Refreshing my memory on all things mythological in advance of watching Nolan’s "The Odyssey." From Virgil’s Aeneid (in Robert Fagles’ translation): "The world is a world of tears, and the burdens of mortality touch the heart. [Sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt].”

I'm preaching today at Christ Church Anglican (in Austin) on the ways in which the psalms enable us to become, our visceral fears notwithstanding, honest to God in all that we say and do. Here's a prayer that I've included in my book, "Prayers for the Pilgrimage," on the same topic.

I’ve had to do this twice over the past couple of days, so I figured I’d share it here, in case anybody might have need of such a prayer: "A Prayer to Own Up to Your Mistakes," via @ivpress.bsky.social.

Why doesn’t Christopher Nolan own a smart phone? He fears becoming addicted to it and he fears the loss of daydreaming. "I would lose those pockets of time that I really value where you're just thinking...looking out the window and thinking about...daydreaming.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WmN...

Christopher Nolan Addresses Internet Rumors That He Doesn’t Have a Phone and Saw Star Wars 12 Times

YouTube video by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

youtube.com

I don't know why magazines publish this stuff except that they're lazy or desperate for high-brow click-bait. "Christianity as we know it...owes more to Paul than to anyone else, perhaps even more than to the narrowly parochial and Jerusalem-centered Jesus." www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

St. Paul Remade Human History. How Did He Do It?

New scholarship reconsiders the apostle who turned a Jewish sect into a world religion—and whose legacy remains contested two millennia later.

newyorker.com

I've got a book coming out in less than two months and I'm super excited. I’m also excited about this pre-order deal from @brazospress.bsky.social. If you pre-order the book through them (link below), you'll get an art print of Shin Maeng's cover work.🔥🔥🔥 bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/978...

What is done in secret shall be brought into the light (of God's judgment). "As in the shooting of Mr. Salgado Araujo, it appeared that federal agents were not wearing body cameras on Monday ... 'we have no video evidence of what occurred in this case'.” www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/u...

What We Know About the ICE Shooting in Maine

nytimes.com

Yes. "In “Laurus,” the depiction of faith is presented entirely without irony—a strategy that has become unusual among literary writers, but which is central to Vodolazkin’s effort to excavate what was meaningful from Russia’s distant past." www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...

Holy Foolery

Ken Kalfus writes about “Laurus,” a novel by Eugene Vodolazkin that is set in medieval Russia.

newyorker.com

What language do the referees at the World Cup speak? That's been my question. Here's the answer: "Since many elite referees come from non-English-speaking countries, it is common for World Cup officials to be bilingual or even multilingual." www.si.com/soccer/what-...

What Language Do Referees Speak With Players?

Few jobs in sport are more demanding than being a soccer referee.

si.com

"As it develops, AI will offer us the possibility of more advanced simulated experiences and relationships and even embodiments that seem “real enough,” yet unburdened of the gravity of reality." firstthings.com/the-seductio...

The Seduction of Simulation - First Things

Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on technology and the human person, Magnifica Humanitas, offers a measured assessment of the ongoing digital revolution, giving special attention to artificial intelligence, ...

firstthings.com

This is the walkway from one tube station to another (in London), and it just goes to show you that a beautiful experience of art can make a world of a difference when you’re feeling stressed about getting from one place to another.

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July. And as always we pray that the Holy Spirit might re-order our love of country in accord with the preeminent love of God’s kingdom, the proper love of Christ’s global and historic family, and a profound love for the better country that awaits us.

I'll be in London this Sunday and this news comes with tidings of great joy: "Pubs across England will be able to stay open until 5AM for England's World Cup round-of-16 match against Mexico that kicks off at 1AM, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced." www.espn.co.uk/football/sto...

Pubs allowed to stay open until 5 a.m. BST for England vs. Mexico World Cup clash

Pubs across England and Wales will be able to stay open until 5 a.m. BST for England's World Cup round-of-16 match against Mexico.

espn.co.uk

Really grateful for Joy E. Moore’s review of our edited book, "Naming the Spirit," via Fare Forward: “To disrupt for the sake of new sight—to take away in order to give—is another kind of reciprocity that fits the surprising movements of the Holy Spirit." farefwd.com/index.php/20...

