A La Carte (June 29)
Good morning, my friends. May the Lord be with you and bless you today.
(Yesterday on the blog: When the Sermon Fizzles Instead of Sizzles)
Marriage Is Better for Your Adult Kids Than You May Think
I can’t even tell you how much I appreciate this one. “While there are a variety of cultural forces shaping people’s choices around marriage and children, I’m most intrigued by the way Western culture has convinced multiple generations that life’s highest value is personal autonomy, as measured by financial independence. From that perspective, family commitments will naturally be viewed as obstacles to overcome—if not completely avoid—because they hinder the good life.”
A Pastor’s Journey with Anxiety
Roger Sappington explains his long journey with anxiety and offers counsel for others who are prone to it.
Was Charles Spurgeon “Woke?”
The Prince of Preachers was widely regarded for his care for the poor, but was he “woke” by today’s standards? While his chief concern was always the gospel, Spurgeon argued that benevolent social concern has always been a distinguishing trait of the people of God. (Sponsored Link)
Is There a Danger of Worshipping the Bible Instead of God?
Randy Alcorn takes on so-called bibliolatry: “I agree that there is a danger of having our faith in the wrong object. And there have been some people who seemingly hold the Bible in higher esteem than they do Jesus. But seen properly, the Bible is not a competitor with God; on the contrary, it is our God-given means of knowing Him through His revealed truth.”
Don’t Share That Clip
Samuel James wants you to consider “that the Internet is an ecosystem that treats everything like a kind of pornography. Separated from physical reality by the screen, the digital user encounters all of existence as a consumable substance, a substance that often distorts the true nature of the thing being depicted.”
For Worship Bands, Auto-Tune Covers a Multitude of Sins
What a strange time we live in when churches are turning to auto-tune to perfect their production. “Ryan Flanigan, a longtime church musician who is now an artist in residence at Baylor University, worries that pitch-tuning is one more sign that church musicians are trying to aspire to be performers—rather than leading people in worship.” Amen to that!
My Most Influential Teacher: A Tribute to Daniel Fuller (1925–2023)
John Piper says that “until June 21, 2023, I would have said that Edwards was my most influential dead theologian.” He sweetly pays tribute to his most influential teacher.
Flashback: Follow the Way You Want To Be Followed
We should follow in such a way that if people imitate us, they themselves will be good followers. We should follow in exactly the same way we want to be followed.
Scripture is our bookshelf; tradition is the record of what the church has read or misread there; reason is the set of spectacles we wear as we seek to make sense of what we read. —Michael Reeves
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A La Carte (December 12)
Good morning. Grace and peace to you.
Today’s Kindle deals include some good picks from Jen Wilkin.
(Yesterday on the blog: We Do Not Know Until…)
My Anchor Holds
“Waves crashed against the steel hull. Winds whipped around as the frame of the ship lurched back and forth. A rusty chain stretched from the aft side of the vessel and disappeared below the foaming waters. Yet as the rain pelted through the treacherous night—the anchor held.”
It’s a Wonderful Telescope (Video)
This video from the John 10:10 Project combines astronomy, Scripture, and It’s a Wonderful Life.
God Does Not Forget Prayers or Promises
Barbara Harper has a sweet devotional about prayers and promises.
Alistair Begg on Romans 1
Alistair Begg has been preaching through Romans 1 and I am finding it tremendously beneficial. I highly recommend it. You can watch it, listen to it, or read it at the link.
Stay Awake!
“What is the action we are looking for that requires us to steer clear of bedclothes and keep the energy bills high? What are we being charged to do? What is required of us in this text? Such questions deserve our mental energy. So, take a minute to open your Bible to Luke 12:35-40 and ask yourself, “What is the action for which I am to be prepared?” What is the thing I must do?”
Five Truths You Must Consider When You Are Angry
I’d probably suggest you should consider these five truths before you are angry (so you have them available when you’re actually angry).
Flashback: Do Not Be Surprised if the World Hates You
My friend, the more you love and honor God, the more you expose the evil of those who do not. The more you expose the evil of those who dishonor God, the more they’ll hate you. They’ll hate you because of who you love, because of who you resemble. They hated Jesus and they’ll hate those who are like Jesus.Some Christians make the mistake of pitting love against law, as if the two were mutually exclusive. You either have a religion of love or a religion of law. But such an equation is profoundly unbiblical. —Kevin DeYoung
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A La Carte (December 30)
Good morning. Grace and peace to you today.
9 Things You Should Know About Events and Discoveries in 2021
This is a fun little roundup. “We live in an era of 24-hour news in which we’re constantly bombarded by information from websites, social media, and television. Yet despite this deluge, there are many fascinating news items you are likely to have missed. Here are nine such events and discoveries from 2021 that you may not have heard about.”
What People are Saying about 2022
“Have you noticed what people are saying about 2022? Me neither.” Is that better or worse than what people were saying this time last year?
What Was Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh?
Here’s an explanation of that mysterious thorn in the flesh that was so agonizing to Paul.
Are You Feeling In-Between?
“The last week of December always feels a little like an in-between to me. It’s between holidays, months and years. Akin to adolescent years, somewhere between child and teenager, life has a lot of uncomfortable in-betweens…”
More Now Than Ever
This is the final part of a series meant to encourage Christians by reflecting on positive cultural trends.
Flashback: Strength = Good, Weakness = Bad
Jesus was weak. Paul rejoiced in his own weakness. And yet we are still afraid and ashamed to be weak. We would rather feign strength than admit weakness.The eye is made both for seeing and weeping. Sin must first be seen, before it can be wept for. —Thomas Watson
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A La Carte (March 3)
Grace and peace to you, my friends.
Westminster Books has lots of good material on sale: Christianity Explored, Hope Explored, and so on.
(Yesterday on the blog: When God Unfolds His Will in Pieces)
Our Free Salvation Sets Us Free to Love
“Mormons and JWs are typically kind, pleasant, and respectful, but their evangelism is driven by their need to fulfill specific requirements. They may love those they’re talking with, but their goal in evangelizing is to save themselves.” That’s a key point.
Why is Evangelism Hard?
Stephen McAlpine raises some good points here. “Every so often on good evangelical websites that I read I come across an article that asks the question (before answering it in three points), as to why we find evangelism so hard.” But there’s often a problem with such articles.
No More Trash Talking (Video)
I appreciate this word from Todd Friel.
The Overlooked Virtue of Gentleness
“This is a virtue which combines humility and approachability, mildness and kindness in their proper sphere and expression. It is not quick to damn or to strike, not unrighteously forbidding or foreboding, but attractive and welcoming. Similar notions include the ideas of patience and mercy.”
How Do I Handle My Disordered Desires?
John Piper provides some examples of disordered desires and instruction on how to respond to them.
What does it mean to fear the Lord?
Dr. Michael Allen provides a brief answer here.
Flashback: The Character of the Christian: Generous
It is the Christian’s duty and delight to hold loosely to wealth and to give generously to the Lord’s work. Any problem with money is not the fault of the money itself but with the sneaky, sinful human heart.As we reflect on the character of God, the work of Christ, and the promises of the gospel, God will increase our desire to know him more and thus pursue him more through prayer. —John Onwuchekwa
