jesus / The Tremor of Joy
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