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A La Carte (September 30)

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Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include several good books by and/or for women. There are titles there by Melissa Kruger, Rosaria Butterfield, and others.

How to Lose Your Leaders

“If your leaders leave, what are you left with? Followers. And the growth of your organisation will quickly hit a ceiling. Being left with followers is fine if you are satisfied with substandard sycophants, or a revolving door of new leaders recruited, used and burned out. But if you want a team with initiative, wise long term decisions, and a healthy ministry culture, you need teams of genuine leaders.”

What if He’s Faithful?

This one hits close to home. “It only takes a few experiences of loss or long-deferred hopes to become a person bent on protecting yourself from future sorrows. You begin to view every potential good thing in life as the harbinger of your next greatest loss. Rather than bringing your desires and concerns to the Lord with hope that He will intervene or work things together for good, you worry at the Lord, certain everything will soon fall apart.”

Three Pounds of Wonder (Video)

The John 10:10 has a new video, this one about the marvelous human brain.

Dear Pastor, Sermon Prep Is Worth the Effort

Here’s an article/letter for pastors to ponder. “Plenty of people to set your agenda, innumerable demands pastorally, increasing amounts of administration, personal family concerns—they all have the potential to send stress levels rocketing. But perhaps the greatest danger is their ability to divert us from our main priority, memorably encapsulated in Paul’s parting charge to Timothy.”

The Good Life

Ruth writes about the good life.

Breaking the Anger Chain

Darryl explains how he once struggled with anger and how he learned to identify and break the “anger chain.”

Flashback: When Jesus Says “Stay”

Instead of telling him “come,” Jesus told him “stay.” He told him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” This man was to have a ministry, after all, but it was a ministry at home, not a ministry away. 

I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are very wise and very beautiful; but I never read in either of them: “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden.”

—Augustine

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (September 30)

    A La Carte: How to lose your leaders / What if he’s faithful / Three pounds of wonder / Breaking the anger chain / Sermon prep is worth the effort / Kindle books by/for women / and more.

  • Dust on the Bible

    Dust on the Bible

    Hank Williams recorded an old song called “Dust on the Bible.” It’s a song of lament in which he has gone to a friend’s home and asked to see their Bible. When they bring it to him, he realizes it has obviously not been read for a very long time, for it is covered in…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (September 28)

    A La Carte: We need to talk about “The Jesus Film” / A concise theology of failure / Guard your heart when suffering / Approaching a political election in the right way / From bitterness to forgiveness / and more.

  • Free Stuff Fridays (10ofThose)

    This week the blog and this giveaway are sponsored by 10ofThose. This Friday, we’re presenting a giveaway like no other… with the timeless wisdom and grit of J.C. Ryle. Over the past two centuries, countless Christians have been both comforted and challenged by his works and we’d love you to join them. This incredible giveaway…

  • New and Notable September 2024

    New and Notable Christian Books for September 2024

    September has very nearly faded into October but before the month ends I’d like to tell you about some of the new books that it brought our way. I’ll remind you first that my book Pilgrim Prayers was released this month and encourage you to give it a look! Beyond that, here are 12 new…

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    A La Carte (September 27)

    A La Carte: Rome’s seven deadly errors / Africa’s Man of God phenomenon / 5 things to know about hell / Praise and unity / Self-pity / The uncarnation of Christ / and more.