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A La Carte (April 12)

friday

There are some pretty good Kindle deals to take advantage of today.

Westminster Books has a sale on apologetics resources, headlined by a new book by Rebecca McLaughlin.

Happy and Productive

This is a happy story from WORLD magazine. “When Chris Gargiulo finished his 30th year of working at a McDonald’s in this city 37 miles north of Tampa, 60 people attended a celebratory surprise party. Gargiulo ‘was shocked,’ according to Cheryl Stark, a friend from church, but someone else might have been even more surprised: the doctor Gargiulo’s mother, Elizabeth Bridwell, consulted after Chris was born with Down syndrome (DS) in 1960.”

My Children’s Childhood Is Not Like Mine

Seth Lewis reflects on how his children are growing up in a world different from the one he grew up in. “I’m happy for them to use sci-fi tech as they climb the ruins, but I won’t deny I want more for them. I don’t just want them to know history, I want them to know what history means. I don’t just want them to have technology, I want them to know what these things are for.”

The Democratic Electorate on Twitter Is Not the Democratic Electorate in Real Life

I’m linking to this because I think it exposes an issue that goes far deeper than the Democratic Party: Twitter does not reflect reality. It would “be a mistake to assume that outrage on social media means outrage throughout the broader electorate. And it would be a mistake to assume that more moderate Democrats are out of step with the party’s electorate.” The same is true of many issues and squabbles within the Christian world.

You’re Dead, Start Acting Like It

“More than the implications of national politics, or the far more subtle pull of tribal allegiance, everyday gospel living is at stake. If you’re a pastor, the allure of speaking into popular topics with your tribe’s language is ever-present. If you’re a church member, then just making it through the week without feeling like you’ve let Jesus down again haunts your dreams. Both of us need to embrace the loving rebuke.”

Stories of God’s Grace: Meet Brett (Video)

Here’s an encouraging story of God’s grace.

Teaching Our Kids Not to Be Bystanders to Bullying

At least in our area, bullying is now the cardinal sin. Yet it’s still important to equip our children to identify it and to respond to it. “Blake was never a bully. He was the dictionary definition of a bystander, someone who watches and does nothing. Most kids on today’s campuses probably fall into this category. But bystanders hurt others just the same. It’s a sin of omission. They know they should probably do something, but they don’t.”

Amazon Workers Are Listening to What You Tell Alexa

The headline is perhaps a wee bit alarmist, but also true in a way. “Tens of millions of people use smart speakers and their voice software to play games, find music or trawl for trivia. Millions more are reluctant to invite the devices and their powerful microphones into their homes out of concern that someone might be listening. Sometimes, someone is.”

Flashback: Why We Need the Song of Songs

“How are we to straighten out our crooked thinking, find healing for old wounds, and be renewed in our minds when it comes to marriage and sex?”

We are not heard for our many words, but for the cry of our hearts.

—John MacArthur

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    A La Carte (October 15)

    The mom God isn’t calling you to be / Facing dementia, and never cast out / Parents, meet your gospel tutor / Can you sin against a chatbot? / Our membership vows and our future / Not all Christian websites are good for your health / Kindle deals

  • A La Carte (October 14)

    Are we raising Pharisees? / In Canada, new push for euthanasia for people with dementia / Follow the parenting formula / He’s worthy of your all / Why do we get so excited about celebrity conversions? / Public executions, public criminal trials, and the formation of souls / The best possible outcome / Mark Carney’s…

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    A La Carte (October 13)

    Will my prayers undo God’s good plans for me? / When your feelings fail you / Prediction markets: gambling by another name / Calibrate your conscience / When God shows up and you miss him / Scrolling through life / Kindle deals / New books

  • Reflecting the Son – Love God with All Your Mind

    What does it mean to love God with all of our minds? Jesus not only talked the greatest commandment, he walked it better than anyone. How, then, did the greatest keeper of history’s greatest commandment love God with his mind?

  • Alice Cooper

    Is Alice Cooper a Christian?

    Alice Cooper’s new memoir Devil on My Shoulder talks openly about God. But is Alice Cooper a Christian? Here are some thoughts after reading his story.