Skip to content ↓

Weekend A La Carte (July 24)

Once again it has been rather a slow week for Kindle deals. I’ll keep my ear to the ground next week and hope for better things! Until then, here are some links I think you’ll enjoy.

The Perfect Spouse Will Not Complete You

So true: “If you asked most people, they would affirm that there is no such thing as a perfect spouse. However, I’m betting that most of those same people would probably also affirm the ‘perfect-for-me’ theory of spousal selection. That is the idea that there is some perfect person somewhere on the planet, and if they could just find them, the two would be perfectly happy together. Their interests, strengths, and shortcomings would all blend in perfect relational harmony.”

Pastoral Burnout: Its Causes and Its Cure

“What is a pastor to do when feeling ‘exhausted and depleted’? Should pastors entering the ministry do so on the assumption that they will one day burn out and throw in the towel? Where can such tired ministers turn? Where can discouraged shepherds go for the shepherding of their own souls?”

World-Building in The Lord of the Rings

This video explores and explains Peter Jackson’s successful world-building in The Lord of the Rings. (Note: I just noticed there’s a dumb, off-color little phrase in the final second of the video, following the credits.)

New Studies in Biblical Theology

Logos users will want to check out this sale on the NSBT series, edited by D.A. Carson. “Each volume in NSBT explores an important biblical theme, tracing its development across a biblical book, biblical writer’s work, or the entire canon of Scripture.”

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

It is still baffling that a modern airliner could just completely disappear. Popular Mechanics says, “We’ve gone through two years of clues and conspiracy theories and false starts. But to understand how we’ve come to this point, it’s necessary to review the clues that search officials possessed, and how they interpreted them.”

This Day in 1846.170 years ago today, Canadian hymn-writer William R. Featherstone was born. He composed “My Jesus, I Love Thee” before turning 16. *

Stop Trying to Make the Bible Relevant to Teenagers

Eric McKiddie says, “In my years in youth ministry I’ve seen unhelpful and even harmful methods of trying to make Scripture relevant.”

Should Your Church Build a Bigger Building?

Jonathan Leeman answers a question from someone concerned that his church is expanding its building.

Flashback: Jesus Repulses, Jesus Draws

When we preach Jesus today, we preach for a response. And there is always a response. Jesus repulses and Jesus draws. But an encounter with Jesus never accomplishes nothing.

God’s Mysterious Ways

My gratitude goes to P&R for sponsoring the blog this week with “God’s Mysterious Ways.”

Newton

How unspeakably wonderful to know that all our concerns are held in hands that bled for us.

—John Newton

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    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.…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    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…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    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 /…