Skip to content ↓

A La Carte (1/12)

A La Carte Collection cover image

Here in Toronto we largely avoided the first bunch of winter storms that pummeled the continent. But it appears that we’re now making up for lost time. We had a big one last week (a completely unexpected, ninja kind of a storm), we had a good one last night, and apparently several more are on the way. My wife is awfully excited. Me, well, not so much.

Valentine’s Day Is Coming – It’s going to come up fast. Thankfully my friend Becky makes awesome things that your wife will love. You can get 15% off all orders over $35 when you use the coupon code ‘challies15’ during checkout. The offer is valid until Tuesday, January 18.

Ex Nihilo – The winter edition of Southern Seminary’s magazine is now available online. “With content taking on the doctrine of creation, the publication carries the theme of ex nihilo (Latin, “out of nothing”) to draw attention to one of the most fundamental and distinctive tenets of the Christian worldview – that God the sovereign Creator brought the universe into existence out of nothing.”

Guaranteed Happiness? – CNN has an interesting article about the lottery and whether or not the big win makes people happy in the long-term.

Shot in Head, Sneezing Bullets – I’m posting this one only because it’s so bizarre. Here’s the headline: “Italian man shot in head sneezes out bullet and lives.”

What Makes the King James Great? – Leland Ryken offers 4 reasons that the King James Version of the Bible is great. “The publication of the King James Version of the Bible in 1611 was the most important event in the history of book printing as a whole, inasmuch as it is the bestselling English book of all time. I tell my students that the publication of the King James Bible was the most important event in the history of English and American literature.”

E-Book Trends – Michael Hyatt writes about some of the trends he foresees when it comes to e-books.

Toowoomba Flood – Here’s just a little glimpse of the flooding that’s happening in Queensland, Australia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYUpkPTcqPY?fs=1&hl=en_US

If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.

—C.H. Spurgeon

  • Preaching

    What a Miracle!

    Over the course of our Christian lives, we hear hundreds or even thousands of sermons. Perhaps through the sheer repetition, we are prone to forget what makes preaching so special, so unique. At the heart of preaching is the wonder…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (November 1)

    A La Carte: Wellness cannot save you / “The Mercy of God” / Young men and sports gambling / Following through on the Reformation / The decline of reading and the rise of reels / Helping kids process social media violence / and more.

  • Helping Your Kids

    Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design

    Despite the temptation to think otherwise, I am certain there has never been a time or a context in which it has been easy to raise children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Rather, every set of parents of every era and place has had to face challenges.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (October 31)

    A La Carte: God’s witness in true myths / Kevin DeYoung and the search for chivalry / While you sleep, Jesus prays for you / John Piper on spiritual assurance / Speaking to children about abortion / and more.

  • New-and-Notable

    New and Notable Christian Books for October 2025

    As October draws to its close, I wanted to ensure you know about at least some of the most notable books it brought our way. For each, I’ve provided the publisher’s description to give you a sense of what it’s all about. I hope there is something here that’s of interest to you!