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
Bible
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”
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
Fifty years ago
It is 50 years since the Jesus people movement began in California. It followed close on the heels of the Summer of Love, that brief period in time when disillusioned young people believed they had found the solution to all the world’s problems. “All you need is love” by the Beatles was their theme. They … Continue reading Fifty years ago
Duty of separation of the Christian
That the Christian is commanded to separate himself from the Antichrist, is said and proved by the Old and the New Testament: For the Lord says, Isaiah fifty-two: Depart ye, depart ye; get out of here, do not touch anything unclean, get out of it; purify yourself, you who carry the vessels of the Lord. … Continue reading Duty of separation of the Christian
An abundance of geese
I asked my wife this morning if we should take today to go to the city for the things we needed, or if another day would be better. Then we got a message that the electricity would be turned off in our area from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. That was our answer. School was … Continue reading An abundance of geese
Family
We can choose our friends, but we can’t choose our family. We can conceal things about our past from our friends, but our family knows the real story. And we know theirs. My cousin Ted was 80 on Thursday. Friday evening a few of us got together to celibrate and share memories. Ted’s next older … Continue reading Family
Charles de Gaulle and Christian apologetics
(First posted four years ago.) Why do I think that talking about Charles de Gaulle will help to understand the purpose of Christian apologetics? Follow me as I try to explain. The First World War was mostly fought on French soil, meaning that the people of France bore the greatest share of the war’s death, … Continue reading Charles de Gaulle and Christian apologetics
About that beard on my face
Why did I ever decide to grow hair on my face? The answer should be obvious – I didn’t. It grew all by itself, without any decision or effort on my part. That brings up another question – Why do I leave it there? The best answer is the simplest one – I decided that if God made … Continue reading About that beard on my face
Time to make a decision
At least I thought we had exhausted all the possibilities in trying to find a church that still believed and lived the old Anabaptist faith. Could I have missed something? Or had I misunderstood something? If I was honest with myself, I had felt more at home in congregations of the Church of God in … Continue reading Time to make a decision
Flatlander Faith 