Introducing 10MillionWords (11/02/09 - 31 Comments)
Seven years into blogging and six years into daily blogging, I've decided to try something, well, completely different. Today I want to introduce to you a new blog I've begun. It is called 10MillionWords. First, though, let me say that, as far as I see it, not much is going to change here at challies.com. I intend to continue to blog daily in much the same way I have been doing for all these years....
Toronto Pastors Conference: Building Healthy Churches (03/16/09 - 0 Comments)
I dedicate a fair amount of attention on this blog to conferences. This is the first time I've done so for a conference my church is hosting. We are thrilled to announce that registration for the 2009 edition of the Toronto Pastors Conference is now open! If you are a pastor or a church leader-or just interested in knowing how to serve to build Christ's church-we would love to have you join us on June...
Open Mind, Closed Bible (08/06/08 - 96 Comments)
Almost eight months after my review of The Shack I continue to get daily emails about it. This is proof, I suppose, of the book’s continued success. I do not know if the novel’s popularity has peaked yet but can see that it is still at the top of its category on many of the bestseller lists. The emails I receive typically fit into one of two categories: the “thanks for the review” category or...
A Rainey/Mutz Update (06/20/08 - 9 Comments)
Earlier today Dennis Rainey sent the following email to some of his friends. I share this because it is just such a wonderful testament to God's grace in the lives of these people. Only Christians can have such hope even in the face of devastating adversity. On Thursday, Miss Molly made her way to her new home in heaven around 6:15 pm. Her last day with us began with a pretty average sunrise, but the...
Five Good Reasons to Own a Kindle (05/31/08 - 34 Comments)
My recent travels allowed me another opportunity to really put my Kindle to the test. (Because I live in Canada, several of its best features are only available to me when I head south of the border.) And having done so I can’t deny that I like it better than ever. Beyond the benefits I laid out in my recent review of the Kindle, here are five good reasons to own one. Thousands of Free...
A Family Prayer (05/11/08 - 6 Comments)
I went looking this morning for a prayer for Mother's Day. I guess the Puritans didn't celebrate Mother's Day (wasn't Hallmark around back then?) but I did find this prayer for the family in The Valley of Vision. It is called simply "Family." O SOVEREIGN LORD, Thou art the Creator-Father of all men, for thou hast made and dost support them; Thou art the special Father of those who know, love and honour thee, who...
Together for the Gospel (in Canada!) - A Reminder (03/29/08 - 4 Comments)
We are just a couple of weeks away from Together for the Gospel—undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated conferences of the year. I first mentioned a few weeks ago that at the conference there will be a small gathering geared specifically to Canadians and to people with an interest in ministry to Canada. This is a ministry of Grace Fellowship Church of Toronto and there are no expenses involved. It will be lead, at...
Together for the Gospel (in Canada!) (03/12/08 - 17 Comments)
Some time ago I was talking with a friend who pastors a church in this area and we discussed how much we enjoy what is being accomplished and modeled through Together for the Gospel. We talked about how we wish something like that could happen in Canada. And from there we realized that maybe, just maybe, it can happen. There are going to be plenty of Canadians attending Together for the Gospel and it seemed...
Interview Questions (02/23/08 - 17 Comments)
Next week I have the opportunity to offer both Chuck Colson and Iain Murray. I’d love to get some feedback from the readers here about what I might want to ask them. Read on… In a couple of months I’ll be attending and writing about the Banner of Truth Ministers’ Conference this May (it runs from the 27th to the 29th) down in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (can you believe I actually found a direct flight from...
Wisdom from John Adams (01/06/08 - 11 Comments)
For a long time now I’ve been reading David McCullough’s biography of John Adams. Because the book has collided a little bit with vacation and with some “necessary” reading, it has taken me a long time to get through it, even though it is a very enjoyable read. Within the book I’ve found a couple of great quotes from the pen of John Adams—quotes that have stuck with me. Adams is in some ways a...
