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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

  • Fight a Dragon

    Climb a Mountain, Swim a Sea, Fight a Dragon

    It fascinates me how the most beautiful thing can also be the most offensive thing. The world knows nothing more beautiful than grace, than favor that is undeserved, unmerited, and freely granted. Yet so often the world responds to grace with spite and anger, with revulsion and unbelief.

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    A La Carte (May 1)

    A La Carte: On church shopping and hopping / Alistair Begg on managing time / Three key questions to ask your Mormon friends / Remember the 4 “alls” of the Great Commission / Responding to CT’s cover story / Gospel audacity / Many Kindle deals / and more.

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    A La Carte (April 30)

    A La Carte: Warblers and the question of gratuitous beauty / Are parents to blame for prodigals? / The freebie round-up / Scripts for healthy masculinity / 5 traits of great spiritual leaders / Why daily bread is better / and more.

  • Why Christians Should Care About Good Writing

    This week the blog is sponsored by Zondervan Reflective, and the post is written by Jared C. Wilson. “It doesn’t really matter if I can ‘dress it up;’ I just have to have the facts right.” I’ve heard some variation of that sentiment a number of times over the years, more lately while teaching my…

  • The Great Man and the Local Church

    The Great Man and the Local Church

    There is a way of telling history that focuses on the impact of the few great figures that rise up in any generation. This “great man theory” says that history can best be understood when we focus on the dominant figures of the time. History, it says, turns on the actions, decisions, obsessions, and natural…

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    A La Carte (April 29)

    A La Carte: The absence of opposition / Life and death are in the power of the fingers / Preaching Goliath’s sword / This piece of land / Sin wants us isolated / Foolosophy / Kindle deals / and more.