A La Carte (March 15)

There are a few new Kindle deals that you may want to consider for your virtual connection.

(Yesterday on the blog: Exclusive Preview & Bonus Resources for A Visual Theology Guide to the Bible)

The Epic Hunt for a Lost World War II Aircraft Carrier

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this account of the search for the U.S.S. Wasp, a carrier sunk during the Second World War. “On Jan. 2 of this year, a research vessel called the Petrel set out from Honiara, on Guadalcanal, to find the Wasp. To locate a shipwreck — even a 741-foot aircraft carrier — it’s essential to have an accurate idea of where to start looking. The ocean is vast. You need to find the haystack before you can find the needle.”

If the Gospel is True, The Gospel is Urgent

Jen Oshman: “The Bible says my friendship with her is no mistake. You and I don’t accidentally fall into relationships, jobs, or neighborhoods. God ordains the “allotted periods and the boundaries of [our] dwelling place” (Acts 17:26). In other words, God determines exactly where and when you and I live, as well as where and when everyone we know lives. Our friendships are not cosmic accidents. They are ordained by God. But why does God ordain our relationships?”

Join Keith & Kristyn Getty (and friends) For Three Days of Theology, Artistry & Congregational Worship (Sponsored)

Sing!, the Getty Music Worship Conference, is taking place from August 19-21 in Nashville, Tennessee. It is open to everyone, but targeted specifically at pastors, musicians, and leaders, to help them build a biblical understanding and creative vision for congregational worship. It includes many favorite speakers and musicians: John Piper, Alistair Begg, Jackie Hill Perry, Andrew Peterson, and a whole lot more. You can get 15% off your registration between now and March 28 with promotional code CHALLIES.

What Happens in an Internet Minute

This is a revealing illustration of what happens every minute on the internet.

How Individualism Corrupts the Church’s Mission

This one is worth pondering. “In an individualistic culture, relationships are simply not the primary lens for understanding identity. And that’s a problem because individualism negatively impacts three areas critical to the Great Commission.”

Do I Need to Follow a Pattern While Praying?

I appreciate the answer, which is essentially “No, but it sure helps.” (I’ve written about this before in 4 Methods To Organize Your Prayer Life.)

The Disturbing Temptations of Pastoring in Obscurity

There are temptations specific to being in the public eyes and temptations specific to being out of it. “Leaving the limelight of high-profile ministry was supposed to remove the pride from my heart, or so I thought. But my heart didn’t feel dramatically different in this new setting. As the old saying goes, ‘Wherever you go, there you are.’ I thought I had escaped the temptations of celebrity ministry culture, but there were just as many temptations in my new setting of relative obscurity.”