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Weekend A La Carte (May 6)

Today’s Kindle deals include just a couple of minor deals, but be sure to breeze through everything else from this week. There were lots of good ones.

Just a reminder that I’d love people to participate in writing Mother’s Day Tributes. You’ve got a week left!

Let Worship Be Local Too

This is one of the best articles I’ve ever read on modern worship.

Wal-Mart’s Expensive New E-Commerce Operation

I rather enjoyed this long look at Wal-mart’s expensive new e-commerce operation that will allow them to compete with Amazon. Personally, I don’t like their chances.

The Tempted One

Christina Fox takes a look at Jesus’ wilderness temptations. “When we face temptation, we never do so apart from Christ. We are united to Him; He is our righteousness. He has defeated sin, death, and Satan. There is nothing and no one who can separate us from Him, not even our own weak flesh.”

Watching Lightning From Above

“At a safe distance, lightning can be one of nature’s greatest shows, but big electrical storms are even more incredible when seen from space.” Here’s some proof.

“Tabletalk” Magazine: 40 Years Later

Ligonier just marked their 40th anniversary of publishing Tabletalk magazine. Here’s a brief history.

The Worst Consequence of Skipping Church

I enjoyed reading this interaction with my article on “The Worst Consequence of Skipping Church.” Of particular interest is that she goes far deeper than I did into the flow of the book of Hebrews.

Cut Off Your Hand, Tear Out Your Eye

Ray Ortlund: “Here, Jesus is calling us to personal holiness, however costly and painful, as His path for us ‘to enter life.’”

Flashback: When Gifts Lose Their Luster

I have come to realize something about those times when I grow weary of good gifts: This weariness makes a statement about me, not the gift. The weariness is so often a direct result of my neglect. I have neglected to cherish the gift and honor the giver.

4 Ways We Go Wrong in Thinking about the Holy Spirit

Thanks to Zondervan for sponsoring the blog this week with an intriguing post from Michael Horton.

False freedom: “Be true to you.” True freedom: “Be true to him.”

—Matt Smethurst

  • Carney Trump

    How Donald Trump Upended Canadian Politics and Helped the Liberals Win

    On April 28, Canadians elected the Liberal Party of Canada to a fourth consecutive term. This is a rare feat for a political party in Canada and in this case, one of special significance, for just months ago, the Liberals seemed destined for near-complete destruction. The cost of living was spiking, the quality of life…

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    A La Carte (April 30)

    A La Carte: Young men wanted / The glory and danger of apologetics / God’s guidelines for sex aren’t arbitrary / How much is our church worth? / People loved the darkness / and more.

  • Erics Greatest Race

    Releasing Today: Eric’s Greatest Race

    My new book releases today! Eric’s Greatest Race is a fully illustrated graphic novel that tells young readers the story of Eric Liddell, the famous Olympian whose steadfast courage and commitment to Christ has inspired generations of believers. It is my sincere hope that it will introduce a whole new generation to a man whose…

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    A La Carte (April 29)

    A La Carte: Has the decline of U.S. Christianity finally stopped? / Holding space for joy and sorrow / No one ever hated his own body / Wisdom principles for Christian parenting / The article you don’t want to read / A new book / Kindle deals / and more.

  • The Pursuit of Virtue

    God’s character is the essence of virtue. The heart of virtue is to know the Lord and to become like him, as a child resembles her father. That is the goal, privilege, and destiny of the redeemed. #Sponsored

  • When God Plants an Acorn

    When God Plants an Acorn, He Means an Oak

    We stood together on the crest of a hill, a gentle breeze rustling the meadow around our feet. The fields ran gently downward until they met a creek that gurgled happily in its course. A few years prior, an acorn had somehow made its way to the highest point of this hill, carelessly dropped there…