During the course of my lifetime I have heard the Nativity story told in many different forms at Christmas concerts and read still others in children’s books. Some have stayed quite close to the Biblical narrative, others have veered off into the land of make-believe in ways that left me bewildered. Fear not, I’m not … Continue reading Let my people go
Faith and life
The Mennonite view of the Sabbath
They keep and sanctify the Sabbath which is not the literal, but the spiritual Sabbath, which never ends with true Christians, not by wearing fine clothes, not by carousing, vanity and idleness, as the reckless world do, but by the true fear of God, by a clear conscience and unblamable life, in love to God … Continue reading The Mennonite view of the Sabbath
The Sabbath
God instituted a day of rest per week, because, after six days of toil the human body and brain need rest. That’s makes good sense, doesn’t it? Except that the Bible says nothing like that. What we find in the Bible is that God completed all the work of creation in six days and then … Continue reading The Sabbath
What do we live for?
What do we live for? Is labour so lowly, Toil so ignoble, we shrink from its stain? Think it not - Labour Is God-like and holy; He that is idle is living in vain. What do we live for? Creation is groaning, Her desolate places are yet to be built; The voice of the years … Continue reading What do we live for?
The Christian art of soft persuasion
Jesus said: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). We want to share the gospel; let’s not get distracted into wolf hunting. That’s not what Jesus has called us to do; He has called us to demonstrate an … Continue reading The Christian art of soft persuasion
The Only Man with “All Power”
“All power Is given unto ME In Heaven and in earth.” These seem to me to be the most audacious, the most astonishing words that ever fell from the lips of man. We are told that the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw … Continue reading The Only Man with “All Power”
Truth is tough
Truth is tough. It will not break like a bubble at a touch; nay, you may kick it around all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening. -Oliver Wendell Holmes
Stony ground
Matthew 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the … Continue reading Stony ground
Papa Panov should be Father Martin
Le Père Martin, a Christmas story about an old shoemaker who wanted to see Jesus, appeared over 130 years ago. It was the work of Ruben Saillens, writer, musician and Baptist pastor of Marseilles. Unbeknownst to him, the tale was soon translated into English and circulated without the name of the author. The Russian writer … Continue reading Papa Panov should be Father Martin
Get out of the bus and walk
Sunday morning. Dad had come in with pails of steaming milk and was cranking the cream separator, Mom was getting breakfast ready and I was setting the table. Over the radio came the voice of Ernest Manning, telling us again how world events were shaping up just as foretold in the book of Daniel and … Continue reading Get out of the bus and walk
Flatlander Faith 