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A La Carte (November 6)

wednesday

I fixed yesterday’s Kindle deals for those who were wondering, and added some new ones as well.

When Loneliness is Your Closest Companion

This one may just bring a tear to your eye. “‘I don’t cook much anymore, my husband past away a year ago, and my life is so different now. So very different …’ Her voice trailed off to a past era of joy and companionship. My voice went soft, ‘I’m so very sorry.’ And those four small words invited her to share more.”

This is Not a Person, But She is a Threat

I’m pretty sure the world (and the church, for that) isn’t ready for the threat posed by what are being called “deep fakes.” “Unsurprisingly, Artificial Intelligence systems that can create convincing fake humans are causing quite a stir, and far beyond the world of Deep Learning. In the media, GANs are a major threat to credibility. They naturally tie into Deep Fakes — where a neural network impersonates a real person, creating videos or pictures where they appear to be doing or saying something they never actually did or said.”

Why Are People so Resistant to Reformed Theology? (Video)

Burk Parson explains why some people may be so resistant to Reformed theology.

We Dare Not Ignore the Devil

“Western evangelicals in general are not in danger of an overapplication of demonization. We are far more in danger of under-application — of a functional, unbiblical naturalism. This is partly due to cultural blind-spot assumptions. But increasingly, it is also a result of the growing cultural cost of supernaturalism.”

Should I Buy a House Near My Church?

While I don’t think the “commuter culture” of churches is going to change anytime soon, I do think there’s something to be said for living closer to the church rather than farther away.

The Size of Space

Here’s a fun, interactive way of appreciating the sheer size of space.

Died: Phillip E. Johnson, Lawyer who Put Darwin on Trial

CT reports: “Phillip E. Johnson, a law professor who helped launch the modern intelligent design movement, has died at home in Berkeley, California. He was age 79.”

Flashback: 3 Things To Consider Before That Next Big Sin

Sin promises so much but delivers so little. Sin always amplifies its benefits and minimizes its cost. Sin always aims at the uttermost, always nudging toward utter death and destruction. And yet we love our sin, and secretly harbor it, and grieve to turn aside from it.

There is no lasting healing in human empathy. It might relieve the symptoms for a while but genuine healing comes from God by means of his word.

—Harold Senkbeil

  • God overrules

    God Must Sometimes Overrule Us

    When we pray to God and bring our petitions before him, and then say in earnest “thy will be done,” how should we expect God to respond? Is asking God to overrule our will with his own admitting that he may actually bring us harm?

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    Weekend A La Carte (May 10)

    A La Carte: Pope Le XIV / A gift continually unfolding / Hopefully broken / This Mother’s Day / Support the caregivers in your church / One of the hardest things you’ll ever do / and more.

  • Proud of Her

    Proud of Her on Mother’s Day

    I can’t even tell you how brave she has been, how resilient, and how determined. The Lord alone knows all the ways she has had to exercise her faith and submit her will to his. But she has. She has, and it has been a blessing and an honor to behold. We come again to…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (May 9)

    A La Carte: The one life dream that makes a girl blush / Will I be single forever? / Should I go to seminary? / The clearest indication of our evil’s depth / Treasures in heaven / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (May 8)

    A La Carte: She forgot our names / “Gender-affirming care” for children / The woman who saved her church / The Trojan horse of a bad dictionary / Piper’s myths about eternal rewards / Tell your kids stories / and more.