There is one Lord

Ministers are not lords over their congregations; husbands are not lords over their wives; parents are not lords over their children, employers are not lords over their employees. Yet God has delegated to each one of us a measure of responsibility, and even of authority. As long as we submit ourselves to the authority of … Continue reading There is one Lord

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

The first Mennonites to settle in Canada came from Pennsylvania in 1786 and settled near Sherkston, along Twenty Mile Creek in the Niagara region of Ontario. The church membership increased rapidly. Dissension arose between two of the ministers in the later 1840's. Bishop Benjamin Eby of Waterloo county was called in to make peace between … Continue reading Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

Living in the presence of the Shepherd

There are well-meaning Christians who put much emphasis abiding by correct doctrine, even adding numerous rules of guidelines as rules of conduct. The intention is to construct a barrier around the people of God so that they would know not to stray far from the truth as given in the Word of God. But where … Continue reading Living in the presence of the Shepherd

Never alone

I expect most people know where I am headed with this post, but there is some rough terrain to be covered first. Alone with God is a wonderful place to be, but there are a host of other spirits vying for our attention. When destructive thoughts come – anger, envy, lust, suspicion, resentment and the … Continue reading Never alone

Put down that hammer!

If the only thing in your toolkit is a hammer, it's surprising how many things look like a nail. -Anonymous Some Christians are like that: "If you don't know Jesus, you're lost!" Pow! "You're living in sin." Wham! "You're on the road to hell!" Smack! "You need Jesus in your life!" Thud! All true, but … Continue reading Put down that hammer!

The myth of gunslinger evangelism

“I would like you to meet brother Wyatt. Wyatt has got to be the fastest draw in the west with his Bible. Do you see all those notches along the spine of his Bible? That’s how many souls he has personally led to the Lord.” Have you ever met a Wyatt, someone who could tell … Continue reading The myth of gunslinger evangelism

What people need from a church

There are three things that every human being needs, and the Christian church is the only institution on earth with the potential to meet those needs. First, there is a longing in the heart of every man, woman and child to understand the meaning of life and their place in it. People who reject God … Continue reading What people need from a church

The challenge of Islam

[This post is my translation of a portion of Robert Dubarry's commentary on the book of Revelation. I bought this book many years ago from a Montréal bookstore. It is undated, but I believe it was written about sixty years ago. M. Dubarry was a French Baptist pastor; I can find next to nothing about … Continue reading The challenge of Islam

Waldensian Confession of Faith of 1120 AD

1. We believe and and do firmly hold all that which is contained in the twelve articles of the symbol, which is called the Apostles Creed, accounting for heresy whatsoever is disagreeing and not consonant to the said twelve articles. 2. We believe that there is one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 3. We … Continue reading Waldensian Confession of Faith of 1120 AD

The world turned upside down

The scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus with a woman who had been caught in adultery, reminded Him that the law required that such a person be stoned, and asked what He had to say. Jesus only answer was to stoop down and write on the ground. One by one the accusers left. The story … Continue reading The world turned upside down