The Bible speaks of three types of baptism: the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of believers by water and the baptism of suffering. Of the three, the most important is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as it is a precondition for the other two. There is evidence of this Holy Spirit baptism … Continue reading The baptism of the Holy Spirit
God
Ebola
That fearsome disease, The deaths do not cease. Who can help when such fear Clutches all who are near?Disease is a curse, Fear just makes it worse. We flee those who would help. Trust things that cannot help.Thousands are dying, Thousands are trying To arrest the bleeding, And stop it from spreading.Has a cure been … Continue reading Ebola
The great and terrible God
In order to reduce Christianity to moralistic, therapeutic deism, we must reduce God to a warm fuzzy, namby-pamby therapist whose only desire is to help us find relief from the emotional and existential complexes that befuddle our lives. That is not the way that the Bible describes Him. Nehemiah twice speaks of God as being … Continue reading The great and terrible God
Marriage – is it still a good idea?
Time was when almost all young people saw marriage in their future, and expected that marriage to be a lifelong arrangement. Times have changed — most young people today are wary of committing to a long term arrangement. Some may long for a more stable relationship than the one they are now in, but doubt … Continue reading Marriage – is it still a good idea?
Verily, verily
The English of the AV, or KJV, translation was not the same as the English commonly spoken 400 years ago. The words were carefully selected to first of all be a true representation of the text in the original languages and secondly, to convey that truth in simple words arranged to have the greatest imapct … Continue reading Verily, verily
Giving an answer
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15). The three highlighted words: “give an answer” are a translation of a single Greek word: apologia. The … Continue reading Giving an answer
Renewed by fire
The prairies and forests of North America were ecosystems that depended on periodic fires for renewal. Most of those fires started from lightning strikes. The fires were beneficial in a number of ways: the build up of dead wood and plants was removed, most invasive plant species could not survive the fire, and the fire … Continue reading Renewed by fire
The fulness of the time
Galatians 4:4: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son. This phrase, “the fulness of the time,” indicates that Jesus came at the most opportune moment in history. What were the conditions that made this the right moment for the Saviour to come into the world? The last king … Continue reading The fulness of the time
Is it hot?
My wife and I went away for the day, leaving our four-year-old daughter with Grandma. When Grandma started to make dinner, our daughter saw the electric element on the stove glowing red hot, asked “Grandma, is it hot?” and placed the palm of her hand on the element. I guess she really never understood what … Continue reading Is it hot?
Refuge
Yesterday morning, one of our ministers preached on the subject of refuge. Before the children of Israel entered the promised land, God gave them detailed instructions for establishing cities of refuge. They were to be located throughout the land in such a manner that no one would be more than a half day’s journey from … Continue reading Refuge
Flatlander Faith 