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A La Carte (September 4)

A La Carte Collection cover image

May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

Today’s Kindle deals include the excellent Together Through the Storms, along with a book meant to encourage you through failures and setbacks, and bunch of other options.

(Yesterday on the blog: Rise with the Sun: A New Song with CityAlight)

The Secular Liturgy of ‘Goodnight Moon’

What a fascinating look at the publishing phenomenon that is Goodnight Moon. “Author Margaret Wise Brown (1910–52), who wrote more than 100 picture books, never saw the book’s massive success. But her influence, and Goodnight Moon’s unexpected popularity after her untimely death, are at the epicenter of what one historian called the ‘shapeshifting influence of American progressive educators on the invention of books for children’ in the 20th century.”

The Case Against Vasectomies

Don’t ever tell me A La Carte lacks variety! I hadn’t ever read a Christian case against vasectomies before. This one offers plenty to think about. “We may have read lots of books and heard lots of teaching on various aspects of sexuality. We hear about lust, same sex attraction, purity culture, sex outside marriage. We hear about the bonding delights of married sex and the vague goodness of children. But when push comes to shove, many of us were left to our own devices to navigate sex and fertility together.”

Why the Villagers Demanded Bible Teaching… and Ate Our Dog

I really enjoyed this account from the mission field. “According to the beliefs of the local villagers, anyone whose house was struck by lightning was doomed, cursed by the spirits to die. So, they waited with certainty for Uncle Phil’s death. In their experience, no one was powerful enough to escape this doom once the lightning had struck.”

Truths and Tips for Discipling Teens

This is good stuff!

Perspectives From (Not Adorable) Puffins

I love these “ornitheology” articles. This one deals with the not-adorable puffin.

Why Do Citations in the Bible Seem Sloppy?

John Piper answers a really interesting question here: Why do citations within the Bible often seem so sloppy?

Flashback: Are You a Lover of Good?

When it comes to your spouse, when it comes to your children, when it comes to the members of your church, when it comes to other Christians of any kind, are you more skilled at identifying good or evil, sinfulness or virtue?

Three things there are which men never ought to trifle with: a little poison, a little false doctrine, and a little sin.

—J.C. Ryle

  • A La Carte (July 21)

    5 signs your marriage is unhealthy / The preacher’s life / A life of prayer / The miracle of Christian unity / Conforming to non-conformity / Football won’t save the world / What I’m enjoying / and more.

  • Stop Losing Your Sermon Notes in Old Notebooks

    What if you could see every note you’ve written on the Sermon on the Mount when you read Matthew 5? That’s InBible. When writing a note, tap any Bible reference to see the passage in context. When reading Scripture, select a verse to see every note that cites it. Insights you recorded years ago resurface…

  • A La Carte (July 20)

    Pillaging of the digital commons / The Marxist who understood sex better than the UMC / Intrusive thoughts and gospel hope / Predestination should give you confidence / How to wait for cultural reckoning / Invite as many as you find / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Works & Wonders - July 19

    Works & Wonders (July 19)

    Works & Wonders has interesting and uplifting material on: Bluebirds, the rarest books on earth, a new song, berries berries everywhere, the amazing electric eel, and a devotional to start your Sunday.

  • Weekend A La Carte (July 18)

    This weekend’s collection of long-form and think-pieces covers declining fertility rates, the Boy Scouts, The Odyssey, AI and the elderly, and Gen Z, plus reader recommendations.