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A La Carte (December 9)

wednesday

It was a year ago today that my father unexpectedly went to be with the Lord—the start of what has been the most difficult 12-month period we’ve known. Yet through it we’ve experienced so much of the Lord’s kindness—so many of his blessings. And it’s somehow comforting to know that my dad was waiting in heaven when my Nick arrived…

There are lots of Kindle deals to look at today, including a bunch for those who are more academically inclined.

Sorrow and Joy All Tangled Up

I’m so very proud of the nearby Strickland family who have so faithfully represented Jesus through the terrible loss of their young son. “As a mother, I want you to be with me for the rest of my life, but if I truly believe being with Jesus in heaven is far better than we can ever imagine, then there’s joy I can experience knowing that. I want him here but I also want the best and I truly believe where he is right now is the best for him. It’s that sorrow and joy all tangled up together…”

Roosevelt and the Lonely Missionary

I’ve read a number of accounts of Roosevelt and the lonely missionary. It’s an anecdote worth knowing.

Obscurity

In a not dissimilar vein, here’s a word on obscurity. “There was a flurry of excitement in the beginning. Dreams and angelic visitation; a strange new star; foreigners bearing gifts. Then slaughter, a desperate escape and exile. And finally, returning to settle into an average place in a poor village.”

Samuel M. Zwemer and the Glory of Christ

And speaking of missionaries, here’s a great little profile of another missionary.

5 Myths about Spiritual Gifts

This article addresses some of the myths surrounding spiritual gifts.

How Do We Deal With The End Of The World?

“Last week, my barber asked me about a prophecy preacher on Youtube. He was sincere in asking me questions. It would have been easy for me to push it aside, but it got me thinking about what should be our response to people thinking about the end of the world. In fact, over the last few weeks, several people have been asking me about the end of the world. The Pandemic, coupled with social and political unrest, have Christians thinking about Christ’s Second Coming. For many, it is a scary time.” But there’s a problem with such thinking…

Thomas Jefferson Tried to ‘Fix’ the Bible. He Only Succeeded in Making It Sad.

This is a very interesting article about Thomas Jefferson’s famous “fixed” Bible.

Flashback: Momentary Obedience, Forever Honor

How do we show honor to our parents, especially when we are adults?

Thou needest to be saved from thyself, not by thyself.

—Charles Spurgeon

  • Educated, Free, Wealthy, and Privileged

    We are an educated people with high standards of literacy. We are a free people who enjoy religious liberty. We are a wealthy people with unlimited access to a nearly infinite quantity of Bibles. We are a privileged people who may not realize how blessed we are.

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    Weekend A La Carte (November 2)

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    Free Stuff Fridays (Ligonier)

    This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by Ligonier Ministries, who also sponsored the blog this week.  Yesterday was Reformation Day, when many Protestants celebrate the sixteenth-century recovery of the biblical gospel. It was while Martin Luther was studying the book of Romans that he rediscovered the doctrine of justification by faith alone. So, today…

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    Why Not Use a Daily Liturgy for Your Devotions?

    Trends come and go. Certain habits or interests rise for a time, wane, then rise again, often at unexpected moments. One of the recent trends I have found particularly surprising and also particularly interesting is the rise (or re-rise, if you prefer) of liturgy. This may be liturgy within formal worship services of the local…

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    A La Carte (November 1)

    A La Carte: When a Berkeley feminist had three sons / The tragedy of IVF / What if I don’t feel forgiven? / Piper on how not to respond to suffering / What sola scriptura protects us against / Kindle deals / and more.

  • New and Notable Christian Books for October 2024

    New and Notable Christian Books for October 2024

    As October draws to its close, I wanted to ensure you know about at least some of the most notable books it brought our way. I did not see quite the quantity of new books I have seen in some previous months, but there were still some special ones. For each, I’ve provided the publisher’s…