This diary of Pastor Case Parker is a work of fiction. Thank goodness for that, because if this diary revealed the thoughts of an actual pastor, it would be a disaster for the church, a disaster that the church might never recover from, or would it? Would it be such a bad thing?

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there is one character who is a selfish, conniving liar, but we still cheer for him. His name is Loki. In the Bible, we also have a selfish, conniving, liar whom we also cheer for. His name is Jacob.

It’s not that I forgot my anniversary, it’s that I didn’t want to appear empty handed. And that is why I waited until I published a book review episode before I record this annual anniversary episode. But I couldn’t remember which year it was. Fourth year or fifth year? I had to look it up.

“Is Francis Schaeffer a rationalist?” is a question that should only interest people who already know him. But, even though I don’t really know the man or his work, I found a defence of his apologetics helpful in thinking more precisely and more lovingly. If only all of us were as passionate for God, for people and for the truth.

After many long years, I finally ticked one book off my great books list. Instead of reading excerpts and quotes and never being sure whether they were taken out of context or not, I have read for myself John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion.

In a list of books to read before I die, Augustine’s The City of God would rank high on that list. I tried reading it 20 years ago, but I didn’t manage to get very far. Over the years, I considered taking it up again, but... 1,000 pages! I needed a big reason to start this big book. And this year, I found that reason.

You have heard of the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John but have you heard of the Gospel according to Jesus? Today’s book shatters the idea that you can have Jesus as your Saviour without him being your Lord and Master.

Long before there was an app for everything, we had a word of wisdom for every situation we found ourselves in. In this age of search engines and AI, never has it been clearer that we need wisdom. Hopefully, we will get some today.

If John, the writer of Revelation, was a reporter he would be fired for publishing fake news. He is not a reporter. He is a highly intelligent and creative writer who used the apocalyptic genre to reveal the truth of God. Did John see what he claimed to see? Find out in today’s episode.