November 24, 2024

I am sometimes asked why I do what I do as a person and preacher, why as a church we strive to go back to the Bible. I sometimes struggle to answer because there’s just so much to say. I pray the following encourages someone to study and love the word. We love the Bible because:

It is the word of God: the same word that initiated the universe, separating light from dark, which implemented to functioning of the Laws of Physics. Which places the heavenly bodies in the paths and brought life from dust, the same voice of God is in His Book II Tim 3:16-17.

It is the word of Christ: the same word that commanded the storm on the Sea of Galilee, The words that comforted the apostles in the upper room “You believe in God, believe also in me” and which will comfort the faithful on the last day saying “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Those words were given by the Holy Spirit to the inspired writers and we can read them today (John 16:12-15; I Cor 2:6-16; Eph 3:4-5)

It is the word of truth: The words that created reality also describe it, despite any and all challenges, discoveries, doubts and fears of men the Bible is true. It’s true if we love it, it’s true if we hate it, it’s true if we do it, it’s true if we don’t. As the apostle Paul so aptly put it “Let God be true though everyone were a liar,” Wisdom embraces Jesus prayer: “sanctify them in the truth your word is truth” John 17:17

It is the word of Life: “Man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). Peter said of Jesus when many were leaving him “where else would we go? You have the words of life.” Will we have the same courage in a world, a family, a church, a workplace, a party, a neighbourhood that is turning away from God to “Hold fast to the word of life” and in so doing “shine as lights in the world” (Phil 2:15-16)? 

It is the word that endures: “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” At the end of all that we know when the heavens have been rolled up like a scroll and the earth and everything in it have burned to nothing all that will be left is the word of God. “My word will judge him on the last day” (John 12:48)

It is the living word: The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joins and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”(Heb 4:12) “You were born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (I Pet 1:22-23)

All we can do is: love it, trust it, depend on it, obey it, and abide in it. My prayer for all those who believe in God is that they would take the next logical step: listen to what he has revealed about life and eternity in the only source that can lead us to both. 

Having embraced the word of God for our life and salvation, our divine mandate is to take that living word to all men everywhere (Mat 28:19-20). To “preach the word” to “be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” May we ever strive to know, live, and share, God’s Holy word.

~ Kevin Cleary

November 17, 2024

     In the discussion surrounding abortion the subject most often raised is a woman’s right to freedom with her own body. There are many appropriate responses to that objection including and maybe especially the fact that freedom with the body is what created the situation in the first place. Once in a while a situation comes along that teaches so powerfully that no arguments are needed. One such situation is that of Elizabeth Joice. 

     Elizabeth desperately wanted children and so she was ecstatic when she learned she was pregnant, bad news quickly followed. Elizabeth was promptly told by doctors that she would have to make a decision. The cancer that she’d been treated for years earlier had returned. She would have to abort the baby so she could receive lifesaving cancer treatment or forgo the treatment to carry the baby. For Elizabeth that was no choice at all she knew that she would carry the baby. Elizabeth carried her baby until six week prior to her due date when a mass in her lung necessitated delivering the baby by C-section. When Elizabeth woke after surgery she was desperate to know how the baby was doing. 

     When full body scans were done it was revealed that Elizabeth’s abdomen was full of cancer and despite treatment she passed away March 9^th in hospital with her husband Max by her side. She was only able to spend one night at home with her new baby. A documentarian visiting on her one day at home records Elizabeth holding her baby and filled with joy and pride. She said “This is so worth it I would do it all again to have this child”.

     What a perfect example of love. Elizabeth demonstrated what it means to love someone to death. 

     What an honour God has bestowed upon mankind that we can bring new life into the world. What a joy to see the hope and anticipation that a baby brings. 

     As we contemplate this story let’s remember that someone else has laid down their life for us and that we have been reborn because of that sacrifice. May God bless Elizabeth’s baby and her whole family. May God bless us, as we remember that value of sacrifice and the power of love.

~ Kevin Cleary

November 10, 2024

     Unless you are living under a rock you are well aware that Donald Trump is once again the president of the United States. There are many things that could be said about Trump both his character or lack of it and his policy. These things are not the primary concern of this little note. What concerns me is the reaction of Christians. 

There are many Christians who are overjoyed by the election of Donald Trump. They say things like “finally there is hope for America,” I have heard some go as far as saying “God has appointed Donald Trump to this role.” 

     There are also many Christians who are deeply saddened and frustrated by the election results. I have read things like “This is the end of the American Dream.” They have said “There is no hope for this country.” Worst of all they have said terrible things about those who voted for Trump (just like some said about Bidden voters in 2020). They have been called Nazi’s and Racists, and Bigots among many other things. 

