The Next Frontier in Pornography

It has long been claimed that pornography drives technology. This claim is over-stated, no doubt, but what’s clear is that pornography very quickly and cleverly takes advantage of new communication technologies. As one commentator says, “If we invent a machine, the first thing we are going to do—after making a profit—is use it to watch porn.” If you don’t believe me, just do a little research into VHS, DVD, internet, iPhone, and a host of other innovations that were created …

A La Carte (April 23)

Today’s Kindle deals include a massive sale on excellent commentary sets as well as a few solid books. Why I Don’t Sit With My Husband at Church This is a rather thought-provoking article. “For my husband and me, offering hospitality has meant breaking down a common church practice: sitting together as a family. Here are five reasons why we often separate on Sunday mornings…” A Special Commemorative Issue for R.C. Sproul There is a special commemorative issue of Tabletalk for R.C. …

Sunday A La Carte (April 22)

This was another of those weeks where I dug up so many interesting articles and videos that I’ve decided to collect the overflow into a special Sunday edition of A La Carte. I hope you enjoy it! Portraits of African American Ex-Slaves in the Late 1930s This is quite a photo gallery. “These portraits of African American men and women from locations in Texas were taken in the late 1930s as part of the Federal Writers’ Project (FWP) of the …

Weekend A La Carte (April 21)

Today’s Kindle deals include a few books (including one classic) that are worth a look. (Yesterday on the blog: Letters to the Editor: Sports, Hymns, and Hobbies, and Entertainment) Jesus, Take the Control Wheel I love this: “When members of First Baptist Church in Boerne, Texas, heard recordings of radio transmissions from a Southwest Airlines pilot who made a harrowing emergency landing this week in Philadelphia, they recognized the voice as one of their own.” Paying Attention Is On the Nose …

Free Stuff Fridays (Zondervan Academic)

This week’s Free Stuff Fridays is sponsored by Zondervan Academic Online Courses, who also sponsored the blog this week. They are giving away five free subscriptions to Justin Holcomb’s new online course, Know the Creeds and Councils. Take a look at the free preview from Dr. Holcomb: Enter Here Giveaway Rules: You may enter one time. As soon as the winners have been chosen, all names and addresses will be immediately and permanently erased. Winners will be notified by email. …

Letters to the Editor (Sports, Hymns, and Hobbies, and Entertainment)

It has been far too long since I shared a collection of letters to the editor. So here, to remedy this transgression, is a selection of just some of the letters from readers like you that have come my way in the past few weeks. I hope you enjoy them! They deal with sports and hobbies, smutty movies, and what we lost when we lost our hymnals. Letters on  Is There Anything Wrong with Sports and Hobbies? Regarding hobbies, I …

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A La Carte (April 20)

Today’s Kindle deals include, well, not much again. Westminster Books has discounted the entire Theologians on the Christian Life series. (Yesterday on the blog: Practical Advice for Family Devotions) Ask Ligonier with Sinclair Ferguson Ligonier Ministries recently led an hour-long Q&A session with Sinclair Ferguson. It’s always worth watching Sinclair Ferguson in such contexts! 15 Things Seminary Teaches Me that My Busy Pastor(ate) Can’t “Friends over at The Gospel Coalition have been promoting a new book, 15 Things Seminary Couldn’t …

Practical Advice for Family Devotions

During the recent EPIC trip to England I was able to hold an event in London where we opened the floor up for questions. Here is my answer to one of the questions: What is some practical advice you have for family devotions? (In early June I will be in South Africa where I will be holding another similar event. Join me in Johannesburg on June!)   Transcription About family devotions: yes, I would say family devotions first ought to …

A La Carte (April 19)

Today’s Kindle deals include a few deals that are worth a quick look. (Yesterday on the blog: The Best Argument for Using a Printed Bible) Why You Should Study Theology There are some good arguments here for making it your practice to study theology. “Sound doctrine is good for followers of Jesus. We need to know the truth, which means we must study the truth.” What We Miss When We Skip the Prophets Don’t skip the prophets! “Aside from missing out …

