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Weekend A La Carte (February 18)

Today’s Kindle deals include just one lonely little book. But it’s a good one, at least.

The True Friendship That Saved Abraham Lincoln’s Life

I’m quite sure I don’t agree with all of Charles Strozier’s reading of the friendship between Lincoln and Speed, but he does draw out some interesting details and interpretations.

A Just Silence

I consider this a very important article, and I’m glad someone has finally said it well. “We’ve all felt the pressure to speak out about things that we know little to nothing about. The increasingly prevalent sentiment is that if Christians-and especially Christian leaders-don’t speak up on the hot button issues of the day, then they are complicit in fueling social injustice.”

Three M’s That Naturalism Can’t Provide

J. Warner Wallace: “As an atheist, I accounted for my experiences through the lens of naturalism. I believed everything I experienced and observed could be explained in terms of natural causes and laws. I never thought deeply about the inconsistencies in my view of the world, or the fact that my naturalism failed to explain three characteristics of my daily experience.”

Can You Do a 5-Minute Devotional? (Video)

Donald Whitney answers in this short video.

What Is the Relationship Between Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility?

Here is John MacArthur’s brief answer to a complex question.

Boring Church Services Changed My Life

Mine, too, I’m sure. “God changed my life using routine worship services in which I sang hymns I didn’t quite understand and heard messages I didn’t quite grasp.”

Submit or Risk Losing Everything

Denny Burk writes about Barronelle Stutzman and how those who refuse to submit to the new sexual orthodoxy risk losing everything.

The One You Marry Is the One

Put simply: There is no such thing as “the one” — unless you’re already married. The one who is “the one” is the one whom you marry. That is what marriage declares.

Flashback: To Speak Words that Bring Life

It is the Christian’s great honor and privilege—to speak words that bring life, to speak words that come from the giver of life. Who needs to hear God’s words through you today?

4 Essentials of Running Your Church Website Well

Thanks to MereChurch for sponsoring the blog this week with “4 Essentials of Running Your Church Website Well.”

If you have a pastor who preaches the word, give thanks to God. But if you have a pastor who doesn’t, find one who does.

—Burk Parsons

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    A La Carte (May 20)

    A La Carte: The foibles and fallibility of Christian leaders / Mental illness / Why didn’t Christ come sooner? / When it’s okay to die / Spiritual formation / and more.

  • Unlock Your Ministry Potential with Microcredentials

    Are you looking for accessible faith-based resources that can help you serve your church community with confidence? Check out Redeemer University’s online church leadership microcredentials—available anytime, anywhere. #Sponsored

  • Discernment

    What Does a Discerning Person Do?

    Some Christians seem to be specially gifted when it comes to spiritual discernment. Others take a special interest in discernment and expend the hard effort of growing in the discipline of it. But they may sometimes wonder: What should I do with this discernment?

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    A La Carte (May 19)

    A La Carte: Dangers of theological controversy / No confidence? No problem! / The goodness of gardening friends / Jeff the low stakes prophet / Hurting people / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Prayer

    The Reward They Longed for They Received

    Jesus, who knew what was in the heart of men, warned of the hypocrisy of those whose prayer life is only ever public. “When you pray,” he said, “you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen…

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    Weekend A La Carte (May 17)

    A La Carte: Generalizations are not stereotypes / Hospitality and reaching the dechurched / Essential lessons for pastors / The rise of Islam and the resilience of the church / Gossip and godly church / Fear takes you where grace has not yet gone / and more.