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Weekend A La Carte (November 14)

My gratitude goes to Rooted for sponsoring the blog this week. Sponsors (along with patrons) play a key role in keeping the site going, and I’m thankful for each one.

Today’s Kindle deals include a number of books—a few classics and even a theological novel.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Cruelty of Quarantine: A Lament)

Good Fathers In Life And In Death

I find myself craving any stories about my son and for that reason was delighted to read Sam Sey’s memories of him. “I can’t remember the last time I saw him, but I know that one of the last times I saw him, as usual, I hugged him and forced a kiss on his cheek—because I knew he hated it when I did that. Which would, naturally, lead to a conversation filled with sarcastic and witty comments, mostly from Nick.”

4 Reasons for Pastors to Guard Their Hearts

Pastor, please do guard your heart! “Discouragement is not an emotion with which I am very familiar, but when a scandal comes out in the church, I feel it greatly. In fact, at times I have found myself not wanting to check social media, dreading to learn about the next scandal.”

Is Abuse More Prevalent In The Church Today Than In The Past?

I think many people have asked this question, or one similar to it. Stephen McAlpline makes “two observations, one around technology and one around theology.”

How McDonald’s Really Makes Money

If McDonald’s really makes its money by selling Big Macs it wouldn’t make for much of a video, would it? The secret of its financial success lies elsewhere.

How To Get the Little Man in the Radio to Go to Sleep

I enjoyed this cross-cultural article about the things we take for granted.

Our Only Hope In Life and Death

“What’s the condition of your heart today? If it’s like mine, it’s torn between wants and needs, amidst emotions entirely scattered, like the LEGO pieces across my floor.”

The Lord of the Rings Expert Answers Tolkien Questions (Video)

Tolkien fans will enjoy this one.

Flashback: Don’t Waste Your Ambition

It is good to be ambitious, but better first to be a man or woman of character.

There are two ways to live the Christian life. You can live it either for the heart of Christ or from the heart of Christ. You can live for the smile of God or from it.

—Dane Ortlund

  • When Christians Disagree

    When Christians Disagree

    Wouldn’t it be nice if Christians only ever got along? Wouldn’t it be grand if all the discord we see in the world around us was completely foreign to the church? Wouldn’t it be heavenly if believers ever only experienced peace? I suppose it would be heavenly and, therefore, more than we can realistically hope…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (July 26)

    A La Carte: Therapy and bug men / How to have joy in hard times / Can a single pastor date in his church? / Life from barren ground / Shulamith Firestone was a prophet / Different ways of reading people we disagree with / and more.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (July 25)

    A La Carte: What does it mean to die with dignity? / Did Paul endorse slavery? / Forgiveness in marriage / 5 ways to pursue contentment / The immense value of encouragement / and more.

  • Maybe We Make Meditation Too Difficult

    Maybe We Make Meditation Too Difficult

    Of all the Christian disciplines, it is my guess that meditation may be the least practiced—though I suppose fasting might have something to say about that. Most people diligently make time to read the Bible and pray. And yet, while most people have good intentions when it comes to meditation, it so often seems to…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 24)

    A La Carte: A mother to me, too / Never look your age? / Nine reminders for the struggle with body image / A ruler who trusts in Yahweh / No, I will not stop calling the church a family / Criminalizing sexual ethics / Bible journal sale / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 23)

    A La Carte: Connection and commitment / When your mind gets stuck / Prayer postures in the Bible / Fading with age / Does God care about how I work? / 7 essential things to know about God’s holiness / and more.