January 2, 2018 - - Proverbs 2:1-9 The Treasure of the Bible

My son, if you receive my words,

And treasure my commands within you,

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,

And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,

And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver,

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,

And find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

8 He guards the paths of justice,

And preserves the way of His saints.

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,

Equity and every good path.

Proverbs 2 NKJV

"It was an outlawed book, a text so dangerous 'it could only be countered by the most vicious burnings, of books and men and women.

"What book could incite such violence and bloodshed?

"The year was 1526. It is the age of Henry VIII and his tragic Anne Boleyn, of Martin Luther and Thomas More. The times are treacherous. The Catholic Church controls almost every aspect of English life, including access to the very Word of God. And the church will do anything to keep it that way.

"Enter William Tyndale, the gifted, courageous "heretic" who dared to translate the Word of God into English. He worked in secret, in exile, in peril, always on the move."

Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice" D. Teems

back cover intro to the book

Think of it, the book that often gathers dust on our shelf is really explosive, dangerous and vital. Men died so that this book, the Bible, would be put into our hands in a language the average person could understand.

Proverbs teaches us this book is a hidden treasure, like silver. By reading this book one finds the pathway to wisdom, understanding and knowledge.

What better way to start this year than to recommit to daily Bible reading?! Say you miss a day or two? No worries, the book is still within reach and God is ready to reveal His glories to the one who sincerely searches for Him.

Thank You, Father in heaven, for the work of Your Spirit Who has preserved the Bible for each generation. Thank You, Father in heaven, that by Your Bible we learn of Your multitudes of mercies shown us in Jesus Christ. Forgive me for the times I have ignored the treasure You have given me. Forgive me for the times I have lightly scanned through the Bible just to check off one more thing on my "to do" list. By Your Spirit, lead me to the riches of wisdom, understanding and knowledge as I read the Word and stir in me a greater love and devotion to Jesus, my Saviour. Amen

January 1, 2018 -- Ephesians 5;15-16 Redeem the Time

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV

Happy New Year, one and all! May you delight in the blessings of our God and Father, Who has given us rich salvation in Jesus Christ and sealed us in His love by the Holy Spirit.

Many of us are no doubt waking up to the New Years resolutions we have made and wondering how long we will be able to keep them. Yesterday, Pastor Stephen Richardson gave a wonderful challenge for our congregation to "redeem the time."

Richardson noted when he was a child there were three categories used in his household to help determine whether or not an activity was to be pursued. First, it is allowed, by Scripture and family? Second, is it forbidden? Then it is clear, don't do it. Finally, for things that weren't clear cut a third question was asked: does it cause weaker brothers or sisters to stumble?

This passage added a new, important criterion for Richardson. Does it redeem the time? Since we were bought at the price of Jesus' precious blood, and we are called to declare the praises of HIm Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, is the activity we are engaging in using the time wisely?

Father of multitudes of mercies I confess how easily I foolishly use Your precious gift of time. Forgive my laziness and carelessness. In light of the soon-returning glory of Jesus' judgment and kingdom, inspire me by Your Spirit to redeem the time. Bring to mind a friend I can call. Embolden me to speak of eternal things. Draw me to read Your Word with renewed interest and passion. Let my life better reflect the glory of all the blessings I have received in Christ and the joyful anticipation I have for eternity in Your presence. Amen.

December 31, 2017 -- Psalm 5:7 Returning to the God of Many Mercies

But as for me, I will come into Your house

in the multitude of Your mercy;

In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.

Psalm 5:7 NKJV

When someone has wronged us, we are very likely to hold it over their heads. We stew over it. We think: "That so-and-so had better grovel if he wants me to forgive this!"

What a sharp and wondrous contrast the Psalmist paints of God's response to our rebellion and multitudes of wrongs. The LORD of Glory has multitudes of mercy, of forgiveness, of awaiting kindness--more than enough to cover all our wrongs and sins and rebellions against Him. In fact, all our sins have been punished and been borne by the Person of Jesus Christ. God sees us through Jesus.

No wonder the Psalmist experiences the fear of the LORD. This is utterly beyond our experience. No one in our world forgives so extravagantly! God our LORD alone is worthy of worship and praise.

Get to church today. Explore what it means that the One Who created You has also provided a way for you to get to know Him.

Lord of many mercies, when someone new comes to church today, help me to be welcoming. Lord of extravagant forgiveness, when someone who has offended me, enters church today, in view of the rich mercies poured out on me in Christ, let Your forgiveness flow from Your throne over me and that person so that in Christ we are reconciled. Spirit, stir up my friends and family members to end this year and begin the new by returning not just to church, but by returning to joyful relationship with You, the triune God. Amen.

