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A La Carte (July 14)

A La Carte Collection cover image

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

I am taking vacation with my family, so will be on light duty this week! That means A La Carte will go out each day, but I won’t be sharing new articles until next week.

Today’s Kindle deals include some excellent books on the best subject of all: Jesus.

Distorted Doctrine Destroys Lives

John Piper explains how distorted doctrine destroys lives and, therefore, why correct doctrine is so important.

Trying to Make Sense of the Bad Things That Happen

Paul Tautges: “Pain has the potential to stimulate growth in our relationship with God, since it often reawakens us to eternal realities. In this way, God can use our sorrow to draw us closer to him. God has not forgotten to be gracious.”

Be the Jonathan

“Men, how good are you at supporting your fellow brothers in their lives? It can be tricky stepping into another brother’s life and entering into their hardship, sadness, or sorrow. We usually are not the most emotional creatures, so whether we are either trying to be there for one another or to receive that care, it can be awkward.” But hopefully that doesn’t stop you.

Why Did the Lord Seek to Put Moses to Death, and What Is a “Bridegroom of Blood”?

Here’s a helpful explanation of one of the Bible’s strangest passages.

A Biblical Understanding of Musical Elements

For those who aren’t very musical, this is a look at the elements of music (and why it matters for what we sing in church).

The Dehumanizing Force of Administrative Sludge

Alan Noble writes about the way administrative sludge dehumanizes us and tells why it’s likely to get worse in the years to come.

Flashback: Making the Christian Life More Complicated Than It Needs To Be

The only thing that really matters in any context or any circumstance is obedience to God’s will as it is revealed in God’s Word. Thus it is always necessary, and never superfluous, to search the Bible to know the mind of God. Thus it is always right, and never wrong, to pray, “Lord, teach me to obey you in this.”

He who is well trained in the school of affliction often has little to do, when death comes, but to gather up his feet in his bed, and bid a glad farewell to earth and a joyful welcome to heaven.

—William Plumer

  • 12 General Market Books I Have Enjoyed Recently

    While I am committed to reading and reviewing Christian books, I also enjoy reading a steady diet of books published for the general market. I suppose my interests lean toward history, but I do read other books as well. Here are a few of the titles I’ve enjoyed over the past couple of months.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (February 12)

    A La Carte: When a crack becomes a chasm / That viral AI article / Artificial theologians / Christian witness in a divided world / Well our feeble frame he knows / Book and Kindle deals / and more.

  • Performative Grief

    Performative Grief

    We all know what it is to perform grief—to ensure that others are aware of our sadness by forcing them to see our sorrow. We may do this to gain their attention or compel their sympathy. We may do this because we make grief an idol and are only validated when others feel sorry for…

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    A La Carte (February 11)

    A La Carte: Life without a phone / “Yours Alone” (a new song) / Loving your wife through the rough patches / Godly mothers-in-law / All the answers / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (February 10)

    A La Carte: John Piper on aging with joy / Lessons on money / Who we are when we disagree / Don’t be a discouraging Christian / Gender surgeries for minors / Church-loving children / Kindle deals / and more.