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A La Carte (4/19)

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Why You Should Come to Toronto Pastor’s Conference – Paul explains why you should come to Toronto Pastor’s Conference (which just so happens to be sponsored by my church).

Michael Hyatt on the iPad – I’ll have more to say about the iPad in days to come (as I put it through its paces). But I do like what Michael Hyatt says. “Do you want an iPad? Probably. Do you need an iPad? Probably not. The iPhone is sufficient for making calls, checking email, stock quotes, and the weather, or listening to podcasts or audiobooks. In my experience, the iPad doesn’t offer a big enough improvement to warrant the additional investment.”

The Objectification of Jennifer Knapp – I appreciate the warning sounded in this post. “The first step toward a good dialogue is recognizing that there’s a real person, with a real will, a real mind, and real problems at the other end of the line. And in this case, from what I can tell, Jennifer Knapp the real person would rather not be in the thick of things. I simply think respecting that would be a good start to whatever happens next.”

Seven Characteristics of Highly Evangelistic Christians – Thom Rainer shares seven characteristics of Christians who love to evangelize. “The secret is really no secret at all. Ultimately, evangelistic churches see more persons become Christians through the passionate efforts of highly evangelistic Christians. More than any programs. More than any church events. More than anything else, we are the instruments God has chosen to use.”

Seven Sure-Fire Ways to Blow Up a Church – Chuck Lawless: “I served as a church pastor for 14 years, have now served for 12 years as a church consultant and have watched hundreds of students begin their local church ministries during my 14 years as a seminary professor. Based on my observations from these various vantage points, here’s what I would do if I wanted to ‘blow up’ a church.”

Call to the Ministry? – I’m hearing good things about this presentation, though I haven’t had time to watch it myself. It comes from Dr. Tony Curto at the OPC Timothy Conference held on the campus of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Note that it is in seven parts, so you’ll want to go looking for the rest.


  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (October 3)

    A La Carte: Let’s stop the kid jokes / The fathered universe / The Gettys’ modern hymn movement / Reading is fundamental / When internet culture becomes the culture / Kindle deals / and more.

  • The Victim of a Grave Injustice

    The Victim of a Grave Injustice

    Joseph was the victim of a grave injustice. Though he was a righteous man, he was being treated like an unrighteous one. Though he was pure, he was being treated like a convict. Though he was blameless, he was being treated like he was guilty. And there was no court of appeal, no opportunity to…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (October 2)

    A La Carte: Clearing up confusion about humility / A new initiative / Lessons in holiness / Contemporary Christian music / John Piper on overcoming spiritual laziness / The flipside of worry / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (October 1)

    A La Carte: Don’t go to church; submit to one / Is the end of history at hand? / Steve Lawson and all the King’s men / Kevin DeYoung on headship and head coverings / How to raise godly teenagers / Atheist or Christian, we all choose our miracle / Kindle deals / and more.

  • True Rest Comes from God

    This week the blog is sponsored by Burke Care. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:68 Corrie ten Boom as quoted as saying: “If you look at the world, you will be distressed. If you look within, you will be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you will be…

  • Sins of Age and Youth

    The Sins of the Elderly and the Sins of Youth

    The news about Steve Lawson hit hard. It’s not that Steve and I have ever been particularly close. In fact, I can’t think of a time he and I interacted outside the context of a conference. But he has been a steady presence at events for as long as I have been attending them. I…