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A La Carte (May 9)

Today’s Kindle deals include a few titles that are worth a look.

The Word Biblical Commentary series is on sale for Logos at up to 67% off. While the series has a frustrating format, many of the volumes are excellent.

A Tale of Two Men with ALS

Here’s a tale of two very different men, both of whom have ALS.

The Long, Hard, Unprecedented Fall of Sears

“In 1989, Sears Roebuck & Co. ruled America as its biggest retailer. It loomed over rivals from a perch high above Chicago, inside what was once the world’s tallest building—one bearing the company’s name.” It has fallen a long, long way from those heights.

10 Things You Should Know about the Theology of John Calvin

Sam Storms rounds ’em up. “Our primary, but not exclusive, source for these truths about Calvin’s theology come from the Institutes of the Christian Religion, the first edition of which in 1536 contained only 6 chapters. The final edition of 1550 had 80 chapters.”

The Radium Girls

Here’s one of those weird little glimpses of history. “At factories like the Radium Luminous Materials Corporation on Third Street in Newark, young women like 14-year-old Katherine Schaub passed their days with tiny paintbrushes in their mouths. Beside each girl sat a small dish of radium powder, which she mixed with a few drops of water and adhesive.”

Ten Questions Christians Should Ask of Their Entertainment

There is lots to reflect on here.

How To Honor Your Unbelieving Mother

“As we approach Mother’s Day—it’s important to consider a proper way to honor your mother. The value of a mother is far higher than we can hardly imagine.” Indeed.

Fidget Spinners

My daughter just turned 11 and “needed” a fidget spinner as one of her gifts. The New York Times explains how they became this generation’s hula hoop.

Flashback: 5 Questions To Ask of a Book Before You Read It

They are far and away the most common questions I receive (beyond, perhaps, how to pronounce my name—it rhymes with “valleys”): Can you tell me anything about this author? Have you heard of this book? Is it safe to read? Since I can’t answer all the questions, here are a few tips in the form of 5 questions you can ask of any book.

You must keep all earthly treasures out of your heart, and let Christ be your treasure, and let Him have your heart.

—C.H. Spurgeon

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (September 14)

    A La Carte: The Battle and the Blessing (a new song!) / Curved in upon ourselves / Pondering the passage of time / The allure and danger of WitchTok / Be a Christian in every situation / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (RFPA)

    This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Reformed Free Publishing Association, who also sponsored the blog this week with their article “What Is God’s Calling For Me?” They are offering a free copy of Finding My Vocation: A Guide to Young People Seeking a Calling to each of ten winners. How can I pick…

  • Grounded in Grace

    Your Kids Need You To Help Them Build Their Identity

    It has always been important that children establish their identity. From the time kids are young, they are being formed in a host of ways and gradually coming to terms with who they are and who they will become. Historically, identity arose from outside—from the people they came from, the place they were born, and…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (September 13)

    A La Carte: Will God forgive my worst sin? / Seeing dignity instead of misery among the poor / Aging graciously / How edgy are you? / What Trump should have said to Kamala / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (September 12)

    A La Carte: Our greatest tool for reaching the West again / Ordained or allowed? / One for the misfits / If the Twin Towers fell after Twitter / How to get over it when you taught poorly / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Pastoral Prayer

    The Pastoral Prayer: Examples and Inspirations

    Of all the elements that once made up traditional Protestant worship, there is probably none that has fallen on harder times than prayer. It is not unusual to visit a church today and find that prayer is perfunctory, rare, or absent altogether. If that is true of prayer in general, it is particularly true of…