“We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”…
God loves sinners and hates sin!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 3:1-9 “There he preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.” (Luke 3:3) “Produce fruit that shows you have turned away from your sins.” (Luke 3:8) Does mercy precede holiness (see this past Friday), or does getting rid of sin precede God’s mercy? John’s message sounds the…
God be merciful to me, a sinner!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 70 Just because this prayer is in the bible, does not mean it fully expresses God’s heart. God includes it in the bible because if fully expresses David’s heart, it is a real, raw, desperate prayer. It does express God’s heart for the poor and needy, and His anger at injustice and cruelty. But…
Happy birthday to my brother!
My brother Greg put together this great video tribute to our older brother Rick, who celebrates his birthday today. Thanks Greg, and thanks Rick for being a great brother. Dad, Mom, Doreen, Rick, Greg… I’ve been blessed with an amazing family! And as you’ll see, I got blessed with the full head of hair! Enjoy!
Mercy precedes holiness!
SCRIPTURE: Job 11-14 “So commit yourself to God completely. Reach out your hands to him for help. Get rid of all of the sin you have. Don’t let anything that is evil stay in your tent. Then you can face others without feeling any shame. You can stand firm without being afraid.” (Job 11:13-15) Zophar has God…
Other stories about Jesus’ childhood
MUB says in his comment: “We don’t get a lot of press coverage as to Jesus earlier life. We hear about his birth, and then this story when he was 12. The biographers tend to cover his years of ministry, when he was about 30.” There are other about Jesus’ childhood, stories from later centuries…
Human just like Him!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:41-52 He was sitting with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. (Luke 2:46-47) Was Jesus a prodigy, with a higher IQ than others… because He was God? We often think that because of Jesus divine origins, He was wiser,…
A powerful vision in song!
This song pictures the great multitude of those who will enter God’s eternal kingdom (see Revelation 7:14). We will all be singing then… but for now it is a joy to here these men sing. I went to school with the fourth guy who sings – second from left in the grey suit – Kevin Pauls….
Confident, no matter what
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:33-40 Remember how the angel told Mary she was specially favoured by God (Luke 1:28)? Compare that with what Simeon says, “A sword will wound your own soul too.” (Luke 2:35) If this is what it means to be favoured, then who would want it? Or what about Anna, a deeply spiritual, pious lady, widowed for…
Rest in peace
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:25-32 “Now let me, your servant, go in peace.” (Luke 2:29) St. Augustine once said, ‘Our hearts find no rest until they rest in God!’ Like Simeon, we are rest-less until we experience God’s love through Jesus. The Holy Spirit is at work in us too, prompting us to look for God and Jesus. Some…