December 30, 2017 -- Proverbs 30:32 Victory Shouts

If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,

Or if you have devised evil,

put your hand on your mouth.

Proverbs 30:32 NKJV

Recently during a show on terrifying, stinging, biting, and dangerous creatures there was included a brief (corny) montage of black and white horror films. When the scary monster, or creature, or thing appeared, inevitably the frightened person put her hand over her mouth and screamed in terror.

The proverb quoted above instructs us to put our hand over our mouth when we realize we have been prideful or have been devising evil. It the case of this proverb putting your hand on your mouth is a sign of the fear of the LORD. We are to be afraid of offending the Lord God of heaven by our foolish conduct and ungrateful hearts.

The holy fear of the LORD means:

His Name and reputation are so great we do not want to bring Him into disrepute by our words or actions;

The holy fear of the LORD means:

Our love for Him is so strong that when we realize our wrong-doing we clap our hand over our mouth because we have offended the One we love. More importantly, the One Who loves us is our very great shield and reward so we do not want to speak ill of Him or act against Him.

The holy fear of the LORD means:

we acknowledge all that Jesus, the Rock of our Salvation endured. He endured contempt and hatred and crucifixion and did so with His eyes fixed on the glory of His Father and in obedience to the Father's will He brought about the rescue of sinners (such as we all are) from the clutches of pride and evil.

Those who remember the 1993 World Series, will remember that it was the second year in a row that the Blue Jays won the championship. They beat the Philadelphia Phillies. You CAN NOT imagine a Blue Jays fan shouting and cheering for the Phillies, can you? When it is the bottom of the ninth and Joe Carter hits that home-run, there is no way you'd be yelling and shouting for the Phillies when you are in a sea of Jays fans!

So it is with us, as Christians, Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation, has hit it out of the park--He has rescued us. The game's final victory is assured. We do not shout and cheer for the losing team. Therefore we put a hand over our mouth when we find ourselves in the wrong and we confess it. We look to our King and shout in praise.

We praise You, O LORD!

Join in, little children, add your songs and shouts old men and families. For Jesus, You have won the greatest victory, the only competition that matters. You have shown the glory of our Father in heaven. Jesus, You have revealed the Father's patient mercy for lost sinners as at exactly the right moment in history, You publicly defeated the devil and disarmed the hosts of hell at the cross. All the claims of the devil against us have fallen to the ground the way to God is open. Blessed be Your Name, Spirit of the Living God for showing us this great salvation. Forgive me for the times I have wavered, or have admired the losing team. Give me the grace and courage to stand up for Jesus, even if the stadium around me is filled with fans for the losing team. Let my voice grow hoarse shouting Your praises, triune God! Amen.

December 29, 2017 - - Isaiah 55:8 True Knowledge

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8 NKJV

"...if all the beliefs, spiritualities and worldviews of this world are akin to blindfolded people all feeling a different part of an elephant and insisting that their description of what they feel is the true one--since one feels a tusk, another the trunk, another the tail etc.--then clearly all religions are in fact feeling the ONE divine truth, but from different perspectives. This would seem for some to establish the truth of religious pluralism or syncretism. But in what epistemic position [position of authority of knowing] does the teller of this story need to be? Clearly the religious syncretist believes he occupies a position of true objectivity, possessing absolute knowledge without any blindfolds on! As such, this approach to religion not only dashes to pieces the real and historical claims of biblical faith (and of other historical faiths) by relativizing them, but also presupposes an absolute, divine perspective on truth for the syncretist.

This pagan turn actually constitutes the basic claim of the West's humanistic religious pluralism--that man has a divine perspective because he is an aspect of the divine--and is implicit in all efforts at promoting religious syncretism which urge that we all "just get along" and frowns upon evangelism. Inherent in this religious faith is a shift of the locus of revelation and authority from God to man."

Joseph Boot "Gospel Witness: Defending and Extending the Kingdom of God" pages 137-138

In sharp contrast the by the words of the psalm-writer, the Living God declares:

But our God is in heaven;

He does whatever He pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold,

The work of men’s hands.

They have mouths, but they do not speak;

Eyes they have, but they do not see;

They have ears, but they do not hear;

Noses they have, but they do not smell;

They have hands, but they do not handle;

Feet they have, but they do not walk;

Nor do they mutter through their throat.

Those who make them are like them;

So is everyone who trusts in them.

