During the four centuries between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the new there was a dramatic transformation of that part of the world we call Bible lands. So important were these transformations that God revealed them to the prophet Daniel, centuries before they happened. The closing chapters of Daniel tell … Continue reading Preparing the way
Bible
The light of the world
Image by Thomas G. from Pixabay Jesus told Christians: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Let us then occupy ourselves in calling attention to the light, not the darkness. People around us are well aware of the darkness, we don't have to call attention … Continue reading The light of the world
Rambling thoughts
Today is a holiday, not a national holiday but one that is observed, under different names, in every part of Canada except Yukon, Newfoundland and Quebec. Here in Saskatchewan it is called Saskatchewan Day. A singer-songwriter released a new Saskatchewan song today. I listened to it once and wondered whatever happened to songs that everyone … Continue reading Rambling thoughts
The Dogma is the Drama
[Excerpts from Letters to a Diminished Church, Passionate Arguments for the Relevance of Christian Dogma, by Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957). © 2004 by W Publishing Group, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. ] Christ, in His divine innocence, said to the woman of Samaria, “Ye worship ye know not what” — being apparently under the impression … Continue reading The Dogma is the Drama
If Jesus is the Answer, What are the Questions?
When I go to Sunday School tomorrow morning, we will be studying a lesson entitled "Rescue the Perishing." We are Christians, we want to rescue the people around us who are perishing in sin, but there is a problem: most of those people are not aware that they need to be rescued, have no awareness … Continue reading If Jesus is the Answer, What are the Questions?
What was God doing?
It appears that too many Christians read the Bible as the story of men and women bumbling around because they couldn’t quite figure out what God wanted them to do. They conceive of life as a giant stage, with no script, no director, just a mysterious set of Very Important Rules. Some people call this … Continue reading What was God doing?
Seek the peace of the city
When God’s people were led into captivity in Babylon, He instructed them, by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah: “Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace” (Jeremiah 29:7). Do we … Continue reading Seek the peace of the city
Danger in the Shallows
I have often heard preachers take Ezekiel 47:1-12 as their text and deliver stirring messages about the need to plunge into the River of Life. Here is the living water, flowing from the temple of God, turning the desert into a paradise, giving life to everything it touches. This is an allegory for the grace … Continue reading Danger in the Shallows
Loving God
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) This short passage is considered the central and most important statement of the Jewish faith and is commonly referred to as … Continue reading Loving God
A pinch of salt
Image by Олександр К from Unsplash About 30 years ago we attended a family reunion in Massachusetts. For supper one evening, we were served succotash to acquaint us with the type of food available to our ancestors upon their arrival in 1638. Succotash consists of corn and lima beans, native North American vegetables cultivated by … Continue reading A pinch of salt
