"And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). Well, they had to call them something, didn't they? Some of them had once been Jews, but that label didn't really fit anymore. Others had been pagans, probably worshippers of Apollo and others of the Greek gods. That label didn't work for them anymore. … Continue reading True Christianity is neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic
repentance
Heaven and hell
Atheists consider the teaching in the Bible about a place called hell to be a conclusive argument against Christianity and its belief in a loving God. As a Christian, I consider hell to be part of the good news. I don't any vindictive feelings against other people, but if heaven is to be a good … Continue reading Heaven and hell
Power outage
We were moving from one farm house to another, with the help of friends. I hurried to connect the kitchen stove so my wife could bake a pizza for our helpers. This was in the day when kitchen stoves did not plug into the wall, but the wires from the stove had to be individually … Continue reading Power outage
Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
To put it very briefly, homeopathy is a branch of alternative medicine that treats diseases with natural substances that are diluted well past the point where any trace of the original substance can be detected. Some call it quackery, others say that it works where other methods fail. It does have this much going for … Continue reading Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
A flower that could not be burned
[The following account is found in the Martyrs Mirror, pages 420-421. The English translation is from 1886, I have done some slight editing.] When the believers greatly increased under persecution and the cross, there was in Bavaria a learned priest of the mass named Leonhard Keyser. He examined the writings of Zwingli and Luther and … Continue reading A flower that could not be burned
Things that I know about mental illness
1. I know that mental illness sometimes has external causes. One common example would be SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) a usually mild form of seasonal depression caused by reduced hours of sunshine in winter. In the area where I live there are 17 hours between sunrise and sunset at the summer solstice and only 7 … Continue reading Things that I know about mental illness
We wrestle not against flesh and blood
My father was usually a kind and considerate man, very much in earnest about Christian life. However, he had an explosive temper, and each time he blew up it took several days for the rage to die down. While the rage was burning inside him, every time he came into the house he would tell … Continue reading We wrestle not against flesh and blood
Rebels without a clue
I am struck at how clueless protest movements have become. The “Occupy” folks seem to think it is the fault of government and business that they don’t have a job. You worked hard and got your BA. You apply for a job that seems to offer the pay and perks that you feel you deserve. … Continue reading Rebels without a clue
The soul that sinneth, it shall die
Both the Old and New Testaments teach clearly that God welcomes all sinners who repent, granting them forgiveness and salvation. Both Testaments also teach that one who has been forgiven and wilfully and deliberately forsakes God and returns to a life of sin is lost. There is much confusion in our time about this. Much … Continue reading The soul that sinneth, it shall die
The pursuit of Happiness
How would Thomas Jefferson have described the Happiness that he had in mind when he penned the Declaration of Independence? I suspect it was quite a bit different from the happiness that many people are desperately seeking today. In fact, I suspect that he was thinking of the kind of happiness that is described in … Continue reading The pursuit of Happiness
Flatlander Faith 