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Sunday A La Carte

It has been one of those weeks in which I collected more good links than I was able on include in the week’s regularly-scheduled A La Carte posts. Thus, here is a rare Sunday edition that includes some that were too good to just erase.

Facebook Is Changing News Feed (Again) to Stop Fake News

Facebook is once again changing their algorithm, and it matters to the content you will see. “The changes, broadly, seek to nurture what Facebook refers to as ‘integrity’ on the platform at a time when many users, regulators, and politicians have come to see Facebook and its other apps—WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger—as the chief propagators of propaganda, hate speech, and fake news online.”

When Churches Can’t Do Everything

No church can do everything. Kevin DeYoung says, “I hope that with a little common sense, some realistic expectations, and some grace-filled forbearance, we can develop the habits and dispositions that will make us less frustrated ourselves and less frustrating to others. The church may not be able to do your thing, but that doesn’t mean your thing can’t be a blessing to the church.”

Organs in All the Wrong Places

Here’s the odd story of a woman who lived 99 years blissfully unaware that her organs were in all the wrong places.

Parent, You Can Control Your Anger

You can and you must! “You can control your anger! Your anger is a choice. This is good news if you are an angry parent. You don’t have to continue to choose to be controlled by your anger! You have made anger into a dominating, habitual response. You feel controlled by your anger…”

Can We Believe God’s Word is True Because our Parents Told Us?

Michael Kruger explains that we should not discount the testimony of others when it comes to our conviction that the Bible is true. “Now, to be clear, there’s nothing wrong with defending the Bible on historical grounds. The Bible has impressive historical credentials and there’s a time and a place to discuss them. But, if we insist this is the only grounds for our beliefs, then we run into a few problems.”

The Complete Guide to Memory

This is long—like small book long—but still worth at least a skim for the interesting bits. Scott Young says memory “is a topic that has long fascinated me, and I’ve written a lot about memory previously on this blog. However, I wanted to create a guide that would combine and integrate everything we know scientifically about memory, and distill that knowledge into practical advice.”

Boyce Dorm Meetings

Boyce College has been sharing music from their dorm meetings, and I’ve been really enjoying them (while also keeping an eye out for my elusive son). I’ve embedded one below, while others are available on their YouTube channel.


  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 21)

    A La Carte: Lessons from Trump’s and Harris’s social media campaigns / What is my spiritual gift? / The messages we receive / 10 mistakes I’ve made in preaching / Big Kindle and book sales / and more.

  • Finn

    I’m a Grandfather!

    Yesterday Abby and Nathan welcomed their first child into the world: Finnegan Safir Nicholas Elfarrah. Because they live just minutes away, Aileen and I were able to be there shortly after his birth to rejoice with them and to meet our first grandchild. We are thrilled beyond measure. And he is cute beyond belief. They…

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    A La Carte (November 20)

    A La Carte: Pray till you pray / Do children need to consent to puberty? / Pleading for Sodom / A thought experiment / 10 mistakes when reading the Bible / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 19)

    A La Carte: Good night, my son / The longing for justice following sexual assault / Daughter of encouragement / Mistakes I made as a theological student / The dangers of disordered love / Kindle deals / and more.

  • What Grieves the Heart of God

    What Grieves the Heart of God?

    What pleases God? What delights his heart? And what displeases God? What grieves his heart? If asked, I think most of us would assume that if we ever grieve the heart of God it will be through denying the gospel or committing a grave moral scandal. Or if we do so as a local church,…