This is a story I heard many years ago. It was told as an actual happening, I think the location may have been in Ontario and the time at least 100 years ago. A Mennonite farmer, we'll call him Samuel, one day noticed a large quantity of grain was missing from one of his bins. … Continue reading A peaceful farmer
faith
Hold Still
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you (2 Chronicles 20:17). In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength (Isaiah 30:15). Five and a half years ago I became aware of … Continue reading Hold Still
Dare to be a father
A single mother was complaining about the school her boys attended; there were too many First Nations children (“Indians” she called them). I observed the conduct of her boys and thought to myself that they suffered from the same affliction as many First Nations children in our area: they did not have a father. We … Continue reading Dare to be a father
Jephthah and his daughter
"And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, … Continue reading Jephthah and his daughter
Do the saved go to heaven when they die?
I used to think that when a Christian died he or she was ushered straight through the pearly gates into heaven. I guess I got that from the popular cultural perception of how Christians believed. Ten years ago, the picture that I had was challenged on Scriptural grounds, and my thinking has changed. Today I … Continue reading Do the saved go to heaven when they die?
Leadership in the church
The church needs leaders to guide and teach the members and to be examples to them. Yet the ministers are servants of the church. Minister, bishop, elder, pastor and evangelist are not different offices in the church but describe the various responsibilities of a minister. The responsibility of deacons lies more in the area of … Continue reading Leadership in the church
Christian fellowship in the church
The New Testament depicts the church as a body where believers of many backgrounds are united in true brotherhood. The disarray in many churches should not cause us to abandon hope that this is still possible in our day. It is yet God's plan for His children. Are we humble enough to trust the Holy … Continue reading Christian fellowship in the church
Porcupine allegory, part one
Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a porcupine named Rolly. Like the other porcupines in this far away land, Rolly was big, much bigger than the little porcupines that we mostly see as road kill along our highways. Because of his size and his quills, other animals did not bother … Continue reading Porcupine allegory, part one
Conservatism vs Liberalism?
There are two kinds of conservatism: a living one by which the faith is passed on intact and unchanged, always being kindled anew by the power of the Word and of the Holy Spirit; and a conservatism without life, that makes outward formalism the exclusive evidence of faith, with no reference to the condition of … Continue reading Conservatism vs Liberalism?
In praise of pilgrims and strangers
It is right and good to honour outstanding Christian leaders and missionaries of the past, and to follow their example. However, they are a very small part of the story of Christianity. Throughout the centuries since the time of the apostles, a vast number of unknown believers, led by the Holy Spirit, have kept the … Continue reading In praise of pilgrims and strangers
Flatlander Faith 