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Weekend A La Carte (August 12)

Westminster Books has a solid deal on a set of books meant to protect children in local churches. Someone in every church needs to take on this responsibility!

(Yesterday at the blog I wrote about our culture’s shift in the way it pressures people to conform to societal expectations. Western culture has long been obsessed with guilt and innocence, but is now emphasizing shame and honor. Read more in The New/Old Way Our Culture Pressures Us To Conform.)

Answering Questions with Jesus

This is important: “Wherever you find yourself ministering to people in the church, assume questions, allow for questions, and answer questions. Let no one leave the church because an asked question was an ignored question.”

The Bible Is Not a Slideshow For Your Hot Take

Samuel James provides some good thoughts on Christian hot takes. “I’m not saying there’s nothing distinctively Christian to say about Robin Williams or about other public figures, like Chester Bennington, who commit suicide. What I am saying is that cheaply thought, cheaply written responses to these events by definition betray the Christian commitment to the centrality of truth.”

Sundar Pichai Should Resign as Google’s C.E.O.

I quite agree with David Brooks here: “Regardless which weakness applies, this episode suggests he should seek a nonleadership position. We are at a moment when mobs on the left and the right ignore evidence and destroy scapegoats. That’s when we need good leaders most.” (Also, see this.)

Theology Learned in the Flames of Adversity

We can learn from Luther what it means to learn truth in the fire of adversity.

Breaking News: Science Disproves the Bible

Another study has supposedly been shown to disprove the Bible. C. John Collins interacts with it to show how it doesn’t even come close. But even better, he provides a few thoughts on why the media is so quick to claim they’ve disproven the Bible. “Science and scientists serve a valuable role in our culture. But we do a disservice, both to them and to our own intellectual responsibilities, when we attach an authority to them beyond their discipline.”

How To Play an IMAX Film (Video)

“This video takes you behind the scenes to show you exactly how a bone crushing 400lb film print runs through a Mini Cooper sized projector. It’s epic.”

Al Mohler on North Korea

You may benefit from reading Al Mohler’s comments on North Korea, just war, and other pertinent issues.

Flashback: My Own Personal Bollywood

We can laugh at Bollywood and all they accept as realistic. But we should be laughing at ourselves as well.

Three Surprising Ways Bible Reading with My Kids Has Changed Me

My thanks goes to Matthias Media for sponsoring the blog this week with “Three Surprising Ways Bible Reading with My Kids Has Changed Me.”

In light of the cross, the greatest insult you can give God is to doubt His love for you.

—J.C. Ryle

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    A La Carte (November 5)

    A La Carte: Why women use pornography / I want God’s wrath on my enemy / Looking at photos with my mum / 10 things you should know about your conscience / I love being a pastor / and more.

  • A Beautiful 40-day Illustrated Devotional of Classic Literature

    This week the blog is sponsored by P&R Publishing. In the newest release by Leland Ryken, A Treasury of Nature, he joins great works of poetry, hymnody, prose, and art with accessible literary analysis. As Ryken says in the Introduction to his book: “The overall goal of this anthology is to enable nature to be…

  • Four Years After Our Hardest Day

    Four Years After Our Hardest Day

    Yesterday marked four years since Nick went to heaven. I find myself calling him “Nicky” more often now—a name I hadn’t used for him since he was a child. I wonder if it reflects that in some ways he is becoming dearer to my heart and younger to my mind. After all, I keep aging…

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    A La Carte (November 4)

    A La Carte: A reassured heart / Alistair Begg with biblical wisdom for voting / Unveiling the true nature of grumbling / Kevin DeYoung on double predestination / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Educated, Free, Wealthy, and Privileged

    We are an educated people with high standards of literacy. We are a free people who enjoy religious liberty. We are a wealthy people with unlimited access to a nearly infinite quantity of Bibles. We are a privileged people who may not realize how blessed we are.

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    Weekend A La Carte (November 2)

    A La Carte: Coldplay’s prayer in Melbourne / Zombies, Heath Lambert, and gatekeeping biblical counseling / Keep the Feast (a new song) / Stop playing the numbers game / Squandering security / and more.