We are going around the world in A La Carte today! What a blessing that so many writers from so many nations choose to bless us with their wisdom.

Westminster Books is offering deals on their summer reading picks.
The Intermediate State of the Dead in Christ
From the Philippines, here’s Noel Espinosa on the intermediate state. “A recent death in our Church generated much lament. The brother was so young, and so actively useful in our ministries. What is more, he had no known precondition. This event drove me to refresh the subject of the intermediate state of the righteous.”
The Benefit of Ancient Creeds for the Contemporary Church
Next we go to India where Christopher Poshin David writes about Christian creeds. “I recall standing with an outstretched arm in the morning assembly at school reciting the Indian national pledge on Republic Day and Independence Day. The national pledge is an oath of allegiance. It also reminds us of our identity as part of a national community bigger than our individual selves. The church of Jesus Christ similarly has pledges that remind us of our corporate identity as the people of God. These pledges are called the creeds of the church.”
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7 Critical Supplements To Evangelistic Fervour
In Uganda Eddie Ssemakula is concerned about evangelistic techniques. “It is my humble opinion, and suggestion of this post, that we need to rethink our evangelistic efforts in Africa. Something isn’t quite right. How can Africa have one of the fastest growing Christian populations, yet at the same time rank as one of the most corrupt continents in the world? Preaching that proclaims Christ can be heard in the streets, for sure. But are we seeing his lordship and kingdom expand?”
Are Cuss Words Sinful?
In Kenya, the writers of the Kuza site/app consider how and why cuss words are sinful. “You hear them in movies, television series, and in actual conversations. To some, these words sound cool, and they have made them part of their lives. Yet when you learn their meaning, cuss words will make you cringe.”
Grace as the Heart’s Desire
Italy is next, and here Leonardo De Chirico is writing about Roman Catholicism and saying “If one wants to come to terms with Roman Catholic theology, sooner than later one needs to address the ‘nature-grace interdependence.’”
Nothing To Be Ashamed Of: Penal Substitutionary Atonement In Honor-Shame Cultures
We will end in the United Arab Emirates with an article on why penal substitutionary cannot be downplayed or ignored even in honor-shame cultures. “We, the authors, were born, raised, born again, and currently live and serve in what may be appropriately labeled as honor-shame cultures. The prevailing view among many theologians and missiologists concerning our cultural context is that presenting Christ’s atonement in terms of penal substitution is ineffective at best, and is a distortion of the gospel at worst.”
Flashback: But God Makes No Mistakes
There is no condition in which it’s impossible to be a true Christian and to exemplify all the wonderful virtues of Christianity.

One supreme duty which the prevalence of sickness places on us is that of living always prepared to meet God. —J.C. Ryle

Some of my earliest memories are of creeds and catechisms. Parents and pastors alike taught me the truths of the Christian faith and encouraged me to study creeds and the many questions and answers of the catechisms. What a foundation this laid in my young heart!

No words resonated more deeply than the fourth answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which responds to a simple but crucial question: “What is God?” The writers of the Catechism combined sound doctrine with rhythmic, memorable prose to answer thus: “God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.” This answer begins with four attributes unique to God, then describes attributes he chooses to share with other beings.
In Understanding and Trusting Our Great God, the second book in the Words from the Wise series of devotionals I’ve done with graphic artist Jules Koblun, I mean to consider the character of God as outlined in this Catechism, using words from the wise I have collected from a wide variety of Christian writers, preachers, songwriters, and poets.
Great thoughts of God ought to lead us to great wonder and delight. For to know God is to love him, and to love him is to have our hearts thrilled by him.
Learn more about Understanding and Trusting Our Great God and pre-order it at wordsfromthewisebooks.com. (Or, of course, grab it from Amazon.)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
Westminster Books has rounded up 13 new and noteworthy books by Lexham Press and is offering them at a discount. Looking at the list, I want to commend Lexham for their great cover designs!
As I do each day, I have collected some articles that I found both interesting and informative. I hope they’ll bless you as they blessed me.

Stephen McAlpine considers how Christians need to think and live differently now that cultural tailwinds have become cultural headwinds. “It’s well documented in the West, though perhaps not described in this way, that the Christian faith has enjoyed cultural tailwinds for quite some time. Such a period of time in fact, that the Western church has perhaps normalised what it means to have a slight competitive advantage in the race.”

One thing we need to do as much as ever at a time of cultural change is speak to our children about gender issues. Ellen Mary Dykas guides parents into several important conversations and types of conversation.

Coram Deo is a Latin phrase meaning “before the face of God.” The phrase is often associated with John Calvin and other Reformers who summoned the Christian to live all of life in God’s presence (Ps. 56:13). More specifically, pastors have been charged in the presence of God to preach the word (2 Tim. 4:1-2). This conference aims to remind pastors of our great God, to recharge the preacher for teaching with clarity and conviction, and to reinvigorate the weary soul for a life of ministry faithfulness before the face of God. (Sponsored Link)

I know it sounds a little odd, but Brianna wants you to be a bit more awkward at church. And, for what it’s worth, I agree with her.

Aaron Armstrong: “Genuine ‘mountaintop experiences’ are good things, but they are not everything. And what we need to remember is that God’s presence with us is not defined by how we feel. He is with us even when we’re not aware of his being with us at all.”

“Whatever its origin, I think ‘tinder’”’ is a vivid, clarifying image. I need to learn I’m carrying ‘tinder’ around inside me. I’m like a vehicle that transports chemicals, that needs a haz-chem symbol on the outside. I need a ‘highly flammable’ sticker slapped on me.”

Alan D. Strange unpacks that familiar phrase “separation of church and state.”

“Go. Get out of here. You’re lost—don’t come back until you’ve found yourself.”

Hope as much as ever a man can hope; for when your hope is in God you cannot hope too much.
—Charles Spurgeon