“Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Gal.4:7)
I’ve read that the baby boom generation is inheriting more wealth than anyone in the history of our country. This is because their parents lived during the most prosperous time of our history. People are inheriting houses, cottages, businesses and savings. Usually received with joy, soon the responsibility of sudden gain throws a different light on things. Continue reading
Friendship is a precious thing. It’s rare in life to have close friends for any great length of time. But in Christ it is different.
At the end of John’s 3rd letter he said, “The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.” (3 John 14). Why did John put it this way? Why didn’t he call these Christians brethren, or saints, as others did? He was trying to make a point that the church needed. Three men are mentioned by name in this little book: Gaius, Demetrius and Diotrephes. Gaius was commended by John because he helped faithful, traveling Christian preachers financially, and provided hospitality; Demetrius was likely one of them. Diotrephes was a church leader who loved to be prominent, and refused to help said traveling brothers, even to the point of denying them fellowship. Who do you think proved to be a friend to Christians? Continue reading
What a difficult time the world is having. We’ve been shocked to hear about soldiers killed senselessly in Ottawa and Saint-Jean-sur-Richeleau. Violence continues in Syria, and more girls have been kidnapped in Nigeria. The stock market took a hit with all the uncertainty around us. The bad news just seems to keep on coming. It causes us to feel anxiety, outrage and fear.
It would do us well to consider the tumultuous first century. Two Caesars are mentioned in the New Testament, with figurative mention of others (book of Revelation). Most were assassinated, throwing the empire into chaos. Two extensive famines are mentioned in the book of Acts and 1 Corinthians, motivating the church to raise emergency funds to help people out. Pagan religion opposed the gospel; there was violence against Christians. Many of the apostles were killed or exiled. The Judaizers were busy shaking up new congregations. It was not an easy time to live; the world seemed to be falling apart! Continue reading
In our hectic world solitude is missing. As we age we have more time to be alone, and for some people solitude becomes loneliness. But there is a need to practice a measure of it.
When Moses escaped Egypt, he spent four decades in the wilderness with few people nearby. It gave him time to think about his life, to learn humility and trust in God, not just himself. When he saw the burning bush, he was ready to be a leader. (Ex.3).
When Saul obeyed the gospel in Damascus, his whole life changed. He needed some time alone, so he went away for a while in Arabia before proceeding with his new role as an apostle. (Gal.1:17-18). Sometimes we need space to make important changes in our thinking. Continue reading
Canada’s yearly day of Thanksgiving is again upon us. Historically the holiday was only formalized in 1957, declared to be celebrated on the second Monday of October. In the 1920’s it was temporarily celebrated in connection with Remembrance Day in November, expressing thankfulness for peace. Its origins go back as far as early European explorers who probed the northern part of our continent, thankful for safety during the risks they took. Later during the American revolution, United Empire Loyalists brought us the customs of pumpkins, squash, and turkey. Continue reading