Skip to content ↓

A La Carte (February 26)

A La Carte Collection cover image

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include a few solid choices from Crossway. Also be sure to check some of the books that I listed over the weekend.

(Yesterday on the blog: We All Have To Do With God)

How Not to Apply the Bible

Kenneth Berding provides a useful example of how not to apply the Bible. And, of course, he tells us how we should apply it as well.

30 People in the New Testament Confirmed

This is just a simple roundup of 30 people mentioned in the New Testament who have been confirmed by the historical record.

Taylor Swift and Christianity

I do not understand the Taylor Swift phenomenon! David Robertson offers some thoughts on it in relation to Swift’s tour arriving in Australia. “In the rejection of God, a culture tends to lose its mind and look for other saviours. If you doubt that, then just consider that in the past week, I have read about Taylor saving the Australian economy through Taylornomics, women in China and the planet – as well as getting Biden re-elected!”

But I Did Everything Right

Barbara explains one way in which we can all subtly live as if the prosperity gospel is true. “Most of us realize the ‘prosperity gospel’ is wrong—the belief that if you obey God, especially in giving big offerings to their evangelists, you’ll be blessed with health, wealth, and prosperity. But we unwittingly buy into a version of the same thought.”

10 Reasons the Old Testament Matters to Christians

Jason DeRouchie offers 10 reasons that the Old Testament matters to Christians. “To understand the Old Testament fully, we must start reading it as believers in the resurrected Jesus, with God having awakened our spiritual senses to perceive and hear rightly.”

Cliff Notes on Cars

Charlie Carter considers life and death, new cars and old cars, and a few other matters here.

Flashback: Only the Christian Faith Begins At the Top

Just as a tower is straight only to the degree to which it matches the builder’s perfect line, our lives are right only to the degree to which they match God’s perfect law. 

I have to tell you that heaven, earth and hell are after your immortal spirit. Earth to cheat it. Hell to destroy it. Heaven to redeem it.

—De Witt Talmage

  • Rocking the Cradle and Tending the Grave

    Rocking the Cradle and Tending the Grave

    A few Sundays ago we had picture day—the day we take updated photographs for the church directory. Aileen and I were overdue to have our photo taken and, for the first time in 26 years, it was just the two of us. Over the years, our directory photos climbed from two people to three, then…

  • A La Carte (July 22)

    A pastor and a salesman get into an Uber / Something greater than outrage / Spend time with the gruntled / Lost relational opportunities and heaven? / If Jesus returns tonight / A letter from the leaders you are raising / One spirit, one faith, many opponents / and more.

  • A La Carte (July 21)

    5 signs your marriage is unhealthy / The preacher’s life / A life of prayer / The miracle of Christian unity / Conforming to non-conformity / Football won’t save the world / What I’m enjoying / and more.

  • Stop Losing Your Sermon Notes in Old Notebooks

    What if you could see every note you’ve written on the Sermon on the Mount when you read Matthew 5? That’s InBible. When writing a note, tap any Bible reference to see the passage in context. When reading Scripture, select a verse to see every note that cites it. Insights you recorded years ago resurface…

  • A La Carte (July 20)

    Pillaging of the digital commons / The Marxist who understood sex better than the UMC / Intrusive thoughts and gospel hope / Predestination should give you confidence / How to wait for cultural reckoning / Invite as many as you find / Kindle deals / and more.