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A La Carte (6/12)

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Thursday June 12, 2008

The Great (Debt) Seduction
David Skeel has some good thoughts on a fascinating article in the New York Times. It deals with the displacement of America’s traditional norms of thrift and frugality in favor of norms that “encourage debt and living for the moment.”


Drive Free, Retire Rich
Some good financial thought from Dave Ramsey. (HT:Z)


Witnessing to Westboro Baptist
Josh describes a recent experience of witnessing to the people of Westboro Baptist Church (i.e. the “God Hates Fags” people).


A Report on Kids and Reading
Publishers Weekly writes about a Scholastic report about reading habits in children and teens. This jumped out at me: “parents who read frequently were found to be six times more likely to have children that read often, compared to those who read infrequently.”


The Politics of Health
This missionary in Uganda offers an interesting view of how black and white thinking doesn’t always work in the field. In this case she talks about how the use of DDT would both benefit and disrupt the area.


Problem Gamblers Sue Casinos
Yet another unbelievably stupid lawsuit, but one that is satisfyingly ironic.


Best Review of the Worst Book
Here is a hilarious review of what looks to be a truly (truly!) bad book. Here’s a particularly wonderful quote: “Of all the things to think, he never thought he’d think that.”


  • The Phrase that Altered My Thinking Forever

    This week the blog is sponsored by P&R Publishing and is written by Ralph Cunnington. Years ago, I stumbled repeatedly on an ancient phrase that altered my thinking forever.  Distinct yet inseparable. The first time I encountered this phrase was while studying the Council of Chalcedon’s description of the two natures of Christ. Soon after,…

  • Always Look for the Light

    Always Look for the Light

    For many years there was a little potted plant on our kitchen window sill, though I’ve long since forgotten the variety. Year after year that plant would put out a shoot and from the shoot would emerge a single flower. And I observed that no matter how I turned the pot, the flower would respond.…

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    A La Carte (March 18)

    A La Carte: God is good and does good—even in our pain / Dear bride and groom / Sin won’t comfort you / Worthy of the gospel / From self-sufficiency to trusting God’s people / The gods fight for our devotion / and more.

  • Confidence

    God Takes Us Into His Confidence

    Here is another Sunday devotional—a brief thought to orient your heart toward the Lord. God takes the initiative in establishing relationship by reaching out to helpless humanity. He reveals himself to the creatures he has made. But what does it mean for him to provide such revelation of himself? John Calvin began his Institutes by…

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    Weekend A La Carte (March 16)

    A La Carte: I believe in the death of Julius Caesar and the resurrection of Jesus Christ / Reasons students and pastors shouldn’t use ChatGPT / A 1.3 gigpixel photo of a supernova / What two raw vegans taught me about sharing Jesus / If we realize we’re undeserving, suddenly the world comes alive /…

  • Ask Pastor John

    Ask Pastor John

    I admit it: I felt a little skeptical about Ask Pastor John. To be fair, I feel skeptical about most books that begin in one medium before making the leap to another. Books based on sermons, for example, can often be pretty disappointing—a powerful sermon at a conference can make a bland chapter in a…