Why are so many families and churches falling apart? Were there some adhesive qualities at work in previous generations helped to make relationships more cohesive? Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay The answer, I believe, is yes, but. Such qualities did exist, and still do, but not everybody was convinced of their value. Things have always been falling … Continue reading Things fall apart
Holy Spirit
Quench not the Spirit
I am old enough to remember the Jesus People movement and I believe that it was in a large part a genuine work of the Holy Spirit. Young people who were disillusioned with the empty formality of the older generation’s religion and disappointed by the empty promises of the hippie movement found what their hearts … Continue reading Quench not the Spirit
Self-centred or God-centred?
We entered this world as helpless babies and we were totally self-centred. We had to be. We needed nourishment, we needed help when we hurt, we needed help when we were afraid, but we could not provide any of those things for ourselves. So we were vocal about our needs and our parents had to … Continue reading Self-centred or God-centred?
Is your church a theology-free zone?
I became aware of the declining interest in theology on the part of most churches shortly after my conversion and marriage. Both happened in 1970 and I mention my marriage because it was only after we were married that my wife and I began to attend church and look for spiritual fellowship. The Western Canada … Continue reading Is your church a theology-free zone?
Scriptural use of the sacramental signs
The Bible instructs us to observe two sacraments: baptism and communion. They are the essential means for gathering a church of born-again believers and for maintaining the unity of that church. There is a lot of confused thinking about both of them. As a boy, I learned from the Anglican catechism that a sacraments is … Continue reading Scriptural use of the sacramental signs
Antichrist
The following passages are a brief summary of a writing entitled Antichrist which is at least 900 years old. It originated among the Albigensian Christians of southern France, around the time of Pierre de Bruys, and was preserved by the Waldensians. Readers who have a copy of the Martyrs Mirror will find a brief excerpt … Continue reading Antichrist
The cult of celebrity Christians
Some folks adore Christian superstars,Athletes, singers, politicians, preachers,Who profess faith in the saving blood,Seeing in them proof of Christ’s good. Some may truly be pillars of the faith.Others seem mere pretenders to the grace,And when they fall, their sins laid bare,The name of Christ is disgraced everywhere. Seek not among the high and mightyHe who … Continue reading The cult of celebrity Christians
Demonstration of power
A mortar and pestle used to be standard equipment in kitchens, pharmacies and high school science labs. They could be made of stone, wood or metal, but most often they were ceramic, as in the picture below. Image by ariesa66 from Pixabay Sixty-five years ago I sat in a high school classroom as our teacher demonstrated how gunpowder … Continue reading Demonstration of power
Making disciples
I confess that I feel a lack in my life in being able to fulfill Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations. It seems to me that I am not alone in this, the people who sit beside me on the church benches Sunday after Sunday don't seem to be doing a whole lot … Continue reading Making disciples
There is a famine
Image by nancygebhardt from Pixabay Rural and small town churches across Canada are rapidly disappearing. Fifty years ago, the town where I grew up had five churches. Only two remain, and they are the churches where one is least likely to ever hear Bible-based preaching. Smaller towns nearby have no churches at all. This is more than a … Continue reading There is a famine
Flatlander Faith 