This week’s post is sponsored by The Master’s Academy International (TMAI), a global network of pastoral training centers that specialize in expository preaching. I love to recommend good and God-honoring books. And with so many insightful resources to point to and so many publishers to print them for us, I think it’s good to reflect…
I trust you enjoyed—as we did—a restful, worshipful, enjoyable Christmas Day. Because this is the week when few people visit blogs, I’ll be posting only A La Carte between now and Saturday. A more normal schedule will resume on January 2. Today’s Kindle deals include a nice little selection of books from Crossway. (Yesterday on…
In my way of thinking, there are two approaches to daily Bible-reading: reading for intimacy or reading for familiarity. Intimacy with the Bible comes by slow, meditative reading that focuses on small portions—deep study of books, chapters, and verses. Familiarity with the Bible comes through faster reading of larger portions—the entire sweep of the biblical…
Merry Christmas, my friends. May this day bring you heartfelt worship and tender joys. On this day, I am pondering a lovely quote I found in one of De Witt Talmage’s sermons—a quote that calls us to not only be joyful at Christmas, but to see in Christmas proof that Christianity is a joyful faith.…
May the Lord bless you as you worship him this weekend and as you remember the miraculous birth of our Savior. (Yesterday on the blog: My Favorite New Songs of 2022) The Thrilling Reversal of Christmas Jim McCarthy explains that “thrilling reversal is what Christmas is all about. God insists on showcasing his power through…
I have eclectic tastes in music and will gladly listen to a host of different genres. Apple Music tells me that I listened to an absurd amount of music this year by a vast number of artists. But as I went through them and thought about the ones that resonated most, I narrowed it down…
Good morning. Grace and peace to you. Christmas Is a Happy Day for Broken Hearts I was asked to write an article for Christianity Today that would speak to those who are grieving at Christmas. “What we wouldn’t give to worship together as a whole family, intact and reunited. What we wouldn’t give to spend…
May the Lord be with you and bless you today. I’ve added a collection of Kindle deals that includes some general market historical titles—perhaps a good option for some holiday reading. (Yesterday on the blog: The Collected Best Books of 2022) Christmas Music: A Witness For Us or Against Us This is a thought-provoking reflection…
I probably don’t need to tell you how much I love books in general, and Christian books in particular. One of my favorite times to be a reader is in mid-December when people begin to share their picks for the top books of the year. I usually collect a good number of these lists and…
Crossway has begun to publish The Complete Works of John Owen and Westminster Books has the first volume (of 40!) on sale now. There are at least a couple of Kindle deals to look at. What Your Nativity Really Means Pierce Taylor Hibbs considers “our little, neat, illuminated manger scenes. Such a precious thing: the…
Blessings to you today, my friends. (Yesterday on the blog: Christmas Hope for the Broken-Hearted) The Sunset, the Symphony, and the Gift Darla poignantly describes the discovery, misuse, and (eventually) proper use of a wonderful gift. “I was eight or nine when I received the gift and discovered that I could make music. I wasn’t…
The tree is trimmed and decorated and glowing with lights. The gifts are wrapped and tied with bows and arranged carefully beneath. The stockings are hung by the fire and bulging with trinkets and surprises and sweet delicacies. The table is set and waiting for a great feast to be laid out upon it. Christmas…
Good morning. Grace and peace to you. Today’s Kindle deals include a good selection (as is the case with most Mondays). (Yesterday on the blog: To Do His Will) Melchizedek’s Loins This is an enjoyable reflection on a fascinating biblical character. He Gives What He Demands Glenna Marshall spent some time in Proverbs this year…
We are not naturally inclined to do the will of God. To the contrary, until God intervenes, we take joy in contradicting and disobeying him. But once God saves us we come to understand the pleasure of carrying out his commands and submitting ourselves to his will. And that’s what F.B. Meyer reflects on in…
May you enjoy the Lord’s rich blessings as you serve and worship him this weekend. My gratitude goes to Burke Care for sponsoring the blog this week to invite you to schedule a session with their certified biblical counselors. Today’s Kindle deals include some newer books and some older ones. (Yesterday on the blog: My…
As another year draws to a close, I wanted to take some time to consider the books I read in 2022 and to assemble a list of my top picks. Apart from the first book, which I consider the best I read this year, the rest are in no particular order. In each case I’ve…
Grace and peace to you, my friends. Logos has kicked off their annual 12 Days of Logos event and, as always, there are some good deals to be had. Christian Word of the Year: Winsome Stephen McAlpine considers a word that showed up a lot this year. “It’s everywhere you look at the moment. So…
Grace and peace to you today. Today’s Kindle deals include quite a nice little selection. Westminster Books has a great deal on a new study Bible that looks quite interesting: The ESV Church History Study Bible. (Yesterday on the blog: What I Long for More than Miracles) One Hope for Our Mass Derangement I recently…
I suppose it is possible that I have witnessed a miracle in my lifetime, but if so, I’m not aware of it. If a miracle is a “supernatural, extraordinary event that diverges from observed natural processes,” then I can’t think of a time that I’ve seen a clear example of one. That’s not to say…
The Lord be with you and bless you today. Light and Life for the Overspent Brittany Allen: “If there’s ever a time when we might feel overspent, it’s the holidays. The pressure to buy a million gifts, spend time with family, and be involved in various church events can become overwhelming. We sing songs claiming,…