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A La Carte (3/15)

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I decided I wouldn’t watch Rob Bell’s big interview last night. Then I decided I would. But shortly after I logged in my Internet service choked so I only watched about 2 minutes. I think it worked out well.

Tsunami – This is an amazing and shocking video of the tsunami. Carolyn McCulley offers comment on it. The Big Picture has another horrifying round-up of photographs. And here’s Earthquakes 101 from National Geographic.

Simple Explanation – Speaking of all that has happened in Japan, this web site offers a measured look at what is going on with the nuclear reactors. From today’s update: “We have damage that probably could have been avoided, and reporting of almost stunning inaccuracy and ignorance. Still, the odds are that no one will be hurt from radioactivity — a few workers from falling or in the hydrogen explosions, but tiny on the scale of the damage and killing around it.” This article from the Nuclear Energy Institute is worth reading.

Made-Up Words – Mounce writes about how we can have confidence in knowing what the Bible’s made-up words mean.

Cleaning Toilets – I enjoyed this article by Brian Croft. I’m new to pastoral ministry, but already I’m surprised at how much it involves doing things just like this.

Rid of My Disgrace – Aaron Armstrong has a review of Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Victims of Sexual Assault. He says “Authors Justin and Lindsey Holcomb provide a compelling, thoughtful and hopeful answer…as they apply the gospel to this horrendous crime.”

Christian Web Conference – I greatly enjoyed last year’s Christian Web Conference. You may be interested in checking out this year’s version.

Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst.

—C.S. Lewis

  • Pronouns

    Should We Capitalize Divine Pronouns?

    There are certain emails I receive on a routine basis and an especially common one relates to pronouns. Thankfully it’s not asking me to define my own pronouns as is all the rage today, but rather asking me whether Christians ought to capitalize God’s pronouns. By way of explanation, when some Christians use a pronoun…

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    A La Carte (April 7)

    A La Carte: On Netflix and Narnia / The wonder of an eclipse / Answering kids’ hardest questions / Not-so-great expectations / It’s not wrong to want to be perfect / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Breath

    A Sudden Stopping of the Breath

    I recently encountered a poem I enjoyed and wanted to share with you. LeRoy Tate Newland was an American pastor, a missionary to Korea, and a poet. Among his poems is this brief reflection on the death of a Christian (which, appropriately, is titled “A Christian’s Death”). I hope you enjoy it as much as…

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    Weekend A La Carte (April 5)

    A La Carte: The Lioness, the Witch and the Wardrobe / Are people basically good? / Who gets to define a healthy baby? / Go, gently / Films that defined Christian politics / Rethinking our mission field / and more.

  • Sermon Introduction

    Three Levels of Sermon Introduction

    Though every sermon necessarily needs a beginning, it does not necessarily need a formal introduction. Though it has to begin somewhere, there is no rule that it must begin with some kind of story or illustration. A preacher can jump straight into his text if he so desires. Some do.