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A La Carte (February 8)

friday

Today’s Kindle deals include just a couple of books–it has been a bit of a slow stretch!

Westminster Books has begun a new feature where each month they’ll highlight and discount resources related to a different book of the Bible. Here’s this month’s list.

(Yesterday on the blog: It Takes Two)

How Reading the Bible Changed My Life

This is a sweet story. “Seeking God isn’t something that anyone does naturally. So when I look back at that time in my life, I don’t see a 14-year-old who suddenly became “spiritual”; I see a gracious God who chose to intervene in an apathetic teen’s life. I don’t see my own faithful heart; I see the faithful heart of God that kept on pursuing me, despite my faithlessness, and that still pursues me to this day.”

How Jesus Trains Husbands

This is the kind of training that is never complete! “It is far more difficult to daily sacrifice our pride, our reputation, our selfishness, our perceived “rights,” or our desires to be served than it is to sacrifice our lives. And yet, these daily sacrifices are part and parcel of what it means to love our wives sacrificially. I have never met a husband who would not willingly lay down his life for his wife. But I have met many who refuse to sacrifice themselves in the smaller ways and, therefore, make life very hard for their wives on a daily basis.”

Your Celebration Is Short-lived

“As you see the fiery darts scattered on the ground around you, and watch the dust settle as the sun rises on refreshed blessings—shout a song of praise in worship to the God whose grace extends to sinners and has not abandoned us as defenceless orphans. Celebrate the victory, but celebrate with the situational awareness of a soldier who still stands on the battle field.”

Echoes of Babies Never Heard

Oh, for the day we no longer need to lament the death of so many babies. “Listen. Can you hear them? The echoes of the babies never heard? God knows their names. He hears each one.”

The Four Biblical Marks of Corporate Worship

I’ve had experiences like this. “While on vacation a number of years ago, I visited a church for Sunday worship but left questioning whether I had worshipped at all. I took in the full complement of announcements, shook hands with several greeters, viewed a skit, and enjoyed something of a concert. Though a rote prayer was offered, there was no congregational singing, Scripture reading, or sermon. I left puzzled, frustrated, and with a sense of loss. I felt like I had visited a restaurant but was not served a meal.”

Thoughts on that Liam Neeson Interview

Stephen Kneale shared some reflections on the recent Liam Neeson interview. and I think this is the most important bit: “Here we come to the crux of it. Whether its Liam Neeson or someone else, the world simply spits up and chews out those who exist to make us feel superior. So long as we can continue to find offenders out there, we need not look inward at all the potential offences that lie within.”

Is There Any Hope for the Weary Woman?

Kimberly Wagner offers some reflection questions and answers on the book of James.

Flashback: Do I Really Need To Suffer?

While suffering may be a influence for godliness, it is not the influence. God does not need suffering in order to bring us to maturity. He needs only his Word and Spirit which speak powerfully in both light and darkness.

A friend is someone who loves you more than needs you.

—Jeremy Pierre

  • Almost Saved

    To Be Almost Saved Is To Be Completely Lost

    Along the coast of New York is a little town called East Hampton. And I recently read that there is a cemetery in East Hampton where you can find 12 identical graves that have been laid side by side. There’s a story behind them, of course. All the way back in the 1800s, there was…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (August 18)

    A La Carte: 6 ways to lead better Bible studies / When you want to give up / Everyone has a calling / Easing John Mark Comer’s fears / See and support foster families / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Shoots Himself

    Dad, Don’t Shoot Yourself in the Foot

    Part of what we must model to our children is the centrality of the local church in the life and faith of the Christian. We must model what it is to do good to others, to persevere in local church fellowship, to respect church leadership, to participate in the means of grace.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (August 16)

    A La Carte: Do we need another Pentecost? / The church will not be consulted / Redeeming the time / Why I don’t use “Biblical Patriarchy” / The scandal of the Evangelical heart / and more.

  • Free Stuff Saturday (Focus on the Family)

    This week, the blog and this giveaway are sponsored by Focus on the Family. What is The Focused Pastor Couples Conference? Hosted by Focus on the Family, the Focused Pastor Couples Conference is a space created just for pastors and their spouses—a place to step away from the demands of ministry and be reminded that…

  • Catholicism

    Should You Share the Gospel with Your Catholic Friends?

    It is a question that seems to arise time and again and year after year: How should Protestants relate to Roman Catholics? Are Catholics faithful brothers and sisters in the Lord? Are they misguided members of an alternative denomination? Are they followers of an entirely different faith that preaches an entirely different gospel? How should…