Explore A La Carte

The Solar System This took a lot of effort and ingenuity: “On a dry lakebed in Nevada, a group of friends build the first scale model of the solar system with complete planetary orbits: a true illustration of our place in the universe.” The Desire to Be Desired This is good stuff from Ed Welch.…

Life Is Best Be sure to check out this new 13-episode program coming this fall. “Lives are at stake. Souls hang in the balance. Some Christians are engaged in the battle, most are not. Life Is Best will thoroughly equip and inspire you to join the fight for lives and souls.” Truths and Tips for…

Tissue Sales or ‘Donation for Remuneration?’ WORLD has a description of the latest undercover video from the Center for Medical Progress. Apparently fetal tissue procurement companies that pay Planned Parenthood for pieces of aborted babies are making a “donation for remuneration…” 2016 Ligonier Ministries National Conference Ligonier Ministries just announced their 2016 National Conference. In…

Helpers for Unfinished Husbands “It might take many years of sanctifying marriage for a husband to learn Christlike headship, and even then it will be imperfect. Wives, as helpmates, come alongside their husbands in this unfinished work.” Don’t Lose Spiritual Disciplines for Fear of Legalism There are some good challenges in this article. “For fear…

10 Things you Can’t Expect from Church Volunteers Church leaders may benefit from reading this list. “Expect too little and they don’t see their contribution as important and flake out. Expect too much and risk losing the very people you desperately need.” Pastor-Scholar? Not Likely… Mark Jones does well at taking a contrary view, and…

Welcome to the weekend! And thanks for taking a little bit of it to read A La Carte. I post this just before heading to my church’s morning of prayer, an event I have been looking forward to all week long. Praying and praying together–these are precious gifts. Giving Your Pastor Feedback After a Sermon…

Planting Seeds of Truth in Your Public School This isn’t an article about where or how to educate your children, but about how to reach into public schools. “For many years, our public schools have been seen as battlefields. Nothing much grows on a battlefield, though. Instead, our schools should be viewed as gardens to…

Sentiment and Principle Jeremy Walker provides a helpful reflection on sentiment and principle: “Sentiment can be swayed, one way or the other. Sentiment in one direction can be turned back by an opposing sentiment that seems equally reasonably. Sentiment tends to be reactive; it is rarely proactive. It bubbles up in a moment and melts…

“You’ve Ruined My Life, Professor Craig!!” What a great email exchange this is between William Lane Craig and one of his former students. Here’s my favorite line: “Jesus is a tremendously attractive person in the wisdom of his teaching, in his character, and in the authenticity of his life.” Indeed, he is! Conservative Dissent Is…

The Public Reading of Scripture in Corporate Worship Few things irk me more than a very poor public reading of Scripture. This article offers really helpful pointers on doing it right (and explains why we ought to make the effort). Rosaria Butterfield on Sexuality and Identity In this short video (less than 3 minutes) Rosaria…

What Girls Should Demand This one is targeted squarely at young ladies. “There aren’t that many things in this life that I believe we are called to demand of others. But, this thing, girls, this demand that I am laying before you today, is a big one. It is a demand that goes against everything…

I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to the end of summer and the return of normalcy. In these parts, that transition always happens on Labor Day (or Labour Day for my fellow Canadians). Summer has been beautiful and brilliant, but I’m ready for fall. Here are today’s links. The Promise of…

Sister Wives Star Cites Gay Marriage Ruling Well, this is hardly a surprise, is it? “The polygamous family starring in the hit TLC reality show Sister Wives believes the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage gives them grounds to live their lifestyle unpunished, according to an appeal filed last week.” Odyssey This is…

Youth-Driven Culture Stephen Nichols has an important article about the way we perceive age and youth. “There is something about being young that makes the young think they are immune to the mistakes or missteps of those who have gone before. We all think too highly of ourselves and our capacities. Simply put, we need…

Ligonier Suspends R. C. Sproul Jr. over Ashley Madison Visit I was sickened and so sorrowful to hear this news. Christianity Today reports “Ligonier Ministries has suspended R. C. Sproul Jr. until July 2016 due to his admission that he visited the adultery matchmaking website Ashley Madison.” The Weakness of Ruth Is Greater than the…

We are cruising to the end of a week and the end of a month. I do not have any new Kindle deals to share today, but I do anticipate having some interesting ones on both Monday and Tuesday. In the meantime, here is some weekend reading for you. Looking for Abortion Truth in Big…

A Note to Christian Men The title could probably be stronger, but the article is rock-solid. Matthew Holst writes about “the look”–the way men look at women when they allow their eyes to roam. Fasting for Beginners “Chances are you are among the massive majority of Christians who rarely or never fast. It’s not because…

I found no new Kindle deals today but did want to answer a question I have often been asked. What I post day-by-day is a list of curated deals. They are almost all books I can vouch for one way or another–I have read them, they come from a solid publisher, or they have trusted…