A brother asked that question Sunday evening — a couple of verses of Scripture came immediately to mind, and more have come since that tine. I will put those thoughts down on the computer screen. I believe they give a good picture of what should characterize a true Christian, and while I acknowledge that it is … Continue reading What are the signs that someone is a Christian?
Christians
Riding a tricycle to church
This is a story about someone we met 25 years ago. I wish the details were a little clearer in my mind, but I will tell what I remember. It looked like a beautiful day outside. Cindy got herself dressed, ate a bowl of cereal and ran outside to ride her tricycle. Her Dad and … Continue reading Riding a tricycle to church
What is truth?
Another way that people hide from God is through idea systems. Let me tell you about one idea system that Christians need to address. It is the idea that we just have faith in the church, but we don't know anything. It's the idea that knowledge is opposed to faith. People know things over in … Continue reading What is truth?
What is wrong with the world?
Yesterday at the Walmart checkout there was a lady with three children ahead of me. The oldest child, a boy of about eight, was sitting in the shopping cart. The mother kept asking him what happened to a small toy that he had picked up, and he denied knowing anything about it. Finally she wrestled … Continue reading What is wrong with the world?
Is the salt losing its savour?
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in … Continue reading Is the salt losing its savour?
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
They’ll know we are Christians by our ______
I was walking through the upper shopping level of Midtown Plaza on Wednesday and noticed an elderly Sikh couple standing at the top of an escalator. The man made a few false starts, then grasped the moving handrail and stepped firmly on to the joint between two treads. He almost lost his balance as the … Continue reading They’ll know we are Christians by our ______
Life is precious
Remembrance Day in Canada has aroused more poignant feelings than it has for many years. For the first time in living memory Canadian soldiers have been killed on Canadian soil. The incidents appear to have been unrelated, uncoordinated. In each case, only one soldier and the attacker died. Two young Canadian men had come to … Continue reading Life is precious
A tree falls on the prairie
One hundred years ago, settlers came to the flatlands of Saskatchewan. No need for axes and saws to fell trees, just a team of oxen and a plough to turn the virgin sod and prepare it for a first crop. Of course, the lack of trees also meant a lack of building materials, so the … Continue reading A tree falls on the prairie
Pigment triggered cognitive dysfunction
My personal observations, perhaps not very scientific but still quite realistic I believe, have convinced me that a substantial portion of humanity is afflicted with a strange malady. This malady manifests itself when a person meets, or even hears of, someone with a different colour of skin. The symptoms are that this person then seems … Continue reading Pigment triggered cognitive dysfunction
Flatlander Faith 