Skip to content ↓

Weekend A La Carte (August 30)

A La Carte Collection cover image

My gratitude goes to RFPA for sponsoring the blog this week. They wanted to let you know about their brand-new book, Go Into All the World.

Today’s Kindle deals include all kinds of interesting titles that would be worth a look.

(Yesterday on the blog: 10 New and Notable Christian Books for August 2025)

My Mom, Her Drug Addiction, and God’s Grace

This is a moving account of God’s grace in addiction. “In our comfortable age, we often avoid affliction at any cost. But I’ve learned that Christian suffering isn’t without hope and that God often uses our pain to bring about redemption.”

Sometimes, God’s Intervention IS Our Suffering

“When we suffer, we pray for God to intervene. We ask for the Lord to help and to heal, to remove and to restore. But what if our suffering is itself God’s intervention?” Now that’s a good question.

Common Descent or Common Design?

Katie Hulse: “Evolutionists argue that anatomical, physiological, biochemical, and genetic similarities among species (homologies) are best explained by evolution. They don’t think God would have employed such similarities if he had created everything. But perhaps there’s another explanation.” There is, indeed.

Why the Work We Do Matters

“When we stop to consider what it means to work, in every job, calling, or duty, we all need each other and the work done around us. Our world rotates in daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly cycles of work.”

How Short, O Lord?

“I teach college students, so I know the excitement that mid-August can bring. A new school year is full of possibilities. My excitement this year is mixed with sadness.” Ryan explains the source of his bittersweet feelings. I suspect many will identify with them.

Totems Diminish Human Worth and Distract Us From God

This is an interesting one that comes from an African perspective. “Totems are more than symbols. They are central to identity formation, especially in rural African communities where there is less Western influence. Here totemism is still widely adopted and influences how people live.”

Flashback: That Time I Went After an Older, Godlier Man

While there are times we as Christians must speak out, there is never a time we can speak to a fellow Christian or about a fellow Christian in a way that fails to reflect the love of our common Savior.

If God had perceived that our greatest need was political stability, he would have sent us a politician.

—D.A. Carson

  • How do we minister to parents with broken hearts?

    For every family in the church where the children seem to be well established in the faith, there will be another family where one or more of the children have deserted it… How can we help bring comfort to parents in pain?

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (January 5)

    A La Carte: 5 habits for better prayer / How do you stop a malevolent idea? / The freedom of a lower reading goal / You can’t trust your eyes anymore / Write a new song / and more.

  • It Pictures Something and It Accomplishes Something

    It Pictures Something and It Accomplishes Something

    Each of the ordinances has a distinct purpose and a distinct role in the life of the Christian. Baptism is an initiatory rite, a means by which a person publicly identifies with Christ Jesus—an occasion of joy and blessing not only for the person being baptized but for the entire church.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (January 3)

    A La Carte: A quiet life in the culture wars / Welcome to WALL-E’s world / How not to fall away / As far as it depends on you / When you get nothing out of your devotions / Choose your kingdom / and more.

  • Rise with the Sun

    If You’re at CROSS Conference (Or Wish You Were)

    If you are one of the young adults attending CROSS, or if you are in that demographic but were unable to attend, I want to make the 12-episode documentary available to you for free. It was filmed in 12 countries and allows you to experience worship in each of them.