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A La Carte (October 4)

tuesday

Today’s Kindle deals include just a couple of interesting titles: The Printer and the Preacher by Randy Peterson, and Everyday Church by Tim Chester & Steve Timmis.

Adoption: God’s Glorious “Plan A”

“We fell in love with these children; I cried over these children. My heart breaks for these children. I have secret wishes for these children. Wishes I know I can’t change for them, but I begin to wonder if I can change it for others.”

Tent-Making Is Not Second-Class

This is so important! “Through the Thessalonians, the transforming gospel message of faith in Christ had greatly spread. And this came about through their daily work. The Thessalonian believers didn’t become a monastic community, nor did they pull up stakes and head out en masse as overseas missionaries. These first-century believers saw their gospel stewardship through the lens of their vocations and stations in life.”

The ESV Reader’s Bible, Six-Volume Set

I wrote a short, simple review of the new ESV Reader’s Bible. Now J. Mark Bertrand has a much more thorough one. “This is a beautiful concept executed beautifully. It’s one of the best editions I have ever covered at Bible Design Blog.”

I’m Not a Bigot

It’s encouraging to see the occasional flash of common sense. This week, University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson released a video online criticizing political correctness on campus. He also said he doesn’t recognize a person’s right to be addressed using genderless pronouns like “they” instead of “he” or “she.” If I was a betting man, I’d bet he won’t be a professor there for long.

This Day in 1669. 347 years ago today Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, known as the ‘painter of the soul’ for his Christian art (including The Return of the Prodigal Son), died. *

Where Are the Gentlemen Theologians?

Even apart from recent trinitarian controversies, there’s a sound call here to engage in discussion in a civil manner—with convictional kindness. “Where are the Gentlemen Theologians who will lead us with care, civility, and kindness amid the chaos?”

Let Me Repeat Myself?

Jamie Brown is writing a couple of articles on that area of regular critique in evangelicalism: Repetition within worship. (I always want to ask those people about Psalm 136!)

10 Things about that 10 Percent

Sam Storms talks about tithing and whether or not Christians are obligated to give their 10%.

Flashback: The Commitment of the Christian Life

As we commit to the disciplines of the Christian life, our first commitment is to pursue a life that is pleasing to God, which is to say, a life of obedience.

He that will play with Satan’s bait will quickly be taken with Satan’s hook.

—Thomas Brooks

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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 /…