Psalm 115:3-8 NKJV

You alone, God of Power and Glory, are Truth and teach Truth. Let my eyes see, ears hear, and mouth speak the wonderful news that You are God and in Christ have shown mercy to the people of this world who are hell-bent on rebellion against You. Spirit of God, break through the fortress of lies constructed by the forces of darkness which fills this age which seeks to guard people against hearing and knowing the Truth which can only be found in Jesus Christ. Bring into Your Kingdom many people set free from the tyranny of lies dominating this age. Thanks God, that Your Truth--Your Word--goes out and accomplishes the purpose for which You send it. Amen.

December 28, 2017 - - John 1:14 Discovery that changes everything

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 NKJV

Last night I was watching the news and Bob McDonald, the host of CBC's science program "Quirks and Quarks" gave his "top 5 stories of the year". One was the discovery of gravitational waves. Einstein had predicted these, but wasn't sure they'd ever be observed. In 2016 two collapsing black holes gave evidence of gravitational waves. And now, in 2017, this phenomena was observed again.

Bob McDonald's comment about this was so striking to me. It was something like this: "One discovery can change the way we view everything."

Indeed.

Jesus became flesh. The Very Glory of God became veiled in flesh and bore our sorrows. That is the history-shattering, science and philosophical upsetting, sociological and economic up-ending and artistic re-interpreting discovery that changes the way in which we view every single thing in this life and the life to come. Nothing will ever be the same. We cannot view anything in heaven, on earth, in the cosmos, or under the earth in the same way ever again. God in near. Those with the eyes of faith will see His glory.

Jesus, King of Glory, the carols are now fading and people are gearing up for New Year's Eve parties so I pray now more than ever, that the people around me will not have missed the greatest news story of history: Your Incarnation. Bring many friends and relatives, people near and far, to see Your glory. Amen.

December 26, 2017 - - I Chronicles 12:32 Understanding the times

from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;

I Chronicles 12:32 NIV

This incredible statement is part of a huge list of the army officers of King David. The list is long and there are very few footnotes or comments on the names and peoples in the list. So it is significant that the leaders of the tribe of Issachar should know the times, know what to do and know how to keep their relatives under their command. What a strong statement of faith and courage.

"It has been rightly said that the loves of a few men move the lives of many. The deeply-held convictions of a zealous minority, tenaciously pursued, are culturally formative--at times for good, and at times for ill."

Joseph Boot "Gospel Witness: Defending and Extending the Kingdom of God" page 1

A few men and a few tenacious women are controlling the culture in Canada and leading all of Canada into ever greater perversity and grossest rebellion against God. Christians today must be those who understand our godless times and are prepared to stand up for righteousness and justice as God reveals it in His Word and while doing so call their relatives (brothers and sisters in Christ in the same denomination as well as their family in Christ from different denominations) to serve under the command of Christ.

Now is not the time to huddle in small fortresses of churches and moan about how the culture is going to hell in handbasket, instead, it is time to stand up and protest the wrongs. It is time to speak for what is right. It is time to be prepared for battle for the sake of Christ the King.

"...we are not to take flight, but to fight in prayer for the courage we need to witness to the truth with boldness, as we ought to speak. We should be confident of being granted this grace, because the Lord Jesus reminds us of his total victory, "You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world" (John 16:33).

Joseph Boot, ibid, page 9

Lord Jesus Christ, born a child and yet a King, move Your people to stand up for what is right and good. Let us be, as the men of Issachar were of old, those with understanding of the times and as those having wisdom bound up with courage in order to act as salt and light in this culture for Your glorious Name. Amen.

December 19, 2017 - - Proverbs 19:27 and John 1:1-5 The (undeclared) faith of scientists

Cease listening to instruction, my son,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Proverbs 19:27 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:1-5 NKJV

Hmm, I have some questions for the people of this age.

Is the belief in millions or billions of years a religion? A foundational belief used to interpret all information and data?

Even if all the evidence ended up supporting whichever scientific theories best fitted Genesis, this would only show how clever the old Hebrews were in their use of common sense, or how lucky. It does not need to be explained by an unobservable God.

From "The Southern Skeptic" Autumn 1985, Vol. 2, no 5

This brief quotation shows that the belief of scum to man evolution and millions/billions of years is a faith claim, not a fact claim made by scientists who follow this.

Richard Dawkins, during a debate with Cardinal George Pell, was asked by the moderator what kind of proof would change his mind about God's existence. Dawkins indicated in his response that even if a "great big giant 900-foot-high Jesus...strode in and said, 'I exist. Here I am,' his mind still likely would not be changed.

