Skip to content ↓

Challies Dot Com F.A.Q.

1. What Do You Believe? What’s Your Theology? Etc…

I am…

  • Christian – I affirm that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour.
  • Protestant – I affirm the five “solas” of the Reformation.
  • Reformed – I affirm the principles known as Calvinism.
  • Evangelical – I believe the gospel (which is the original and truest meaning of “evangelical”).
  • Fundamentalist – I believe in “a return to fundamental principles and a strong or rigid adherence to these principles.”
  • Conservative – I am generally traditional and restrained in my beliefs and cautious towards change, especially when it seems to be change just for the sake of change.
  • Liberal – I am not limited to traditional views. I find much beauty in traditional Protestantism, but realize that in some areas traditions are not Scriptural. Where that is the case I am open to change and improvement.

2. How Is “Challies” pronounced?

It’s quite simple, I assure you. CHALL-eez. Just like that. There is no trick to it. It’s not CHALL-is, it’s not Charles and it sure isn’t Chall-EES. Just pronounce it the way it looks like it should be pronounced and don’t overthink it.

3. How Do I Get In Touch With You?

My email address is tim at challies dot com. Of course you really have to use the @ sign, etc, but if I put the address out here I’d get even more spam than I already get.

4. Why Challies.com?

This started as a site where I posted pictures of my children for the benefit of my family. Eventually I began to write and post articles here. That evolved into the site as you see it today. I have not gotten around to changing to a new domain name, though there is one I have my eye on and may change to in the near future.

5. What Is a Challies?

Challies is a surname with a long and mysterious past. It seems that no one is really sure of the name’s history. What we do know is that it is French in origin and at some point some Challies’ left France for Scotland, presumably as Huguenots. They then, trying to blend in with the local population, changed the name to Mac A’ Challies and became part of the MacDonald clan. I only wish I were making that up. There are now very few Challies left in the world. It seems the remaining concentrations are in Canada, New Zealand and the United States. The ones I am related to live almost entirely in Canada or in Georgia. My uncle also reports meeting an elderly Challies gentleman in a small town in France, though I do not believe he is a direct relation.

6. How Often Do You Update The Site

I try to update every day. I generally post around noon EST. Once or twice a week I have a “lazy” day where I post nothing more than an interesting link or a “blog of the week.” Most days, though, I try to write something at least moderately interesting.

7. What Do You Do?

I am a Web designer by trade. Though I graduated from McMaster University with a degree in history I quickly found that there was not much work for an aspiring but not-very-motivated historian. I worked my way into the computer world and after being laid off one time too many I started Websonix. So now I spend my days sitting in my basement creating Web pages.


  • Hardened Sinner

    Why You Can Confidently Pray for the Most Hardened Sinner You Know

    One of the most important responsibilities of every Christian is the responsibility of praying for the salvation of the lost. It is an important responsibility, but also a difficult one, and especially so when we have labored in prayer for years or decades without seeing that person come to faith.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 5)

    A La Carte: A plea to aging saints / The dignity of ordinary work / Don’t wait for tragedy / Baptism, membership, Lord’s supper / Counseling couples / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 4)

    A La Carte: Sex, virtue, technology / Is it right to long for a reunion? / Leaving a church / The quiet revival in France / When a word changes everything / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Do you feel anxious and overwhelmed—and want peace and help from God?

    Do you feel overwhelmed—and want peace and help from God? Take a deep breath and remember that God is always listening, and you have an open invitation to cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. You don’t have to carry any burden alone. To help you pray faithfully, install the free…

  • Nick Challies

    Nick Has Been with the Lord for 5 Years

    I can’t say why it is that we place extra emphasis on anniversaries that are multiples of five. Why does five years seem more significant than six or 20 than 21? It’s a strange custom, yet one we all acknowledge and accept. And on that note, today marks the fifth anniversary of the day my…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 3)

    A La Carte: The idol in the mirror / Why the leaves fall / Fencing the table / Artificially intelligent pastors / Memory loss / Myths about Romans / Kindle deals / and more.