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A La Carte (April 22)

A La Carte Collection cover image

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include several excellent titles like Andrew Wilson’s Remaking the World, Sinclair Ferguson’s The Whole Christ, and the updated edition of Kent Hughes’ Disciplines of a Godly Man.

(Yesterday on the blog: It Begins and Ends with Speaking)

Why My Shepherd Carries a Rod

David Gibson explains why his shepherd, who I trust is also your shepherd, carries a rod. There’s comfort in the metaphor!

When Mandisa Forgave Simon Cowell

I am not really familiar with the Christian musician Mandisa (who recently passed away), but this tribute focuses on a moment of forgiveness.

An Open Mind is Like an Open Mouth

“I hear people speak of having an open mind like it is inherently virtuous to have it perpetually open. But what is the point of an open mind if it never closes on truth?” It’s a valid question, that.

Have you heard of 21Five, Canada’s newest Christian bookstore?

The new Canadian source for gospel-centred books and products, 21Five offers a unique collection of relevant and God-glorifying resources. Shop online at 21Five.ca or in person at Redeemer University in Ancaster (Hamilton), Ontario. (Sponsored)

Marriage: The Half Time Report

Stephen McAlpine writes a kind of “half-time report” on marriage. The occasion is that he has now spent exactly half of his life as a married man. “I am 56 years of age. Single for 28 years. Married to Jill for 28 years.” There are some helpful reflections here.

Fire and Flour at 02:00

Here’s one of those “someone must have been praying” moments we all have now and again in life! “Someone must have been praying for us. It was 2 am and I was strangely and suddenly wide awake. The house was silent and cold, so I rolled over to go back to sleep.”

The Church Should Mind Its Spiritual Business

“The task of the church as such is not to transform the world at large or any society in it. The task of the church is to transform lives: to proclaim the gospel as the person and work of Christ applied by the power of the Holy Spirit in the means of grace so that men and women come to Christ by faith and are justified, adopted, and sanctified—all a gift of God’s grace. Such changed lives typically affect the lives of others in the various societies in which the saints find themselves.”

Flashback: We Are All Theologians

…we can’t truly know God as he is or live for God as he desires as long as we reject or downplay theology.

Your kids will pick up your walk more than your talk. They will follow the example of a lifetime more than the exhortation you give them when you drop them off at college. Are your kids growing up with the habit of regular church attendance?

—Kevin DeYoung

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (July 20)

    A La Carte: The wedding of the century / Why grieving people need a theology of giving / God desires your happiness / Sincere love and hospitality in the church / Real life is a better teacher than social media / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (MBTS)

    This week Free Stuff Fridays is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For the Church Institute is a free online platform from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary designed to provide free and accessible theological training to equip, encourage, and edify local churches. Courses may be taken as a self-paced individual or as a group within your…

  • A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality

    A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality

    God’s design for gender and sexuality is fixed and unchanging. The way he created us is the way he means for us to live. The instruction he provides in the Bible is all we need to understand his purpose and live it out in a way that honors and pleases him. The wisdom he provides…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (July 19)

    A La Carte: When you can’t forgive yourself after an abortion / Ancient Corinth, Judge Judy, and litigious Christians / Trusting the giver of good / The renovation of a soul / Life after Doom (by Brian McLaren) / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (July 18)

    A La Carte: Does Christian sex need rescuing? / 15 resolves for interpersonal conflicts / How senior pastors can help associate pastors / it’s okay to be okay / Don’t be proud of what you had no say in / How sweet! / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Protecting the Family Name

    Protecting the Family Name

    It is a conversation I had with my son-in-law while he was pursuing my daughter and expressing his interest in marrying her. It is a conversation I will need to have with a second son-in-law if the day comes when he expresses his interest in marrying my other daughter. It is a conversation about the…