#mormons

When the Mormons Come Calling

We live just down the road from a large Mormon congregation—or a large church building, at any rate. Not surprisingly, we receive regular visits from the missionaries dispatched to woo and win our neighborhood. Though the individuals vary each time, the pattern is consistent: Two clean-cut Caucasian young men with American accents, friendly and engaging, are eager to persuade us to accept a Book of Mormon and to ask God to give us the inner testimony that it is his …

Liberation Letter

I rarely publish articles by guest writers, but do make occasional exceptions. One exception I am always glad to make is when Tim Keesee, one of my favorite writers, offers to send one of his dispatches my way. Here is one he prepared just a few days ago. Temple Square Salt Lake City December 6 Took a walk downtown tonight. The air was cold and clear—so clear there were glimmers of the snow-crusted Wasatch in the distance. Temple Square was …

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Weekend A La Carte (11/26)

No End to Eurogedden – I found this article rather interesting, and particularly the distinction made between the 2 sides of the Euro divide. “In effect, there is already two currencies: the ‘Lutheran Euro,’ characterized by Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. The label has nothing to do with religion but with countries that are based on Protestant work ethic, discipline and thrift. Then there is the ‘Latin Euro,’ characterized by France, Italy, Spain and Portugal where style is often more important …

A La Carte (8/18)

For Whom the Bell Tolls – Thomas Sowell takes on the riots and violence in Britain and the US of A. “Not only the trends over the years leading up to these riots but also the squeamish responses to them by officials — on both sides of the Atlantic — reveal the moral dry rot that has spread deep into Western societies.” While on the topic, St. Helen’s Bishopgate has put together a web page offering Christian thinking on it …

The State of the Blog

September 25 will mark 9 years since this blog began. I guess it is more accurate to say that it will mark 9 years since the site began–the blog took a few months to come to life. It was 9 years ago that I decided to begin a web site that would display pictures of my children–that’s what challies.com was meant to be. My parents and siblings had recently moved to the United States and, as a proud father, I …

A La Carte (8/9)

Congregations Gone Wild – An unusual op-ed from the Times: “The American clergy is suffering from burnout, several new studies show. And part of the problem, as researchers have observed, is that pastors work too much. Many of them need vacations, it’s true. But there’s a more fundamental problem that no amount of rest and relaxation can help solve: congregational pressure to forsake one’s highest calling.” MSB ESV – Phil Johnson is one of the first to see a MacArthur …

The Writer’s Life

So here I sit at 8:09 AM on a Thursday morning wondering what I am going to say today. There are times when I find writing this blog a great joy and there are times where I find it a heavy burden. Those tough times are blessedly few. Today I feel neither; I suppose I’m somewhere between. Sometimes I think well ahead and very occasionally even write posts a day or two in advance. Usually I sit down in the …

An Interview with Lukas VanDyke

This marks the third interview I’ve completed with artists involved in various disciplines. I first interviewed Max McLean about performance art and then Makoto Fujimura on his abstract art. Today I turn to photography and interview Lukas VanDyke, a photographer I have met at several conferences. Lukas is an exceptional photographer and I enjoyed his responses to these questions. I hope you do too! Tell me a little bit about yourself—who you are and what you do. Who I am? …

February DVD Giveaway

This is the first of the “Great Giveaways” for 2008 (somehow January slipped past without one). Through the last months of 2007 I was able to give away books, Bibles, CDs and all sorts of good things. We’ll be starting 2008 by giving away a load of great DVDs. The Sponsor This month’s sponsor is Franklin Springs Family Media. Franklin Springs exists “to provide families with top-quality DVDs that set forth a vision for the fullness of a God-honoring family …

ChurchMerch – The Bible Experience

The Bible Experience is a unique product. Featuring a unique cast, it offers what is surely a unique recording of the Bible. Hear the words of the Bible brought to life like never before. Inspired By…The Bible Experience: New Testament Audio CD is a fully-dramatized reading of the Bible performed by an unprecedented ensemble of distinguished African-American actors, musicians, and personalities. The cast, including recognizable voices as Denzel Washington, Blair Underwood, and Angela Bassett, reads the Bible using the accessible …