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A La Carte (March 8)

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I apologize to the email subscribers who did not receive yesterday’s A La Carte. The fault was mine!

Westminster Books has a special deal on a new book for pastors. Several other titles for pastors are similarly discounted.

(Yesterday on the blog: God’s Grace for Every Family)

5 Qualities We Should Look for in Our Political Leaders

Kevin DeYoung outlines some qualities we should look for (and hope for and wish for) in our political leaders.

Nihilism—in Nazi Germany and Today

Carl Trueman: “We have witnessed amazing technological advances since the 1940s. The transformation of humanity from a given, limited, teleological essence to a potency whose limits and ends are merely technical problems to be overcome is now complete (at least in the cultural imagination). Ironically, human technical brilliance has served to make human beings into nothing of any great significance. We are the only creatures on the planet who are intelligent and intentional enough to have abolished ourselves.”

CityAlight – Jerusalem (Live)

CityAlight is celebrating 10 years since their first single by releasing a previously-unreleased video of what I still think is one of their best songs.

Is My Child Transgender Because of Me?

“One of the great anxieties that parents face is the fear of what our own sins could do to corrupt our kids. It can be a paralyzing anxiety, one that has come up on the podcast in many different forms.” John Piper addresses such a distressed parent in this Ask Pastor John.

Are Leaders Necessarily Readers?

You’ve heard it before, I’m sure: leaders are readers. But is that necessarily the case? Stephen takes a slightly contrarian position here.

Good People Get Good Things

Most people and most religions operate (whether subtly or explicitly) in such a way that good people get good things and bad people get bad things. Sometimes even Christians.

Flashback: Most To Jesus I Surrender (or Maybe Just Some)

Do we really fully surrender to him those things that we love most, or do we effectively bring him what is lame and spotted, what is of little consequence and low on our list of priorities?

We may meet death in confidence and victory only if our hopes are firmly and entirely grounded in His merits on our behalf.

—Guy Prentiss Waters

  • 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.

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    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.

  • Southern Africa

    A Trip to Southern Africa

    I don’t often write trip reports after I travel, except, of course, in the form of books and documentary projects like Epic and From the Rising of the Sun. Yet, I thought I would make a rare exception after returning from my recent journey to Southern Africa (and, strangely, Northern California). While I am accustomed…

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    A La Carte (December 10)

    A La Carte: Top 10 theology stories of 2025 / Mama, you don’t have to save Christmas / Giving up all your Sundays to advent / An empty chair at Christmas / Pray for the church in Rwanda / Kindle deals / and more.

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    A La Carte (December 9)

    A La Carte: Reforming generosity / Let the young man come to church / Your wife is beauty / Combating imposter syndrome / Be known, not impressive / Dan McClellan / and more.