From "The Lie: Evolution/Millions of Years" Ken Ham 25th Anniversary Edition, page 44

The leading figures promoting the lies of pond-scum to man story of evolution and that the universe is billions/millions of years old dismiss out of hand any possibility there is a god. Interesting. That is a faith claim. It is the foundational claim of their belief system.

As a Christian, who believes Genesis - Revelation, start to finish, all of the Bible is trustworthy because it is given to us from God I at least have the integrity to state my foundational faith position. The deceivers of this age, cloak their lies in "science" without admitting their faith position. No wonder many are being led astray and mired in lies.

All people live in the same universe, on the same planet, have the same observable things of creation, how one interprets it depends NOT on "neutral science" (as no one is ever neutral) but on the starting point of one's foundational faith claim.

I encourage you, reader, to consider the way in which our God is speaking to you today. This season, as you investigate the reason for the season, ask yourself, "Who do I trust?" and with that ask: "What is their foundational faith--either by the deceit of the devil dismissing out of hand God exists, or do they begin with a full-on trust in God, fueled by the Spirit of God Who reveals Jesus Christ as the centre point of history, the One for Whom and through Him and by Whom all things were made?"

You, LORD God, have established Your faithfulness in the heavens and creation itself testifies to You as her Creator and praises You as the One Who upholds the universe. Those who know You, walk in the light which shines from Your glorious face! Cause us, Spirit of God, to long for instruction and make us to realize we are hungry for true knowledge that has as its foundation an abiding trust in Jesus as King of this World. What man can live and not see death? All of creation and all peoples, of every nation, region, tribe and language will one day give an account of their life to You, Jesus. May Your Name be known now! May Your glory rise above us. Bring home wandering prodigal sons and daughters to bolder, fuller faith. Destroy the works of liars and the faithless, cast such thrones of deceit to the ground. Raise up Your lovingkindness and restore Your mercy to Your people. Amen.

Prayer uses words and phrases from Psalm 89

December 16, 2017 - - Job 38 Climate Change and Christian Faith

Have you seen the treasury of snow,

Or have you seen the treasury of hail,

Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,

For the day of battle and war?

Has the rain a father?

Or who has begotten drops of dew?

From whose womb comes the ice?

And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?

The waters harden like stone,

And the surface of the deep is frozen.

Job 38:22-24, 28-31 NKJV

Hmm, I have some questions for the people of this age.

So many people are wringing their hands about climate change. It is the money pit of our age, the "hot" conference topic for world leaders.

Hasn't the climate ALWAYS changed? Digs in the deserts across Africa show these used to be lush with growth. What about ice ages?

The Bible shows us that Job was familiar with the ice age. Normally the Middle East did not have ice and snow. Those who believe in a young earth, like I do, understand that God created the heavens and the earth. There was a world-wide flood around 2354 BC (as the Jewish Calendar names it 1656 anno mundi or am. Anno Mundi means year of the world, it references creation which was the start, about 4010 BC by our reckoning.) This flood created the ideal conditions for an ice age. Young earth creationists think this ice-age (in fact the only ice age our planet endured) lasted less than 1,000 years.

This ice age, written about here in Job and other places in the Bible, point to the fact that God is in charge of our planet, the cataclysms of history and also the climax of history which will be when Jesus is revealed to all the earth as the Savior of Mankind and the Just Judge of the living and the dead.

Does this mean Christians should not be concerned about pollution--garbage, waste, emissions from cars and factories etc? Not at all. Christians are stewards of the planet. Christians must work to care for creation. It does mean, however, that human should not be so filled with ourselves that we think we are in charge of all that happens in climate change because of our actions. We can make regional differences.

Remember your history, in the UK London-during the time of the industrial revolution-used to have pea-soup fogs and accompanying these were the soot and slime of pollution. As manufacturing processes were better regulated, the fogs and the soot slime that accompanied it were greatly reduced.

All the speculations about climate change and mankind's influence on it are distractions. Our truest and most important purpose is to love God and love the people He has put into our lives as we live in obedience to His Word. This is the most important work of our times.

Your Word, O God, teaches us that those who rule their spirit, who govern their thoughts and actions, are better than those who are mighty. In fact, it is a tribute to the powerful work of the Spirit in the life of believers when the followers of Jesus turn from perversity and evil teachings of this present dark age and instead live in faith-filled trust and obedience to You. Renew in us, O God, the commitment to the Great Commission. As Christian communities are planted near and far let there be a deepened commitment to caring for others and living as good stewards of this planet all for the glory and honour of Your great and awesome Name. Amen.

