“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:5). Here is a verse where the English language seems to lack a word to fully express what is meant. Darkness, and English synonyms such as obscurity, shadows, blackness, all indicate the absence of light. The word used in French in this … Continue reading And the darkness comprehended it not
Faith and life
Christianity at its best
In today’s issue of the National Post, Charles Lewis does an interview with John Allen, author of The Global War on Christians. Towards the end of the article, the discussion gets around to the fact that the most rapid growth in Christianity is happening in those parts of the world where it is the most … Continue reading Christianity at its best
Getting along with difficult people
Go into any bookstore, secular or Christian, mortar and bricks or online, and you will find at least a couple book titles that offer to teach you how to get along with difficult people. There is a management training organization which holds seminars across the country, year after year, to teach managers how to deal … Continue reading Getting along with difficult people
Time is NOT on my side
Minister Isaac Akinyombo of Nigeria, while preaching in a Canadian congregation, told the story of a lady in his country that got converted and wanted to be part of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. There was a little problem, however: she intended to dance at her mother's funeral and she was told that … Continue reading Time is NOT on my side
JOY
Joy is the second quality listed as part of the fruit of the Spirit. If I am a Christian, yet find that joy is lacking in my life, it cannot be the fault of the giver. God’s gifts to His children are given liberally. Therefore, if there is a lack of joy in my life, … Continue reading JOY
Conversion
In recent years we have been hearing a teaching that goes something like this: the new birth can happen in an instant, but conversion is the work of a lifetime. This bizarre statement has left me puzzled about how one can reconcile it with the Scriptures. In Acts 15:3, we are told that as Paul … Continue reading Conversion
“Finders keepers” would have been the wrong choice
Noah Muroff, an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, and his wife Esther went shopping online for a desk for the study in their home and found a cherry wood executive desk that they were able to buy for $150. When they got it home, they found it would not fit through the door of the study. The … Continue reading “Finders keepers” would have been the wrong choice
The tabernacle of David
There was only a river between the Israelites and the Promised Land. But that river was in full flood mode, filling the whole valley and spreading beyond the banks. Joshua told the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant to march straight into the water and told the people to follow. It wasn’t until the … Continue reading The tabernacle of David
A tale of two missions
Missionaries were sent forth into a poor country where few people knew of the salvation made possible through the blood of Jesus shed at Calvary. They went with much zeal and enthusiasm and had no trouble finding people who wanted to hear the gospel. Before long they had gathered many converts. In fact, it seemed … Continue reading A tale of two missions
The impossibility of the missionary’s task
We have this delightful mythology of the middle class white Christian who goes to some “dark heathen land” to preach the gospel and finds people who respond to the message with enthusiasm. He reports large numbers of conversions and baptisms, he establishes churches and all is wonderful. This mythology is fed by missionary hymns and … Continue reading The impossibility of the missionary’s task