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A La Carte (September 3)

monday

Today’s Kindle deals include all sorts of good books. You may also want to scroll down to Saturday’s list if you missed it.

(Yesterday on the blog: The First Two Minutes Matter Most)

Should We Expect Miracles Today?

I appreciated this perspective on the miracles and the miraculous gifts (from someone not at all convinced they have ceased). “It is notable that the only people who did signs were prophets, apostles and Christ himself. It is also important to note why they did these signs. Let’s just look at some of the instances of signs and their purpose in scripture.”

Russia in Color: Photos of Life Before the Revolution

What a fascinating photo essay. “More than a century ago, Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky hit the road — or more accurately, the rails — to create a visual study of the Russian Empire that remains startling in its scope, depth, and sense of immediacy. A pioneering chemist and photographer who created an early method for developing pictures in color, Prokundin-Grosky got assistance from Tsar Nicholas II himself to take a groundbreaking trip across Russia from 1909 to 1915 in a railcar with a specially designed dark room. His mission was to document the far reaches of the Empire.”

The Ketterers

Denny Burk has posted three videos about the Ketterers. Watch them in order from top to bottom. You’ll enjoy them!

How ‘LOL’ Changed the Way We Talk (Video)

John McWhorter is a professor of linguistics at Columbia University who talks about how communication today is better in large part due to texting. I’m not sure that I totally buy it, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

That Is Not A Woman

Rod Dreher makes a really interesting point about being in journalism today. “I find it hard to encourage young people to consider professional journalism as a career. It used to be because jobs were scarce, but now, added to that, is the clear trend of having to use one’s words to lie. To flat-out lie about what is real, and to lie in a way that journalists working for Pravda and Izvestia had to do back in the day.”

Some PhD FAQs

Kevin DeYoung talks about pursuing a PhD—candidates, motives, expectations, and so on. (You might also read Pursuing Education, or Just Credentials? by Trevin Wax.)

How to Fail in Your Evangelism (Video)

“We don’t fail in our evangelism when we faithfully tell the gospel and yet the person is not converted. We fail in our evangelism when we don’t faithfully tell the gospel at all.” This is such a crucial distinction!

Flashback: Why Marriage Is Better Than Cohabitation

Though Christians continue to affirm the uniqueness, the goodness, and the necessity of marriage, our society continues to legitimize cohabitation as either a common precursor to marriage or a complete alternative.

The more Christians are caught up in enjoying the good things of this life, and the more they neglect genuine Christian fellowship and their personal relationship with Christ, the less they will long for his return.

—Wayne Grudem

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  • Will You Be a Pillar?

    How do we lead in a culture shaped by performance, individualism, and platform? Platforms to Pillars by cultural commentator Mark Sayers offers a biblical alternative to the platform mentality that dominates our society. Drawing from the ancient world, Sayers challenges Christians to become pillars—people who provide strength and support for others, who live with character…

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    The Winds Blow Hardest Against the Tallest Trees

    Through the weekend had many questions about Christian leaders who fall. And I expressed that just as the winds blow hardest against the tallest trees, so temptations may press hardest against the leaders who rise the highest. Just as floods press against shallow roots, so seductive desires rise up against those whose fall would bring…

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    A La Carte: Toxic servant leadership / Taking our stress to the Lord / The problem with habits / Is it wrong for Christians to choose cremation? / Why does your church meet in a house? / Big book and Kindle deals / and more.

  • Expectations

    Why We Ask So Little of God

    Most Christians expect little from God, ask little, and therefore receive little, and are content with little. Though the Bible calls us to pray and though it promises that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working,” we can still have very modest expectations of what God will accomplish through…

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    A La Carte: Why man needs God / Why nails matter / Kids’ picture books / MLK’s famous letter changed a DC church / How to mentor / A tearless eternity / and more.