Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. A time to remember Christians in northern Nigeria where the Boko Haram Islamic sect appears to be attempting to wipe out Christianity, and persecuted Christians elsewhere, in places like Pakistan, North Korea, Iran, China and many other countries. There are troubling signs in our … Continue reading There is still power in the blood
Jesus Christ
The significance of baptism
This post consists entirely of excerpts from the chapter on Baptism (pages 81 to 88) in A Third Way, by Paul M Lederach, © 1980 by Herald Press. In essence, baptism is the means through which the reborn believer commits himself or herself to a life of obedience, in the fellowship with other believers, and … Continue reading The significance of baptism
Buckley’s Mixture versus Christian Evangelism
In the mid-nineties I saw posters in Montreal’s buses and subway trains showing a bottle of Buckley’s Mixture with these words beside it: You’d have to be really sick to take that!, followed by the question: Are you sick? (I’m translating from French here; the English version of the ad campaign may have been worded … Continue reading Buckley’s Mixture versus Christian Evangelism
Seventeen hundred years ago
Seventeen hundred years ago, Christianity became a religion that conquered opponents by use of a literal sword rather than the sword of the Spirit. The night of October 27, 312 AD, Constantine saw a cross of light in the sky, accompanied by the words, “by this sign, you shall conquer.” Constantine immediately had the shields … Continue reading Seventeen hundred years ago
The Twenty-third Psaum
The Lord is my Shepherd; my wants are a' kent; the pastur I lie in is growthie and green. I follow by the lips o' the watirs o' Peace. He heals and sterklie hauds my saul: and airts me, for his ain name's sake, in a' the fit-roads o' his holiness. Aye, and though I … Continue reading The Twenty-third Psaum
Where did those words come from?
A friend and I had spent the night in the bar and it was around midnight when we arrived back in the little town where I lived. We weren’t ready to call it a day yet, so when we saw a light in a friend’s house we went and banged on the door. They let … Continue reading Where did those words come from?
What Colour is Your Bushel?
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may … Continue reading What Colour is Your Bushel?
Respect of Persons
“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” James 2:1. The hardest thing for a person to conceal is his opinion of himself, including his concept of where others rank in relation to him. The world has developed a corresponding expertise in detecting hypocrisy … Continue reading Respect of Persons
What kind of people do we think we are?
An encounter between Jesus and a group of Pharisees is recorded in the 18th chapter of the gospel of Luke. The Pharisees are described as “certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.” Jesus then told a parable of a pharisee and a publican (usually considered by the Jews to be … Continue reading What kind of people do we think we are?
This is war
“Must I be carried to the skies on flow’ry beds of ease?” asked Isaac Watts many years ago. Well, nowadays that seems to be exactly what we expect Christian life to be like. Is it any wonder that so many folks find Christian life to be boring and unfulfilling? Jesus didn’t promise “flow’ry beds of … Continue reading This is war
Flatlander Faith 