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Weekend A La Carte (March 28)

There is an extensive list of Kindle deals today, rather a rarity for a Saturday. There are classics and newer works, plus options for kids, teens, and adults.

(Yesterday on the blog: If We All Stream Our Services, Will Anyone Ever Come Back?)

Turning Thunder Into Song

This is a helpful reflection on fear and worship. “My father surprised me one night by telling me he liked thunder. I didn’t like thunder. Thunder made me feel like unseen powers were about to crush my bedroom between their hands. Thunder made me rise and go to my dad and quietly say, ‘I’m scared.’ He came to sit with me for a few minutes while it passed. That’s when he told me he liked thunder. He liked feeling its awesomeness, its greatness.”

The Ibuprofen Debate Reveals the Danger of Covid-19 Rumors

As always, be careful what you read and believe. “Two weeks ago, national and world health authorities—and armchair experts and worried well-meaning people—were warning anyone concerned about Covid-19 to avoid ibuprofen. Now, facing contradictory evidence, they’ve backed off that claim.”

Gone and Back Again: My Departure and Return to the Immigrant Church

I enjoyed Jonathan Szeto’s thoughts on the immigrant church. “This is the immigrant Christian church in America. It has a right to exist because language is a natural barrier to gospel community. And by God’s grace, I hope and pray it grows. I pray the English congregation would continue to grow and develop to reach out to all sorts of English-speaking people. I pray the ethnic congregations continue to grow and minister to the steady stream of new immigrants.”

What Christians Can Learn About Ethics From COVID-19

Andrew T. Walker looks at a question some are asking: “Is it more important to preserve life or preserve economic vibrancy? Do we sacrifice the economy to save human lives or do we sacrifice human lives to save the economy?”

Even Ifs of April

Better than “what ifs” are “even ifs.” You may need to read the article to get what that means.

Six Reasons Why We Are Not Live Streaming Worship Services

With the majority of churches seeming to live-stream their services (including my own), I was glad to read this thoughtful dissenting perspective on the matter. “Some people have asked if we are going to host a live stream service. For now the answer is no, though that could change in the future. Below are some of the reasons we have decided not to provide a live stream worship service.”

It Can’t Happen Again (But It Did)

Chris Cagle covers the economic wreckage that has followed the coronavirus outbreak. “We need to remember that God doesn’t make a promise that we will always be healthy or will maintain the same lifestyle we have now. Nor does he say that we will keep all that we have (or could have had should things have been different). But He has promised that He will be with us and will always provide for us.”

Flashback: What We Lost When We Lost Our Hymnals

I don’t think we should go back to using hymnals. But I do think there’s value in considering what we lost when, over the course of a relatively short period of time, we gave up hymnals for PowerPoint projection.

Let your experience of God’s goodness in the past feed your faith in his loving purposes for you now. While there is no promise that we shall be delivered from all our trials and troubles, by faith we shall pass safely through them.

—Jonathan Stephen

  • The Tallest Trees

    The Winds Blow Hardest Against the Tallest Trees

    Through the weekend had many questions about Christian leaders who fall. And I expressed that just as the winds blow hardest against the tallest trees, so temptations may press hardest against the leaders who rise the highest. Just as floods press against shallow roots, so seductive desires rise up against those whose fall would bring…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (April 21)

    A La Carte: Toxic servant leadership / Taking our stress to the Lord / The problem with habits / Is it wrong for Christians to choose cremation? / Why does your church meet in a house? / Big book and Kindle deals / and more.

  • Expectations

    Why We Ask So Little of God

    Most Christians expect little from God, ask little, and therefore receive little, and are content with little. Though the Bible calls us to pray and though it promises that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working,” we can still have very modest expectations of what God will accomplish through…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (April 19)

    A La Carte: Why man needs God / Why nails matter / Kids’ picture books / MLK’s famous letter changed a DC church / How to mentor / A tearless eternity / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (TGBC)

    This weeks Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by The Good Book Company. They are giving away a bundle of their best-selling Good Book Guides that are designed to guide your head and your heart through God’s word. Each Good Book Guide includes a concise leader’s guide in the back.  The Bundle includes: Giveaway Rules: You…

  • A Light on the Hill

    A Light on the Hill

    In early 2020, CHBC, along with almost every other church in the world, was forced to contend with the opening days of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time Caleb Morell was working as Pastor Mark Dever’s personal assistant. Dever tasked him with finding out how the church had responded to the Spanish flu epidemic a…