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A La Carte (July 9)

friday

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Westminster Books has a really good sale on some new and noteworthy books. They are also offering a deep discount on an excellent new version of Pilgrim’s Progress for kids.

Thanks for being patient with some light blogging (A La Carte only) this week. I’ll be back with the usual schedule of articles next week.

The Contagious Sin of Cynicism

Cynicism is no fruit of the Spirit, as Peter Adam explains here. “Cynicism today, as at any time, contradicts the three vital signs of Christianity according to Paul: faith in Jesus Christ, love for all the saints, and hope as we await the return of Christ..”

An Inexpressible Gift

“Inexpressible? Paul certainly spent a lot of time expressing the gospel! So what did he mean?” Jacob Tanner considers the joy and privilege it is to preach the gospel to others.

Moms and Dads: Show Your Need

“‘I have one regret of how I parented,’ my friend David Towne told me. I leaned forward. David is a godly man married to a godly wife. He’s kind and gentle and wise. As an educator, he’s witnessed a lot of parenting, good and bad, in his day. His adult children have had their struggles but are good people. I would ask him for parenting advice in a second. What was his greatest regret?”

Far From Home

Andrea Sanborn: “We hosted international students for years. They taught me a lot about the universal need for family. They taught our kids the importance of welcoming the stranger. Our family is infinitely richer from having them share our table all those years.”

An Inherited Garden (A Ministry Parable)

Andrew Roycroft shares a ministry parable from his new garden.

Embracing the Quiet Life

Chris Thomas: “Most people I know don’t simply dislike the idea of a quiet life. They are terrified of the notion. Now I presume you may think—’No way! I know heaps of people who say they’d trade everything for a quiet life.’ Sure, I know quite a number of people who say that too. But I suspect many of them are lying.”

The Depressing Dead End of ‘Your Truth’

Brett McCracken: “Your truth. Those two words are so entrenched in our lexicon today that we hardly recognize them for the incoherent nightmare that they are.”

Flashback: Use the Rod, Lose the Child?

We know God expects us to discipline our children and we know he expects us to obey our rulers. So what do we do when those two come into conflict?

Thousands acknowledge they are sinners, who have never mourned over the fact.

—A.W. Pink

  • Finn

    I’m a Grandfather!

    Yesterday Abby and Nathan welcomed their first child into the world: Finnegan Safir Nicholas Elfarrah. Because they live just minutes away, Aileen and I were able to be there shortly after his birth to rejoice with them and to meet our first grandchild. We are thrilled beyond measure. And he is cute beyond belief. They…

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    A La Carte (November 20)

    A La Carte: Pray till you pray / Do children need to consent to puberty? / Pleading for Sodom / A thought experiment / 10 mistakes when reading the Bible / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 19)

    A La Carte: Good night, my son / The longing for justice following sexual assault / Daughter of encouragement / Mistakes I made as a theological student / The dangers of disordered love / Kindle deals / and more.

  • What Grieves the Heart of God

    What Grieves the Heart of God?

    What pleases God? What delights his heart? And what displeases God? What grieves his heart? If asked, I think most of us would assume that if we ever grieve the heart of God it will be through denying the gospel or committing a grave moral scandal. Or if we do so as a local church,…

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    A La Carte (November 18)

    A La Carte: When God does not need our service / How to forgive and move on / A devotional for depression / Can a speeding ticket change your heart? / Is it I, Lord? / Kindle deals / and more.