A La Carte (September 11)

It’s another good day for Kindle deals. You’ll find a book for parents raising their kids in a confusing world, a book for perfectionists, and one for mothers. Keller’s Center Church is on the list as well.

Dave Harvey’s new book, The Clay Pot Conspiracy, is a good one. It’s on sale at Westminster today.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Most Exasperating and Least Rewarding)

Respectable Sins in Christian Ministry

Jen outlines several sins that have, unfortunately, become “respectable” in Christian ministry.

The Gospel in a Mental Health Crisis

This is a good and important read. “Why are we seeing such a sharp rise in mental health issues? Is this mainly due to raised awareness – that a new appreciation for the reality of mental health conditions means we diagnose them more readily? Or is it that mental health is in real decline – that, for whatever reason, we have a greater propensity to these maladies than previous generations?”

Not Old, Not Young, Not Done

Our 50s and 60s are two decades that bring unique challenges and opportunities. Christopher Ash offers encouragement for those in seasons of empty nesting, caring for aging parents, and retirement planning. He points to the joys of intentional service to Christ and others in this season, and revives hope that the gospel is sufficient for contentment in all things. (Sponsored)

Charlie Kirk is dead. And I am Sad (Sad and Angry)

Stephen McAlpine laments the death of Charlie Kirk and some of what it tells us about the world we are in. “Politically I am not as conservative as Charlie was, though I agree with the direction of many of his positions, but his ability to argue with someone and not lose his cool, was legendary. He never got rattled. And the behaviour of his interlocuters raised the question: If they – as they believe – are on the side of love and virtue and righteousness, why are they such abusive, disgusting people?”

Male Friendship Is Declining. Wives Can Help.

“In some spheres of life, we affirm that a man being away from home is part of a larger good. It’s good for him to go to work and earn income to provide for his family or go to the doctor for a checkup to maintain his health. Those are assumed to be necessary uses of his time, worth being away from home for.” But what about when it comes time for friendship?

Digging Deeper: Reading, Thinking, and Talking

“Christians, take a hard look at our lives, especially our use of technology. It is a blessing in so many ways, but are we losing something as well?” Much of this is worth considering.

Wrinkles That Testify

“Young-old? Middle-old? Oldest-old? These terms make me chuckle, and I also find myself sighing—loudly. I’m hitting the last year of young-old. A milestone, though it feels less like a triumph and more like an invitation to reflection. These questions surface: What does discipleship look like in the season of decline, when knees ache, energy fades, and names sometimes slip away? How do I finish this race with joy?”

Flashback: The Glory of Children Is Their Fathers

While our ultimate desire is to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” we all also want to hear our children say, “Well done, good and faithful dad” or “Well done, good and faithful mom.”