A La Carte (February 13)

Today’s Kindle deals include an entire collection of helpful little mini-books; there are a couple of other deals to be had as well.

Westminster Books has a great sale on books by R.C. Sproul.

(Yesterday on the blog: 4 Grave Dangers in Every Sin)

The Danger of Gossip

“The Lord loves a straight shooter. How do I know this? Because this is the embodiment of the wisdom imparted in Proverbs, including this helpful little gem: ‘Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you’ (4:24). Crooked speech is talk that isn’t straight. It is bowed, off-kilter, circuitous, meandering. There are a few examples we could name, including outright lying and even hypocritical living, but one of the most glaring examples of crooked speech that is practically epidemic in the church is the sin of gossip. But what is gossip?”

Dad’s Hurt Too: A Father’s Memoir of Miscarriage

This is a long but heartfelt article talking about the fact that miscarriages are difficult for fathers as well as mothers.

David Platt Resigns at IMB

This is consequential news from the SBC: David Platt has asked the International Mission Board trustees to begin searching for his successor. He will turn his full attention back to pastoring a local church.

Five Reasons Why the Children’s Minister Is the Staff Position in Greatest Demand

This is rather interesting: “If churches desire to reach families, they must be prepared to reach children. If the Boomer generation acted like helicopters and hovered over their kids, the Millennial generation is acting like sidecars, and want to go wherever the motorcycle/child goes. You can’t reach a family with kids unless you are really prepared to reach the kids.”

What We Did With All Our Free Time

“In 1930 economist John Maynard Keynes posited that one of the most difficult things in the 21st century would be how to manage all of our leisure time: ‘For the first time since his creation man will be faced with his real, his permanent problem how to use his freedom from pressing economic cares, how to occupy the leisure, which science and compound interest will have won for him, to live wisely and agreeably and well.’” Hmm.

People Aren’t Yes-Or-No Answers

Stephen Altrogge writes, “But more and more, I’m realizing that people aren’t yes-or-no questions. Behind every yes-or-no question is almost always a series of deeper questions, struggles, fears, and challenges.When someone asks me whether abortion is wrong, there’s usually much more lying beneath the surface. The question is simply the tip of the iceberg.”

Let’s Ban Porn

I’m thankful to see occasional voices calling out for some kind of ban on pornography. People are beginning to see the damage it does.

9 John Calvin Facts You (Probably) Didn’t Know

Here are 9 quick facts about John Calvin that you may not know.

Flashback: When My Love Grows Cold

I cannot love my wife without spending time with her and I cannot spend time with her without loving her more. And in much the same way meditating on God’s Word is not only a result of delighting in him, but also a cause of that delight.