I grew up in a home where the Bible was read every day; my father often talked bout things he read in it. We attended the Anglican Church of Canada, where every service had a reading from the Old Testament, another from the New Testament, and several other passages from the Bible were spoken in … Continue reading How to read the Bible
faith
He is not the show-off Spirit
Some years ago my wife and I were in another city and attended a Pentecostal worship service. It was a large church and the congregation was multiethnic, with many black faces scattered throughout. It has been said that the most segregated place in North America is a worship service on a Sunday morning; this congregation … Continue reading He is not the show-off Spirit
We must use words
There is a saying that we hear from time to time that goes “preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words”. This is attributed to Francis of Assisi from long ago. I’m not sure why we should consider him to be a wise counsellor for Christians today when it comes to sharing … Continue reading We must use words
Wells Without Water
Solomon said that God made man upright but he has sought out many inventions. Christendom is infused with inventions masquerading ass essential manifestations of the gospel. Early in my Christian life I found those inventions stimulating to the imagination and the emotions but eventually came to the conclusion that they had nothing to feed the … Continue reading Wells Without Water
The living gospel
Image by AgnieszkaMonk from Pixabay The gospel must be told; it must also be lived. Those who tell it must live it; or else the hearers will judge them to be hypocrites. Those who live it must tell it; or else those who look on will judge them to be self-righteous and closed.
The Great Omission
Yeah, I know; I’m cloning a clever title that others have used. But please bear with me as I attempt to explain what I fear is so often missed when Christians claim to be putting the Great Commission into practice. Here are the last three verses of Matthew’s gospel, which are customarily referred to as … Continue reading The Great Omission
Forty-five years a Holdeman
My wife and I were married August 1, 1970 and immediately began to look for a church home. Neither of us were attached to any denomination at the time we were married. Our search took us to many different churches in a number of towns, cities and provinces. We met a lot of fine people, but … Continue reading Forty-five years a Holdeman
Living waters or bitter waters?
Back in 1948, when I was a lad of six, one of the most popular songs on radio was Cool Water written by Bob Nolan and sung by The Sons of the Pioneers. It was the story of a man and his mule named Dan who were trekking across the desert in search of water. … Continue reading Living waters or bitter waters?
The rights of a Christian
There is no hint in the New Testament that a Christian has rights such as those the people of the world expend so much effort in demanding. Jesus told us not to expect those kind of rights:If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the … Continue reading The rights of a Christian
Where have all the children gone?
I remember a time when most children were taken or sent to Sunday school. When those children grew up and became parents, many of them did not see the need of Sunday School for their children. And with each generation there is a diminishing number of children who have any contact with Biblical Christian teaching. … Continue reading Where have all the children gone?