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A La Carte (9/11)

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Coffee – You know you’ve wondered this: Why doesn’t coffee ever taste as good as it smells? Science answers. In short, “The phenomenon is down to the fact that, although we have sensors on our tongue, eighty per cent of what we think of as taste actually reaches us through smell receptors in our nose.”

When God Pulls the Rug Out – From Ed Welch comes this great little article about those times that God pulls the rug out from under you.

Sentiment Analysis – Here’s an interesting infographic (though I’m not entirely sure how it’s important). It “explores the ups and downs of the Bible narrative, using sentiment analysis to quantify when positive and negative events are happening.”

How to Run Meetings – “Careers have been built on poking fun at meetings. From commercials to comic strips it’s no secret that most of us would rather be, you know, working.” But there’s good news. This article discusses how various businesses run their meetings.

What Are You Waiting For? – Boundless makes a very good point about the “Why Wait?” campaign and others like it. A campaign like this “promotes the wrong picture of God. It essentially teaches you that if you wait in the correct manner, God will reward you with a spouse. But what happens when God doesn’t hold up His end of the bargain?”

Harvest – Here’s a seasonally-appropriate photo gallery.

Christian Character and Good Arguments – Michael Horton explains that “the pursuit of excellence in thinking and communicating is not just an academic exercise, but is a crucial part of Christian character.”


  • Thy Will Be Endured

    Thy Will Be Endured

    To pray “Thy will be done” means more than “Thy will be endured.” It is more than a promise that we will grit our teeth and bear whatever his providence dictates. It will involve endurance, to be sure, but it must involve more than that. It must also involve submission and commission.

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    A La Carte (October 27)

    A La Carte: The age of the algorithm / Why we become prayerless / The king prays with the pope / Hollywood’s misstep on men’s mental health / Glory in getting old / A huge Kindle sale / and more.

  • Church

    The Church Is There

    A well-known pastor was once asked whether he was offended that a new church near his had taken on the same name. “Are you offended that they are also calling themselves Grace Church?” “No,” he replied. Then said something like, “I’m not bothered that they are calling themselves ‘Grace.’ I’m bothered that they are calling…

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    Weekend A La Carte (October 25)

    A La Carte: Goodbye “Big Eva” / Why pop culture feels blah / When people leave our churches / Digital hirelings / Premil pretrib / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (Ligonier Ministries)

    It was while the great reformer Martin Luther was studying the book of Romans that he rediscovered the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Today Ligonier Ministries is offering R.C. Sproul’s commentary on Romans as a free ebook for Challies readers. Download your copy to enjoy a verse-by-verse exploration of the rich gospel truths woven…

  • The Benefit of Boring Television

    The Benefit of Boring Television

    Aileen and I like to watch boring shows right before we turn in for the night. An exciting game or an intense movie might get us too engaged and keep us from being able to fall asleep. But a boring show nicely slows the pace and prepares us to rest.