I feel for Japan. I was kinda rooting for them, because, in this case, they were the underdogs. But it'd be a strange and somewhat-tragic thing for Brazil to disappear from the World Cup at this stage. Also: really, really happy for Martinelli. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRg2...

Brasil vs. Japón | Highlights | Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026 | Telemundo Deportes

YouTube video by Telemundo Deportes

youtube.com

One of the cardinal sins of the art of persuasion: confusing anecdotal evidence with actual evidence. "[Gad Saad in "Suicidal Empathy"] often provides only anecdotes as proof of society-wide trends and sometimes doesn’t bother with evidence at all." www.christianitytoday.com/2026/06/scri...

Scripture, Empathy, and Abundance - Christianity Today

Three books on politics and public life.

christianitytoday.com

When a picture is worth a thousand words: "Nine members of the Trump administration are on the Forbes 2026 Billionaires list." via @nytimes

Hanging out this morning at the University of Texas fine arts library. Doing a little research on Medieval “Man of Sorrows” iconography. Let the fun begin.

If you’re feeling a little sluggish this morning, let this rendition of the psalms, “Hosanna,” by the (formerly) semi-nomadic Christian anarchist and folk-punk band wake you up to the world. It’s hardcore awesome. 👀 www.youtube.com/watch?v=poEr...

Psalters - Hosanna

YouTube video by civilizationsdead

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Player-welfare my foot: "$500 million: that’s how much the company is likely to collect from advertisers for those sneaked-in ads from the likes of Nike, Adidas, Coke and Lenovo smack in the middle of gameplay under the notorious tag of a “hydration break.” www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...

Those World Cup “Hydration Breaks” Have Fox Rolling in Dough

Possibly more than they paid for the entire tournament

hollywoodreporter.com

This is so epic, y'all. The entire Norwegian team, along with their fans at the MetLife stadium, did the Viking row. I love it so much! 🔥😆🚣‍♂️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AKQ...

The Most EPIC Viking Row You'll Ever See 🔥 Norway Advances In The 2026 FIFA World Cup™

YouTube video by FOX Sports

youtube.com

Loved the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. Here's hoping the film is just as good, in its own Taika Waititi way, of course. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wixz...

KLARA AND THE SUN – Official Trailer (4K)

YouTube video by Sony Pictures Entertainment

youtube.com

I knew I was doing something right. 😆 "When it comes to the brain, [fatherhood] may be better than Botox for preserving our youth." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/06/o...

Opinion | Behind Every Dad Bod Is a Healthy Dad Brain

nytimes.com

For all of you World Cup fans and lovers of philosophy, this is one of the best bits from the mad-genius minds of Monty Python: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfdu...

Monty Python Philosophy Football

YouTube video by RosenzweigBenjamin

youtube.com

L'Equipe's France Pierron lambasted Belgium's Jeremy Doku for choosing to fly back home for the birth of his first child: "I'm sorry, the father serves no purpose. He is an extra. He just holds your hand and takes a photo." Happy Father's Day to you, too, sister. 👀 www.espn.co.uk/football/sto...

Jérémy Doku criticised over plan to return home from World Cup for birth of child

Belgium winger Jérémy Doku has faced criticism after he said he plans to leave Belgium's World Cup base camp when his wife is due to give birth.

espn.co.uk

A prayer for all of the biological fathers, adoptive fathers, foster fathers, single fathers, expectant fathers, stepfathers, surrogate fathers, and spiritual fathers. Lord, in your mercy...

Here’s the prayer for Juneteenth that I’ve included in my prayer book. Today’s the day we celebrate in honor of that day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure all enslaved people were freed, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Not every one that saith unto me "Lord, Lord": "The victor, covered in blood and sweat, sometimes makes a reference to Jesus Christ, even while peacocking like a vengeful barbarian." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/o...

Opinion | My Teenage Sons Love U.F.C. Here’s What We Saw at the White House Cage Match.

nytimes.com

"This kind of flip-flop illustrates Trump’s view of global politics: States are just a bunch of playing cards that he can rearrange at will, which makes watching him talk about foreign policy this way like watching someone cheating at solitaire." www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

Trump Does Not Understand the War He Lost

The president’s comments at the G7 summit revealed that he doesn’t understand the war he started—or the words that come out of his own mouth.

theatlantic.com

A Morning Prayer: that my soul might be refreshed, my heart made wise, and my care of others renewed this day.