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A La Carte (July 28)

A La Carte Collection cover image

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include several important books related to ministering to one another.

Ansel Adams, AI, and the Essence of Creation

Alan Noble visited a gallery of Ansel Adams’ works and came away reflective. “How long before all of this, all of this is gone? Before we expect A.I. to produce these same kinds of works for us without the f-stop, the light meter, the darkroom, the framing, the hiking, the exploring of nature, or the patient waiting for the sun to rise or set? For many daily applications, the answer is, today.”

Not Fleeting but Absurd

Bobby Jamieson considers the key word from the book of Ecclesiastes and tells why he thinks we should understand it to mean “absurd.”

How Can I Share the Gospel With a Family Member Without Pushing Them Away? (Video)

This is an important question because it acknowledges that sometimes sharing the gospel can disrupt or destroy a relationship. Thus, we may need to be wise and discerning with when and how we tell others about Jesus.

Find Your Identity in God, Not Your Suffering

There is often a temptation for sufferers to find their identity in their suffering. Randy Alcorns explains why it’s so important to keep our identity anchored in God.

Overcoming the Drift Towards Cynicism

Writing for TGC India, Sheryl Jacob explains how she has learned to overcome the tempting drift towards cynicism.

Up Not In

“Ruminating doesn’t heal our wounds, but usually makes them worse. Understanding what we’ve experienced in the past and how it affects our present attitudes can be a step toward healing. If that is where the process ends, however, we can end up in a non-productive cycle. The solution isn’t another diligent practice. It involves another orientation.”

Flashback: Settlers in the Land of Love

When we sold everything we had and bought the field laden with hidden treasure, we completed the wisest of all transactions. We traded rags for riches, the finite for the infinite, what we cannot keep for what we cannot lose.

What we can take to God we can trust to God.

—Maltbie Davenport Babcock

  • The Most Neglected Element of Worship

    The Most Neglected Element of Worship

    There are some elements of public worship that receive a great deal of attention. These elements are taught, practiced, rehearsed, and perfected until they are as good as they can be. In most churches, this includes the music, of course, and often the preaching. Why do these receive so much attention?

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    A La Carte (May 20)

    The pastor who refuses to back down / The missionary with Ebola / Why we don’t trust pastors / Rushing our quiet times / The other side of seminary / The remedy, the problem, and the church / Why we need to interpret the Bible / Kindle deals / and more.

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    A La Carte (May 19)

    The wrong lessons from the latest scandal / The blessing of being forgotten / If your chatbot offers prayer / Have tongues ceased? / Consider the small town / Thinking Christianly about complex topics / Book releases / and more.

  • Off the Hook

    God Doesn’t Ask You To Let Him Off the Hook

    There are many ways that human beings can display our pride and arrogance toward God. There are many ways that even those of us who love him can display that we think we know better than he does. There are many ways we can behave with conceit, but perhaps never more so than when we…

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    A La Carte (May 18)

    I am not enough for my kids / The dangerous days past middle age / Are you filled with the Spirit? / Give away lots of money / The best way to resist temptation / A year with Pope Leo / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Works and Wonders May 17

    Works & Wonders (May 17)

    Works & Wonders features Nate Bargatze vs. Beyoncé, Eric Church & Jonathan Haidt, houses for €1, “Gone Away with a Friend,” hymn sings, a Sunday devotional, and more.