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Weekend A La Carte (December 14)

Weekend A La Carte

Today’s Kindle deals include two classics as well as one newer work that, though I’ve not read it, is said to be excellent.

Why Was Baby Jesus Laid in a Manger?

“This time of year, the words roll right off the tongue. And every child’s first question is: What is a manger? When the teacher explains that it is a feeding trough for animals, the astute youth then wonders: Why was the baby laid there?” The question is well worth asking.

Ten Ways Materialism Brings Us to Ruin

“Materialism begins with our beliefs. Not merely what we say we believe—not our doctrinal statement—but the philosophy of life by which we actually live. So even though true Christians would deny belief in the philosophical underpinnings of materialism (they couldn’t be Christians if they didn’t), they may nonetheless be preoccupied with material things. Materialism is first and foremost a matter of the heart.”

The Moral Universe of Timothy Keller

Here’s a long and interesting article on Tim Keller from The Atlantic.

Carving Out a Niche for Micro-Congregations

This just seems like such a bad idea. Isn’t the point of church that it draws together people who are different, thus proving the power of the gospel in giving unity?

What Facial Recognition Steals From Us (Video)

“There’s a massive bait-and-switch at the center of facial recognition technology.” There is, indeed. And we need to be awfully careful about what we’re wading into here.

An Embarrassment of Love

This is a beautiful tribute to the love of a husband for his wife.

A Global Look at Complementarianism

“Complementarianism is currently a hot issue in North American evangelicalism. North American culture is strongly egalitarian, and cultural pressure affects our theology whether we want to admit it or not. This cultural influence cuts both ways. Some of what passes for complementarian thinking owes more to American cultural conservatism than it does to the biblical theology of men and women. Similarly, some narrower expressions of complementarianism—as well as outright egalitarianism—may owe more to our secular culture’s current conversations. Be that as it may, complementarianism remains a significant feature of much of American evangelical life.”

“In 2019, Bible readers were looking for reminders not to worry and comfort from traditional places.”

Flashback: Moroni From the Realms of Glory

You’ve got to be careful what you share online. What looks good at a glance may harbor some deep concerns.

A rightly oriented Christianity causes us to care not only about ourselves and our families but also about our communities, cities, and society generally.

—Matt Perman

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    A La Carte (March 12)

    A La Carte: The grief ambush / Forgotten, and that’s good / The foibles and fallibility of Christian leaders / Welcome back, church planting / Weakness is not the enemy / Bad reasons to read the Bible / Bible and book sales.

  • Three Marks of a Good Christian Book

    Three Marks of a Good Christian Book

    Not every book marketed as ‘Christian’ is worth your time. Here are three marks—truth, love, and beauty—that can help you discern which Christian books are truly worth reading.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (March 11)

    The last Reformed blogger / The forgotten spiritual discipline / Hollywood ruined dating for men / Just one childhood / A guide to modern Roman Catholic missions / Not that neighbor / Savings and deals.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (March 10)

    We are all Dwight Schrute now / Reminders for Christian parents / Happy wife, happy life? / A good tired / Getting organized for the glory of God / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Practice True Wisdom

    Designed as five-week studies for personal use or group study, books in the Rooted in Wisdom series help women to understand and navigate common experiences and stages of life.