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A La Carte (July 2)

monday

Today’s Kindle deals include a few interesting titles. You may also want to check out this month’s general market deals and get some summer reading.

You’ll want to take a look at this month’s free audiobook from Christian Audio. You can also get a free course (and some discounted ones) from Logos.

Yesterday on the blog: On Renaming the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal)

Is There Anyone Praying For You?

This is a neat story about an unexpected opportunity to pray. You just never know how the Lord is working.

If It Be Your Will

Should we qualify our prayers with, “if it be your will?” R.C. Sproul provides an answer.

Christian, Rethink Your Public Speech

“Believer, if you truly relish a life of turmoil, public anger, boiling arguments, caustic debates and throwing out verbal darts like porcupine quills, you will genuinely help the cause of Christ by not identifying publicly as a Christian. I’m serious. We are in desperate need of Christian wisdom, but not barbaric untamed and undignified rhetoric. It’s doing us no good.”

The Story of Canada’s Weird Radio Laws (Video)

These odd regulations date back to 1971 yet continue to define Canadian radio.

Should We Celebrate the Fourth of July at Church?

This is probably a day late, but still worth considering. “The Fourth of July is just around the corner. Even now American churches are planning their Sunday service around it. Maybe they’ll include a patriotic hymn like ‘God Bless America’ or the national anthem. Maybe men and women in uniform will parade the American flag down the center aisle. Maybe a congressman or mayor will offer a ‘special word.’ I love patriotic music, fireworks on the National Mall, and the country they’re honoring. But I confess I’m not a fan of celebrating America inside Sunday’s sanctuary. It just might work against Jesus’s Great Commission.”

Wet Book Rescue (Video)

Here’s how to rescue a book that has been water damaged.

Seven Strategies for Fighting Envy

Envy is one of the ugliest sins. “Envy is a stingy and demanding master. It’s stingy because, unlike many other sins, there’s absolutely nothing pleasurable about experiencing it. Most sins bait the hook: lust offers excitement and escape, greed promises wealth and pleasure, gossip promises power and participation in the inner circle. And many sins are at least temporarily pleasurable (that’s why we do them).”

Flashback: The Danger of Coasting

I do not coast toward Christ, but toward self. When I stop caring, when I stop expending effort, when I allow myself to coast, I inevitably coast away from God and godliness.

God does not ask success or fame from us, but faithfulness.

—Juan Stam

  • Songs in the Night

    Those Who Sing Songs in the Night

    Imagine that you are sitting in a prison cell. This is not some posh or even stark 21st-century prison cell, but a primitive Roman one. Your back is pressed against cold stones. Your stomach is aching with hunger. Your nose is assaulted by terrible smells. Your heart is filled with despair. You know your death…

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    A La Carte (December 9)

    A La Carte: Tortured, imperfect, and held by Jesus / Let the feminist mock / What is the wrath of God? / As long as there is time / Every believer’s call to meaningful ministry / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A Common Contradiction Between Belief and Practice

    A Common Contradiction Between Belief and Practice

    Many Christians experience a contradiction between what we believe to be true about the Bible and our actual practice of reading the Bible. Often our theology is superior to our habits. We profess that the Bible is infallible, inerrant, authoritative, and sufficient, but we then neglect it in our daily lives. We agree with David…

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    Weekend A La Carte (December 7)

    A La Carte: Hunter Biden and a father’s pardon / How to avoid a midlife crisis / John Piper on creepy, darker media / The Supreme Court and the transgender minors case / and much more.

  • 2024 Mega Projects

    10 Christian Mega-Projects Released In 2024

    Lots of great books and other resources came our way in 2024. Among them were some that were particularly “mega”—that represented an extraordinarily long, big, expansive, or audacious idea, and I wanted to give credit where credit is due. With apologies to any I missed, here is my list of some of the most mega…

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    A La Carte (December 6)

    A La Carte: Satan’s “pastor’s heart” / What no earthly love may rival / Serious ministry / A baby brings hope and a future / What one Chinese pastor can teach you / Logos and Kindle sale / and more.