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A La Carte (December 16)

wednesday

Logos users, remember to check out the 12 Days of Logos. The deals include a bunch of my recommendations for OT commentaries, a number of complete commentary sets (NICOT, Welwyn, etc), and the complete NSBT set. There are some really good deals to be had.

Think You Know the Christmas Story? Here are Five Common Misconceptions

Michael Kruger, a New Testament scholar, addresses five common misconceptions about Christmas.

Is Christmas a Pagan Rip-off?

Meanwhile, Kevin DeYoung answers this question: Is Christmas a pagan rip-off?

Give the Gift of AGTV

Christmas is fast approaching, and what better way to love your friends and family than with sound, biblical teaching. You can gift someone the new streaming service, AGTV, for just $5.99 a month or $64.99 for a year, so they can watch films and documentaries like American Gospel, Luther, Calvinist, Christianity Explored, and Epic. (Sponsored)

Vaccines and the Christian Worldview

Al Mohler has written a long article about the COVID-19 vaccine and its implications for Christians. “What should Christians think about vaccines and their use? What ethical and theological questions arise? Do the COVID-19 vaccines bring unique moral questions? What does the Christian worldview have to say about the entire set of questions? Let me offer seven points for consideration.”

Thoughts on My Anxiety

Todd Pruitt: “I have assembled a few thoughts on anxiety which I hope will at least help sufferers make sense of what they are experiencing. I also hope that those who do not struggle with anxiety chronically will gain a little insight into the lives of those who do.”

Shepherds Abiding in Their Field, Keeping Watch

“Picture a couple of shepherds. They’re just watching the sheep under the stars, like they have for years, maybe decades. And two of the guys, buddies, lean against a boulder, watching the flock. Two months earlier they were leaning against that same rock, like they had so many times before, and one shepherd — let’s call him Sal — says to the other, ‘Hey, Ernie.’ (Let’s pretend the other guy’s name is Ernie.) And Ernie says, ‘Yeah?’ ‘Do you ever sit and think to yourself,’ Sal says, ‘if any of that Messiah stuff is true?’” Jared Wilson imagines it…

Lessons for the Hospital

Kathryn Butler: “Whatever the circumstances, illness can stir up fears we never knew we harbored. Although medication can dull our pain, and therapies can slow cancer in its march, no pat answers can sponge away such fears. The wounds course too deep, and the nightmares linger too long after we’ve awoken from anesthesia.”

Flashback: The Visionary Worrywart

Where a visionary has an optimistic view of the future based on his ability to see current patterns and predict a better alternative, a worrier sees the future in great detail, but always in gory detail.

Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by his rules.

—Jonathan Edwards

  • The Christian Standard Commentary: A Modern Commentary Steeped in Ancient Tradition

    The Christian Standard Commentary will encourage and equip God’s people to understand the text and live according to Scripture for Christ’s glory. The unique ancient-modern approach to the biblical text found in the CSC is a valuable resource for building up Christ’s church while encouraging God’s people to fulfill the Great Commission. As a commentary…

  • Finnegan

    Why I Haven’t Written A Whole Lot about My Grandson

    It has been two months since little Finnegan was born—two months since I became a grandfather for the first time. It only just occurred to me that I have said very little about this new reality, this new stage of life, this new member of our family.

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    A La Carte (January 20)

    A La Carte: Is it good that you exist? / Should we trust churches? / In defense of childhood / Take your anxiety to church / How do I leave my abortion in the past? / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Prayer Recipe

    Prayer Is Not Like a Good Recipe

    Prayer is not like a good recipe: simply follow a set of mechanical directions and everything turns out right in the end. So what is it then? And how can we do it well?

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (January 18)

    A La Carte: Biblical theology is for nerds / The sins of TikTok / Be content where God has placed you / Alistair Begg on the downfall of peers / Not a vending machine / “But I keep sinning!” / and more.

  • Free-stuff Fridays (Truth78)

    This weeks giveaway is sponsored by Truth78. Are you wondering how you can help lead the children growing up in your church or home to a saving faith in Christ?  Zealous, written by Truth78 executive director David Michael, is for parents and ministry leaders, and anyone who wants to be inspired with biblical vision and…