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A La Carte (September 11)

A La Carte Thursday 1

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.”

That demon of pride was born with us, and it will not die one hour before us.

—C.H. Spurgeon

  • Free Stuff Fridays (Harvest House Publishers)

    This week, the blog and this giveaway are sponsored by Harvest House Publishers. Help your child see how the Bible is organized and how key people, events, and themes in each of its books connect. The Bible Infographics for Kids Bible Handbook uses fun, colorful, easy-to-follow visuals to give kids helpful context as they read…

  • A La Carte (October 9)

    John Piper on marriage miracles / Why I regret getting a vasectomy / Vaccinated against God / A worship leader’s take on the Caleb Flynn case / Pastor, you will get hurt / Addressing the pastor shortage with the gospel / Podcast recommendations / Kindle deals

  • A La Carte (October 8)

    How you handle criticism is a test of your humility / The rise and fall of Jim Bakker / One simple principle for a more satisfying marriage / Why churchgoers escaped the ‘sex recession’ / Should Christians use apps like TikTok or Instagram? / Parenting like Aslan / Suffer and do not sin / Kindle…

  • Truths to Preach to Your Sorrow

    4 Truths to Preach to Your Sorrows

    All has been well, and your life has been good. It has been easy to love God and trust him, to pray to him and sing his praises. But then suddenly you are struck by a great trial or a deep sorrow, and for a time it can be difficult to adjust. Here are truths…

  • A La Carte (October 7)

    Some marriage advice: just shut up / How to be happy at work / Is Jesus the social justice champion of progressives? / Get a grip: ‘Claude’ isn’t a person / Why Christians should not buy into AI catastrophism / Don’t suppress young men / and more.