Promises shape the character and direction of our lives.Some promises are small. “I’ll pick you up after soccer practice, I promise.” Others are big, like the ones people say during wedding ceremonies. “For better, for worse, in sickness, and in health…”However, over time it is easy to get cynical about promises. We sometimes hear campaign … Continue reading The words of men are unstable things
word of God
Giving God a makeover?
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).Theologian J.I. Packer makes the following observation:“In 1963, J.A.T. Robinson’s ‘Honest to God’ was heralded by an article in one of England’s national newspapers entitled “Our Image of … Continue reading Giving God a makeover?
Being proactive about sermons and Bible study
In the autumn of 445 B.C., the governor Nehemiah had finished rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem after it had been destroyed. After exile, the people had gathered for a festival. Nehemiah 8:8 says: “They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the … Continue reading Being proactive about sermons and Bible study
Following it helps, neglecting it hurts
Let’s say you take some illegal drugs (I hope you don’t be the way, but just hear me out). Let’s say you take some illegal drugs and then ask God to bless your experience. Would you then think that God was bad or negligent if he didn’t bless it? Of course not. After all, you’re … Continue reading Following it helps, neglecting it hurts
When William Tyndale was martyred
“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart” (Psalm 119:111).Today is the anniversary of William Tyndale’s martyrdom. He died 489 years ago on October 6, 1536.Tyndale was born in the late 1400’s. As he grew, he became passionate about God and the Bible. But it wasn’t available in English. … Continue reading When William Tyndale was martyred
Repeat it as you go about your day
In 1 John 3:3 the apostle writes: “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”He was speaking about the return of Jesus. If we hope in him (which we do) we will be engaged in a process of purification. His idea is that we are striving—with God’s help—to be more … Continue reading Repeat it as you go about your day
A trustworthy eyewitness is speaking to you
The first letter of John the apostle starts with a lot of enthusiasm—and this energy is for a reason:“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life…” (1 John 1:1)Let me explain … Continue reading A trustworthy eyewitness is speaking to you
They shot their books
If you go to Central American University in El Salvador you can see the room where six Jesuits and two women were killed.But the killers didn’t only shoot people. They shot their books. That’s right: their books were riddled with bullet holes.One of those books was a theological dictionary. It was open to an article … Continue reading They shot their books
His words will never ever pass away
It’s hard to deal with change. Depending on what it is, it can make you feel like you’re standing on quicksand. It can make you lose sleep or worry about the future. It can disrupt your sense of stability.That’s why I’d like you to consider Mark 13:31. It’s one of my favourite Bible verses. “Heaven … Continue reading His words will never ever pass away
How do we know what is or isn’t true online?
Several years ago I was invited to give a talk to some high school students at a church in Toronto. During a question and answer time at the end one of them asked me this question: How do we know what is or isn’t true online?Wow, what a question! In short, it’s becoming increasingly difficult … Continue reading How do we know what is or isn’t true online?
