That would explain the blood

When I refilled our bird feeder yesterday I saw it was splattered with blood. I wondered if a couple of the little birds got into a squabble at the feeder, though it hardly seemed possible that little birds could draw that much blood. A few minutes later, Chris looked out and saw a bigger bird … Continue reading That would explain the blood

Blood lines

I received my DNA test results yesterday, then signed up for a 14 day free trial  with ancestry.ca. I spent the rest of the day filling in the gaps in my family tree with the information they already have on file from kinfolk near and far. It's a fascinating exercise. I am a mix of … Continue reading Blood lines

I’m wearing a scary face today

Yesterday evening my wife was feeling a bit tired after a busy day cooking at the seniors' residence operated by our congregation.  Therefore I went to church by myself.   Returning home a couple hours later, I drove into the garage and walked the few steps to our back door. Let me set the scene here:  … Continue reading I’m wearing a scary face today

The soul that sinneth, it shall die

Both the Old and New Testaments teach clearly that God welcomes all sinners who repent, granting them forgiveness and salvation.  Both Testaments also teach that one who has been forgiven and wilfully and deliberately forsakes God and returns to a life of sin is lost. There is much confusion in our time about this.  Much … Continue reading The soul that sinneth, it shall die

The rent veil

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent (Matthew 27:50-51). The veil between the holy place of the temple and the holy of … Continue reading The rent veil

Spirit, Water, and Blood

“And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”  (1 John 5:8) The water, blood and Spirit can all be seen in the consecration of Aaron, at the very beginning of the organized worship of the people of Israel.  In Exodus … Continue reading Spirit, Water, and Blood

Justification by the blood, not sweat

A cartoon in a French-language farm paper forty years ago has remained embedded in my mind.  The cartoon showed a row of flowers in a garden.  The flowers were tall, with healthy leaves and symmetrically arranged petals.  Except for one.  This flower was shorter than the others, the stalk was crooked, the leaves rather bedraggled … Continue reading Justification by the blood, not sweat