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Patterns of Settlement in Southern Ontario: Three Studies (Curriculum Resource Books Series, 21) © 1971 McClelland & Stewart 141 pages This book is pretty obscure. So obscure, in fact, I couldn’t find an image of it anywhere online. Since I’m currently moving and my scanner is packed, there’s no picture on this post to refer [...]

Young is quoted in my favourite commentary on the Psalms, by Samuel Terrien. Given our celebration yesterday, It’s especially poignant: Wonder is involuntary praise. And the Word became flesh . . .

Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope you’re having a good Christmas with family and friends. Since no one has time to read this time of year, let me share a short video with you that I found very challenging from Advent Conspiracy (Yes, I know it’s Christmas, not Advent right now—but let’s go with it anyway):

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity ©2001 Penguin Books 267 pages I’m not big on business books self-help books.  Business books often leave me numbed by repetitive illustrations that make the same brilliant point too many times. Self-help books, on the other hand, often seem aimed at losers. Now that that disclaimer’s out [...]

Here’s Snodgrass (from Stories With Intent) on the parables of the Tower Builder and the Warring King (Luke 14:28-32). I find him reminiscent of Bonhoeffer. These parables differ greatly from the easy believism that marks so much of American Christianity. Churches urge everyone to believe, to accept Jesus, but make no demands on people’s lives; [...]

I love the depth and shock-value of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Can you imagine what it would have been like to hear these words for the first time? You’ve heard don’t murder—I say if you’re angry with someone you’ve already committed it. You’ve heard don’t commit adultery—I say if you’ve lusted after someone, you’ve [...]

The Catholic Church: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles) © 2001, 2003 Translation by John Bowden © 2001, 2003 The Modern Library 227 pages I bought this book to fill some gaps in my knowledge of church history. It did the trick! Küng’s a loyal rebel in the church, which endeared him to me immediately. [...]

I just finished reading Phyllis Tickle’s book, The Great Emergence. The most important parts of a book are the opening and closing. Tickle nails the closing in this last paragraph, directed toward the leaders of the Great Emergence: They must begin now to think with intention about what this new form of the faith is [...]

Last Sunday was unique. It happens only once every year in my tradition. Since it was the second Sunday of Advent, we sang carols and took time to remember the birth of Jesus. Since it was the first Sunday of the month, we celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and took time to remember his death. Birth [...]

Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament © 2008 Baker Books 197 pages I’ll admit it.  I bought this book because of the controversy. If you’re unaware, read up on it here. I figured that anyone who wrote something that controversial deserved a read. I’m glad I read it. This book [...]