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The Best of June

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I’ve been at this blogging thing for quite a long time now–it’s coming up on ten years. I’ve been at the daily blogging thing for almost as long. This means that I’ve got an extensive backlist of articles from years gone by. I thought it might be fun to pull out some of the articles I wrote in previous Junes, stretching all the way back to 2004.

2011

From the Garden to the Cross – This was one of those connections I made while studying the book of Genesis and just had to preach and write about it.

I Am Unalarmed – This article generated quite a loud response, as I recall.

2010

Trusting God with what Matters Most – I have thought about this subject often, about coming up against the edge of my faith.

A Parody of Ourselves – Sometimes I think the evangelical world is beyond parody. We Reformed types may be getting close as well.

2009

Don’t Take Your iPod to Church! Parts 1, 1.5, and 2 – I once told people not to take their iPods to church. Apparently no one listened!

Little Evils, Little Sins – I found this a useful illustration in my own life.

2008

Seven Reasons To Study the Church’s Past – Here are seven reasons that we ought to study church history.

God Is With Us – I reflected on an amazing little word.

2007

The Appeal of Roman Catholicism – I wanted to think about why people are drawn to Roman Catholicism.

A Notch in the Belt – In this article I reflected on doing good for the sake of accruing some kind of merit.

2006

Counterfeit Detection Part 1 and Part 2 – This was background to The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment.

Credo – I still enjoy this one, though it feels like there’s almost an arrogance to it.

2005

Becoming Compassionate Truth-Tellers – Here’s yet another time that Al Mohler has sparked my thinking.

Postmodern Morality, Authority and Accountability – I guess the title just about says it all.

2004

Minister of the Word – What does it mean to be a minister of God’s Word?

Dear Neighbor – I must have been having a bad day. It may have been her fault.


  • 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.

  • What Grieves the Heart of God

    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,…