Skip to content ↓

A La Carte (12/27)

A La Carte Collection cover image

Top Theology Stories of 2012 – Collin Hansen looks back at the year that was and digs up what he considers the top theology stories of 2012. I tend to agree with most of his picks. Meanwhile, you can visit Gene Veith’s blog to see the top news stories as chosen by Associated Press.

The Offended Brother – Dave Kraft: “Good leadership is about maintaining healthy relationships in all directions. Here are a few examples of my own experience with people who have been offended.”

Sworn Virgins of Albania – I had never heard of this odd cultural tradition: “For her project Sworn Virgins of Albania, photographer Jill Peters visited to the mountain villages of northern Albania to capture portraits of ‘burneshas,’ or females who have lived their lives as men for reasons related to their culture and society.”

The Largest Mass Execution – “It was the day after Christmas, 1862, in the town square of Mankato, Minnesota, that 38 Dakota warriors were hanged at the order of president Abraham Lincoln. After 150 years, it is still the largest mass execution in American history.”

Evil and the Purposes of God – Joey Newton takes a look at evil and the purposes of God, a much-discussed and always-relevant topic.

The best use of one’s life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.

—Oswald Sanders

  • Other side of the Wall

    On the Other Side of the Wall

    A story is told of a convalescent woman and the lovely vine that grew in her yard. Confined to her property during her long recovery from an accident, she turned her attention to the little plot of ground behind her home. She planted the vine on a cool spring morning, dreaming of the day when,…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 22)

    A La Carte: John Mark Comer / Praying imprecatory Psalms / The news media is broken / John Piper on seeing God / No good deed will remain hidden / Pre-Black Friday sales / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 21)

    A La Carte: Lessons from Trump’s and Harris’s social media campaigns / What is my spiritual gift? / The messages we receive / 10 mistakes I’ve made in preaching / Big Kindle and book sales / and more.

  • Finn

    I’m a Grandfather!

    Yesterday Abby and Nathan welcomed their first child into the world: Finnegan Safir Nicholas Elfarrah. Because they live just minutes away, Aileen and I were able to be there shortly after his birth to rejoice with them and to meet our first grandchild. We are thrilled beyond measure. And he is cute beyond belief. They…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 20)

    A La Carte: Pray till you pray / Do children need to consent to puberty? / Pleading for Sodom / A thought experiment / 10 mistakes when reading the Bible / Kindle deals / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (November 19)

    A La Carte: Good night, my son / The longing for justice following sexual assault / Daughter of encouragement / Mistakes I made as a theological student / The dangers of disordered love / Kindle deals / and more.