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Good morning from Morocco where I’ve settled in for the second-to-last leg of this journey. It has been a whirlwind, but all is well. Westminster Books has a book on sale that you’re meant to order before Christmas. Today’s Kindle deals include a number of interesting books. (Yesterday on the blog: As Summer Turns to Fall) Borrowed Strength This is a tremendous article from Melissa. “I hope God can sort out the desires of my heart, because half the time …
These are the days in which summer begins to give way to fall. The days grow shorter, the nights get longer, and there begins to be just a bit of a bite in the air. Though winters in Southern Ontario are long, I still look forward to their slow approach. But that is beside the point of the rest of this article. While I link to several good pieces of writing each day in my A La Carte column, I …
Good morning my friends. Grace and peace to you. The train is leaving the station “It’s not like we have not seen this coming,” says Al Mohler about Andy Stanley’s continued departure from biblical Christianity. The latest example is concerning, but also in-line with the ones before it. Making the most of things: time and trajectory “Given the passage of our lives and the era in which we live, how can we make the most of things? This is a …
Good morning from Cairo, Egypt. I am making my way from the south of Africa to the north, and that involves a day and a night in Cairo. I am looking forward to joining a friend who will take me to explore the city. (Yesterday on the blog: Something as Flimsy as Stone) Rescuing Abraham This is quite an interesting take on Abraham’s decision to tell people that Sarah was his wife. Was this a lie? And was it necessarily …
“The most impressive things on earth are ruins,” he said. “The four greatest structures ever built have now been reduced to a state of decay.” The Parthenon rising above the city of Athens is in ruins; the temple of Artemis in Ephesus is in ruins; the temple of Jerusalem is in ruins; the Colosseum in Rome may have been partially restored, but will never regain its former glory, for it, too, is in ruins. The splendor of the ancient world …
It has been a productive time in Zambia and I very much enjoyed worshiping with Faith Baptist Church Kakolo. Today I begin making my way to the northern part of the continent. Logos users: remember to take a look at the September Super sale which has some great resources on sale along with this month’s selection of free and nearly-free books. There are also some Zondervan collections and resources discounted at the moment. There’s a good number of Kindle deals …
"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength." (Charles Spurgeon)
A Chicken Mythic (which turned out to basically be a McChicken with a couple of extra toppings) in Morocco means I've eaten at McDonald's in 39 countries.
"Waiting on God is to be busy in service to God and to others, all in full acceptance of his wisdom and timing." (Tim Keller)
When you're in Cairo you've got to make the journey to the pyramids. It's worth it. (Though, on the other hand, they are *exactly* like you'd imagine them to be...)
"Look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him, everything else." (C.S. Lewis)
With a Big Tasty in Cairo, Egypt, I've now eaten at McDonald's in 38 different countries. (It was pretty terrible and I managed only a few bites—but it still counts!)
"Contentment is the product of the heart that is resting in God." (A.W. Pink)
It does us good to consider the return of Jesus Christ. When times are difficult, when life is sorrowful, when we are just plain weary, it does us good to shift our hearts from our circumstances to Christ’s sure and certain return. That’s the purpose of this sweet poem by Reginald Heber. “The Lord shall come,” he assures us… The Lord will come: the earth shall quake, The mountains to their centre shake; And, withering from the vault of night, …
My gratitude goes to Christian Focus for sponsoring the blog this week to tell you about Rob Ventura’s excellent new resource on Romans. There’s a small selection of Kindle deals today. (Yesterday on the blog: How To Elevate Your Street Smarts) 5 Bad Reasons to Get a Divorce Joe Carter: “In a world where the sanctity of marriage is increasingly under siege, it’s crucial to reevaluate the reasons often cited for divorce. There are undoubtedly situations where divorce may be …
I have benefited a lot from Greg Koukl’s books Tactics and The Story of Reality. And while I have undoubtedly forgotten much of their content, there are a number of takeaways that have stuck with me. The foremost is that when we speak to people who are not Christians, we have not failed if they make no profession of faith in Jesus Christ. While that may be our ultimate desire for them, a good and noble goal for any spiritual …
Good morning from Kitwe, Zambia, where I’ve settled in for what should be a great weekend of listening to stories and attempting to describe just some of what God is up to in this part of the world. Westminster Books is offering a deep discount on the Lungaard trilogy. If you haven’t read a lot of John Owen, Lundgaard’s works are a great gateway. You may also want to tune in for season 4 of their podcast The Afterword. It …
Good morning from Johannesburg, South Africa. I am here for just one night as I await a flight to Zambia where I will be settling in for a few days. So far the travel has been good and very bearable, and the jet lag has been manageable. (Yesterday on the blog: If Satan Wrote a Book on Parenting) Death and Dying: A Catechism for Christians This is an outstanding resource on death, dying, and euthanasia. The Secret to Loving Your …
Some time ago I read an advice column that responded to a woman who had become disillusioned with her husband and enamored with someone else. And as I read it I thought to myself, “I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how Satan would counsel if he was asked.” That got me thinking about how Satan might function as a marriage counselor and also how he might function as a parenting expert. To that end… If Satan wrote a book on parenting, …
Good morning from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I’ve stopped just briefly as I make my way to Johannesburg, South Africa and, from there, to Kitwe, Zambia. I’ve got lots of miles still to go! I forgot to mention that I added some Christian and general market Kindle deals yesterday. Eventually I’ll be looking for feedback on whether you’re enjoying the general market deals as well. In Praise of the Tiny Church “The tiny churches have so much more to offer …
May the God of love and peace be with you today. What Does It Mean to Own Your Sin? What does it mean to own your sin? This article explains. Faith Is Not Certainty I appreciate Aubrynn’s ongoing writing about Christians who deal with scrupulosity and some of the specific challenges they face with their faith. Let Suffering Lead to Gentleness, Not Bitterness “As we suffer, and our bodies and hearts finally begin to recover from the richeting and shaking …
Infants are easily discontented. They cry when hungry, they cry when tired, they cry when uncomfortable, they cry when afraid. It often seems they cry for no reason at all! Toddlers are perhaps a little better, but they are still quick to fuss and complain, still quick to express every little sorrow and every minor dissatisfaction. It is only age and maturity that eventually allows children to endure discomfort without whining, tantrums, and hysterics. If all of this wasn’t bad …
Good morning. Grace and peace to you today. I scrounged up a couple of new Kindle deals for today; if you didn’t check in over the weekend, be sure to look at Saturday’s very long list of both Christian and general market deals. A Friend on the Trail of Tears: How a Baptist Missionary Became a Cherokee This is a great telling of the inspirational life and ministry of Evan Jones who was a Baptist missionary to the Cherokee Indians. …
It is another one of those Sundays in which I gathered so much good material for A La Carte that I thought it was only right to create an extra edition. So here is a Sunday A La Carte. What Does Luke 9:23 Mean? “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” What did Jesus mean by this? And how do we apply it …
I’m so grateful to Burke Care for sponsoring the blog this week. They invite you to schedule care today with a certified biblical counselor. Today at Westminster you can save on Rosaria Butterfield’s new book (foreword by Kevin DeYoung): Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age. Today’s Kindle deals include newer and older Christian books as well as extensive list of general market history and biography. (Yesterday on the blog: Remaking the World) I Set My Hope On Jesus (Hymn for …
I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in today’s digital world. It will help you learn to structure your life to do the most good to the glory of God. Read More