December 15, 2017 - - I Chronicles 27:30-31 Humble Service

and Jaziz the Hagrite was over the flocks. All these were the officials over KIng David's property.

Also Jehonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons.

I Chronicles 27:31-32 NKJV

When reading through the Bible, you'll probably come across a few difficult verses, or paragraphs, or even whole chapters. For me the hard-to-slog-through portion was yesterday's reading: a series of very-difficult-to-pronounce-names all of whom were King David's officials, these four chapters--I Chronicles 23-27.

Ever see TV credits or movie credits? My nephew, Charles, is a regular on Murdoch Mysteries and his cousins love to point out his name in credits. They do this to prove to their peers that Charles is in fact a TV personality with cred.

Reflecting on this made me realize something. The men in King David's service, and their families, no doubt were so honoured to be named among David's wise counselors, providers of service and blessing to the King's household. Their families probably joyfully pointed out to others, "Hey, Jaziz is my nephew! He is now the chief shepherd over King David's flocks. Yes! The very man who himself used to be a famous shepherd."

More importantly even than their families' accolades and recognition, these men and their various forms of service (which may seem such a hard list for us to endure) are known to the Living God. He has appointed some for mighty service and others for humble service. (God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another. Psalm 75:7)

Today, do not be discouraged if your work is not noticed by your peers, the LORD sees. Do not lose heart for service if your family does not see what you are doing in love for them, the LORD knows and blesses. When your hands are employed in volunteering and it seems an endless and thankless task, do not lose heart. Today, understand, obedience to Jesus Christ means that sometimes God exalts a person in His service and allows for the recognition of the community; other times He puts one into humbler service or circumstances, knowing what egos and souls need for His purposes.

Fellow believers, no matter where you serve, you are known to God. Beloved of God strengthened by His Spirit you are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. The greatest joy for us is to know our names are written in the lists of Lamb's Book of Life; whether or not we are known to others, we are daughters and sons of God, co-heirs with Jesus, to the honour and glory of God our King.

Forgive the times we have been found grumbling in Your service, O King of Glory. Thank You for the gifts and the talents which Your Spirit pours out on believers so that it is a joy to serve for Your glory. Renew our commitment this day so that we will serve You aware of the reputation of Jesus Christ and longing to add to the greater renown of Your Name. Amen.

December 14, 2017 - - Mark 9:2-4 Transfiguration and Human Understanding

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.

His clothes became shining, exceedingly white,

like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Mark 9:2-4 NKJV

Have you ever pulled on a loose thread dangling from your clothing only to find that pulling it caused more problems? Consider these lyrics

"If you want to destroy my sweater

Hold this thread as I walk away

Watch me unravel, I'll soon be naked

Lying on the floor (lying on the floor)

I've come undone."

— Weezer, "Undone (The Sweater Song)"

Now consider what is happening in the Bible the text above. Jesus met on the mountain top with Elijah (who represented the prophets) and Moses (who represents the Law based on God's covenant faithfulness from creation, through the Exodus to the Promised Land). His glory, already hinted at the prophets and the law, is now revealed and Scripture pictures His glory ever increasing for those who are beginning to perceive Who He Is. His glory is also revealing the great glory of the Father.

If you pull a thread of teaching from the Old Testament and disregard it, then you'll see the unity of the Bible unravel. Ignore the literal six day creation and Exodus 20 makes no sense, nor does Jesus' teaching on the Sabbath (Matthew 12, Mark 2 et al).

If you pull on the thread of Adam and Eve, as our first parents, uniquely created, then you see the teaching on marriage unravel (as it is in our times), you'll believe in evolution and accommodate godless "science" which is historical science, not operational (measurements and repeatable, observable experiments) science. And life is no longer valuable: evolution does not teach man made in the image of God, but as the product of time and endless death. Lose the historical Adam and there is no need for the final Adam, Jesus (Romans 5).

Of course "science" and all other fields of human searching for knowledge have made many, many adjustments and course corrections. For example, it is interesting to me that Math has five axioms that are unprovable, but are taken as the foundation of mathematics. One of them, has to do with triangles. All triangles, when you add up their three sides, have 180 degrees. Except when you are dealing with curves; suddenly triangles have three sides that equal more than 180 degrees (consider that our earth is a globe with a curved surface!) Consider how many variables that have not even been considered yet, let alone calculated. One simple variable changes everything. This beautifully, complex creation requires the revelation which the Spirit of God can show us, He Who knows the deep things of God and shows them to the believing heart.

