The God of love and peace be with you today, my friends.
Here is some of what’s coming up in today’s A La Carte:
- I’ll start with me
- Once a promiscuous woman, always a promiscuous woman
- Outside book reviews
- and more …
Trivia
Which of the notable early Protestant Reformers died in battle?
Sales & Deals
Today’s Kindle deals include Melissa Dougherty’s Happy Lies, Tim Keller’s Forgive and Every Good Endeavor, Brad Hambrick’s Angry with God, and so on.
Westminster Books has a sale this week on Joel & Mary Beeke’s book How to Build a Godly Marriage.
Recommended Reading
I’ll Start with Me. Andrew Roycroft: “It’s hard not to feel helpless these days, impotently angry, and executively cut off from the outrages that bombard our minds and consciences. It’s hard to say if our world in its present moment is more out of control and violently charged than at previous points in recent history, but these features are now more visible than ever, more insistent in taking our attention day after day.” He considers all of this and determines he will start with himself.
Once a Promiscuous Woman, Always a Promiscuous Woman. Brittany Allen offers some transparency here as she considers those who think formerly promiscuous women are forever tainted. “Tell me you don’t understand the gospel without telling me. I really wish this was a niche belief, but, unfortunately, a debate broke out about this very thing on X a couple weeks ago. It seems there are a lot more Christ-proclaiming men and women who don’t understand how far the grace of God can reach. They don’t understand how far it had to reach to save them, too.”
Kids Talk Church History. Kids Talk Church History is a one-of-a-kind podcast where young voices bring church history to life—exploring the people, pivotal events, and powerful stories that have shaped the Church. Guided by author and historian Simonetta Carr, kids take the lead—reading, discussing, asking thoughtful questions, and even interviewing special guests. It’s engaging, insightful, and refreshingly authentic. Check it out today! (Sponsored)
One thousand people got baptised in Perth on Good Friday. Why? Nearly one thousand people were baptized in Perth, Australia on Good Friday. Stephen McAlpine says, “Now, good conservative that I am, I’m supposed to be churlish about such figures, and put it all down to froth and bubble. Yet let me just say that refusing to mourn when the dirge is played, and then refusing to dance when the flute is played, is risky business according to Jesus.”
The Authenticity Trap. “A national study conducted in 2024 found that young people are increasingly drawn to these types of drugs, especially females. The study, conducted by the University of Michigan, found that among young users, 60% were female and 45% were living in the South.” Eddie LaRow explains how these statistics expose Gen Z’s conflicted relationship with authenticity.
Advice for New Elders: Take the Low Seat. There is lots of wisdom in this principle and its applications. “If you’re a new elder, you may feel tempted to prove yourself. Taking the low seat means resisting that urge. Here are three ways new elders can do that.”
God’s Providence and the Privilege of Prayer. I enjoyed reading Cilas Menezes’ admission of the difficulty of prayer but also his celebration of the privilege of prayer. “As you battle against prayerlessness, be encouraged: In his absolute sovereignty and freedom, God has chosen to accomplish many of his purposes through his people’s prayers. This is not an accident of history, but part of God’s eternal plan.”
Book Reviews
I review a lot of books, but I can’t possibly review them all! Here are some reviews from other writers.
- John Moody reviews Brad Wetherell’s Saved To Sin No More. “Wetherell offers a theologically robust book on one of the most significant Christian doctrines—and one that deserves more attention.”
- Nitoy Gonzalez briefly reviews Mike Hood’s The If That Changes Everything and several other titles. “This is an apologetics book, but here the author narrows the focus to the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the pivotal event that changed the world—if it’s true. I like the premise, and Mike Hood firmly upholds the centrality of the resurrection as crucial not only to this life but to the next.”
- Mary Van Weelden reviews Preston Sprinkle’s controversial From Genesis to Junia. “I would argue that the major weakness of this project is not the extent of the research or its presentation, but the theological foundations which Sprinkle himself brings to the book.”
Trivia Answer
Q. Which of the notable early Protestant Reformers died in battle?
A. Swiss Reformer Ulrich Zwingli died in battle while defending Protestant Zurich from the invading Roman Catholic armies of the Five States or Five Cantons. He was just 47 when he died.
Flashback
The Sins That Plague Our Souls. If you think you have the ability to do something so serious that God cannot deal with it, you have made yourself too big and God too small. You have reduced him to the image of a man.
True wealth is not what my estate amounts to, but what I amount to.
—Maltbie Davenport Babcock