The Best Argument for Using a Printed Bible

I admit it: I use an electronic Bible. Better said, I use an electronic device that has a Bible app installed on it. Several years ago I put away my printed Bible in favor of Logos on my iPad. There is a lot I love about this: I love the convenience of being able to have my Bible with me at just about any time; I love the ease of needing just a single tap to take me from my …

A La Carte (April 18)

Today’s Kindle deals include three books you might like to check out. Westminster Books has a deal on a solid new resource on worship. (Yesterday on the blog: Christians, Mentors, and Mentoring) God’s Metrics “God’s metrics are not our metrics. The way in which we seek to measure fruitfulness and faithfulness is often quite skewed. No one understood the issue of faithfulness and fruitfulness so well as the great Apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 3, he first explained the nature …

Why you should Read the Westminster Confession of Faith

Today’s post is written by Justin Holcomb, a theology professor at Reformed Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and is sponsored by Zondervan Academic Online Courses. The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession produced in 1646 by the Westminster Assembly in London. Intended to set the doctrinal standards for the Church of England, it became a powerful force in the Church of Scotland and has influenced Presbyterian churches all over the world. Today, numerous churches and denominations worldwide …

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Book Reviews

Heaven on Earth

Heaven on Earth

Derek Thomas

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Christians, Mentors, and Mentoring

You hear a lot about the value and wisdom of seeking out older mentors to walk beside you on your Christian journey. Here are some thoughts and ideas about who should seek a mentor and who should be a mentor to the younger generations. Transcript Does wisdom come only with age? Wisdom comes with age, absolutely. At least, biblically, we’re told that wisdom is with the aged. We’re often given these descriptions of wisdom coming with those who have passed …

A La Carte (April 17)

I wasn’t able to track down much by way of interesting Kindle deals today. We feasted last week, so shouldn’t complain. (Yesterday on the blog: Bring Her Out and Let Her Be Burned) On Getting Churches Totally Wrong “For a quarter century, homosexuality has been a key social issue for Hollywood, the flagship cause on which film-makers feel the need to Make Statements and Send Messages. In order to make any story dramatic, you need some element of conflict or opposition, so …

Bring Her Out and Let Her Be Burned

“Bring her out and let her be burned!” This dramatic pronouncement of judgment gets me every time I read it. And through long familiarity, it has become one of my favorite Bible passages. That’s weird, I know. Yet it’s not a favorite in the sense that I’d recommend it as a life verse or a tattoo or the inside of a greeting card. It’s a favorite in the sense that it speaks so truly about the state of humanity. And …

A La Carte (April 16)

Today’s Kindle deals include some books for kids and some books for adults. It’s a good mix. (Yesterday on the blog: Book Recommendation: Heaven on Earth) 6 Misconceptions About the New Testament Core Christianity addresses six common misconceptions about the New Testament. I guarantee you’ve heard at least a few of them! Chick-fil-A’s Creepy Infiltration of New York City I’ve read a few short commentaries on this ridiculous article from the New Yorker. I’d say Dr. Mohler gets it about …

Heaven on Earth

It does the Christian good to consider heaven. It does the Christian good to consider what awaits us when we at last succumb to death. It has been the subject of countless books but, interestingly, few that have remained in circulation for very long. For that reason we are served well by new works on the subject. I was glad, then, to find a copy of Derek Thomas’s Heaven on Earth: What the Bible Teaches about the Life to Come …

Weekend A La Carte (April 14)

Today’s Kindle deals include a few books you’ll want to check out. (Yesterday on the blog: What Haunts Me About the Humboldt Bus Disaster) An EPIC Evening in Johannesburg I will be in Johannesburg on June 3 and would love to meet you for a Sunday evening event at Crystal Park Baptist Church (co-hosted by Grace Media and Mukhanyo Theological College). I am dedicating 2018 to traveling the world for my EPIC church history project and will be making a stop …

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My Books

Do More Better Cover

Do More Better

by Tim Challies

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