With 2023 already half over, I thought I’d put together a list of my top books from 2023 (so far). 10ofThose is offering a 40% discount on all of them. Use coupon code 40CHALLIES23.

Today’s Kindle deals include a couple of good picks.
Heresy at the Heart of Derek Webb’s ‘Boys Will Be Girls’
“Watching the music video for the new song ‘Boys Will Be Girls’ by former Caedmon’s Call lead singer Derek Webb, I experienced a strange mixture of disgust, pity, and clarity about the appeal of his message.” I did too.
Why Elisabeth Elliot Changed Her Beliefs about Finding God’s Will
I found this article (which is actually an excerpt from a new book) really, really interesting.
Follow Spurgeon’s example; give yourself to mercy ministry.
“Read Spurgeon and the Poor and see how the gospel Spurgeon preached fired his heart with loving zeal for the poor and needy in his own day.”—Conrad Mbewe (Sponsored Link)
Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist revealed
There are some stunning photos in this collection.
Celebrating Good Times When Life is Hard
“But (let’s face it), life isn’t always a party, and we don’t always feel like celebrating. Most days are full of routine, even drudgery, with conflicts, irritations, and frustrations sprinkled throughout like ugly confetti. Even worse are the unbearable days or seasons when we wish life were just routine and drudgery.”
How Do I Face the Deaths of Others?
This is a very helpful article that helps instruct Christians in facing the death of those they love.
Rethinking Hospitality in Our Churches
“Hospitality helps discipleship to flourish simply because it requires letting go of our expectations and control. It requires laying aside our agenda and allowing others into our space. Whether it’s our home, sharing a meal, or changing our schedules, it requires putting aside our needs and welcoming the newcomers. It is sacrificial.”

Because Jesus has covered all of our offenses, we can be among the least offensive and least offended people in the world. This is the way of the gentle answer. —Scott Sauls

This article is written by Andrew M. Davis and is sponsored by Baker Books. In his new book, The Glory Now Revealed, Andrew paints a dynamic, scripturally-based picture of heaven as a place where we continually discover new aspects of God’s glory displayed in his past works throughout the history of the world.

Who can fully appraise the treasures of God’s glory woven into even a single day of history? We all underestimate the value of those treasures! The Bible makes this amazing assertion about time: “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years” (2 Pet. 3:8). It is as though God sees every single second of history in extreme slow motion. The activity of any single day is utterly mindboggling: all over the world, human beings are speaking, acting, making choices, creating. And God is there, watching and recording everything.
But Scripture goes beyond a simple assertion of God’s presence and awareness. The doctrine of providence teaches that God is acting decisively through the greatest and smallest events to bring about his sovereign purposes. He controls the casting of a lot (Prov. 16:33) and the decisions of a king (21:1). He oversees the death of a sparrow (Matt. 10:29) and the birth of a mountain goat (Job 39:1). He chooses the time and circumstances of our birth as well as our death, numbering all the days in between (Ps. 139:16). He acts in ways that are incomprehensible to us, and his footsteps cannot be tracked (Rom. 11:33). The daily actions of God are immeasurable and worthy of praise: secretly restraining tyrants, directing the complex flow of international commerce, answering the prayers of a child, protecting persecuted house church leaders, convicting Christians of secret sin, orchestrating the initial meeting of a man and woman who will someday be married.
The sovereign salvation plan of God was crafted before the foundation of the world, bought at infinite cost by the blood of his Son, and applied by the Holy Spirit to individuals in every generation and in every corner of the world. Every day, that plan generates unique treasures . . . thousands of years of thousands of years.
But most details of that plan are hidden from human view, forgotten by succeeding generations, lost through the death of eyewitnesses, and buried under the rise and rubble of nations. God is temporarily deprived of the glory he deserves for both his mighty and minute deeds.
The vast majority of God’s glorious deeds in history have never been recorded in any book and never will be. They were performed in the obscure lives of people the world would consider unremarkable. These ranks of the redeemed received amazing grace poured on them, and their stories are well worth learning to the glory of God. Yet not only are those stories lost to posterity but the full dimensions of God’s activities in saving their souls were often veiled from them as well. They never fully realized how God orchestrated providential occurrences in space and time to bring them to faith in Christ and to help them grow in grace after that. But why should God be robbed of his glory by having those works hidden forever, lost in the dust of the past?
Increased heavenly understanding of earthly history will in turn increase our heavenly joy. This eternal education in history will be glorious! We will be so free from selfish concerns for our reputations that we will finally see God at the glorious center of it all—the Redeemer, Protector, Warrior, Ruler, Healer, Feeder, Author, Perfecter—in a word, the Savior worthy of all praise.

May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

Just a reminder that I’m posting only A La Carte this week. The usual articles will return next week.
How a Steadfast Heart Guards You in Crisis
“On a morning run last summer, after a major thunderstorm swept through, the path was sprinkled with leaves and branches scattered from the intense winds. As I passed by homes, I did a double take when a thick poplar lay across the yard, blocking the front door. The tree looked thick and strong, yet there it was, snapped like a toothpick.”
Here’s Why You CAN Trust the Bible (Video)
Grek Koukl explains why you truly can trust the Bible.
Enter to Win The R.C. Sproul Signature Classics
Ligonier Ministries has recently released The R.C. Sproul Signature Classics, featuring several of Dr. Sproul’s most influential books in an attractive six-volume collection. This summer, Ligonier is giving away 100 free copies of this book collection. Enter the giveaway today for the opportunity to add this resource to your personal library. (Sponsored Link)
CPM: The Christian Productivity Movement
David Kaywood has an interesting article on what he calls “The Christian Productivity Movement.”
How to Graciously Say No
Related to the subject of productivity, Reagan Rose offers some help on saying “no.”
Citizens of the Kingdom; Aliens in the World
Jim Elliff has a timely reminder that, because we are citizens of the kingdom, we are aliens in this world.
The Importance of Corporate Prayer
I enjoyed this brief article by Michael Haykin.
Flashback: The Joy of Walking with God
No Christian will come to the grave regretting that he has prayed too much, been too holy, or walked with God too closely.

When I consider my best duties, I sink, I die, I despair; but when I think of Christ, I have enough; he is all and in all. —Simeon Ashe