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Weekend A La Carte (April 23)

My gratitude goes to TGC for sponsoring the blog this week with news of their upcoming Good Faith Debates.

Today’s Kindle deals include some classics and some newer works.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Loveliest Place)

Inviting God into the Hard Places

When we face difficulties we always long for deliverance. But “what if—rather than deliverance from the hard—he wants you to invite him into it? What if he wants you to seek his presence in the hard, more than his protection from the hard? His provision in the midst of life’s hardships, rather than relief from them?”

If God Really Loved Me, He Would…

This one is on a similar theme: “Why are we surprised when trials come? Why do we do quickly question God’s goodness, love, and control when we experience the pain of this world? For me, I think it’s because there is a pervasive belief that subtly infiltrates my thought life. One that, deep down, still believes God would keep me from harm and rescue me from pain if he truly loved me.”

How Russian Christians View the ‘Special Military Operation’ in Ukraine

CT tries to get to the bottom of a question many of us have been wondering: How do Russian Christians view the “special military operation” in Ukraine? The answer, not surprisingly, is complicated.

A question of responsibility

Meanwhile, Andrée Seu Peterson considers the matter of responsibility. “The question of causality is the quiet backdrop of the nightmare that is Ukraine. As an American eavesdropping on the current French presidential elections, I heard one candidate try to thread the needle by saying Putin is culpable but that the West is responsible for cornering him by trying to put NATO on his doorstep—for essentially ‘poking the Bear.’ This is more than I am qualified to comment on. Nevertheless, I got to pondering the Word of God on questions of causality and responsibility.”

Jesus Versus the Trade-In Society

“We are a trade-in society, where the promise of being able to eventually replace anything, or anyone, lies underneath all of our experiences, even our spiritual lives.” This has wide-ranging consequences.

Hope for the Doubting Thomases of the World

“While the rest of the disciples went about rejoicing, Thomas wasn’t ready to celebrate just yet. His logical side needed time to line up with his emotional one. The proof of his devotion was in the profoundness of his despair. “

Flashback: Young People and the Hundred Pushup Challenge of Life

It’s wrong of me to make light of their little sorrows by comparing them to their future greater sorrows. It’s right of me to support them as they build the strength and endurance that will carry them into and through the trials to come.

The cross of Jesus Christ shall be our ladder by which we shall climb up to heaven.

—Simeon Ashe

  • Classroom

    In My Father’s School Are Many Classrooms

    We know what Jesus said about our eternal destination: “In my Father’s house are many rooms” (or, in its older rendering, “in my Father’s house are many mansions”). We know that God has prepared a place for us to live with him forever—a place of safety, peace, and rest. But before we get to that…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (August 13)

    A La Carte: All the ways I’ve hated myself / Order and openness in worship / To parents of an engaged couple / You see pornography every day / Loving someone else’s gifts / Commentary sale / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (August 12)

    A La Carte: A biblical message for aging parents / A history of the worship leader / How attractive women abuse their beauty / Wisdom for new college students / Put up walls so you can welcome / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Tools I Use

    What I Use (and Don’t Use) To Make this Site

    A friend recently said something that disquieted me. He said that he assumes I make use of AI in creating the articles I post to this site or in selecting the articles I link to on other sites. I suppose it’s a fair assumption since so many people across so many fields are now relying…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (August 11)

    A La Carte: Audacious prayer / Your soccer coach has a plan for your life / Contending without being contentious / Why Reformed doctrine matters / The dark side of God’s sovereignty / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Church

    The Custom-Crafted Church

    Though every child at times wishes it were otherwise, we do not get to choose our brothers and sisters. Rather, through the miracle of conception, God chooses who will join our families.