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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

  • Dust on the Bible

    Dust on the Bible

    Hank Williams recorded an old song called “Dust on the Bible.” It’s a song of lament in which he has gone to a friend’s home and asked to see their Bible. When they bring it to him, he realizes it has obviously not been read for a very long time, for it is covered in…

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    Weekend A La Carte (September 28)

    A La Carte: We need to talk about “The Jesus Film” / A concise theology of failure / Guard your heart when suffering / Approaching a political election in the right way / From bitterness to forgiveness / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (10ofThose)

    This week the blog and this giveaway are sponsored by 10ofThose. This Friday, we’re presenting a giveaway like no other… with the timeless wisdom and grit of J.C. Ryle. Over the past two centuries, countless Christians have been both comforted and challenged by his works and we’d love you to join them. This incredible giveaway…

  • New and Notable September 2024

    New and Notable Christian Books for September 2024

    September has very nearly faded into October but before the month ends I’d like to tell you about some of the new books that it brought our way. I’ll remind you first that my book Pilgrim Prayers was released this month and encourage you to give it a look! Beyond that, here are 12 new…

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    A La Carte (September 27)

    A La Carte: Rome’s seven deadly errors / Africa’s Man of God phenomenon / 5 things to know about hell / Praise and unity / Self-pity / The uncarnation of Christ / and more.

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    A La Carte (September 26)

    A La Carte: Should Christians bet on sports? / Living in a hostile culture / Responding when sin is exposed / Al Mohler on a preacher’s downfall / Christians and tattoos / Kindle and book sales / and more.