Science, math, philosophy, all human knowledge in fact is always a work in progress because there is so much that is not known and new information can make everything else obsolete. Only the Word of the Lord, the Bible is utterly trustworthy as it the Truth given by Him Who is infinite in power and knowledge and is the source of all Truth.

It is sad that many Christians willingly pull on the sweater of their faith, while vehemently refusing to consider pulling at the accommodations they have made in order to hold to their tattered, cherished views on evolution or whatever other human views are current. What is stranger still is that Christians, who are so divided and illogical in their thinking, are surprised that their children cannot see the value of holding onto the nakedness of their parents' unraveling faith and abandon it for the very teachings which compromised the Christian faith.

We confess with Paul, O God, "let God be true and every man a liar!" With the Psalmist we declare "Against You, You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight--that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge." In the tangled cords of human reasonings and rebellious ideas which would strive to define You out of Your own universe, help me to hold ever closer to Your Word. You alone, oh Jesus, are the Light of the World. By Your Spirit continually teach me and cause me to live in confident, obedient faith. Amen.

Prayer includes quotations from Romans 3:4 and Psalm 51:4)

December 12, 2017 - - Hebrews 13:16 Care in January as well as December

But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 13:16 NKJV

This is the season where many people share: giving to Kettle Campaigns, Food Banks, and various other charitable causes. That is wonderful. Remember that January can be especially hard for people. Many people have empty wallets and Christmas bills coming due. Planning now to be generous in January is one way of blessing God and blessing the people around you.

God has richly blessed us. He has given us life in Jesus Christ. He has given us family, friends, homes, food, freedom to worship and so much more! Let Him be praised and pleased by the return we make out of the abundance He has given us.

Thank You, God our Father, for all the rich blessings You give.

Help us to live with a view of praising You and caring for those around us. Amen.

December 11, 2017 - - Psalm 50:15-21

15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

16 But to the wicked God says:

“What right have you to declare My statutes,

Or take My covenant in your mouth,

17 Seeing you hate instruction

And cast My words behind you?

18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him,

And have been a partaker with adulterers.

19 You give your mouth to evil,

And your tongue frames deceit.

20 You sit and speak against your brother;

You slander your own mother’s son.

21 These things you have done, and I kept silent;

You thought that I was altogether like you;

But I will rebuke you,

And set them in order before your eyes.

Psalm 50 NKJV

What a glorious promise and stark warnings we find in these few verses. We can call on God in our day of trouble and God will deliver His people. He has done so perfectly in Jesus Christ. Our sins have been punished upon Jesus and we have received His righteousness.

Then the warning: those call on God for deliverance are to glorify God--giving thanks for what He has done and turn from sin. When God delivers His people He has the right to demand that we walk away from those who call us to sin and from adulterers and gossips. Indeed, if we keep on sinning after having received God's deliverance we will receive His rebuke.

Walk in close company with fellow Christians. Encourage one another to turn from sin. It is easier to walk in the right ways when you have a friend holding you accountable. Read the Bible. Ask yourself--how has God answered my prayers? What are the blessings I have received for which I need to give Him thanks?

God, You are the Mighty One.

You have shown Your glory and Your help in the midst of the tempests of our lives.

Thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ.

Thank You for a new day.

Thank You for fellow Christians who are praying for me.

Thank You for food, shelter, clothing

and purposefulness in my days.

Thank You for Your Spirit

Who teaches me to walk in the way of joyful obedience.

In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

December 10, 2017 - - What or Who is guiding you?

For this is God,

Our God forever and ever;

He will be our guide

Even to death.

Psalm 48:14 NKJV

What is the first thing you pick up in the morning? The newspaper? The cell phone to check for texts? Coffee and some gaming? TV remote? Twitter? FB newsfeed? Crosswords?

It is obvious to me that the writer of this Psalm begins and ends the day in contemplation of the Greatness of God. Even life itself begins and ends with instruction from the LORD, the Great Sovereign over nations and creation, the vast cosmos and the mighty ranks of angels, all the events of history and the individual human heart.

Consider this: if you would live life fully and have a good death, pick up your relationship with the Living God, each day. Read the Bible. Pray. Ask His help so that you can live blessing His Name, obedient to Him, facing life's sorrows and joys. He alone is the right guide for living life to fullest measure.

