February 4, 202

I have a younger cousin who works as an engineer. While in school he learned lots of physics. One of the things he learned a lot about is the mechanics of air flow. When he got into the working world he didn’t take a job which directly dealt with air flow mechanics instead he works designing pumps. I once asked him “How did you end up doing that”. He pointed out that although he had little training in fluid dynamics but water moves in almost the exact same way that air does. He later took this same knowledge of the way water moves and combined it with his love of fishing to create a lure. All of this makes a great illustration of wisdom verses knowledge. 

     Knowledge you can get out of a book. Wisdom however is the ability to take what you have found in the book and apply it in new and different ways. Everyone who’s been in school knows how to study for a test verses how to study and learn the material. 

     When we study the Bible this discussion become paramount; The Bible contains everything we need for “life and godliness” such that we can be fully equipped for living the Christian life (2Pet 1:3; 2Tim 3:17). Some have considered these statements and thought; but wait, the Bible does not mention telephone fraud, or road rage. The right response to this is the Bible gives us all the knowledge we need to deal with any situation but God expects us to have the wisdom to apply it (Heb 5:14). 

     When we study the Bible then it is not to memorize material for a test. It is to learn and embrace knowledge that can be applied to real life. It’s to become so familiar with that subject of scripture “the Christ” that we become like him. This is wisdom, to take what we read in scripture and let it change us into his image.

~ Kevin Cleary

 

     Before you start reading this, I want to challenge you to think of the dumbest idea you possibly can. Maybe it’s something you witnessed in real life, more likely though it’s something you consider too dumb for anyone to ever attempt. Maybe it’s skateboarding down a ladder or peanut butter and baloney sandwiches (If you think this sounds good, stop reading now, you probably won’t enjoy the rest of the article). 

     If you’re still reading, then I want to dissuade you of your previously held notion that some ideas are obviously dumb to everyone. As a sometimes ski patroller and firefighter I can tell you that I have witnessed the aftermath of so many bad ideas that my faith in humanity has been eroded down to the size of a grain of sand. Sometimes human foolishness is tragic sometimes sad and sometimes funny. What I can no longer say is that it’s unbelievable. 

     We all know and can give examples of exceptionally foolish ideas that have led people into all kinds of problems. I know it’s often a cartoon joke, but I have seen someone cut the wall stud off that was holding their ladder. I have responded to car accidents where someone was eating while driving on ice in a blizzard and talking on the phone. These terrible ideas serve as an important reminder.

     Biblical truths like honesty, forgiveness, compassion, or sobriety seem painfully obvious yet often we struggle with these things.  Further, despite ample evidence and demonstrable pain and damage people continue to defend sexual promiscuity and legalize drug use. Along with many other worldly practices. 

     We have yet to consider those who claim to believe in scripture. I have heard those claiming to be Christians claim that Jesus was gay or trans. I have heard people defend the idea that the Bible teaches communism. On many, many, occasions I have had someone read the Bible for themselves only to say “well that’s just your opinion.” Unbiblical ideas proliferate in Biblical studies and theology. I would go so far as to say if you can identify any clear teaching of scripture, you can just as easily identify someone who claims to be a Christian opposing that idea. 

     Why do I say all this, it’s not to get you down but rather to prepare you. People are sinful and flawed and so will believe ideas that are sinful and flawed. We need to show these people compassion and do our best to help them discover the truth and how God’s love grace and truth offer a far better solution to the human condition than anything in the world. So, the next time you hear someone on the news or on social media say something dumb just remember that it’s par for the course and all we can do is share good ideas (God’s truth) to help a few not fall for whatever the current horrible trend happens to be.

~ Kevin Cleary 

January 21, 202

     There is a wonderful poem about the relationship between Jesus and the Christian called footprints it has inspired and encouraged many. Often seen this poem combined with a picture of footprints on a beach. Having spent some time on the beach a problem arises in my mind. If you try to follow footprints on the beach you can only go so far before the next wave removes all traces of the tracks you have been following. 

     I have been studying what is called the quest for the historical Jesus which seeks the footprints of Jesus in history. It wants to look behind the traditions and uncover the real Jesus. The problem faced by many who have tried to track Jesus in history is like the path on the beach. The trail is progressively eroded not by waves but by bias and imagination. Many have pointed out the tendency for scholars who pursue the historical Jesus to wind up chasing their tails. Repeatedly they have arrived at a description of Jesus that amounts to a self portrait. A good example is Albert Schweitzer who after pointing to this shortfall in others went and did the same thing.

     There is a key principle here that New Testament Christians need to consider. It’s not just scholars who have a tendency to imagine a Jesus who is like them. All Christians come to Jesus with biases which can erode the footprints they are trying to follow in their attempt to be like Jesus. 

