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Weekend A La Carte (September 24)

It’s hard to believe that we’ve come to Autumn at last. It was a hot, beautiful, brilliant summer but I’m glad to see it finally give way to fall. I get to spend my day today in a church baseball tournament, but will leave you with a collection of interesting reading:

Glasgow University archivists find John Knox’s Bible

This is neat: “Experts believe a unidentified bible held by Glasgow University may have belonged to John Knox – a founding father of the Protestant Reformation.”

In His Own Words

I enjoyed reading Grant Osborne on the thrill of learning and teaching God’s Word: “Even after fifty years of studying and sharing I still get thrilled as I uncover the deep treasures of meaning about Galatians or Romans, and then I have the privilege of writing them down to thrill countless others who will read them…”

The Bible Project Reading Plan

This looks like it could be an interesting way to read the Bible beginning in January.

Which Parts Of The Brain Do What?

This short video explains how researchers figured out which parts of the brain perform different functions.

Breakfast Leftovers

James Faris has a strangely interesting one here: “My students seemed to find history more palatable when they see that they are already familiar with it. So, let’s check out your breakfast menu…”

This Day in 1986. 30 years ago today five Muslim professors in Pakistan demanded Daniel Scot to convert to Islam, resulting in Scot becoming the first Christian charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy law. *

The Hidden Hours of Ministry

Peter Tong provides a strong encouragement for pastors to take sin seriously. “I want to discuss how struggles with sin, even if they are hidden from others, can undermine your ability to serve God more broadly.”

What Type of Steward Are You?

Pastors (and others) will want to check out Mike Leake’s excellent article on two kinds of stewardship.

When Toronto Was Eerily Empty

Torontotonians will find this photo essay interesting. It shows a time when the city had huge pieces of empty land downtown, something that’s almost impossible to imagine today.

Sand Bubbler Crabs

God created some strange and remarkable creatures. Like these Sand Bubbler Crabs.

The Lord is a friend who never changes. There is no fickleness about Him: those whom He loves, He loves unto the end.

—J.C. Ryle

  • The Phrase that Altered My Thinking Forever

    This week the blog is sponsored by P&R Publishing and is written by Ralph Cunnington. Years ago, I stumbled repeatedly on an ancient phrase that altered my thinking forever.  Distinct yet inseparable. The first time I encountered this phrase was while studying the Council of Chalcedon’s description of the two natures of Christ. Soon after,…

  • Always Look for the Light

    Always Look for the Light

    For many years there was a little potted plant on our kitchen window sill, though I’ve long since forgotten the variety. Year after year that plant would put out a shoot and from the shoot would emerge a single flower. And I observed that no matter how I turned the pot, the flower would respond.…

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    A La Carte (March 18)

    A La Carte: God is good and does good—even in our pain / Dear bride and groom / Sin won’t comfort you / Worthy of the gospel / From self-sufficiency to trusting God’s people / The gods fight for our devotion / and more.

  • Confidence

    God Takes Us Into His Confidence

    Here is another Sunday devotional—a brief thought to orient your heart toward the Lord. God takes the initiative in establishing relationship by reaching out to helpless humanity. He reveals himself to the creatures he has made. But what does it mean for him to provide such revelation of himself? John Calvin began his Institutes by…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (March 16)

    A La Carte: I believe in the death of Julius Caesar and the resurrection of Jesus Christ / Reasons students and pastors shouldn’t use ChatGPT / A 1.3 gigpixel photo of a supernova / What two raw vegans taught me about sharing Jesus / If we realize we’re undeserving, suddenly the world comes alive /…

  • Ask Pastor John

    Ask Pastor John

    I admit it: I felt a little skeptical about Ask Pastor John. To be fair, I feel skeptical about most books that begin in one medium before making the leap to another. Books based on sermons, for example, can often be pretty disappointing—a powerful sermon at a conference can make a bland chapter in a…