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A La Carte (June 17)

thursday

Good morning. May the Lord bless and keep you today.

Today’s Kindle deals includes a nice list of theological works from Crossway.

(Yesterday on the blog: Fruitfulness and Usefulness)

Recognizing You on Father’s Day Even Though Your Hair Is Gray

This is a sweet Father’s Day tribute.

In Praise of the Ordinary Fathers Making an Extraordinary Difference

Speaking of Father’s Day, “This morning, with Father’s Day right around the corner, I prodded my usually matter-of-fact, non-introspective husband to dig deep into what he’s learned in his 20+ years of fatherhood. He doesn’t love it when I do this, but after some nagging gentle prodding, the wisdom started to flow.” It’s a good little list he came up with.

How Social Media Can Impede Our Witness

This is so important. “We each need to recognize how digital tools like social media are constantly shaping or discipling us each day. We must realize that the power these digital mediums have over us is not only altering how we think about truth, the world around us, and our neighbors but also altering how we depict ourselves. The reality is that we often mimic what we see online to the detriment of our souls and public witness.”

It Is Obscene

And while on the subject of social media, “There are many social-media-savvy people who are choking on sanctimony and lacking in compassion, who can fluidly pontificate on Twitter about kindness but are unable to actually show kindness.”

How Not to Correct a Fellow Christian

John Piper: “First, don’t be critical of your fellow believer without manifesting strong affections of brotherly love. You can see how I’m saying it because I’m leaving room for all the texts that say to correct one another, admonish one another, rebuke one another. You’ve got to pass judgment if you’re going to obey the Bible.”

Modern Music’s Death By Auto-Tune

I found this a really interesting look at how auto-tune works and why it is in some ways harming music.

Are You Unintentionally Joining the Parade?

Erik Raymond asks whether you’re unintentionally joining the parade.

Flashback: How To Bear Up Under Your Burdens

When you are weary and burdened, God is always available to help. He may not remove that burden from you, but he will certainly straighten your spine and shore you up as you carry it.

Only he who can say, ‘The Lord is the strength of my life’ can go on to say, ‘Of whom shall I be afraid?’

—Alexander Maclaren

  • A Moving Picture of the Gospel

    A Moving Picture of the Gospel

    As we gather on Sundays, we preach the Bible, read the Bible, pray the Bible, and sing the Bible. But that is not all, for we also “see” the Bible. Here’s how Mark Dever expresses it: “The ordinances are the dramatic presentations of the gospel. They are the moving pictures that represent the spiritual realities…

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    Weekend A La Carte (December 13)

    A La Carte: No one drifts into godlIness / Your subscriptions are holding you captive / Fighting sexual temptation / An orderly case for raising hands in worship / Kirk Cameron and remodeling hell / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (Harvest House Publishers)

    This week, the blog and this giveaway are sponsored by Harvest House Publishers. Meet 52 Unsung Heroes Throughout history, the stories of brave Black believers and their remarkable contributions to the Christian faith and our nation have too often gone overlooked. Passionate writer and educator Jasmine L. Holmes brings 52 notable Black Christians’ stories to life…

  • Top Ten

    My Top Ten Books from 2025 (+ a Bonus)

    As another year draws to a close, I wanted to take some time to consider the books I read in 2025 and to assemble a list of my top picks. Apart from the first book, which I consider the best I read this year, the rest are in no particular order. In each case I’ve…

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    A La Carte (December 12)

    A La Carte: How to fight your phone idolatry / The weakness of God / Strong and fearless faith / Loving aging parents well / Changed by love / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (December 11)

    A La Carte: Gift giving in an age of abundance / Canada’s Bill C-9 / In memory of Jubilant Sykes / Motherhood is a refining fire / A gentle pastor isn’t a weak pastor / When God’s plans leave us distressed / and more.