The following articles have been selected because they are informative, instructive, entertaining, or simply interesting. Articles appearing in Your Friday Five do not represent an endorsement.
The Broken and Beautiful Church Behind Aretha Franklin, By Kutter Callaway
From die-hard fans of Aretha Franklin’s music to casual observers of her life and career, a wide range of viewers will be pleasantly surprised by National Geographic’s next installment of its Genius series, Aretha, released this month. The series explores the intimate details of Aretha Franklin’s life and the unique circumstances that gave rise to her undeniable musical genius.
American spent a record breaking amount on their pets during the pandemic
Industry reached $103.6B in annual sales, By Daniella Genovese
Despite the virus-induced economic hardships over the past year, pet owners collectively doled out a record-breaking amount of money on their animal companions. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) announced Wednesday that the industry generated $103.6 billion in annual sales, the industry’s highest figure to date.
ChurchPulse Weekly Conversations: Rick Warren on Leading Amidst Grief, By Carey Nieuwhof, David Kinnaman, and Rick Warren
Recently on ChurchPulse Weekly, hosts Carey Nieuwhof and David Kinnaman sit down with Saddleback pastor and best-selling author, Rick Warren, to talk about his experience seeking truth in a polarized world, leading through COVID and understanding how to walk through grief both personally and alongside others.
Why Your Post-Pandemic Church Must Restart Like a Church Plant, By Scott McConnell
Most churches have reopened, but most church leaders realize things aren’t what they were before the pandemic. Churches have resumed, but what they really need is a restart.
The Cohabitation Dilemma Comes for America’s Pastors, By David J. Ayers
In early 2019, the internet was aglow with news about Chris Pratt and his fiancée, Katherine Schwarzenegger, moving in together. Media outlets cited the couple’s evangelical Christian faith as the reason they did not cohabit until they were engaged. Few suggested there was any contradiction between Pratt’s cohabitation and his status as a “devout Christian,” a “folksy, popular evangelical” who urged “living boldly in faith.”