Take hold of my heart and my schedule, God my Guide. Be my best thought by day or by night, so that my life is lived under the shadow of the throne of Jesus, my brother, my Savior and my King. Amen.

December 9, 2017 -- I Corinthians 14:8 Trumpet call of Truth

For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound,

who will prepare for battle?

I Corinthians 14: NKJV

While reading "Six Days: The age of the Earth and the Decline of the Church" by Ken Ham, I was reminded of this wonderful verse and its clear implications for us as Christians. As Christians we take the Bible to be our foundation and starting point for every part of life. Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Death entered creation and humanity needed a Savior. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World--fully human and fully God. In His humanity He took in Himself the punishment for our sins, in His divinity He bore the full weight of God's wrath. Jesus' perfection is now ours.

If death and predation and cancer and murder were all part of the creation before the Garden of Eden, then what is God restoring? What a bleak future--death and cancer and sin like there was in Eden. No, the Church must raise the clear battle cry, sin and death entered creation by Adam's fall. Therefore we need a Savior. Therefore, all who believe in Jesus Christ look forward to the joy of a new heaven and a new earth, a restored Eden, where sin and death, predation and illness are forever put away with and are no more!

Evolution is a lie. A church member who sounds this trumpet note makes an uncertain noise.

Billions of years makes no sense. Believers who try to hold to God's Word and the human lie of billions of years squawk with the trumpet, but make no sense.

All the moral quandaries of this age can be traced to the discordant trumpet of confused Christians.

The trumpet can only be sounded by Christians who believe Genesis to Revelation as the Truth of God. Such Christians make a clarion call for battle against the lies of our age. We know that God's blessing flows far as the curse is found because Jesus Christ, the One promised in Genesis 3, is the answer to the world's need and evidence of God's glory.

Blessed be Your Name, LORD God Almighty!

Prepare Your preachers to sound the trumpet with clarity, reading from the pages of Truth in God's Word. Each and every Sunday may Your missionaries and preachers, Your evangelist and church planters boldly speak the Truth that is found in Jesus alone. Raise up a generation of believers who speak truth to the powers of darkness in this age. Let Your glory shine, O God, this Christmas season and beyond. Amen

December 8, 2017 - - Ephesians 5:1 Resemblance

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

Ephesians 5:1 NKJV

Recently my aunt looked at me and said: "You are looking more and more like your grandfather."

Now, understand that I loved my paternal grandfather very much. He is the only one of my grandparents that I ever got to know. He was always kind to me.

However I remember him as very heavy-set, and he always had his pants up to his armpits (that is how I remembered him when I was young) and was bald. Oh yeah, if it was even just one minute after 12 noon, then he would have a cigar (one of two Dutch brands: Ritmeester, or Witte Os) clenched between his teeth.

My cousin, intuitively noted that I was processing this and wondering how much of a compliment it might be, prompted her mother to amend that statement by adding something like: "And he was handsome."

My aunt pursed her lips in a mix of a grimace and a flicker of a smile.

I quickly took that in, turned to my cousin, and jokingly said: "My aunt can't lie, it isn't in her."

We all laughed.

Still, an important truth emerges. It is my desire to be recognized as a dear child of my Father in heaven. It is my desire that people who see me or hear me speak will say: "You must belong to God as His child."

Spirit of the Living God teach me the way of Christ my King. Spirit, empower my obedience to Jesus and the Bible so that it may be evident to all that I am a child of my Father in heaven. Amen.

December 7, 2017 - - Isaiah 60:1-2 Jesus Light of the World

Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

For behold darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the LORD will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1-2 NKJV

For with You is the fountain of life;

In Your light we see light.

Psalm 36:9 NKJV

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

John 8:12 NKJV

On Christmas Eve in 1818

A blizzard stranded the tiny village of Ogledorf

Nestled in the Austrian mountains

That same day the people of St. Nicholas' church found their organ broken

So the priest and organist began composing a song that could be sung without

An organ yet beautiful enough to express their Christmas joy

All day and all night long they worked

And at midnight the gentle carol Silent Night was born

The pure clear tones echoed through the hills

And the world has been captured by the beauty of that simple song ever since.

Silent Night Holy Night

All is calm All is bright

Round yon virgin

Mother and child

Holy infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!

Son of God love's pure light.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus, Light of the World, pierce the darkness of sin and gloom. Jesus, Lord and King, let Your Spirit lead us by the light of the Bible and Your shining example.

Jesus, break the power of sin and bring redeeming grace.

Amen.

December 5, 2017 Luke 24:46-48 New Life and Suffering

Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things."

