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A La Carte (September 3)

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Thanks to all who joined me at Sing! for the launch of From the Rising of the Sun and “Rise with the Sun.” If you haven’t got it yet, please consider doing so. Buy the book and the documentary is free!

Westminster Books has a deal this week on a pair of books meant to combat biblical illiteracy.

Today’s Kindle deals include a book on getting unstuck, a book for those who may be struggling with body image, and a few other good picks. Also, if you missed some of yesterday’s deals (that was my fault) they are there as well.

Holy Ambitions, Large and Small

Derek Rishmawy: “I think that was the hope for many men my age going into seminary or early career pastoral jobs. Many of us had this vision of ministry that was a mix of millennial optimism (we’re gonna change the world), evangelical pragmatic entrepreneurialism (if you build it shiny and hip, they will come), and revivalist celebrityism (if they come because of your anointing or talent, this reveals you are blessed by the Spirit). And in the middle of it were some godly desires to see people come to Jesus, have his name lifted high, and see the church flourish.”

The Global Church Needs More Than American Worship Songs

Trevin Wax explains why the global church needs more than American worship songs. “The best way to display the church’s global nature isn’t by flattening differences into one Western soundtrack but by highlighting the distinct gifts of each culture. We need each other. We can inspire each other. We can share our songs of joy and sorrow, giving each other new words and melodies to celebrate the old, old story.”

Are You Correctable?

It’s actually a very good question to ask yourself: Am I correctable? And who has blanket permission to speak correction into my life?

Gossip Is No Longer Just Local – It’s Global

Indeed, it is. “In a world where language and speech are often abused; where ‘misinformation’ is passed on as lies, and truth is condemned as misinformation; it is especially important that we offer a better word. And that we take on board the many teachings in Scripture about how, where and when we speak.”

Baptizing Bradley

This is a neat and moving account of baptizing Bradley. “This past Sunday we baptized four individuals. The first three were baptized just as I’ve described, but the fourth was different.”

Biblical Counsellors Are There to Facilitate, Not Fix

It’s important to know what the role of the biblical counsellor is and is not. And that means it’s doubly important to know that the biblical counsellor’s task is not to fix problems.

Flashback: Have We Finally Hit Peak Attractional?

I feel sorry for the pastor who knows that to keep his congregation, he has to keep coming up with bigger and more shocking ideas. He knows that as soon as the fun stops or the place down the street offers something better, the seats will empty, the budget will decline, the church will collapse. 

All the skeptics on the globe cannot refute the unanswerable argument of a consistent, cheerful, courageous Christian life.

—Theodore Cuyler

  • Remember

    It Doesn’t Matter What You Remember

    I have a memory like a … what do you call it? That thing in the kitchen you use to sift the stuff you want from the stuff you don’t. A sieve! That’s it. I have a memory like a sieve. I joke about it at times, and about how I have to outsource remembering…

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    A La Carte (January 14)

    A La Carte: Always being right / Sex advice for newlyweds / Making Christianity look good / Soul care / Stop straining for shortcuts / When writing feels like a chair / Rare Kindle deals / and more.

  • Post Woke

    Are We Post Woke?

    It is too early to tell, I think, whether the “wokeness” craze has already peaked and even begun to slip into decline, or whether it’s just pausing to gather energy for another surge. What seems clear for the moment, though, is that it has lost at least some of its initial momentum, probably because it…

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    A La Carte (January 13)

    A La Carte: A cautionary tale / Raising hands in worship / Freshen your prayer life / Exposing adultery to the light / Reject the religion of efficiency / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Petty Fight

    Petty Annoyances and Minor Insults

    I wonder if you are like me in that, as you look back on your life, you realize that most of the circumstances that have troubled you, most of the annoyances and disgruntlements, were produced by circumstances that were hardly worth noticing.

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    A La Carte (January 12)

    A La Carte: Happy 80th, John Piper / Practical principles for marriage / Benefits for daily Bible reading / Philip Yancey / Stingy-generous / From sermon to article / Kindle and Bible study deals / and more.