A La Carte (May 1)

Sales & Deals

Today’s Kindle deals include several good choices from Christian Focus. Also, since it’s a new month, there are some new deals from various other publishers.

Recommended Reading

Let the Little Children Hang with Church Grandmas. Yes, I agree! Let the little children hang out with church grandmas. “Children spend much of their time with peers, whisked away from the worship service to kids’ church or sent off to youth group while their parents do a Bible study. And even when different generations are physically together, not all adults feel comfortable—or permitted—to meaningfully engage kids who aren’t their own. Communal discipline is no longer the norm. But our children need intergenerational relationships, and not only for healthy growth in social skills.”

Ten Seconds After You Die. John Piper gives his take on 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 and explains what happens when we die.

The Illusion of Control. It’s important to remember that, for weak little people like us, control is only ever an illusion. “I wish I could convince myself there was some purpose in all of this: If I could, then I could know the mind of God. I can only apprehend the miracle of life. I cannot reason out the transaction and justice that are simply the life I have been given.”

8 Gentle Truths for Exhausted Hearts. Heidi shares eight truths that should resonate with exhausted hearts. “Here are 8 notes I wrote to myself during my 3 month Sabbatical, where I was reflecting on my habit of over-functioning—of being a daughter, wife, mother, worker, church leader, and pastor’s wife who is often driven by an urgency to do better, do more, and do it all.”

Advice on How to “Preach the Gospel” to Yourself. It has been quite a long time since I’ve seen an article on preaching the gospel to yourself. I thought it would be good to share this one so we can be reminded of the importance of the practice.

The Red Fox in Australia. I enjoyed reading this account of the red fox in Australia and what it can teach us about the speed at which animals can move across and adapt to new habitats. “Between 1845 and 1871, the red fox was deliberately introduced into Australia by Europeans for recreational hunting, in the eastern states of New South Wales and Victoria. Interestingly, the subsequent rapid colonization of Australia by the red fox, the so-called ‘red blanket’, is closely linked to the introduction and spread of the European rabbit, which occurred during the same time period, dubbed ‘the grey blanket’.”

Flashback

Let Him Do What Seems Good To Him. …we ought to receive the tidings of God through his providence just as humbly as Eli received the tidings of God through his prophet. We ought to receive it with every bit as deep a submission to God’s sovereignty and with every bit as great a confidence in his goodness.