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Weekend A La Carte (October 15)

If you’re looking for something to give out alongside candy this Halloween, Westminster Books has a deal for you.

There’s a nice little list of Kindle deals to go through this morning.

(Yesterday on the blog: Build a Stronger Marriage)

Friend, You Can Be Ready to Die

Ray Ortlund: “Years ago I read somewhere that, during the Victorian era, people talked often about death, and sex was the taboo subject. By now we have flipped it. We talk freely about sex, and death is the taboo subject. To me, what’s odd is this: even Christians shy away from talking about death. For crying out loud, we’re going to heaven! Why should we fear anything? Our Lord died and rose again — for us.”

What Does “Leaving and Cleaving” Mean For Marriages in India?

I’m always fascinated to see how different cultures obey the same commands. “In fifteen years of being a pastor in Delhi and counselling couples who are struggling in their marriages, one issue causes the greatest amount of marital discord: the unwillingness to ‘leave and cleave.’ One or both spouses are unable or unaware of prioritising their spouse over their parents. In my experience, many problems in marriage can be traced back to this root cause.”

Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible

I’m glad that this documentary was made free on YouTube. “In this surprisingly entertaining film, Dr. Mark Ward explores the challenges facing readers of the King James Bible today. He shows why every English reader can benefit from today’s translations—and why you might not be as fluent in KJV English as you think.”

Say the Quiet Things, Out Loud

Kristin wants to encourage you to say the quiet things out loud.

Australian Football Executive Forced to Resign, Prompting Debate about Religious Liberty

CT reports on what may well be a bellwether situation in Australia. “He lasted 30 hours. Andrew Thorburn, a former banker, was appointed chief executive of Essendon Football Club on September 27. A little more than a day later, he was forced to resign from the prominent ‘footy’ club because of his connection to a conservative Melbourne church.”

Is Sermon Application Legalism?

“Some pastors think that to become great at sermon application, you need to develop a certain skill. Whereas there is skill involved in crafting sermon application, excellent sermon application doesn’t begin with skill acquisition; it begins with shaping what you believe about sermon application.”

Flashback: Don’t Expect Unbelievers To Act Like Believers

So often I see Christians acting surprised that their non-Christian friends or family members are acting like non-Christians. John Owen addresses this in his great work Overcoming Sin and Temptation.

What other book besides the Bible could be heard in public assemblies from year to year, with an attention that never tires, and an interest that never cloys?

—Robert Hall

  • The Stranger

    The Stranger: A Short Film For You

    Based on a true story and inspired by the truth that character comes before competence, “The Stranger” is an honest, light-hearted and meaningful picture of what it means to truly serve others.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 9)

    A La Carte: The singer who changed the course of my life / Stay on the line / Incompatible thick communities / Lulla-Bible? / The solution is not megachurch / Who were the Anabaptists? / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 8)

    A La Carte: 15 ways to discern false teaching / The queering of history / The best part of my day / 6 kinds of hearers of God’s Word / Countering Muslim attacks on the Bible / Kindle deals / and more.

  • The Wonder of the Human Face

    The Wonder of the Human Face

    Then there are the wonders of human ingenuity: the machines, the inventions, the works of art. One lifetime is not nearly enough to explore or appreciate even the smallest fraction of them all.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (July 7)

    A La Carte: A Christian patriot and his wayward nation / Outprinting the prosperity gospel / The organic church / A stranger in my homeland / Friendship’s faithful wounds / Sharing the gospel with someone who keeps rejecting it / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Pray Until You Feel Like It

    It is wise to set aside a time and place to pray—to build the habit and to then maintain it. But creating the habit may not always create the desire.