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A La Carte (February 12)

wednesday

Sometimes I think I should begin these A La Carte posts with a personalized message. But then I wonder, how would I possibly vary that across the 320 or so I prepare each year? That seems unlikely, so I usually just get right down to business…

… by mentioning that I dug up some new Kindle deals.

Logos has individual volumes in the NIC series at just $19.99—an amazing price. Many are considered top-quality, (e.g. Genesis, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Proverbs, Matthew, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, etc).

(Yesterday on the blog: Why Authors Want You To Pre-Order Their New Books)

10 Flavors of Works-Based Salvation

Works-based salvation takes on many forms, as this article demonstrates. “By nature and by training we all seek solutions to our problem of sin. To varying degrees, these solutions include doing something—law keeping, good works, etc—to please or appease or satisfy the God who is one day going to judge us. The idea of contributing to one’s own salvation is universal. It’s the engine which propels every religion.”

Japan’s Lost-and-Found System Is Insanely Good

I found this fascinating. “The scheme for reuniting unlucky people with their wayward valuables relies on a complex mix of infrastructure, carrot-and-stick legal encouragement, and cultural norms. Taken together, they form a shockingly efficient system that has long been a source of wonder for Western observers.”

Acts 29 CEO Removed Amid ‘Accusations of Abusive Leadership’

This article from Christianity Today reports on Acts 29. “Two weeks ago, internal reports raised similar concerns about Timmis’s leadership in Acts 29, and the board voted on Monday to remove him as CEO. Acts 29 president Matt Chandler announced the news in a video sent out to the network the following day, saying, ‘For where we’re headed next, we needed to transition Steve out of this role.’”

A Couple’s Final Words to Each Other Accidentally Recorded (Video)

This is quite a video, and quite a story.

Valentine’s Envy

Lisa LaGeorge: “Envy creeps in, whispering that something good has been withheld from you. It tempts us to be snarky, to protect ourselves from feeling the lack of affection, of flowers, of spatulas. Envy build barriers to ‘rejoicing with those who rejoice,’ and it casts shadows on the gifts we have been given. Envy tends to the seeds of bitterness and cheers their growth.”

How Your Laptop Ruined Your Life

We blame our mobile phones for many of our woes, but perhaps we should look as well to an older foe. “If staying home with a cold still requires a full day of work or you can’t find a seat at your local coffee shop on a Tuesday afternoon, iPhones are not responsible for ruining your life. The novelty and early popularity of smartphones seem to have distracted America from how quickly its laptops were also dissolving much of the boundary between work and home.”

Humans Are Still Evolving

Alan Shlemon discusses a recent article and the nature of evolution.

Flashback: 4 Grave Dangers in Every Sin

I have preached the truth a hundred times to others and a thousand times to myself: You can’t sin without consequence.

The best teachers remain students all their lives.

—John Stott

  • Sermon Introduction

    Three Levels of Sermon Introduction

    Though every sermon necessarily needs a beginning, it does not necessarily need a formal introduction. Though it has to begin somewhere, there is no rule that it must begin with some kind of story or illustration. A preacher can jump straight into his text if he so desires. Some do.

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    A La Carte (April 4)

    A LA Carte: Causes of division in the church / Union with Christians / The 1%-er rhetoric / Pray or sleep? / Distinguishing shame from guilt / Many more Kindle deals / and so on.

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    A La Carte (April 3)

    A La Carte: Never too late to learn how to pray / Walking with those who weep / Rethinking the role of pastor’s wife / What does the Bible mean when it teaches wives to submit? / Does God want some to go to hell? / Kindle deals / and more.

  • The Most Pleasant Show on Television

    The Most Pleasant Show on Television

    I rarely review, recommend, or even mention movies and television programs. I rarely do so because I am aware that tastes vary and so too do family rules and personal consciences. Not only that, but I am not very adept at understanding the themes or messages in visual media and wouldn’t wish to inadvertently lead…

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    A La Carte (April 2)

    A La Carte: Our dance with distinction / You are not your theology / The challenges of motherhood / God hates sin / Random thoughts on preaching / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (April 1)

    A La Carte: John Piper evaluates Jordon Peterson / Church coffee / Disciplines to help your marriage / “Love is Blind” / A knife at her throat / So many Kindle deals / and more.