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A La Carte (October 31)

thursday

Today’s Kindle deals include just a couple, but among them is The Coddling of the American Mind which, though not a Christian book, has been of great interest to many Christians.

(Yesterday on the blog: What An Expert on Sexual Abuse Says About Sleepovers)

My Love Cannot Save You

I really enjoyed this reflection on motherhood. “He rubbed my arm as I whimpered my way back into the real world, out of the terror of night. Sleep evaded me then and I stared at the ceiling thinking of every mother who cannot find her child. Every mother who has lost a part of her heart and soul. I prayed for mothers who claw at the side of government agents who cannot find their children.”

How to Stop Being So Lazy

“On TV, the lazy man or woman is portrayed as a lovable loaf. Even in their torpor, he or she just cracks a few jokes and that makes it all okay. But is laziness just something to be laughed off with a shrug and a ‘that’s just the way they are,’ or could it be that laziness is a more serious offense?”

Reformation: Can the Roman Catholic Gospel Get You into Heaven?

This one seems appropriate for Reformation Day. “This Reformation season, let’s look objectively at a critical question. Can anyone get to heaven through the Roman Catholic gospel? If so, how? If not, why not?”

Is the God of the Bible a Genocidal Maniac?

I know you don’t believe that, but many do. Michael Kruger says, “I don’t think we need to get God off the hook. I don’t think he wants off the hook. As painful as this issue is, it highlights what we, and our culture, need to hear more than ever: God is holy, people are sinful, the world is broken, and his judgment is just.”

How Transparent Should a Pastor’s Wife Be?

Christel Humfrey is hardly the first pastor’s wife to wonder this. “Some burdens we must bear alone for the sake of the church and yes, we may experience closer scrutiny than the woman sitting next to us in the pew. But even so, God desires for us to have healthy relationships within our church community. And without some level of transparency our relationships will never grow. “

When Your Plan for Killing Sin Isn’t Working

“Burdened brothers and sisters, we can’t sanctify ourselves. Along with the apostle Paul, I gently ask you (and myself): Having begun by the Spirit, do we believe we’re now being perfected by our own strength (Gal. 3:3)? While it is good to pursue holiness, at the end of the day, we must know that it is the Spirit—not our plans, works, obedience, or Bible memorization—who sanctifies us.”

Stop Comparing Yourself to Well-Known Pastors

This is wise. “Preacher, you can preach better than John MacArthur, John Piper, David Platt, and H.B. Charles. I wonder if that surprises you? It should not. You can preach better to your flock than any of those world-renowned expositional preachers.”

Flashback: The Cracks Begin at the Bottom

If disunity begins at the bottom and works its way to the top, so too does unity. A strong foundation stabilizes and supports the entire structure. What are you doing to actively pursue unity within your church?

A content person is able to sit quietly under the reassuring affirmation of God. The Lord is his or her sufficiency.

—Erik Raymond

  • Shoots Himself

    Dad, Don’t Shoot Yourself in the Foot

    Part of what we must model to our children is the centrality of the local church in the life and faith of the Christian. We must model what it is to do good to others, to persevere in local church fellowship, to respect church leadership, to participate in the means of grace.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (August 16)

    A La Carte: Do we need another Pentecost? / The church will not be consulted / Redeeming the time / Why I don’t use “Biblical Patriarchy” / The scandal of the Evangelical heart / and more.

  • Free Stuff Saturday (Focus on the Family)

    This week, the blog and this giveaway are sponsored by Focus on the Family. What is The Focused Pastor Couples Conference? Hosted by Focus on the Family, the Focused Pastor Couples Conference is a space created just for pastors and their spouses—a place to step away from the demands of ministry and be reminded that…

  • Catholicism

    Should You Share the Gospel with Your Catholic Friends?

    It is a question that seems to arise time and again and year after year: How should Protestants relate to Roman Catholics? Are Catholics faithful brothers and sisters in the Lord? Are they misguided members of an alternative denomination? Are they followers of an entirely different faith that preaches an entirely different gospel? How should…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (August 15)

    A La Carte: The masculinity pyramid / John Mark Comer / Piper on gentle (or firm) correction / The growing enthusiasm for euthanasia / Witness when the vibe shifts / The least attended church gathering / And more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (August 14)

    A La Carte: Wisdom for newlyweds / The mark of the beast / Beware the new notebook energy / When evIl comes for children / Christian sexual ethics / Kindle Bible studies / and more.