Luke 24:46-48 NKJV

"If you yield to Satan in the least, he will carry you further and further, till he has left you under a stupefied or terrified conscience: stupefied, till thou hast lost all thy tenderness. A stone at the top of a hill, when it begins to roll down, ceases not till it comes to the bottom. Thou thinkest it is but yielding a little, and so by degrees are carried on, till thou hast sinned away all thy profession, and all principles of conscience, by the secret witchery of his temptations."

- Thomas Manton

We suffer for the Name and reputation of Jesus. We will not yield to temptations and sins, nor begin down a pathway that will lead to destruction.

Knowing Jesus and knowing the strength His Spirit gives us to lead holy lives, we declare His goodness and the freedom found in His Name alone to all the world. Begin at home: keep your appointed times with Jesus in bible reading and prayer. Speak at work of your faith and hope in Jesus. Tell of His greatness when you gather with neighbours. There is no greater topic of conversation than sharing the Good News of Jesus.

Jesus, re-awaken my conscience and soften my heart to the plight of others. Forgiveness my stubborn unwillingness to endure suffering for Your Name's sake. All around me people are marching towards an eternity of torment and hell. Break my heart with grief and renew the urgency of soul to speak to them and call them back from the abyss. Spirit of God as I live with my eyes fixed firmly on Jesus, help me then to declare the forgiveness of sins He brings and share the glorious vision of new life as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. Amen.

December 3, 2017 - - Matthew 16:24-28 Following Jesus

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV

To deny oneself and take up the cross and follow Jesus daily means total commitment to the Savior: our obedience, our time, our finances, our family and our work life all submitted to Him.

If you want to know what people think of church,

go to the morning worship service.

If you want to know what people think of the pastor,

go to the evening worship service.

If you want to know what people think of God,

go to the midweek prayer meeting.

The midweek prayer meeting is the most sparsely attended meeting of the church.

What an indictment this is against our age!

We chose our hobbies, recreation, and sports first and give God the left-overs.

If we prize our life more than we honour His,

we are not disciples of Christ.

~Some notes from the Rev. Stephen Richardson's 12/3/17 sermon on Matthew 16:24-28

Fill me, Spirit of God, to overflowing measure. Reorient all my thinking and my actions so my whole being is directed in obedience to Jesus Christ for the glory of the Father. Amen.

December 3, 2017 - - John 8 Jesus the Truth in a world of lies

Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

John 8:28-32; 42-45 NKJV

Here is a good example of why I don't trust the words of scientists and biologists, philosophers and theologians, astronomers and geologists unless they first have submitted their hearts and their studies to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. More than this even such leaders in academia and professors in seminary and preachers must also, before they can be considered fully trustworthy, have as their worldview that God created the heavens and the earth, out of nothing, in 6 days, and rested the seventh. It was good. There was no death nor cancer, no predation or disease before Adam rebelled against God. Adam rebelled against God and sinned. Therefore God alone is the source of Truth. He provides access to His Truth shown most clearly in Jesus Christ, and God preserves access to Truth by His Word--the Bible--and Spirit. The Spirit of God, with Jesus as the touchstone and Word help us make sense of the cosmos and they alone can guide us in a world steeped in lies and deception:

Robert Trivers, professor of anthropology and biological sciences at Rutgers University (USA), told "New Scientist" that we need a better evolutionary understanding of deceit and self-deception. His thesis is that lying benefits us ("If you're going to steal, you've got to lie to cover it up"), and that we are better able to deceive others if we can deceive ourselves into believing that what we are saying is true ("to render the lie unconscious, the better to hide it").

When asked if he himself is a self-deceiver, Trivers admitted that "I have been remarkable unsuccessful at fighting my own self-deception", but hastily added: "though my professional life as a scientists, I feel that I probably practice less self-deception."

When the New Scientist interviewer logically pointed out that "You could be deceiving yourself about that", Trivers responded, "Absolutely".

"Don't believe everything you think, "New Scientist" 212(2833):32-33, 8 October 2011

Today go to a church where the preacher believes Jesus first and more than all the noises of the world. Today, admit your own self-deceptions and lies about how well you are doing without having God firmly in control of your life.

Get spiritually fit. Get to a Bible believing church. Ask a friend to go with you. Go to a church of a co-worker whose faith you admire. Let God direct you in all truth.

Today, God of Truth, direct my steps and motivate me into action. With Your help, bring me to a church where You are praised. In the light of Jesus, Who is Truth, let me see Your Light and better understand this world's need (and my great need) for You. Amen.