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A La Carte (March 15)

friday

There are a few new Kindle deals that you may want to consider for your virtual connection.

(Yesterday on the blog: Exclusive Preview & Bonus Resources for A Visual Theology Guide to the Bible)

The Epic Hunt for a Lost World War II Aircraft Carrier

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this account of the search for the U.S.S. Wasp, a carrier sunk during the Second World War. “On Jan. 2 of this year, a research vessel called the Petrel set out from Honiara, on Guadalcanal, to find the Wasp. To locate a shipwreck — even a 741-foot aircraft carrier — it’s essential to have an accurate idea of where to start looking. The ocean is vast. You need to find the haystack before you can find the needle.”

If the Gospel is True, The Gospel is Urgent

Jen Oshman: “The Bible says my friendship with her is no mistake. You and I don’t accidentally fall into relationships, jobs, or neighborhoods. God ordains the “allotted periods and the boundaries of [our] dwelling place” (Acts 17:26). In other words, God determines exactly where and when you and I live, as well as where and when everyone we know lives. Our friendships are not cosmic accidents. They are ordained by God. But why does God ordain our relationships?”

Join Keith & Kristyn Getty (and friends) For Three Days of Theology, Artistry & Congregational Worship (Sponsored)

Sing!, the Getty Music Worship Conference, is taking place from August 19-21 in Nashville, Tennessee. It is open to everyone, but targeted specifically at pastors, musicians, and leaders, to help them build a biblical understanding and creative vision for congregational worship. It includes many favorite speakers and musicians: John Piper, Alistair Begg, Jackie Hill Perry, Andrew Peterson, and a whole lot more. You can get 15% off your registration between now and March 28 with promotional code CHALLIES.

What Happens in an Internet Minute

This is a revealing illustration of what happens every minute on the internet.

How Individualism Corrupts the Church’s Mission

This one is worth pondering. “In an individualistic culture, relationships are simply not the primary lens for understanding identity. And that’s a problem because individualism negatively impacts three areas critical to the Great Commission.”

Do I Need to Follow a Pattern While Praying?

I appreciate the answer, which is essentially “No, but it sure helps.” (I’ve written about this before in 4 Methods To Organize Your Prayer Life.)

The Disturbing Temptations of Pastoring in Obscurity

There are temptations specific to being in the public eyes and temptations specific to being out of it. “Leaving the limelight of high-profile ministry was supposed to remove the pride from my heart, or so I thought. But my heart didn’t feel dramatically different in this new setting. As the old saying goes, ‘Wherever you go, there you are.’ I thought I had escaped the temptations of celebrity ministry culture, but there were just as many temptations in my new setting of relative obscurity.”

MK: I AM Enough

You may enjoy reading about this missionary kid’s experience of trying to adapt to American life after being raised far away.

Flashback: 2 Things to Know About Killing Sin

We are not to command men to pursue morality without first encouraging them to pursue Christ.

Everybody wants to enjoy heaven after they die, but they don’t want to be heavenly-minded while they live.

—D.L. Moody

  • Children Theology

    How To Teach Kids Theology

    Churches have few responsibilities more urgent and few honors more profound than teaching and training children. Every week these little ones show up with their parents and every week there are opportunities to reach them with truths that will change their hearts and transform their lives. It is little wonder, then, that there are multitudes…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (January 24)

    A La Carte: Love your (actual) neighbor / Whiteness: an African translation / How Jesus helps my unbelief / Could you be a global nomad for the gospel? / God doesn’t work for me / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Books for Parents

    Books about the Challenges of Parenting in a Modern World

    Every generation of parents faces challenges as they raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. While some challenges are the same from age to age, others are unique to a particular time and context. Perhaps the greatest challenge of our day relates to new notions of gender, sexuality, and identity. Today’s…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (January 23)

    A La Carte: Pro-life challenges in the new administration / The ministry of small things / 10 things to think about / Pastoral burnout / Make yourself at home at almost any church / and more.

  • Beauty

    The Greatest Beauty I’ve Ever Seen

    One of the great privileges of my life has been the opportunity to travel far and wide. While most of my travel has been related to either speaking at conferences or filming documentaries, my hosts have often invited me to deviate from the straightest course to explore and take in the area’s natural beauty. It’s…