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A La Carte (August 21)

tuesday

There are a few new Kindle deals for you to look at if that’s of interest.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Best Day You’ve Ever Had)

Should Christians Boycott Abusive Companies?

Here’s a short answer to a good question. “I discovered that [airlines in a particular part of the world] are accused of abusing their workers: unfair labor practices, poor wages, overwork, dangerous working conditions, etc. Some travelers have opted to boycott these types of airlines. Is this something Christians should be aware of? They give the best prices for the destinations I fly to, but at what cost to their employees? I know there are many industries accused of similar issues, so how informed should we be and what should we do about it?”

John Calvin: Who He is, What He Did, and Why He Matters

This is a good little introduction to the great reformer, John Calvin.

The Danger of “I” in Christian Prayer

Al Mohler: “One of the besetting sins of evangelicalism is our obsession with individualism. This obsession with individualism chronically besets us as evangelicals. The first-person singular pronoun reigns in our thinking. We tend to think about nearly everything (including the truths of God’s Word) only as they relate to me.”

How 2 Guys Stole $500 Million of Art in 81 Minutes

Here is the story of ridiculous art heist that still hasn’t been solved.

Is Your Pastor Happy to See You?

Jared Wilson handles this well. “This is difficult to talk about for pastors. It is difficult to explain to their own congregations how pastoral ministry can be so difficult. It can be and often is a great joy. But it is difficult in ways that are hard to express, because doing so runs the risk of appearing as complaining, shaming, or nagging. The pastor may find it not difficult at all to exhort his congregation in submission to God, faithfulness in service, and joy in discipleship. But exhort them to submit to himself and his fellow elders? In faith? With joy? Well, that’s something else entirely.”

Is It a Waste of Time for Seminary Students (and Pastors) to Learn the Biblical Languages?

No, it’s not a waste! “No doubt, pastors should be busy shepherding their flock, meeting with ministry leaders, and running the church. But, the core of the calling is to be a ‘minister of the word.’ And if the pastoral call is to be a minister of the Word, then there is a significant component of pastoral life that should be devoted to serious study of the biblical text—beyond just the preparation for that week’s sermon.”

When the Bible Becomes an App

“A surprising statistic in research on Bible engagement among Americans is that more than 90 percent of regular Bible readers prefer print to digital. That percentage holds true even though more than 90 percent of Bible readers also indicate that they engage with the Bible on digital platforms and through an app. So, the trends show exponential growth in digital Bible engagement alongside a strong preference for a print Bible reading experience.”

Flashback: 10 Common but Illegitimate Reasons to Divorce

It is clear in the Bible that God’s intention for marriage is that it remain in effect until the death of one spouse. I believe it is also quite clear that God has provided a limited set of circumstances in which a marriage can legitimately be severed…Here are 10 common but illegitimate reasons to divorce.

Child of God, you cost Christ too much for him to forget you.

—C.H. Spurgeon

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    A La Carte (April 23)

    A La Carte: Climate anxiety paralyzes, gospel hope propels / Living what God has written / How should I engage my rebellious child? / Satan hates your pastor / How to navigate our spiritual highs / The art of extemporaneous preaching / and more.

  • The Path to Contentment

    The Path to Contentment

    I wonder if you have ever considered that the solution to discontentment almost always seems to be more. If I only had more money I would be content. If I only had more followers, more possessions, more beauty, then at last I would consider myself successful. If only my house was bigger, my influence wider,…

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    A La Carte (April 22)

    A La Carte: Why my shepherd carries a rod / When Mandisa forgave Simon Cowell / An open mind is like an open mouth / Marriage: the half-time report / The church should mind its spiritual business / Kindle deals / and more.

  • It Begins and Ends with Speaking

    It Begins and Ends with Speaking

    Part of the joy of reading biography is having the opportunity to learn about a person who lived before us. An exceptional biography makes us feel as if we have actually come to know its subject, so that we rejoice in that person’s triumphs, grieve over his failures, and weep at his death.

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    Weekend A La Carte (April 20)

    A La Carte: Living counterculturally during election season / Borrowing a death / The many ministries of godly women / When we lose loved ones and have regrets / Ethnicity and race and the colorblindness question / The case for children’s worship services / and more.

  • The Anxious Generation

    The Great Rewiring of Childhood

    I know I’m getting old and all that, and I’m aware this means that I’ll be tempted to look unfavorably at people who are younger than myself. I know I’ll be tempted to consider what people were like when I was young and to stand in judgment of what people are like today. Yet even…