Last week I highlighted how some people struggle to understand the Bible. Because of that I encouraged you to (a) get a translation in modern English, and (b) buy a good study Bible. But if we’re honest, I think one of the reasons we stall in our reading is because we aren’t really convinced it’s … Continue reading Did Jesus trust the Scriptures?
truth
Your life and legacy
Welcome to Christmas Eve! It’s a special time. After the presents have been bought, we gather to sing carols and ponder the significance of Christ’s birth. [If you’re close to Barrie and are looking for somewhere to worship tonight check out the links below.] But we live in a world of skepticism. Many people ask … Continue reading Your life and legacy
Believing what we WANT to be true, verses what actually is
A 2007 Gallup poll revealed that 81% of people believe in heaven, but only 69% believe in hell. That seems strange to me. But it’s also very telling. We like to believe in things we like, but not in things we don’t. The Scottish theologian James Denney did a survey of Jesus’ teaching and found … Continue reading Believing what we WANT to be true, verses what actually is
Are miracles anti-science?
At the church I pastor, I’m teaching a series about miracles. And one of the things I sometimes hear is this: “I don’t believe in miracles because science doesn’t allow them.” Makes sense, right? Wrong. According to Michael Ruse, a respected philosopher of science, science “deals only with the natural, the repeatable, that which is … Continue reading Are miracles anti-science?
Seeing straight in a time of name-calling, controversy and spin
We live in controversial times. Race riots make the news, big internet companies are accused of suppressing speech, ‘identity politics’ is all over the place, environmental laws seem to get sidelined for economic gain, and there are random shootings in public places… Part of the problem with these hot-button issues is all the rhetoric and … Continue reading Seeing straight in a time of name-calling, controversy and spin
Who’s brainwashing who?
Mark Clark was getting a lot of criticism from people. They said that because he consistently read his kids the Bible and explained who Jesus was (and is), and because he explained God’s hope for the world, that he was “brainwashing” them. But he wasn't the guilty one...
Hypocrisy (on both ends of the spectrum)
“You’re a hypocrite.” Has anyone ever said that to you? It’s a nasty and unpleasant thing! A hypocrite is a pretender—someone who says they believe certain ideals but doesn’t actually live them out in their own life. Hypocrites were the people Jesus often railed against. But guess what? Regardless of your theological leanings, it’s easy to become one!
Honesty in a world of spin
Santa Clara University did a study of 2600 managers. They were trying to identify the top leadership quality. Do you want to know what it was? It was honesty. Honesty ranked higher than intelligence. Honesty ranked higher than competence. And it ranked higher than a leader’s capacity to inspire others. But why? I think it’s … Continue reading Honesty in a world of spin
The words that are inspired inspire
Have you ever played Scrabble? The idea is simple: Make words for points, and whoever gets the most points wins. But issues can arise when someone puts a word on the board that the other player doesn’t recognize. If challenged it has to be looked up in an agreed-upon dictionary. The word only stays if it’s … Continue reading The words that are inspired inspire
Never trust your self-defeating thoughts
I think there can be a darkness within each one of us that loves to reach up, take hold of our confidence, and pull it down into an abyss of self-pity. You know the days. The bad thoughts or feelings start to steamroll. It’s the opposite of positive momentum. You feel deflated. Then you catch … Continue reading Never trust your self-defeating thoughts
