This month one hundred years ago, Europe slid into war with Germany. On August 12 the British declared war and that brought Canada into the conflict. Suddenly every city and town in the country was busy drumming up men to go and fight. People stepped forward by the thousands. They thought the war would only last a few months and everybody would come home. Little did they know it would take four agonizing years, then six more in WW2. But they went willingly; they felt it was their duty. Continue reading
Paul
You’ve Got Better Things To Do
What should we do when someone claims we don’t know what we’re talking aboutin that which we condemn? We are often inexperienced in the ways of the world. Young Christians want to glorify Jesus Christ by living a holy life, but unbelieving friends claim sin is fun; “why don’t you try it? Must we smoke for a few years before smokers will listen to us? Should we live a carnal lifestyle so we know what we are talking about when we suggest fornication is wrong? Is it helpful to experiment with sin to really know it’s not a good thing? Continue reading
A Colony of Heaven
If you weren’t born Canadian, you probably went through an expensive and complicated process to gain citizenship. The rights of citizenship are valued around the world, for with it comes all the benefits of the state. Pride of citizenship motivates a person to appreciate their new country and to live in a way that honours it.
Paul told the Philippian Christians that they possessed citizenship in heaven. (Phil 3:20) The original language means either the state itself, or the rights of belonging to it. Thus some versions of the New Testament use the word “commonwealth.” One version says, “We are a colony of heaven.” (Moffat) No doubt this thought is what the Philippians gathered from Paul’s words. Continue reading