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Weekend A La Carte (April 23)

My gratitude goes to TGC for sponsoring the blog this week with news of their upcoming Good Faith Debates.

Today’s Kindle deals include some classics and some newer works.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Loveliest Place)

Inviting God into the Hard Places

When we face difficulties we always long for deliverance. But “what if—rather than deliverance from the hard—he wants you to invite him into it? What if he wants you to seek his presence in the hard, more than his protection from the hard? His provision in the midst of life’s hardships, rather than relief from them?”

If God Really Loved Me, He Would…

This one is on a similar theme: “Why are we surprised when trials come? Why do we do quickly question God’s goodness, love, and control when we experience the pain of this world? For me, I think it’s because there is a pervasive belief that subtly infiltrates my thought life. One that, deep down, still believes God would keep me from harm and rescue me from pain if he truly loved me.”

How Russian Christians View the ‘Special Military Operation’ in Ukraine

CT tries to get to the bottom of a question many of us have been wondering: How do Russian Christians view the “special military operation” in Ukraine? The answer, not surprisingly, is complicated.

A question of responsibility

Meanwhile, Andrée Seu Peterson considers the matter of responsibility. “The question of causality is the quiet backdrop of the nightmare that is Ukraine. As an American eavesdropping on the current French presidential elections, I heard one candidate try to thread the needle by saying Putin is culpable but that the West is responsible for cornering him by trying to put NATO on his doorstep—for essentially ‘poking the Bear.’ This is more than I am qualified to comment on. Nevertheless, I got to pondering the Word of God on questions of causality and responsibility.”

Jesus Versus the Trade-In Society

“We are a trade-in society, where the promise of being able to eventually replace anything, or anyone, lies underneath all of our experiences, even our spiritual lives.” This has wide-ranging consequences.

Hope for the Doubting Thomases of the World

“While the rest of the disciples went about rejoicing, Thomas wasn’t ready to celebrate just yet. His logical side needed time to line up with his emotional one. The proof of his devotion was in the profoundness of his despair. “

Flashback: Young People and the Hundred Pushup Challenge of Life

It’s wrong of me to make light of their little sorrows by comparing them to their future greater sorrows. It’s right of me to support them as they build the strength and endurance that will carry them into and through the trials to come.

The cross of Jesus Christ shall be our ladder by which we shall climb up to heaven.

—Simeon Ashe

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    A La Carte (February 20)

    A La Carte: Defining healthy masculinity / The women who disappeared / Dear older women / When leaders fall, are you next? / A Storm in the Desert / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Building Churches

    Building Churches Out of Other Churches

    What is your church really made of? Or perhaps better said, who is your church really made of? This is something we all do well to ponder from time to time, for there are good ways and bad ways, better ways and worse ways to fill a church.

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    A La Carte (February 19)

    A La Carte: Don’t let your fears hold back your children / Denominations in an age of online over-exposure / Full-circle prayers / Secret things and revealed things / Building habits / John Mark Comer’s view of God / and more.

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    A La Carte (February 18)

    A La Carte: Very cool birds / The way to combat anxiety / Do not hinder yourself / The sacred mundane / Thriving in women’s ministry leadership / Kindle deals / and more.

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    A La Carte (February 17)

    A La Carte: Wisdom for online dating / Anything can be an idol / The great danger / Unconfessed sin / Sins we love to ignore / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Quality Time

    Quality Time

    People of all faiths pray. Some pray to gods, some to ancestors, some to nature, and some to the universe, but all speak out words, all utter desires, all hope to be heard. But Christians pray differently and Christians pray confidently, for we pray to a Father. We alone “have received the Spirit of adoption…