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Weekend A La Carte (August 15)

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The True Purpose of Microsoft Solitaire, Minesweeper, and FreeCell

This is fascinating if true. “But as fun as these games were, they weren’t actually designed for entertainment. At least not in their Windows incarnations.”

Explosions Shock China’s Tianjin Port

The Big Picture travels to the scene of devastation in China.

On This Day in 1964: Helen Roseveare was taken captive by Congolese rebels. Treated barbarically, she would later say “In my heart was an amazing peace, a realization that I was being highly privileged to be identified with [Christ] in a new way, in the way of Calvary.” I have previously written about this here. *

Should Women Be Police Officers?

Whether or not you quite agree with him, you’ll probably appreciate hearing John Piper’s attempt to sort through what the Bible says on a question like this.

Why Gay Marriage Proponents Can’t Appeal to the Abolitionist Movement

It’s a favored tactic, but it just doesn’t hold. “So, for Vines, the church was basically supportive of slavery throughout history until the 19th century, when ‘experience’ brought about a reinterpretation of Scripture. But is this a fair historical account? Most importantly, does it do justice to the authority of Scripture?”

How Does a Jellyfish Sting?

And just as importantly, what do you do about it?

Your Church Needs a Great Website

Thanks to MereChurch for sponsoring the blog this week.

Brooks

The first step to mercy, is to see our own misery; the first step toward heaven, is to see ourselves near hell.

—Thomas Brooks

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    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.

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    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,…