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A La Carte (February 10)

Today I sorted through hundreds of books with titles like Daniel Diet Vegan Slow Cooker Recipes and Meditating by Drawing Zen Doodle Animals to arrive at a few Kindle deals that would actually be worthwhile.

Pastor, Defend Christian Liberty

This issue is so important. “But before it is freedom to something, our freedom in Christ is an assertion of our freedom from something. Christ’s people are free to eat shrimp cocktail, pork rinds, or chicken feet fundamentally because they are free from the Law.”

Are You Not Ready to Worship?

Jamie Brown: “I always cringe when I hear worship leaders begin a service by asking the question “are you ready to worship?” The hope is that the congregation will respond with an enthusiastic “yes!” and everything will go swimmingly. But the reality is that the answer to that question might actually be a resounding “no!”, but no one really feels comfortable admitting it.”

Looking for Romance

Yes! “Someday when I’m sitting in a rocking chair looking back over our life together, it won’t be the big trips or the diamond rings that I remember most. It’ll be all the little things. The small gestures that he makes every day to communicate how much he loves me. If you’re searching for romance in your marriage, chances are you’re ignoring the most romantic things about your life.”

Hyperlapse Around the World (Video)

Someone with a lot of time and creativity made a really neat world tour using Google Maps images.

12th Dead Sea Scrolls Cave Discovered in Israel

“Researchers have discovered a new cave in Israel that they say once held Dead Sea Scrolls, making it just the 12th such cave of its kind found. The find is thus a milestone, according to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.”

This Day in 1751. 266 years ago today John Wesley suffered a fall on the icy London Bridge and was carried to the home of a sailor’s widow named Mary Vazeille. Within a week the two were married. *

Falcon vs Starlings (Video)

The peregrine falcon is one of nature’s great hunters. This video shows one taking on a cloud of starlings with spectacular (and beautiful) results.

Millennial Sex and Dating

Dr. Mohler has lots of interesting stories in yesterday’s episode of The Briefing, but this one most caught my attention: “the study reveals that it is considered more intimate to be introduced to a potential sex partner’s family than actually to have sex with a person.” That’s just plain crazy. (Also see The Federalist.)

What Do I Say When My Child Admits Watching Porn?

This is important and every parent is likely to face it at one time or another. “The most important take away for any child in this scenario is to experience that Mom and Dad are safe people to talk about sexual temptations with.”

Flashback: I Love a Church that Sings Badly

I am drawn toward a church that sings poorly and am a little suspicious of a church that sings really well. Here’s why.

The absence of sound doctrine and the presence of false doctrine will always lead to sinful behavior.

— John MacArthur

  • New and Notable

    New and Notable Christian Books for April 2025

    It is surprisingly difficult to find a list of Christian books that have been released in any given month—especially if you want that list to be filtered by books released through particular publishers. That’s one of the reasons why I close each month by coming up with my list of New and Notable books. I…

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    Weekend A La Carte (April 26)

    A La Carte: Every pinch of pain has purpose / China closed Christian bookstores / Watch for the thing after the thing / For everything there is a time / Showers of blessing / What Pope Francis can teach us about preaching / and more.

  • What Makes You Beautiful

    What Makes You Beautiful

    I have often thought of a conversation that took place when my girls were little. Abby was perhaps 5 or 6 at the time and Michaela just working her way through the “terrible twos” (which for our kids always happened when they were three or four). A stranger saw me interacting with them one day…

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    A La Carte (April 25)

    A La Carte: John Piper and ChatGPT / Who’s praying for your wife and kids? / When your dreams include sin / Are you called to ministry? / Our feet shall tread this place again / and more.

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    A La Carte (April 24)

    A La Carte: He cares for us / Will the pope to go heaven? / An easy Christian faith / The good we cannot see / Chickens, elephants, and freedom / When we skip the prophets / Kindle and book deals / and more.