     We need a better way than seeking footprints we need a path. Meaford is near the Niagara Escarpment and so we get many visitors who are hiking the Bruce trail which follows it.  The trail is not hard to follow because it has clearly marked signs guiding the way. This is what we need if we are going to follow Jesus. A clearly marked trail that will show us the way and this is exactly what Jesus has provided. In John 16:12-13 He promised his apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit who would guide them into all truth. Those same apostles wrote down the truths that Jesus wanted communicated so that they could be preserved for all who wanted to follow him (I Cor 2:6-16; Eph 3:3-5; II Pet 1:20-21). So in seeking to follow Jesus we are not left with footprints in the sand but a clearly marked trail.

     This trail is trustworthy (despite what you may hear from the Jesus Seminar) and assured. This should provide the Christian with great confidence. However the trail is not easy. In fact Jesus warned that following him costs (Luke 9:23-27;57-62). He warned that the trail is narrow and not many will find it (Matt 7:13-14). However hard the going may be though it is made easy by the fact that we know Jesus has gone this way before us (John 16:32). We also know the end of the trial is eternal life with the Lord we’ve been following (Jn 14:1-6). 

     My prayer for myself and Christ’s church is that we would commit ourselves to the trail left by our Lord. That we would go where he leads in this life so that as many as possible will find the trail and walk it with us. I would urge you to join me in this prayer and on this trail.

~ Kevin Cleary

 

January 15, 202

     I want to tell you about a unique opportunity to invest in something that will pay dividends for years to come. Your life will be better, you will have more free time, more friends, and you will never have to think about the future. The best part is this investment cost no more than what you already make. There is no large buy in, no upfront cost, just commit today and start to build a better life. 

     All that’s required is to direct your time and resources into the following areas: Your hobbies, spend as much time and money on the little things that you enjoy as you can possibly afford. Your possessions, we’ve all read the t-shirt he who dies with the most toys wins. Well make sure that’s you. Get the bigger mortgage so you can have that house you’ve seen on HGTV. Lease the fancy car you saw drive past earlier today. Enrol yourself and your children in every activity you can find, after all it’s important to be well rounded. Also start thinking more about your physical appearance; Surgery, Botox, Steroids, whatever it takes to look as good as you can for as long as you can. 

     Simply follow the above program and you will have the life you deserve, investing in what you can see around you is a sure thing. After all if you can’t see it, and touch it how important could it be anyway. I promise that you will never live to regret the choice to truly embrace the world and all it has to offer. 

     For further advice call or email D.S Lucifer investments ask for Mr. S

     What if someone offered to sell you a house that was sitting on a fault line? Or how about in a major flood plain? Would you take the deal? How about a used car that was fifteen years old with five hundred thousand miles? “It’s lasted this long” they’d say “surly it’s not going to break down now.” We know better than to invest in things that are soon to be worthless. No one is rushing to buy stock in Nortel. Yet this is exactly what Satan calls us to do, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the vain pride of life are his stock and trade. He even tried this tactic on Jesus “I will give you all the kingdoms of the world if you’ll just bow down and worship me.” Christians, in fact all humans should know that the things of this world are temporary, there is nothing that doesn’t decay and diminish in the physical realm.

     The apostle Peter put it this way “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” 

     This world is only temporary, God created it and he will end it when the time is right. If we know this world is going to end how much should we invest in it? How much time, energy, money, priority should we give the things of this world? I’ll let Peter finish his thought: “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming day of God.”

~ Kevin Cleary

 

January 7, 202

     Revelation 1:3 says “blessed be the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and keep what is written in it for the time is near.” Despite this promised blessing the last book of the Bible is often the one most neglected. There are a number of reasons for this but mostly the perception about Revelation is that it is difficult to understand and apply to the Christian life today.

     I contend that this reputation is undeserved. Revelation is simply a different kind of language than we are used to reading. Further, there are some things in the book that can be difficult to attach a specific meaning to but even without an exhaustive understanding of every verse, the message of the book is definitely something that can be grasped. 

     There are a couple of simple principles that come out of the book which will help to make it easier to read and benefit from. 

1. Revelation is written in language that is symbolic, in fact the word translated “made it known” or “signified” in verse 1 actually means revealed by symbols. So when reading the book try to imagine the picture John is describing and picture it in your mind. This will go a long way in helping you grasp what is happening in the book.
2. The book is written to suffering Christians, the context which launches the main story of the book is found in Chapter 6 verse 9 where the martyrs ask how long? Much of the rest of the book is an answer to their question.
3. The answer that God gives is also a helpful truth to keep in mind while reading the book and his answer is God and his people are victorious over the forces of evil.

     There is more that could be said but even these simple principals will go a long way in helping make sense out of the Revelation.

     Of course like any book beyond all of these is simply to read, read it through in large chunks or even the whole book in one sitting. Read it often; read the book over and over until you are totally familiar with the content. Read it slowly and prayerfully taking time to think about what you find. 

     So now that you have finished reading this little note, go get your Bible turn to the last book and read it, you will be blessed by the effort. Another opportunity to get into the book would be to join us for the Sunday Morning Bible class as we study the book together.

~ Kevin Cleary