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A La Carte (January 6)

There isn’t much to report by way of Kindle deals today, so we will just move on to some recommended reading. Here are some links you may find interesting:

Seven Reasons Not to Play the Lottery

John Piper lists them. I especially appreciate his first point: Playing the lottery is spiritually suicidal.

Significant Books for Pastors in 2015

Jeff Purswell rounds up some of last year’s especially notable books for pastors.

God’s Wonderful Plan for Your Life

Destinationism is the American myth: “God has a wonderful plan for your earthly life – He has a purpose for you. He has a destination for your life here and now, and when you reach it, all will be well.”

Across the Race Divide

Kevin DeYoung asks how America can bridge the deep race divide. “The short answer is: I don’t know. The slightly longer answer is that we can start by trying to understand what things look like from both sides. And by ‘sides’ in this case, I mean the law enforcement community and the African American community.”

The Universe in One Image

Here you go: It’s what the universe looks like from above, or below, or something. Whatever it is, it’s phenomenal. (Click here for a much bigger version of the graphic.)

This Day in 1850. 166 years ago today, preacher Charles Spurgeon became a Christian at the age of 16. *

CCEF Now

CCEF Now 2016 features articles from four of our faculty members and an interview with one of our contract counselors—David Powlison, Ed Welch, Winston Smith, Alasdair Groves, and Melissa Clemens.” It’s free for the taking.

Nomads of Mongolia

This one is very interesting to watch: “Life in Western Mongolia is an adventure. Training eagles to hunt, herding yaks, and racing camels are just a few of the daily activities of the nomadic Kazakh people. I spent a few weeks living with them and experiencing one of the most unique cultures in the world. Saddle up and enjoy the ride.”

Keller

The opposite of joy is not sadness. It’s hopelessness.

—Tim Keller

  • Quality Time

    Quality Time

    People of all faiths pray. Some pray to gods, some to ancestors, some to nature, and some to the universe, but all speak out words, all utter desires, all hope to be heard. But Christians pray differently and Christians pray confidently, for we pray to a Father. We alone “have received the Spirit of adoption…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (February 15)

    A La Carte: Resisting temptation / Strange familiarity / The reluctant polemicist / A new Getty hymn / The power of one bitter thought / Better than a holy year / and more.

  • The Art of Disagreeing

    Keep Calm and Stay Friends

    It is hard to disagree with someone you love. It is harder still to disagree well—to retain genuine respect and true friendship despite differing opinions or convictions. And, as we all know by experience, there is just so much to disagree about.

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (February 14)

    A La Carte: John Piper on whether baptism saves us / The peril of “He Gets Us” / Send them to seminary / An Inside-out world / Pray for protection / Love is patient / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (February 13)

    A La Carte: The conundrum of celebrity Christians / The Luka trade / Dopamine media / The best place to hide an idol / Overcoming blind spots in parenting and leadership / and more.