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

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (August 30)

    A La Carte: My mom, her drug addiction, God’s grace / God’s intervention and suffering / Common descent or common design / Why the work we do matters / How short, O Lord? / Totems diminish human worth / and more.

  • New-and-Notable August

    10 New and Notable Christian Books for August 2025

    August is usually a fairly quiet month for new book releases, sitting as it does between the busy spring and fall seasons. However, there were still quite a few excellent books published this month and I’m glad to share some of them with you. In each case, I’ve shared the editorial description so you can…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (August 29)

    A La Carte: New CityAlight song / The worry Rolodex / Change inexorable / John Piper on glorifying God in 1,000 decisions a day / The false hope of rebranding yourself / The quiet work of God / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (August 28)

    A La Carte: Marriage partners in heaven / You won’t believe who spoke at John MacArthur’s memorial service / Pastors should preach less / When your pastor preaches a bad sermon / Flawed youth ministry / Kindle deals.

  • Friendships

    Some Unexpected Blessings of Christian Friendship

    While I was sitting at John MacArthur’s memorial service and hearing his friends tell of their love for him (and his for them), I began to ponder some of the unexpected blessings that have come with both having friends and being a friend. Here are just three that came to mind…