Your Goodness Will Be with Me (01/01/08 - 6 Comments)
I love the dawning of a new year. I tend to view life in "chunks," in periods with a defined beginning and end. When driving home from Tennessee yesterday I inadvertently grouped the drive into pieces in my mind and felt relief and success with the completion of each portion--from Tennessee to Cincinnati, from Cincy to Detroit, and from Detroit to home. I do the same with periods of time, enjoying the beginning of one...
Book News (12/28/07 - 8 Comments)
I’ve got two quick book updates for you. And then I’m going to relax for the rest of the morning before heading into Chattanooga for the Reality Check Conference which begins later this evening. I’ll be bringing live updates from that event from this evening until Sunday morning. First off, my book is now in stock at Amazon. So if you’ve been waiting to buy The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment at Amazon, you can now...
The Best $4.03 You'll Ever Spend (Redux) (12/18/07 - 7 Comments)
Some time ago (July of this year) I posted a link to a book and said it is the best $4.03 you’ll ever spend. I don’t know that I ever told you what happened after that. Basically, and as I understand it, it went something like this: Within a couple of hours, the book had sold out at Westminster Books. A short time after that, the publisher sent all the available copies in the warehouse,...
"Culture Shift" by Dr. Albert Mohler (12/12/07 - 7 Comments)
Yesterday I received a long list of emails with announcements for books that will be published early next year. Most of these I had already heard of or found entirely uninspiring. There was one exception. I was absolutely thrilled (honestly—I’m that big of a book geek) to see that we are going to see the first book from the pen of Dr. Mohler. Yes, it is hard to believe, but this is his first “real”...
Saturday Miscellania (11/03/07 - 13 Comments)
It has been a busy weekend...and it's only Saturday afternoon. Yesterday evening I took my son and one of our young neighbors to a hobby show where an old friend was working. We had fun watching the planes, trains and automobiles on display. We got home late and then spent the morning preparing for my daughter's birthday party. We've just returned from building a craft and celebrating her birthday at a nearby store. Now the...
The Great October Giveaway (10/09/07 - 6 Comments)
Forty-one books to the winner... Last month's Great September Giveaway was a great success with three readers taking home some excellent prizes. Of course I extend my sympathies to the multitudes who didn't win; I can identify with your disappointment since I don't think I've ever won anything in my life! But I am confident that my time is coming. This month you've got another chance to win a great prize. Or forty-one of them...
Blogspotting (09/21/07 - 1 Comments)
Blogging is an interactive affair. Not only does it invite comments from readers but it also invites discussion on other blogs. An article posted at one site can generate discussion at many others. It's a unique and valuable benefit of blogging! I used to expend a bit of effort in drawing the attention of my readers to places where discussion that began here has continued elsewhere but, for some reason (which is probably simple complacency)...
I Love a Good Inventory Reduction Sale! (09/13/07 - 8 Comments)
At some point I need to write an article about how to build a library on the cheap. When I do it will mention inventory reduction sales. Speaking of which... Westminster Books is holding just such a sale right now. Since, like several good, Reformed online retailers they don't really stock any bad books, everything listed there is good. But I noticed at least one that really stands out. Not too long ago I reviewed...
A Conference for your Pastor (08/12/07 - 1 Comments)
I wanted to take some space on this blog to make mention of what looks like a really interesting conference. The Expositors' Conference (October 1-2) is hosted by Christ Fellowship Baptist Church (in Mobile, Alabama), the church pastored by Steve Lawson. The conference is targeted squarely at pastors, and especially those who value expository preaching and are attempting to learn how to do it or get better at it. There are only two speakers but...
The Best $4.03 You'll Ever Spend (07/30/07 - 20 Comments)
I was poking around a little bit today and found what I consider to be just a great deal. I'm posting for no other reason than to tell you that this represents what I'm sure you'll agree is the best $4.03 you'll ever spend. It's one of my all-time favorites and a book worth reading at least once per year. If you disagree and are absolutely convinced that another item worth $4.03 would have been...
