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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

  • Free Stuff Fridays (Boyce College/D3)

    Pastors and Parents are always on the lookout for good discipleship resources for teens. You just might be the person who wins these items for free through the D3/Boyce College Giveaway.

  • Mothering Against Futility

    The Futility of Motherhood

    Life is made up of so much that gives the appearance of being futile. There are so many tasks and responsibilities that we intellectually know to be important but emotionally feel to be fruitless. And if everyone struggles with this to varying degrees, I have it on good authority that mothers are prone to struggle…

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    A La Carte (January 31)

    A La Carte: Dune and female moral authority / Three lies that separate spouses / Sin makes you stupid / Can a fallen pastor be restored? / Evaluating Trump’s first week of executive actions / A future for the family / Book and Kindle deals / and more.

  • New and Notable Christian Books for January 2025

    As you know, I like to do my best to sort through the new Christian books that are released each month to see what stands out as being not only new, but also particularly notable. I received quite a number of books in January and narrowed the list down to the ones below. I have…

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    A La Carte (January 30)

    A La Carte: Small injustices / Is it necessary to be a church member? / How to make friends at college / My letter about a transgender teacher / Prayerless theologians / Deepening fellowship / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Throw Out the Buoys

    Throw Out the Buoys!

    When I was young, my family owned a cottage on a lake. From a young age, I loved to head out in our little motorboat so I could explore that lake and the others that were connected to it. I could easily make a day out of slipping into little inlets to see where they…