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A La Carte (March 10)

friday

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you today.

Westminster Books has a deal on one of the books I’m most excited about this year.

Another round of Logos’ March Matchups is ready for your vote. Also, there are deals to be had on resources that have already been eliminated.

Cancel Culture Is Not Speaking Truth to Power. It’s Just Speaking Power.

Samuel James: “Cancel culture does not keep people “accountable.” It does punish them. It does trigger bad consequences for them. It can make them go away and not say or do anything online anymore. But this is not accountability; it’s just erasure.”

Blessed at a Distance: some thoughts on the passing of Rev. Edward Donnelly

This is a sweet reflection on the death of a godly man. “The ministry of Ted Donnelly found its global connections before the internet. His endearment to people globally was hard-won through his investment in God’s people personally, but this wasn’t via commodifying his gifts to get personal recognition. His was no meteoric rise via social media influence, but the steady consensus among otherwise disparate gatherings of Christians that he was a man who cared about Christ and for his people.” (See also Tribute to Pastor Edward “Ted” Donnelly)

The Justifications of Polygamists

“Why does it still happen when polygamy is technically illegal in our area and when the culture itself has proverbs that speak to its danger? For something that is so foreign to us in the West (at least for now), it’s helpful to understand the justifications used by other societies for polygamy so that we can more skillfully oppose it with biblical truth.” (See also Polygamy in the Bible Is Not Prescriptive)

Just Do It

Kristin considers God’s good providence in a time of difficulty. “Through this inconvenience, I have been surprised to discover that it is good to be disrupted. For life, as we know it, to be jolted, even in diminutive ways. God wastes absolutely nothing but designs hardships for our good.”

So, You Want to be a Pastor?

Sean DeMars: “My aim in this article is not to scare young men away from ministry, but to give them a clearer vision of what a life of shepherding looks like and to challenge them to count the cost before entering it (Luke 14:28-29). The ministry of the pastor is a ministry of sacrifice, most of which is unforeseen.”

The Old Testament Is Christian Scripture

Here is a good and helpful reminder that the Old Testament, too, is Christian scripture.

Flashback: How to Be a Good Christian With Minimal Effort

You asked for a few practical tips on living the Christian life. It means a lot to me that you’d ask. I completely understand how busy you are and how it’s daunting to add this new thing into an already-packed life…So let me offer a few tips on living your new life as a follower of Christ.

Embracing the truth that God accepts us apart from good works is the precise thing that causes us to excel in good works.

—Matt Perman

  • Free Stuff Fridays (Matthias Media)

    This week the blog and the giveaway have been sponsored by Matthias Media. Matthias Media is hosting Evangelize 2024 in Denver, Colorado on October 7-9, 2024. We have partnered with 10ofThose, Calvary Family of Churches and Vinegrowers to help you raise the evangelistic temperature at your church. We want to motivate and equip people to…

  • When Christians Disagree

    When Christians Disagree

    Wouldn’t it be nice if Christians only ever got along? Wouldn’t it be grand if all the discord we see in the world around us was completely foreign to the church? Wouldn’t it be heavenly if believers ever only experienced peace? I suppose it would be heavenly and, therefore, more than we can realistically hope…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (July 26)

    A La Carte: Therapy and bug men / How to have joy in hard times / Can a single pastor date in his church? / Life from barren ground / Shulamith Firestone was a prophet / Different ways of reading people we disagree with / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (July 25)

    A La Carte: What does it mean to die with dignity? / Did Paul endorse slavery? / Forgiveness in marriage / 5 ways to pursue contentment / The immense value of encouragement / and more.

  • Maybe We Make Meditation Too Difficult

    Maybe We Make Meditation Too Difficult

    Of all the Christian disciplines, it is my guess that meditation may be the least practiced—though I suppose fasting might have something to say about that. Most people diligently make time to read the Bible and pray. And yet, while most people have good intentions when it comes to meditation, it so often seems to…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 24)

    A La Carte: A mother to me, too / Never look your age? / Nine reminders for the struggle with body image / A ruler who trusts in Yahweh / No, I will not stop calling the church a family / Criminalizing sexual ethics / Bible journal sale / Kindle deals / and more.