Many thanks to Wesley Seminary for having me on this podcast to chat about my book on the church and economics. Check it out!

At JPGB I review the magnificent movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood:

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a movie about death, betrayal, secrets, hatred and hand puppets.

It’s a movie about a man who is so angry at another man that he wants that man to die. So much that he still wants that man to die even as the man is actually dying, painfully, right there in front of him.

A man who must make a choice to release another man from his feelings of anger, but does not realize that he must do this, and does not contain in himself whatever it might require for him to come to that realization on his own.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a movie about what we can do with the mad that we feel. About what it takes to take the armor off.

But it’s also a movie about what kind of man it takes to help another man make a choice to release his feelings of anger.

See it in theaters. You’ll thank me.

This is your brain:

This is your brain on classical liberalism:

But this is your brain on Catholic integralism:

Any questions?

TGC carries my article this morning on the church and abuse, in which I discuss some experience of abuse that I had as a child and draw out implications for the church. I draw insight from Rachael Denhollander’s new book, What Is a Girl Worth?, which everyone should read without delay.

I told a friend that reading Denhollander’s story in What Is a Girl Worth? is in one way like watching Sherlock Holmes hunt down and finally trap Professor Moriarty. Later that day, I came to a sobering realization. In the end of that story, while Holmes does trap Moriarty, Moriarty also traps Holmes. The great detective has to sacrifice himself to bring the villain down.

There is a strong element of that in What Is a Girl Worth? Denhollander, with so many others, is made to pay the cost [of discipleship].

But there is one difference. When Holmes and Moriarty go over the falls and plunge to their deaths, that really is the end of their story. But we, as followers of Jesus, know that graves have exits as well as entrances.

Let me know what you think.

The Pros and Cons of a Global Economy from Crossway on Vimeo.

4 Practical Ways You Can Swim against the Cultural Tide from Crossway on Vimeo.

Here are the final two videos giving you a taste of what’s in my new book, Economics: A Student’s Guide, an introduction to the history of Christian thought on economics.

From the first video:

This new world has created tremendous benefits by allowing people to connect with each other across what used to be insurmountable barriers of national difference and distance. At the same time it’s created some very difficult political challenges in holding these structures accountable. I think we haven’t yet figured out what is a long term solution for that problem.

From the second:

Doing a good job can mean different things in different situations, so it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a master craftsman creating a glorious work of art that will stand forever. Places like Chick-Fil-A have shown that you can even make excellent fast food. A fast-food restaurant does not have to be a place where the food is lousy and unhealthy, and where the environment is unsanitary. You can actually have a clean and welcoming experience. The hospitality practiced is an extraordinary experience. You always have a great time when you’re there. And that’s fast food – the bottom of the cultural chain!

That’s it – if you want more, get yourself a copy of the book and let me know what you think!