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A La Carte (September 25)

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May the Lord be with you and bless you on this fine day.

Today’s Kindle deals include a book on parenting, a helpful study through James, a reader-friendly introduction to biblical theology, and a devotional by Sinclair Ferguson. (Note: there was a huge and unexpected one-day sale today on tons of books; be sure to check in.)

(Yesterday on the blog: A Huge Batch of New Books for Children and Teens)

Day Shall Come Again

Amy Mantravadi looks to a favorite Tolkien motif to remind us that, no matter how dark it may seem, day shall come again. “Darkness is always present in the world—a dominating aspect of human existence on earth. Here I refer not merely to the absence of physical light, but the presence of evil. This darkness never truly disappears. It may wax and wane at times, but it is usually our perception that changes. Sometimes we pay more attention to the goodness in our world, and sometimes the evil smacks us in the face so we cannot avoid it. The sun may seem to shine on one person just as darkness engulfs another.”

Ordinary Sundays Have Dangerous Potential

It’s good to be reminded that the most ordinary of Sundays is still full of potential.

2026 Missionary National Conference: The Lord Who Sends

From October 14–16, 2026, Missionary will host its National Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Together we will search the Scriptures and see how God’s Word shapes our local churches for the glorious and sacrificial work of sending missionaries to reach the remaining unreached languages. Speakers include John Piper, Kevin DeYoung, Mark Dever, Michael Reeves, Brooks Buser, Ian Hamilton, Chad Vegas, Aubrey Sequeira, Jonathan Master, and Paul Schlehlein. Save $150 when you register today. (Sponsored)

How Fast Should a Preacher Preach Words if a Preacher Could Preach Words?

I appreciate Benjamin sharing an awkward bit of his preaching ministry to open up a discussion about the pace of preaching. “I wonder how much better I would be as a preacher—how much better any preacher would be—if loving feedback from friends in the pews met humility and teachability from preachers in the pulpit. I’d like to spend the rest of my ministry finding out.”

Why Young Men Are Coming Back to Church

It sure seems like young men are coming to church (or coming back to church) in greater numbers than we have come to expect. This article suggests why that may be the case. Essentially, “Young men became poor. And now ours is the kingdom of heaven. Allow me to explain.”

Why Does Jesus Call the Canaanite Woman a Dog? (Video)

Dr. Daniel Stevens explains why Jesus appears to call a Canaanite woman a dog.

To Speak or Not to Speak: Thoughts on Making Public Comment

Everyone who has a public voice (or a social media account) has to wrestle with this at one time or another–when do I speak up and when do I remain silent?

Flashback: When You Long to Know the “Why” Behind Your Sorrow

Times of suffering are a tragic reality on this side of heaven. And as you endure them, I plead with you not to cheapen your tragedies by being too quick to assume you know God’s purposes in them. Rather, entrust them to the One who has proven worthy of your trust, your confidence, and your deepest devotion.

God does not bless what his word forbids.

—Matthew Rueger

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  • Rise with the Sun

    If You’re at CROSS Conference (Or Wish You Were)

    If you are one of the young adults attending CROSS, or if you are in that demographic but were unable to attend, I want to make the 12-episode documentary available to you for free. It was filmed in 12 countries and allows you to experience worship in each of them.

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (January 2)

    A La Carte: Today’s thoughts become tomorrow’s habits / You will never reach your potential / Grieving with hope / After deconstruction, what? / What is the fruit of self-control? / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A Very “Happy New Year” A La Carte

    A La Carte: Goal setting for people with actual lives / You have time to read the Bible / The only guarantee for 2026 / Audiobook sale / Holding true today prepares us for tomorrow / A year of impossible things / Tons of Kindle deals.

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    A Year-End Roundup of Roundups

    ‘Tis the time of year to consider the year that was. For bloggers, this usually involves a roundup of the most popular articles and favorite books. To that end, here is a roundup of my various roundups!