Karen Mains, in her book Open Heart, Open Home, included a chapter entitled The Nicest House in Town. It describes a beautiful home, in a beautiful yard, and through the windows people can be seen happily visiting together and feasting on sumptuous food. Sounds of beautiful singing can be heard coming from those inside. Huddled … Continue reading Why is the door locked?
Anabaptist
What you stare at, you steer for
That was what my wife was taught many years ago in her driver's education class. If you see danger on the road ahead and fix your eyes on it for fear of hitting it, you will unconsciously steer in the direction you are looking and will hit it for sure. The way to avoid danger … Continue reading What you stare at, you steer for
God with us
If the resurrected Christ is not a living reality for us, we are proclaiming a false gospel, for the Good News that we proclaim is not dead news, nor tired news, nor even old news. It is living news (God-with-us news), the exciting personal news that the Jesus who came as a babe to Bethlehem … Continue reading God with us
God and Mammon
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (The words of Jesus, quoted in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13.) Here is a stark warning that the pursuit of … Continue reading God and Mammon
Prayer
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). How can we know if our prayers are effectual? How can we know if they avail anything? How can we know if they are fervent enough? Daniel Whedon, in his commentary, considers that the original Greek words translated "effectual fervent prayer" denotes prayer … Continue reading Prayer
Too big
A minister was asked to take a break from his ministerial responsibilities. He had been known as Spirit-led man of God, an effective preacher, evangelist, counsellor. But now he was being told that he had somehow lost direction. He accepted the request, prayed earnestly to find what he had lost. He asked counsel from many … Continue reading Too big
The Politically Incorrect Messiah
The sceptre had truly departed from Judah. There was once more a king in Jerusalem who ruled over Judah, but he was not of the lineage of David, nor of Judah, not even of Jacob. Herod was an Edomite, a descendant of Esau. Surely the time was ripe for the coming of Messiah. When Messiah … Continue reading The Politically Incorrect Messiah
Lollard Conclusions, 1394
1. That when the the Church of England began to go mad after temporalities, like its great stepmother the Roman Church, and churches were authorized to by appropriation in divers places, faith, hope, and charity began to flee from our Church.... 2. That our usual priesthood which began in Rome, pretended to be of power … Continue reading Lollard Conclusions, 1394
Persecution of Menno Simons
Saturday I posted excerpts from an article by Menno Simons. He mentions several times in this article that his life was in danger. The danger was very real, there was a price on his head for teaching contrary to the official state church. In 1542, Emperor Charles V upped the reward for Menno's capture to … Continue reading Persecution of Menno Simons
Menno Simons: Why I do not cease teaching and writing
"For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as as a lamp that burneth; and the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory" Isaiah 62:1; 2. Therefore for the sake of … Continue reading Menno Simons: Why I do not cease teaching and writing
Flatlander Faith 