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A La Carte (5/31)

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Challies, Voskamp, and All Us Girls – There have been a lot of reactions to my review of Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gift, ranging from the outrageous to the encouraging. I found this one from The Christian Pundit particularly helpful.

7 Evils of a Grumbling Spirit – BJ Stockman goes to Jeremiah Burroughs and The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment to find the seven evils of a grumbling spirit. (HT)

Dear Digital Son – A father writes a clever letter to his graduating son. “As you prepare to graduate, I hope you’ll remember there’s more to life than the Kardashians, 46-pound cats and texting in incomplete sentences.”

Fifty Shades of Grey – “Undoubtedly, the series portrays BDSM in the context of an engaging, passionate, tender, romantic relationship that culminates in the characters falling in love, and the conflicted girl assuaging the billionaire’s troubled soul. But it doesn’t matter to me how the author sweetens it up. The tasty red Kool-Aid doesn’t offset the bitter poison. Smut is still smut.”

Works and Words – This article explains why you can’t preach the gospel with deeds. “When it comes to the enduring question of word versus deed in the Christian’s calling, the issue is always one of balance. How are Christians to think about the relative roles of words (proclaiming the gospel) and deeds (loving action) in what Christ has called his people to be and do? We need to set our scales to a balance that matches Scripture.”

There are no non-religious activities; only religious and irreligious.

—C.S. Lewis

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    A La Carte (March 18)

    A La Carte: Did Jesus freely live a scripted life? / Death, grief, and Frodo’s incurable wound / Cultural Christianity / The danger of an inward focused church / The stay-at-home mom / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Things Change and Things Stay the Same

    Things Change and Things Stay the Same

    The French language has an endearing little phrase that could almost have been drawn from the Bible’s wisdom literature. “Plus ça change,” they say, “plus c’est la même chose.” The more things change, the more they stay the same. Though I live in the 21st century, I read in the 19th, which is to say,…

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    A La Carte (March 17)

    A La Carte: Comfort in life’s disappointments / To women with passive husbands / Loved ones with dementia / When to preach Romans / Friendship / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Too Small To Bother God With

    At times we all live burdened lives, weighed down by the cares and concerns, the trials and traumas that inevitably accompany life in this world. And while we sometimes feel crushed by life’s heaviest burdens—the death of a loved one, the rebellion of a child, the onset of a chronic illness—we can also sometimes stagger…

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    Weekend A La Carte (March 15)

    A La Carte: The etiquette of speech / Steve Lawson’s repentance / It’s not too late to abandon Christian nationalism / Praying for dreams to come true / How marriage vows work / New gospel songs / and more.