The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you on this fine day. Westminster Books has just discounted a favorite Christmas outreach resource. They’ve also put together an early Christmas gift guide. There is a strong collection of Kindle deals to consider today. How Can I Return to Normal Life After Tragedy? John Piper answers a question from a grieving widow. “I think I can say, with some degree of certainty, that the more your life is embedded in or intertwined with what or whom you’ve lost — whether it’s your spouse, job, health, home, or child — then the more normal it is to feel disoriented and aimless.” Proximity and Plausibility “Why do self-described pro-life people still get abortions?” And beyond that, why do people behave in ways that counter their professed beliefs? Sin in the Christian life “Many years ago, when I was in seminary, I asked one of my professors what had surprised him most about the church when he had finished his own theological studies and had started serving in ministry. I will never forget his response. He said, ‘Guy, would you believe there is actually sin in the church!’” This leads to a look at Romans 7 and Paul’s statements there. Don’t Be Like the Ant “Don’t be like the ant who thought that it was his strong legs that pushed the log down the river. He overestimated.” Jim Elliff wants Christians to be cautious when evaluating the effects of their words and work. The Temptation We Most Often … Continue reading A La Carte (November 10)