While we might unpack each of these statements from both sides they all point to something bigger. They are pointing to a scary truth that many won’t want to admit.      Many Christians are to worldly and more interested in worldly solutions than real ones. If you are looking for God to send someone to save the country and the world you can stop looking that has already happened. If your hopes and dreams are pinned on Donald Trump then I can assure you, you will be disappointed (even if he fulfilled every campaign promise). Further, looking to a man, any man, to deliver a nation is a huge mistake bordering on Idolatry. There is hope for the world, it’s Jesus not the president. 

     On the other hand if you think that this election is the worst possible thing that could have happened again your focusing too much on the wrong things. The worst thing that has ever happened was the fall and sin continues to be the worst plight of mankind. If you want to fight against something fight against the wiles of the Devil and the temptation to give in. 

     Whatever side you are on If you want to help people help them find the truth of the gospel and respond to it. 

     Whoever you voted for, while I may agree or disagree, we must all agree that what the world and what America and Canada need most is the Grace, Truth, and Love of God. God has done what no politician can ever do provided real freedom from sin and death. 

     If you think Donald Trump’s policies are good and helpful and based on that you voted for him then you can be happy that he won. If you think Democratic policies are best and based on that you voted for Kamala then its okay to be disappointed. What no Christians should do is to think that the most important thing in their lives or in the world is who gets elected president of the United States. Whoever the president is we are citizens of Heaven and must seek Kingdom matters first.

~ Kevin Cleary

November 3, 2024

We are reaching a point in the year that I always looked forward to as a child. Soon water will start to freeze. Lakes, ponds, streams, and puddles will soon be covered with a surface of hard frozen water. As a child, I looked forward to the chance to take a run and slide or put on my skates and go to the local quarry. Something as simple as ice though can actually reveal part of God’s planning. 

Normally when a substance goes form a liquid to solid state it becomes denser, so frozen or hard steel is heavier than the same volume of liquid steel. The same is true of almost all substances. Water however is different, when it freezes it forms a crystal structure which causes it to expand and become less dense. This simple chemical property of water is actually essential for life on this planet. Were water to behave like other substances it would freeze from the bottom up killing everything living in a body of water. The polar ice caps would be on the bottom of the ocean raising sea levels. And of course hockey would only be played by scuba divers. 

The fact that water has the unique property of freezing into crystals means that ice floats and life as we know it can continue. Why would this be true? Could it be that God had a plan to make the earth habitable for man? Could it be that he wanted to allow for life to flourish on our planet? We know the answer to these questions is yes. The Bible tells us that God cares for us and wants to make sure we have what we need, but this truth can also be attested to by the wonderful designs he has included in our world.

The Psalmist tells us that Nature declares the Glory of God, and Paul writes that His divine attributes are evident in the things that are made. I would challenge you this week to take time and notice the Glory of God that is all around you.

And the next time someone asks you how you know God cares for you take them to the ice rink.

~ Kevin Cleary

October 27, 202

     I can remember growing up, my mother’s last words as I was headed out the door would often be “stay out of trouble,” – no doubt many can remember parents saying that or something much like it. I took what she said seriously and tried not to do things which could land me in some kind of difficult situation. Her advice served me well (don’t tell her I said that). I didn’t get into any real trouble growing up and my life was certainly easier because of that. Now that I am grown, I like many others still try to stay out of trouble. Generally this is good advice but there are times when my desire to stay out of trouble conflicts with God’s expectations for my life.

     As I read through the New Testament, especially the epistles, I am struck by how often there was trouble and what was done about it. From sexual immorality, to pride, selfishness, divisiveness, and false teachers Churches had all kinds of trouble. When this happened contrary to my mother’s advice Paul, Timothy, Silas, or someone else would go and work to help their brethren with the trouble they were in. Timothy is told to gently correct his enemies (II Tim 2:25), to preach the word of God even to people who don’t want to hear it (II Tim 4:1-3). Titus is told that part of the work of elders was to silence rebellious men, who are empty talkers (Tit 1:10-11). Jesus on many occasions could have avoided conflict if he’d wanted to. He could have waited to heal the blind man in John 9. He could have toned down his claims of divinity in John 5, 6, 8 and 10. He could have kept his mouth shut about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Matt 23). He could have stayed away from Jerusalem in John 11 and Matthew 20 but he didn’t. Instead he got into trouble.

     I have no doubt that Jesus’ mother wished he had listened to her and stayed out of trouble as she stood at the foot of the cross. But as I look back at the cross and what it means for my life, I’m glad Jesus was willing to get into trouble.

     What about us? In the short time that I have been in ministry, there have been many times when I have thought how much easier it would be to listen to my mother and stay out of trouble. When I have wanted to avoid dealing with an unpopular issue, or just keep quiet about a bad choice someone is making. Times when preaching that I have wanted to leave out one of the points that scripture makes about a subject because I know people won’t like it.

     As I read and hear of all the trouble among brethren my heart breaks and I can hear Paul saying “Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches”. What I have to ask myself and what I want you to ask yourself is do I care enough to get into trouble?

~ Kevin Cleary