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Weekend A La Carte (December 14)

Weekend A La Carte

Today’s Kindle deals include two classics as well as one newer work that, though I’ve not read it, is said to be excellent.

Why Was Baby Jesus Laid in a Manger?

“This time of year, the words roll right off the tongue. And every child’s first question is: What is a manger? When the teacher explains that it is a feeding trough for animals, the astute youth then wonders: Why was the baby laid there?” The question is well worth asking.

Ten Ways Materialism Brings Us to Ruin

“Materialism begins with our beliefs. Not merely what we say we believe—not our doctrinal statement—but the philosophy of life by which we actually live. So even though true Christians would deny belief in the philosophical underpinnings of materialism (they couldn’t be Christians if they didn’t), they may nonetheless be preoccupied with material things. Materialism is first and foremost a matter of the heart.”

The Moral Universe of Timothy Keller

Here’s a long and interesting article on Tim Keller from The Atlantic.

Carving Out a Niche for Micro-Congregations

This just seems like such a bad idea. Isn’t the point of church that it draws together people who are different, thus proving the power of the gospel in giving unity?

What Facial Recognition Steals From Us (Video)

“There’s a massive bait-and-switch at the center of facial recognition technology.” There is, indeed. And we need to be awfully careful about what we’re wading into here.

An Embarrassment of Love

This is a beautiful tribute to the love of a husband for his wife.

A Global Look at Complementarianism

“Complementarianism is currently a hot issue in North American evangelicalism. North American culture is strongly egalitarian, and cultural pressure affects our theology whether we want to admit it or not. This cultural influence cuts both ways. Some of what passes for complementarian thinking owes more to American cultural conservatism than it does to the biblical theology of men and women. Similarly, some narrower expressions of complementarianism—as well as outright egalitarianism—may owe more to our secular culture’s current conversations. Be that as it may, complementarianism remains a significant feature of much of American evangelical life.”

“In 2019, Bible readers were looking for reminders not to worry and comfort from traditional places.”

Flashback: Moroni From the Realms of Glory

You’ve got to be careful what you share online. What looks good at a glance may harbor some deep concerns.

A rightly oriented Christianity causes us to care not only about ourselves and our families but also about our communities, cities, and society generally.

—Matt Perman

  • The Stranger

    The Stranger: A Short Film For You

    Based on a true story and inspired by the truth that character comes before competence, “The Stranger” is an honest, light-hearted and meaningful picture of what it means to truly serve others.

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    A La Carte (July 9)

    A La Carte: The singer who changed the course of my life / Stay on the line / Incompatible thick communities / Lulla-Bible? / The solution is not megachurch / Who were the Anabaptists? / and more.

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    A La Carte (July 8)

    A La Carte: 15 ways to discern false teaching / The queering of history / The best part of my day / 6 kinds of hearers of God’s Word / Countering Muslim attacks on the Bible / Kindle deals / and more.

  • The Wonder of the Human Face

    The Wonder of the Human Face

    Then there are the wonders of human ingenuity: the machines, the inventions, the works of art. One lifetime is not nearly enough to explore or appreciate even the smallest fraction of them all.

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    A La Carte (July 7)

    A La Carte: A Christian patriot and his wayward nation / Outprinting the prosperity gospel / The organic church / A stranger in my homeland / Friendship’s faithful wounds / Sharing the gospel with someone who keeps rejecting it / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Pray Until You Feel Like It

    It is wise to set aside a time and place to pray—to build the habit and to then maintain it. But creating the habit may not always create the desire.