A La Carte (June 19)

The Good Book Company has a free e-book copy of Jeff Medders’ Humble Calvinism for you. I say again, free book.

Today’s Kindle deals are highlighted by Tessa Thompson’s Laughing at the Days To Come.

You can read this one now, of course, but it may also be a good one to bookmark and return to in the future when you have the opportunity to speak with Mormon missionaries. (Always remember to not just counter their arguments, but to preach the gospel as well!)

That Christian You’re Frustrated With? Imagine Them Resurrected

This is a good strategy to ensure you are relating well to other Christians. “If you are looking for practical, but biblical strategies for peace-making in the midst of conflict, for dealing with that frustrating relationship, consider turning your imagination toward the coming resurrection. There is some untapped power there that could be of some real help.”

Websites for Churches. Made By Missionaries.

SolaSites makes beautiful websites for churches, but the company also serves as a platform for missionaries to be on the field in a closed access country. They design sites, write code, and support clients, but they also preach the gospel, train pastors, and strengthen the church in a very needy place. If your church, ministry, or business needs a new website, consider SolaSites. (They’re giving $200 off of the setup fee if you sign up between now and July 15.) (SPONSORED LINK)

How the Gospel Speaks Into Our Longing For Normal

“The regular use of hand sanitizer became a regular practice, holding back on our kisses, and fervently entertaining her in the stroller so that she wouldn’t crawl around on the dirt – which harbours bacteria and parasites that her body may not be able to handle. A time of learning careful hygiene, practicing distance and isolating ourselves…sound familiar? We lived it three years ago.” (See also: Emergence.)

The American Soviet Mentality

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of articles comparing out current cultural moment with that of Soviet Russia. It may sound melodramatic, but there really are legitimate comparisons. “Twitter has been used as a platform for exercises in unanimous condemnation for as long as it has existed. Countless careers and lives have been ruined as outraged mobs have descended on people whose social media gaffes or old teenage behavior were held up to public scorn and judged to be deplorable and unforgivable. But it wasn’t until the past couple of weeks that the similarity of our current culture with the Soviet practice of collective hounding presented itself to me with such stark clarity. Perhaps it was the specific professions and the cultural institutions involved—and the specific acts of writers banding together to abuse and cancel their colleagues—that brought that sordid history back.”

Not Many of You Should be Teachers

Anne Kennedy has quite a lot to say here, but the recurring theme is the danger inherent in being a teacher (especially when leading others astray).

How Long-Haul Trucking Works (Video)

This video explains how long-haul trucking works. It’s one of those things we depend upon, but undoubtedly take for granted!

What You Should Know About My Empty Chair in Church

I guess this is a call to believe the best about one another. “Navigating the reopening of church buildings is difficult for many people. This is especially true for me. I’m a pastor’s wife and the mom of three children who have a serious health condition and are at risk for complications from coronavirus.”