Missionary to the Cannibals of the South Seas

There are some figures who tower over the history of the Christian faith. They are marked by their courage, their godliness, and their sheer faithfulness. There are many missionaries in this number and John Paton must rank high among them. Few have carried out a more difficult, costly, or perilous ministry. Few have suffered to the degree that he did. Few have seen so many won to Christ. His story is now told anew in Paul Schlehlein’s John G. Paton: …

A La Carte (January 31)

Today’s Kindle deals include a little bit of this and that. (Yesterday on the blog: What I Pack in My Bag When I Travel) 3 Reasons Why Younger Christians Should Attend the Funeral Service of Older Christians “When was the last time you attended the funeral service for a young person? The funeral home was most likely swarming with people of all ages—young, old, and middle aged. This is the typical pattern for such funeral scenes. However, it’s not terribly uncommon …

What I Pack in My Bag When I Travel

This year I am traveling the world for my EPIC church history project. Just for fun, here’s a video of what I’m taking with me in my pack. My backpack My camera My bestest lens My tripod: (You don’t want my tripod) My Kindle (And here is what Stephen McCaskell takes with him as he travels with me.)  

A La Carte (January 30)

Today’s Kindle deals include a couple of good titles from Jared Wilson (his brand new one among them). (Yesterday on the blog: Three Vivid Images of Unity in Diversity) What Pastors Could Learn From Jordan Peterson “Peterson provides a salutary reminder to the Church that preaching need not be considered a dying medium. Done well, preaching can speak into people’s lives with a force that few other forms of speech can achieve. Yet in seeking to recover the importance of …

Three Vivid Images of Unity in Diversity

There are many benefits to living in Toronto, but perhaps none so exciting and fascinating as living in the world’s most diverse city. Over the past few decades the world has come to Toronto so that today more than half of its residents were born in a different country and those who identify as Caucasian compose a minority. This has given Toronto’s churches new opportunities to learn to pursue Christian unity in a context of great diversity. This was my …

A La Carte (January 29)

I arrived in Dublin on Saturday morning and have worked my way up to Belfast as I complete more research for my church history project. Today we are on the Amy Carmichael trail! Today’s Kindle deals include a few interesting books that are headlined by a discount on the ESV Student Study Bible. (Yesterday on the blog: Headlines & Happenings (John Piper and Female Seminary Professors; Rachael Denhollander) ) The Price I Paid for Taking On Larry Nassar Rachael Denhollander writes for …

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Headlines & Happenings (John Piper and Female Seminary Professors; Rachael Denhollander)

As one week gives way to another, I like to provide a roundup of the themes that were prominent among Christian readers and writers in the week that was. This week people were discussing John Piper’s thoughts on female seminary professors while also discussing Rachael Denhollander’s remarkable victim impact statement from the sentencing of Larry Nassar. John Piper and Female Seminary Professors In episode 1149 of Ask Pastor John, John Piper answered this question: Is there a place for female professors …

Weekend A La Carte (January 27)

Today’s Kindle deals include just one book, but it’s one of my all-time favorite Puritan works. I’m excited to announce a new study guide and teaching slides for one of my new booklets, The Commandment We Forgot. Purchase them through Visual Theology. (Yesterday on the blog:  What Do We Do with the King James Version?) Science Is Giving the Pro-Life Movement a Boost Emma Green writes, “The first time Ashley McGuire had a baby, she and her husband had to …

Free Stuff Fridays (TMU)

This week’s Free Stuff Friday is sponsored by The Master’s University who also sponsored the blog this week. They have 5 prize packages to give away, which means 5 winners will each receive the following titles: Alone with God: Rediscovering the Power and Passion of Prayer (Paperback) by Dr. John MacArthur A great champion of prayer once compared the praying Christian to a blacksmith stoking his fire. It’s in the intimacy of prayer—when we’re alone with God—that we keep the iron …

What Do We Do with the King James Version?

