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A La Carte (November 24)

A La Carte Collection cover image

Good morning from somewhere over the African continent as Aileen and I make our way from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg as part of a lengthy, multi-stop speaking trip.

Today’s Kindle deals include a collection of books meant particularly for women (though obviously there’s no rule against men reading them as well).

(Yesterday on the blog: Pitch Perfect and Tone Deaf)

Forevergreen (Short Film)

Be sure to watch this absolutely wonderful short film that was inspired, in part, by the story of the Prodigal Son. (See also this brief interview with the filmmakers.)

How Science Confirms a Literal, Historical Adam and Eve

“An increasing number of professing evangelical scholars and leaders doubt or deny some or all of the details about Adam in Genesis. They do so because they believe that science has proven overwhelmingly that we are related to the apes through millions of years of evolution. But is this so? And does it matter?”

Godly Leaders Go Low and Aim High

“More than once, I’ve reflected on the fact that leadership isn’t nearly as glamorous as people think. You pour yourself out, pour yourself out, pour yourself out. You make yourself vulnerable to anxiety, blame, and worry. The pressures and stresses land on you. The toughest questions come to you. You bear the blame when things go wrong. It’s easy to spend a day, week, or month putting out fires started by others. You find yourself required to serve continually — whether you want to or not.”

Stop Brainstorming

Here’s an interesting little article on why brainstorming may not be the best path to developing good ideas.

…And Then There Were Three

It was a joy to read this writer’s joy as he discovers he is going to be a father for the first time.

In Prayer, Structure Serves Spontaneity

Trevin explains why spontaneous prayers are not the only authentic prayers. In fact, structure serves spontaneity. “The combination of structure and spontaneity is one of the often missed secrets to learning how to pray. The best prayers are neither riffs nor recitations but rehearsals in love—where form shapes the heart and freedom lifts the song.”

Flashback: When Was the Last Time You Just Enjoyed Your Money?

It is good to exercise self-control with your money, and good to put it to good work. But it is good to enjoy it too. Because money is more than a tool; it is also a means of pleasure.

Anxious for nothing, prayerful for everything, thankful for anything.

—Maltbie Davenport Babcock

  • A La Carte (June 9)

    Thawed embryos, reproductive rights, and the grey marshlands of ethical ennui / 14 World Cup stars who follow Jesus / The God of small churches / How a critical theorist influenced the sexualization of everything / When culture trumps strategy / Fasting and feasting / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Six Counsels for a Sending Church

    Sacrificial obedience to the One who sends is what it will take to reach every language. Join us October 14 to 16 in Dallas–Fort Worth for The Lord Who Sends as we reflect on God’s word and the lives of missionaries who followed the Great Commission.

  • The Two Kinds of Content You Consume

    The Two Kinds of Content You Consume

    At some point we all began to refer to articles and video as content. And today we are drowning in it! Here is a simple filter for telling content created to serve you apart from content created to serve its maker.

  • A La Carte (June 8)

    The humbling I needed / There must be blood / How to read the Bible when your heart feels cold / The delightful duty of married sex / Are we forgiven for the sins we can’t remember? / All things without complaining or arguing

  • Works & Wonders June 7

    This week’s Works & Wonders offers: The wonder and the beauty, older and rarer, His Love, Ferrari Luce, The Covenanter Story, and cheese curds.

  • Weekend A La Carte (June 6)

    There’s a playbook for college, there should be one for marriage / Ben Sasse is teaching us how to die—and live—well / The biggest tell that something was written by AI / Why China got rich and India didn’t / AI slop is coming for your playlists / The blood cancer that became solvable /…