Explore A La Carte

I am enjoying my time out here on the west coast though, as usual, these trips are just a bit too short. Still, it’s always a joy to be with brothers in Christ and I’m looking forward to speaking today at Men for God. Of course I will also be glad to be home very…

Yesterday, right after I posted my daily article, my server experienced what the host described as “catastrophic hardware failure.” For that reason the site was unavailable most of the day. I believe the problem has now been fully fixed. Finally, after years of paying for backups, it was proven worth it! And now some links,…

Defining Decency Down “If a horrific act of murder happens somewhere in the world, but you don’t blog within minutes about it, or Tweet about What It All Means…do you still care?” This is the kind of question we need to ask in a social media world. In the Shadow of the Valley This episode…

The Church Praying The current issue of the 9Marks Journal considers prayer in the life of the church. All the articles are free to read. 5 Things to Pray for the EU Referendum Tomorrow is a big day for the UK and many are struggling with how to vote. “But God’s Word has not left…

What I Can’t Know If I Don’t Know the Trinity “It’s not only that a proper understanding of the Trinity is some sort of arid proposition we need to check off a list of ‘need to know’ facts to be ‘good Christians.’ Rather, it’s that without a knowledge of the Trinity, we are simply robbed…

My Father My good friend Sam writes movingly about fatherhood and fatherlessness. “I’ve come to accept that I am probably never going to meet my father. I know that I am probably never going to shake my father’s hand—or give him the most awkward hug in history. I am never going to get to ask…

Christian Audio Christian Audio is holding their twice-yearly sale. This is a great time to try out their service. During this sale even brand new books are heavily discounted. Why Sex Isn’t the Best Thing Ever Lore Ferguson: “One of the best blessings to me in my singleness were friends who did not make marriage…

Did Jesus Have a Wife? This is a fascinating bit of investigative journalism from The Atlantic. Please note that it is a little PG-13 at times as the reporter chases down his story. “A hotly contested, supposedly ancient manuscript suggests Christ was married. But believing its origin story requires a big leap of faith.” (Also,…

How Fast Does a Christian Grow? How fast does a Christian grow? Not fast enough for our satisfaction! “If you come to Christ as a teenager or adult, some practices might be obvious (if painful) to change. But Christian maturity is more about the heart than it is about behavior. Our trust, hopes, and desires…

His Wife, Not His Mother Melissa: “I know that many of you who are reading this are thinking that you wouldn’t treat your husband like a child if he didn’t act like one. I get that. I really do. But, as long as we are slipping into the role of being his mother instead of…

Why You Should Care About Theology David offers three good reasons that you should care about theology. “God has graciously revealed himself through his Word, and every follower of Christ should take pains to know him well. Every Christian, therefore, is a theologian.” The Gospel: 2016 West Coast Conference Ligonier has posted the audio and…

Can We Still Weep Together After Orlando? Russell Moore writes for TIME in the aftermath of the shootings in Orlando. “Our national divisions increasingly make it difficult for us not just to work together, but even to pause and weep together. We become more concerned about protecting ourselves from one another’s political pronouncements than we…

Change the Definition, Claim the Right This is exactly what has been happening in a few of our recent cultural conversations: First you change the definition, then you claim the right. California Bill Threatens Freedom of Religious Colleges Joe Carter provides one of his FAQs: “Legislation pending in the California State Senate threatens to strip…

Everything You (Might Have) Wanted to Know About Writing and Publishing Jared Wilson fills you in. (So, too, does Mark Jones at a different site.) Read Like a Reader This is so true: “This strict, make-every-book-count approach drained the fun out of reading. It left no room for fiction, and I started to read fewer…

Jennifer Knapp, Trey Pearson, and the Cross We Bear Mike Leake writes about two musicians I’ve really enjoyed in the past. “I’m seeing more and more young people follow the path of Knapp and Pearson. It’s becoming quite the broad road. And this broad road isn’t labeled homosexuality. This broad road is labeled ‘accepting myself’.…

One Facebook, Two Worlds, Three Problems Trevin Wax did a litlte digging and experimenting and tells how Facebook’s news algorithm works (and why it’s really not a good thing). Living a Life of Stunning Significance Richard Phillips: “What a difference it makes when a Christian man realizes that he does not have to be a…

Talking to Your Children About Transgender Issues Russell Moore discusses what “Christian parents need to do when discipling their children to think about gender identity questions, and why hard conversations about controversial topics are essential.” The Sims Speaking of which, this is important news if your children play The Sims. “An update for the latest…

It is a joy to be in Seattle for the Ligonier Ministries West Coast Conference. I played my part yesterday by teaming up with Nathan Bingham on a pre-conference dedicated to being digital disciples. Today I head home just in time to watch my daughter perform at her ballet recital. While I travel, you read.…

I did not find much noteworthy today for Kindle deals. However, you may want to note that Westminster Books has a good deal on a new book titled Unshakable that looks ideal for students. They have discounts on a few other related titles. The Sun Is Always Shining in Modern Christian Pop “Jamie Grace’s ‘Beautiful…