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A La Carte (September 8)

thursday

I have returned from the Getty Music Sing! Conference and am back at my desk. My book launch session went very well, for which I’m grateful. It was recorded and I’m hoping to be able to share it with you very soon.

Today’s Kindle deals include an excellent new one by Ray Ortlund.

(Yesterday on the blog: A Few Handfuls for Weary Little Listeners)

The Stars Still Shine In The Daytime

“All night long we can see the stars shining down on us, but have you ever considered the fact that they also shine down on us all day?” There’s something to learn from this.

When You’re Not at Home

“We shouldn’t find ourselves at home in this world. After all, Jesus didn’t come in order to blend in with a world gone awry by sin. He came to overcome it. Living in light of that, the church is to be different, set apart, distinct — the church is to be holy in a hostile place.”

Why Does Paul Tell the Church to Deliver Someone to Satan?

Here is Andy Naselli’s take on what I consider one of the scariest verses in the Bible.

Save Time: Stop Doing Word Studies

“Word studies are a favorite tool of Biblical exegetes, but usually aren’t worth the time.” That’s an unusual take, but one that is worth considering, I think.

The results are up to the Lord

“We all know that the results in ministry aren’t up to us. You do know that, right? My working theory is that enough of us didn’t know this, or acted as though we didn’t know this, that the Lord brought covid to us so that he could show us in no uncertain terms how little he needs us.”

Should a Christian Bet on Sports?

I’m not convinced that there is quite as much leeway on this issue, but I do appreciate the authors’ explanation of the dangers and shortcomings of sports betting—especially since it has become such a major emphasis for advertisers in Canada.

Flashback: What’s the Purpose of … Marriage?

The highest purpose of marriage is to display to the world the sacrificial love of Christ for his bride, the church.

The lives of ministers oftentimes convince more strongly than their words; their tongues may persuade, but their lives command.

—Thomas Brooks

  • Conform

    You Can Conform to Christ Even if You Don’t Conform to Me

    One of the aspects of the Christian faith that I find particularly perplexing is the freedom God gives his people to obey him in different or even opposite ways, so that one person’s obedience is another person’s disobedience. Even as two people take the same action, one might be obeying him and the other disobeying…

  • A La Carte (June 10)

    Does prayer make a difference? / Portrait of an abortionist / Pushing back against the black tax / Bring your whole self to work / Blessed are the weak / When service isn’t a transaction / A pastoral analogy / Bill C-9 will soon be law in Canada / and more.

  • A La Carte (June 9)

    Thawed embryos, reproductive rights, and the grey marshlands of ethical ennui / 14 World Cup stars who follow Jesus / The God of small churches / How a critical theorist influenced the sexualization of everything / When culture trumps strategy / Fasting and feasting / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Six Counsels for a Sending Church

    Sacrificial obedience to the One who sends is what it will take to reach every language. Join us October 14 to 16 in Dallas–Fort Worth for The Lord Who Sends as we reflect on God’s word and the lives of missionaries who followed the Great Commission.

  • The Two Kinds of Content You Consume

    The Two Kinds of Content You Consume

    At some point we all began to refer to articles and video as content. And today we are drowning in it! Here is a simple filter for telling content created to serve you apart from content created to serve its maker.

  • A La Carte (June 8)

    The humbling I needed / There must be blood / How to read the Bible when your heart feels cold / The delightful duty of married sex / Are we forgiven for the sins we can’t remember? / All things without complaining or arguing