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A La Carte (9/1)

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The Resurgence of the R-Word
I’ve noticed this trend, that the “r-word” is back in full force. “Actress Lindsay Lohan uses it, comedian Chris Rock says it, and last year’s Ben Stiller movie Tropic Thunder took it to a new low, when it mocked actors who play disabled characters, using the phrase ‘going full retard.’ It’s also reappeared on comedy shows as a trendy way to describe those with special needs — no writer would be brave enough to use the N-word to describe an African, but the mentally disabled are easy game.”


The End of the Hardcover?
The world will not be the same without hardcover books, but some publishers are suggesting that economics (related to e-books) will dictate it. Say it isn’t so!


Christian Improv
Philip Ryken linked to this strange article in which a TIME reporter participates in an improv performance at Saddleback Church. “Their goal, Barnes explained, was to give people a way to get friends to the church who have turned down an invitation to a service. This made sense until I thought about the kind of person who would say, ‘I’m not interested in eternal salvation, but I’d love to spend a Saturday night in a small conference room watching Christian improvisational comedy!’”


Faith and Technology
I’ll be leading a couple of Faith and Technology seminars at Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, OH in a couple of weeks. I’ll speak to parents on Wednesday and teens on Thursday. See the link for details if you are interested.


Choosing Thomas
Just watch it.


A Pastoral Charge
Martin Downes provides a pastoral charge “given by Professor John Murray to Wayne F. Brauning at his ordination and installation as pastor of the Fifth Reformed Presbyterian Church, Phila., PA on October 13, 1960.”


Deal of the Day: The Road Sessions
Matthew Smith (the Indelible Grace guy) has released The Road Sessions Collection, a collection of 11 hymns. If you buy a copy (for just $6.99) he’ll also send a copy to your pastor.


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    A La Carte (March 19)

    A La Carte: How to know if you’re using God / The soul-poison of the little word ‘should’ / True, false, or heresy? / Truthful thinking is greater than positive thinking / Unless the seed dies / and more.

  • 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 /…