It’s indisputable: No book has had a greater impact on the hearts of individuals and the course of humanity than the Bible. For much of the history of the English-speaking world, the King James Version has been the Bible. Even today, more than 400 years after its initiable publication, it continues to record a stunning percentage of Bible sales. As time continues to pass and its language continues to age, many have wondered: What do we do with the KJV? …

A La Carte (January 26)

Today’s Kindle deals include a few titles cross several different categories. Westminster Books has 50% off 25 of the top books from P&R Publishing. That includes some excellent titles. (Yesterday on the blog: Quick Tips for Aspiring Bloggers – Three-Minute Thursdays #12) Whole Church Care for the Elderly and Housebound I think the real value of this article comes toward the end with the series of bullet-point observations. Pray Shorter Prayers “How many of us know ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ by heart, …

Quick Tips for Aspiring Bloggers – Three-Minute Thursdays #12

In this edition of Three-Minute Thursdays, I’m talking about blogging (perhaps one of the few things I can speak on with some authority!) and providing a few quick tips for new, weary, or aspiring bloggers. I hope you find it helpful!   Transcript Aileen: This is take 522. After sitting behind the camera for 11 episodes, Tim thought it would be a fantastic idea if I came up and did the introduction to 3 Minute Thursdays this week. So we’re …

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Book Reviews

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A La Carte (January 25)

Today’s Kindle deals include a few books to check out. The first two are titles I’ve rarely, if ever, seen on sale before. (Yesterday on the blog:  A Guided Tour to 2017’s Bestselling Christian Books) Also, over on Facebook I posted a quick video showing how to make sure that, with Facebook’s coming changes, you continue to see the updates that interest you. View it here. Nassar Victim Rachael Denhollander Speaks Out (Video)  Rachel Denhollander was one of the victims …

A Guided Tour to 2017’s Bestselling Christian Books

There are lots of ways to qualify what constitutes a “good” Christian book. We might consider the quality of the author’s writing, the originality of the author’s approach, or, most importantly, the faithfulness of the author’s use of Scripture. By those measures, we who speak English and read Christian books here in the twenty-first century are much blessed. We have countless thousands of books to turn to when we want to read something that will shape our lives and strengthen …

A La Carte (January 24)

It’s not much of a day for Kindle deals so perhaps stay tuned for tomorrow. (Yesterday on the blog: From Every Tribe and Language and People and Nation (A Video from Grace Fellowship Church)) How a Belief in Regenerate Church Membership Should Impact Preaching Preaching, like any communication, differs according the audience. Preaching to a regenerate church membership has a significant impact. Saving Our Children From Smartphones “Computer scientists and psychologists have long voiced concerns that our inventions may have nefarious influence on …

From Every Tribe and Language and People and Nation (A Video from Grace Fellowship Church)

At the 2018 G3 Conference I spoke on “Discipleship in Diversity.” I told of how we, at Grace Fellowship Church, have learned to be a church that is united in a context of great diversity. I concluded the message with a video of some of the people of Grace Fellowship Church reading Revelation 5 in many different languages. I hope you enjoy it.   We also have a Spanish and Portuguese version of this video if you are interested in …

A La Carte (January 23)

Today’s Kindle deals include a random assortment of books. Westminster Books has the ultra-helpful The Case for Life more than half off. (Yesterday on the blog: Seven Thoughts on the Billy Graham / Mike Pence Rule) The Humble Leader “Leadership is often very humbling, and leadership is most dangerous when it ceases to be.” It is good and wise for every leader to consider the importance of humility. Disabled by Design “Take a step back for a moment and imagine that you …

Reading the Bible Fully in a Year

This week the blog has been sponsored by The Master’s University. We should be reminded that as we read the Bible this year, we don’t just want to read it through, we want to read it well. When we come to a text where we wonder, “How is this useful?” don’t just skim over it. That’ll only reinforce our wrong conception that the Bible isn’t that profitable. Rather, connect the dots. See how the biblical writers alluded to earlier revelation …

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My Books

Do More Better Cover

Do More Better

I wrote this short, fast-paced, practical guide to productivity to share what I have learned about getting things done in today’s digital world. It will help you learn to structure your life to do the most good to the glory of God. Read More