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A La Carte (July 24)

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Good morning from southern Zambia where I am finishing up a trip to one of my favorite countries. It has been intense but enjoyable.

Westminster Books is offering a deal this week on the new ESV Spiral-Bound Scripture Journals.

I added some new Kindle deals yesterday and should have some more today as well.

A Mother to Me, Too

“Mothering well does not depend on having Instagram-worthy kitchens or the laundry neatly folded and put away. Instead, it is about welcoming and nurturing the ones within our circle, caring for their hearts and their hurts through the tender love of Jesus. And then opening that circle to include those hungering outside the door.”

‘Never Look Your Age’: Shiny Lies We Often Buy

Stacy Reaoch writes about aging (with women as her target audience): “Few of us see gray hair as a crown. We think it’s something to hide! Yet the Bible tells us to prize gray hairs as we might a long life devoted to following Jesus. God, through his word, wants to take our minds off our appearance (and all the fears that go with it) and give our attention to spiritual maturity instead. Suddenly, it becomes possible to celebrate becoming older as we delight to see how God has shaped us over many years.”

Nine Reminders for the Struggle with Body Image

This is a good resource for those who may be struggling with body image, or trying to help someone who is.

A Ruler Who Trusts in Yahweh

Here are eight different factors that were meant to be present in a king of Israel. They tell us a lot about the nature of God.

No, I Will Not Stop Calling The Church A Family

Last week I linked to an author who explained why he thinks it may be valuable to be cautious with how we speak of church as a family. I expected someone would disagree and sure enough Paul Carter came through. I think both of them make good points.

Criminalizing Sexual Ethics

Here is a plea to the government to stop moving forward with the criminalizing of Christian sexual ethics.

Flashback: In a Distant Land

Even as we rejoice in every one of God’s blessings and celebrate every evidence of his grace, still we long to be in that new land, that new home, that new place where we can—where we will—truly thrive, where we will display our fullest potential, where we will be all that God has made us to be.

When you come to Christ for mercy and love and help in your anguish and perplexity and sinfulness, you are going with the flow of his own deepest wishes, not against them.

—Dane Ortlund

  • Prayer

    Spread Too Thin

    With so much to do, we can easily begin to wonder whether prayer is an appropriate use of scarce time. Wouldn’t it be better to give my attention to something that would let me cross something off my to-do list?

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    Weekend A La Carte (July 12)

    A La Carte: Where art thou Rob Bell? / The case against in vitro fertilization / Praying and weeping for those suffering in Texas / Greet each other with a holy hug / The example of Jimmy Swaggart / and more.

  • Thriving Marriage

    Thriving Marriage

    I have often wondered about the best time to write a book about marriage. When a couple is young, there is so much about marriage they have not yet experienced. They can still impart wisdom and teach lessons, of course, but there is so much of marriage that remains unknown to them. Yet when a…

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    A La Carte (July 11)

    A La Carte: Falling out of repentance / Tattoos as confession / The Epstein List and secret sins / Teaching generosity / Lessons from a former youth pastor / Bedbugs in the bowels of the city.

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    A La Carte (July 10)

    A La Carte: Questions for a maturing marriage / The lesbian seagulls that weren’t / But mommy, why? / A time to be tired / The modern rise of Stoicism / and more.

  • The Stranger

    The Stranger: A Short Film For You

    Based on a true story and inspired by the truth that character comes before competence, “The Stranger” is an honest, light-hearted and meaningful picture of what it means to truly serve others.