By Adrian Plass When I became a Christian I said, Lord, now fill me in, Tell me what I’ll suffer in this world of shame and sin. He said, Your body may be killed, and left to rot and stink, Do you still want to follow me? I said, Amen! – I think. I think…
Author: Norm
ignoring God?
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 28 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. [1 Samuel 28:5-6] Saul’s heart was closed to God, yet he is frustrated that God’s heart is closed to him. God does not…
David was human!
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 27 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’ ” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory. [1 Samuel 27:11] This chapter hardly seems worthy of being called…
forgive… as I forgive?
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 26 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble. [1 Samuel 26:24] David knows that everyone needs God’s mercy. As he values Saul’s life enough to spare him, he knows that God needs to value his own life enough to be spared….
remember me
November 18, 2009 SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 25 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: And when the LORD has brought my master success, remember your servant.” [1 Samuel 25:31] These words from Abigail remind me of the words of the criminal on the cross: Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. [Luke 23:42] In both cases, the person speaking (Abigail and…
overcome evil with good
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 24 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. [1 Samuel 24:16-17] Here we see how goodness overcomes evil. David sees even his enemy as someone…
church planting congress
For those interested in knowing where I am, you can check the link here. Though I am not really a church planter, these nice church planting people let me into their club for the week. Of course, you have to be a certain kind of person to be a real church planter; I could probably…
circular (un)reasoning
God’s hand behind mine
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 23 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. [1 Samuel 23:14] David is being protected by the Lord; Saul is being hindered by the Lord. Both are making free choices, but…
alternative expressions of church
The following video from 100 Huntley Street explores the question “what is the church” and looks at some new and emerging forms of the church. I am especially interested in the section on the FRWY (“free way”), a Salvation Army Church Plant in downtown Hamilton which is built around a Cafe. This kind of ministry appeals…