Archive

The solid foundation “When the foundations are being destroyed,     what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3 (NIV) When living in Southern California, I experienced several earthquakes. One...

I see God So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) I see God in...

Through the door… This study is the twenty-ninth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament (Revelation: chapters 4 – 22, read in 35 minutes) After these things I looked, and behold,...

Dead to me The phrase ‘dead to me’ has unknown origins but saying that someone is ‘dead to me’ communicates that you no longer want to speak or have any kind of contact with that person. This...

24/7 Christians I’ve never been a weekend warrior, but after I strained a muscle digging a hole for a plant, I had to admit I might be one. I don’t dig holes every day but maybe I should,...

Night and day …for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NIV) Having grandchildren in both America and Canada I am not unfamiliar with...

DIY  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIVUK) The term...

God’s amazing gifts And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that...

Love at first sight Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  for you are...

He who has an ear, let him hear… This study is the twenty-eighth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament (Revelation: chapters 1,2, and 3 – read in 8 minutes) …“What you see,...

Memorial Day Memorial Day in the USA was first established near the end of the Civil War to remember the lives of the soldiers who died in the conflict. These men paid the ultimate price to ensure the...

Remember to hope He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up...

More than wishful thinking …God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (ESV) We are used to hearing the word ‘hope’ used within the context of wishful thinking....

Life is short This year seems to have sped by faster than usual. Wasn’t I just walking through the woods looking at the spring wildflowers? It also seems like no time at all since my children...

Customised When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” Acts 11:18 (NIV) What a blessing...

I can’t but you can I find myself saying this a lot more as I get older: ‘I just can’t do this anymore.’ Things that seemed easy for me in the past, such as gardening, are a challenge...

To those who are called … This study is the twenty-seventh in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament (Jude – read in 1 minute and 28 seconds) But you, beloved, building yourselves...

Therefore… Have you ever noticed how many times the word ‘therefore’ appears in the Bible? One rule of thumb that has been given to help understand a passage in scripture, is that when you see...

Stop the clock One of the more fascinating themes of science fiction is the concept of time travel. The Star Trek franchise addressed it in several episodes and at least three of the movies....

The ministry of a father  For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children… 1 Thessalonians 2:11 (NIVUK) Four pastors were deep in conversation about the best...

Uzziah’s problem with pride  … you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who...

Render to God Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.  And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true...

I have plans “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) Do you have...

Enter Gaius, holding a letter This study is the twenty-sixth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament (3 John – read in 1 minute and 18 seconds)  He who does good is of God…   3...

He is already here In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded his followers to go into the world and make disciples. Few believers could argue against the idea that Christians are commissioned by Christ...

Nothing will be wasted Growing up, I was taught to not waste anything. We lived by the motto, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” So when I read the story of Jesus feeding...

Expert test “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Matthew 22:36 (NIV) According to Jewish tradition the Torah, or Pentateuch as Christians call it, contains not ten but 613...

God’s constant love How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from...

Love because we are loved I watched my news feed light up with the serious happenings in the world, and as it often happens, soon would come the irate words of others who condemned this situation....

Suddenly furious traffic came up From the time I was a young child, I have found it easy to sleep during car rides. Do you? If not, what hinders you from falling asleep? Is it because you are...

Truth, love and obedience This study is the twenty-fifth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament (2 John – read in 1 minute and 24 seconds)  Look to yourselves, that we do not...

It ain’t over… Yogi Berra famously said, ‘It ain’t over ’til it’s over,’ in 1973, when the baseball team he managed, the New York Mets, was on the verge of being defeated in its effort...