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
Faith and life
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
Beware of empty religion
A universalist preacher, a gifted speaker, was holding meetings in a certain town and many came to hear him. At the close of the last meeting he asked if they wished him to come back every week to hold services. No one responded. Finally he asked if anyone objected to him coming back. Again there … Continue reading Beware of empty religion
To see as God sees
By virtue of my birth into this world, I am of the earth, earthy. This means that I have a natural affinity for all that is earthy. I gauge success the way the world gauges success; I gauge failure the way the world gauges failure. I expect governments to care for the elderly, the mentally … Continue reading To see as God sees
Ghosts and goblins
Today is Hallowe'en, when little children will be decked out in scary costumes and sent to collect candy from kindly folks in the neighbourhood. Many people consider this innocent fun and the children truly are innocent of any real understanding of the symbolism. However, there are elements in our society who revel in celebrating the … Continue reading Ghosts and goblins
