It is kind of funny that after challenging James White (tongue-in-cheek, of course) about who has the best Apologetics Blog, neither of us were either nominated. Of course then I have to wonder how a site can be passed over for a nomination in its own category, but win the overall, but I digress. I’m sure James will console himself with the Best Overall and People’s Choice awards. Meanwhile, I took the awards for Best International Blog and Best Designed Blog. So thanks to those who voted for my site, and thanks to Eric at Evangelical Underground for putting together these awards and dealing with all the criticism that comes along with such a project. And finally, congratulations to all the other award winners. I hope and trust that projects like this one will serve to benefit the blogging community.

There has been some discussion about the awards at EU and here is a favorite: “…why AOMIN got the nod for best OVERALL makes me suspect undue bias. The awards become an outright farce (like say, the Oscars) when the winner for the “overall category” and “people’s choice” is a bloviating crazed calvinist who has made a career out of antagonizing and defaming his critics. The site barely qualifies as being a blog to begin with, since it’s not being driven by a classic blogging script, and has a poorly designed and cluttered format. Considering the other picks were overall excellent choices, this is one hell of an aberration if you ask me.” Bloviating crazed Calvinist. What a great word! That is one I am going to have to use more often! Here’s another good post: “Do you think you stacked the best designed category enough for Tim? I mean the other sites were just sad (speaking only from design). I sent you a site (as did at least one other person) that gives Tim a run for his money from a design perspective and you didn’t even post it. This isn’t a hate filled post like you’ve said of your e-mail just pointing out the obvious.” I won’t let him rain on my parade!

Free Stuff Fridays (Zondervan Reflective)

This week the giveaway is sponsored by Zondervan Reflective. Will technology change what it means to be human? You don’t have to be a computer scientist to have discerning conversations about artificial intelligence and technology. We all wonder where we’re headed. Even now, technological innovations and machine learning have a daily impact on our lives,…

Nov 22

Giveaways

3 min read
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,…

Nov 22

Articles

5 min read
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.

Nov 22

A La Carte

4 min read
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.

Nov 21

A La Carte

4 min read
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…

Nov 20

Articles

2 min read
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.

Nov 20

A La Carte

3 min read

Marriage Happy, Marriage Holy

God’s purpose in marriage is not to make us happy but to make us holy. Or so we have all been told. The truth is more complicated, of course, and I’m quite certain God means for marriage to cover both. The old Anglican liturgy says marriage “was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort,…

Nov 13

Articles

5 min read
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…

Nov 20

Articles

2 min read
The Spiritual Gift Inventory I Believe In

In many churches, it is standard practice to have Christians take some kind of a spiritual gift inventory. Through a series of questions that probe an individual’s interests, passions, and successes, these tests claim to help people discover the ways the Holy Spirit has gifted them to better love and serve his people.

Nov 15

Articles

3 min read
John Mark Comer and Practicing The Way

It has been a few years since I have had a substantial number of people reach out to ask my view on a particular author. Do you know anything about him? Have you read him? Would you consider reviewing some of his books? But after this break of a few years, it has recently begun…

Sep 25

Book Reviews

11 min read
What Grieves the Heart of God?

What pleases God? What delights his heart? And what displeases God? What grieves his heart? If asked, I think most of us would assume that if we ever grieve the heart of God it will be through denying the gospel or committing a grave moral scandal. Or if we do so as a local church,…

Nov 18

Articles

4 min read

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