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Sunday A La Carte

This was one of those rare weeks in which I collected so much good material that it only seemed right to create an extra A La Carte column. I hope you enjoy the extra reading!

Before You Japa: 7 Things To Consider

I enjoyed this evaluation of the benefits and drawbacks of japa—”a Yoruba word which means ‘run swiftly’ or to flee from danger, but which is now a Nigerian slang for emigration.” It must at times be difficult to remain in a context in which so many are leaving.

The Funnies

Every Saturday I look forward to receiving Chris Martin’s “The Funnies,” a modern-day answer to the Saturday comics I enjoyed long ago.

Just War and Our Cultural Conflict

Kevin DeYoung continues his series on the culture war. “The answer to the question ‘Should Christians be engaged in the culture war?’ is quite simple: You are whether you mean to be or not.”

Count it all Joy

Guy Richard: “It is relatively easy to ‘count it all joy’ when things are going well around us. When God’s will matches our own will for our lives, it is easy to be a Christian and to ‘count it all joy.’ But when those two things don’t add up—when God’s will for our lives and our will for our lives don’t match—that is when things get hard.”

Lord, Help Me See the Ways to Die Today

Trevin Wax: “A few months ago, I began asking the Lord every morning to give me chances that day to die to myself, and for the Spirit to help me recognize those opportunities. He has never failed to answer this prayer. Not once.”

The Agony of Church Discipline Carried Out

“As my wife and I walked into the sanctuary, we were met with the same fellowship we always get. But on this occasion, there was a sense of angst as everybody waited for the elders to speak. You see, this wasn’t Sunday service. It was a members-only meeting. And just about everybody in the room—including my wife and me—knew what this meeting was about.”


  • Prayer

    Spread Too Thin

    With so much to do, we can easily begin to wonder whether prayer is an appropriate use of scarce time. Wouldn’t it be better to give my attention to something that would let me cross something off my to-do list?

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    Weekend A La Carte (July 12)

    A La Carte: Where art thou Rob Bell? / The case against in vitro fertilization / Praying and weeping for those suffering in Texas / Greet each other with a holy hug / The example of Jimmy Swaggart / and more.

  • Thriving Marriage

    Thriving Marriage

    I have often wondered about the best time to write a book about marriage. When a couple is young, there is so much about marriage they have not yet experienced. They can still impart wisdom and teach lessons, of course, but there is so much of marriage that remains unknown to them. Yet when a…

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    A La Carte (July 11)

    A La Carte: Falling out of repentance / Tattoos as confession / The Epstein List and secret sins / Teaching generosity / Lessons from a former youth pastor / Bedbugs in the bowels of the city.

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    A La Carte (July 10)

    A La Carte: Questions for a maturing marriage / The lesbian seagulls that weren’t / But mommy, why? / A time to be tired / The modern rise of Stoicism / and more.

  • The Stranger

    The Stranger: A Short Film For You

    Based on a true story and inspired by the truth that character comes before competence, “The Stranger” is an honest, light-hearted and meaningful picture of what it means to truly serve others.