Skip to content ↓

A La Carte (July 22)

thursday

I wanted to again thank all those who donated to the Nick Challies Memorial Scholarship. The first scholarships will be awarded to 10 Boyce College or Southern Seminary students beginning in the coming semester. The fund remains open for those who would like to continue donating to it.

There is a little list of Kindle deals for the collectors.

(Yesterday on the blog: Have You Tasted Heaven?)

Call it Racism, Not ‘White Supremacy’

Samuel James says that with “All variables equal, I think it’s a mistake for Christian social justice advocates to adopt the mainstream practice of talking about ‘white supremacy’ and ‘whiteness’ instead of sticking with ‘racism’.”

Two Cheers for Civil Religion

Carl Trueman: “The old civil religion has not fallen to orthodox religion, to a vibrant Christianity; no, it has fallen to an anti-culture where anything goes and anyone who objects is villainized. In fact, I would argue that it is even worse than that: We have a new civil religion, that of the therapeutic, and it is rapidly colonizing Christianity.”

Homeschool to Public School … and (Sometimes) Back Again

Rebekah Matt provides some counsel, based on experience, for those transitioning between homeschool and public school.

The ‘It’s Just a Movie’ Mistake

“I used to think everyone was wooed by the characters and qualities they admired onscreen. Turns out, many aren’t even aware of the ways movies subtly impress upon us visions of character, virtue, and vice.” The article includes some useful insights into films and television shows.

Can Our Loved Ones in Heaven See Us During Important Times in Our Lives?

I feel a little less certain of the answer to this than Randy Alcorn does, but his answer is well worth reading.

Context Matters: In the World, but Not of the World

“This phrase is common in Christian circles, but many may not know where it comes from. Is this a biblical saying? If so, are we using it correctly? If we read the Bible as a whole and not as an inspirational-motto jukebox, we’ll see that some familiar expressions take on a deeper meaning than we originally thought.”

Flashback: White Fragility and the Bible’s Big Story

I want to turn to the Bible to suggest how it might help us understand issues of race and racism, for it also contains a narrative structure.

He that has his trust set upon God does not need to dread anything except the weakening or the paralyzing of that trust.

—Alexander Maclaren

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (March 20)

    A La Carte: My Jesus poster / Stability on an emotional roller coaster / What pastors owe their congregations / Why friction is good for you / Permissive parenting and civilizational decline / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Vote

    The Unique Christian Contribution to Politics

    The relationship of the Christian to the political process is one of those issues that arises time and again and cycle after cycle. It is one of those issues that often generates more heat than light and that brings about more division than unity. Yet I would like to think we can agree that there…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (March 19)

    A La Carte: Intrusive thoughts / Praying with an open Bible / Recharge your marriage / Why seminary for women? / The real reason we struggle to pray / Should I stay or should I go?

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (March 18)

    A La Carte: Did Jesus freely live a scripted life? / Death, grief, and Frodo’s incurable wound / Cultural Christianity / The danger of an inward focused church / The stay-at-home mom / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Things Change and Things Stay the Same

    Things Change and Things Stay the Same

    The French language has an endearing little phrase that could almost have been drawn from the Bible’s wisdom literature. “Plus ça change,” they say, “plus c’est la même chose.” The more things change, the more they stay the same. Though I live in the 21st century, I read in the 19th, which is to say,…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (March 17)

    A La Carte: Comfort in life’s disappointments / To women with passive husbands / Loved ones with dementia / When to preach Romans / Friendship / Kindle deals / and more.