Final Call (January 13)

Welcome to Final Call, a brief, hand-picked selection of news, articles, videos, and curiosities from the Internet and beyond.

Separated and Reunited

Audrey and Gracie were both born in China and adopted into American families. Until recently, neither of them knew they had a twin sister. Grab some tissues and watch them meet one another for the first time. It does a soul good.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHeNKMxsqYE]

Ordinary Time

Ordinary Time is a band I’ve been enjoying for a number of years. Their focus is simple: discovering, reviving, and celebrating old songs through folk-acoustic music. While they’ve released several albums now, my favorite remains one of their older ones, At The Table.

At The Table by Ordinary Time

If you are interested in their arrangements, they share lyrics, chord charts, and other material at their site.

New & Notable

Enjoy by Trillia Newbell (Release date December 20, 2016). New from Trillia Newbell is Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God’s Good Gifts. The publisher says this: “Watching a gorgeous sunset. Sharing a laugh with a friend. Tasting a sun-ripened strawberry. Each day is full of opportunities for you to savor the countless gifts the Creator has given. But do you feel free to delight in God’s abundant gifts, or is your joy sometimes distorted by guilt, fear of idolatry, or simply an overwhelming awareness of sin’s effects on this world? Trillia Newbell explains how we often miss opportunities to participate in God’s divine delight because we’re discouraged, fixated on selfish fulfillment, or paralyzed by guilt. Enjoy serves as an encouraging reminder of God’s gracious gifts and also challenges women to view all of these gifts—from relationships and careers to food and sex—as reasons to rejoice in the Lord and grow in our understanding and appreciation of who He is. This thought-provoking book invites you to explore the truth of God’s Word and discover how to nurture daily a spirit of gratitude and deep satisfaction.”

Passing the Baton

Passing on the faith has been compared to handing off a baton in a relay race. And there are many things to commend that analogy to us. There is a real gospel—the baton—to pass on. It must be passed on individually. The one with the baton has to hold it out, and the one receiving the baton has to reach back for it and close his hand around it. There is a time to pass on the baton, the exchange zone, which does not last forever. All of these are excellent pictures to help us think through this subject.

There is a problem with this illustration, however. We are not handing off the baton at a friendly track meet. Rather, this exchange takes place on a battlefield! We are attempting to pass on this baton of the gospel while we and our children are being shot at. And what about those observing in the stands? A few are cheering us on, but many in the stands—the world—are laughing at our child’s attempt to run the race. (Chap Bettiss, The Disciple-Making Parent)

Free Stuff Fridays

This week’s Free Stuff Fridays offers 5 copies of The Jesus Bible to 5 different winners. You can sign up to win right here. (Giveaway Rules: You may enter one time. As soon as the winners have been chosen, all names and addresses will be immediately and permanently erased. Winners will be notified by email. The giveaway closes Saturday at noon.)