Strange Gospel

[First posted 10 years ago.] Approximately 300 years ago there arose a line of thought in pietistic Protestantism that God’s reign would progressively manifest itself through human action cooperating with God’s action. The belief that the gospel will gradually Christianize the world, bringing a reign of peace and harmony preceding the return of Christ, is … Continue reading Strange Gospel

Wells Without Water

For the past few days most of the posts on this blog have been articles that will find a place in a book I plan to call Wells Without Water, a title taken from 2 Peter 2:17. The book arises out of a concern that many people who are converted in their youth haven’t taken … Continue reading Wells Without Water

How to read the Bible

I grew up in a home where the Bible was read every day; my father often talked bout things he read in it. We attended the Anglican Church of Canada, where every service had a reading from the Old Testament, another from the New Testament, and several other passages from the Bible were spoken in … Continue reading How to read the Bible

He is not the show-off Spirit

Some years ago my wife and I were in another city and attended a Pentecostal worship service. It was a large church and the congregation was multiethnic, with many black faces scattered throughout. It has been said that the most segregated place in North America is a worship service on a Sunday morning; this congregation … Continue reading He is not the show-off Spirit

Uncharted Seas

[re-posted from five years ago.] Everything is changing and we must change with the times or be left behind. Nothing we knew yesterday will be of any value to us tomorrow. But tomorrow will be better than today and the day after that even better. This is the age of progress. But where is this … Continue reading Uncharted Seas

Baptizing with too much water

I was visiting with a Baptist pastor and somehow the conversation got around to baptism. He felt the church to which I belong did not baptize correctly because we did not immerse. I referred him to two passages in the New Testament. In 1 Peter 3, Peter speaks of the ark as an example of … Continue reading Baptizing with too much water

There is no valid baptism without the new birth

First posted five years ago The beginning of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in Western Canada owes much to the spiritual vision of one man. Peter Toews was the Elder of the largest part of the Kleine Gemeinde (Little Church) which had separated from the main body of the Mennonite church on the … Continue reading There is no valid baptism without the new birth

Are you ready for the return of the Lord?

It was back in the mid-1970s and we were visiting with a distant relative of mine and he was expounding on the premillennial teaching. He said, with considerable assurance, “I believe the Lord will return by 1990.” I pondered that for a moment then asked, “And are you ready?“ “No,” he answered. I read in … Continue reading Are you ready for the return of the Lord?

It is raining to drink standing up

Image by Pexels from Pixabay The heading is a translation of the French expression Il pleut à boire debout. In English we might say that it's raining cats and dogs, which is more colourful but less realistic. Saturday evening we were having a late supper, watching the clouds and listening to the approaching thunder, when the water taps … Continue reading It is raining to drink standing up

Lilacs and kittens

In the morning we often see two little kittens exploring our doorstep. A dozen lilac bushes at the back of our yard perfume the air. These are the delights of spring. The indoor cats love to be outdoors in this season, too. Two of them spend time with the outdoor cats; Pookie considers himself part … Continue reading Lilacs and kittens