May 14, 2018 - - Acts 4:11-12 Jesus the Only Way to God

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:11-12 ESV

In our world it is common to consider Jesus a great moral teacher. He is considered to be one among many great leaders this world has produced. He is one way to God. For those who believe the Bible, this claim doesn't stand up. Jesus is the Only Saviour, the Only way to God.

Yesterday, our guest preacher, Rev. Chad Vandixhoorn gave four crystal clear reasons to hold this biblical claim: Jesus alone is the only Saviour, the Only Way to God.

1. Remember to diminish the claims of Christ you have to deny all the Bible.

2. Remember to diminish the claims of Christ you must deny the Great Commission

   (Matthew 28:19-20).

3. Remember to diminish the claims of Christ means you yourself have no salvation.

4. Remember to diminish the claims of Christ in order to make yourself more comfortable

    before your peers means you are denying Jesus as Peter did in the courtyard.

Spirit of the Living God, lead me

     to love Jesus more dearly

     to follow Him more nearly

     and to declare His Name clearly.

Blessed be Your Name Father, Source of all Good.

Blessed be Your Name Jesus, our Salvation.

Blessed be Your Name Spirit of God, Revealer of Truth.

Amen.

May 12, 2018 - - Mark 6:31 A Strong Warning to Preachers

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Mark 6:31 KJV

This is particularly for preachers and for the leaders and congregations caring for them and praying for them!

In the midst of a long, unbroken stretch of labour the same affliction may be looked for (affliction of mind and body, exhaustion) as the bow cannot always be bent without fear of breaking it, repose is as needful to the mind as sleep to the body. Our Sabbaths, the LORD’s Days are days of toil, and if we do not rest upon another day we shall break down. Even the earth must rest lie fallow and rest and have her Sabbaths and so must we. Hence the wisdom and compassion of our Lord when He said to His disciples ‘Let us go into the desert and rest awhile.’ What?! When the people are fainting? When they are like sheep up upon the mountains without a shepherd? Does Jesus talk of rest? When Scribes and Pharisees like grievous wolves are rending the flock—does He take His followers on an excursion to a great resting place? Does some red hot zealot denounce such atrocious forgetfulness of present and pressing demands? Let him rave on in his folly. The Master knows better than to exhaust His servants and to quench the Light of Israel. Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength…”

from: Spurgeon "Lectures to His Students"

Perhaps the worship times in many denominations have collapsed into merely one a Sunday, down from three or two a Sunday, because preachers, ignoring the warning to rest are too exhausted and lacking the blessing of rest cannot gather the strength needed to prepare two or three excellent sermons a week. No wonder congregations rail against two services as they are munching dry straw in one sermon as it is.

May the LORD refresh His preachers.

May the LORD call His people to pray for their preachers and call them to account in terms of rest and refreshment, so that they can gather strength for the critical work of preaching.

May 2, 2018 - - Mark 6:31 Jesus' care for the whole person

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Mark 6:31 KJV

What tenderness our Savior Jesus showed to His disciples. He mentored them with great care, and here we see His concern for their physical well-being. As Christians we are called to develop our whole person: mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional.

Vance Abner has this wonderful, insightful saying:

             If you don't come apart for a while

                   you will come apart.

Al Martin, typical of his dry witty style, in his lectures on the physical and emotional health and vigor of pastors (and Christians) cautions:

            Some lazy hireling may use what I have said as justification

            to become a ministerial hedonist, an ecclesiastical sluggard

            and a clerical parasite. But this is his abuse of what I have said.

King Jesus, Captain of Salvation, thank You for the biblical witness to Your care for the soldiers under Your leadership. Direct us, by Your Word and Holy Spirit, to live for You as we grow in mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. Thank You, Father in Heaven, that You have knit us together in such a way that we can experience healing and restoration in areas where we have not been faithful in caring for ourselves. As Your faithful soldiers of the cross, Jesus, help us as believers to care for one another in every area of well-being. Amen.

May 1, 2018 - - Luke 1:76-78a The person forgiveness reveals.

And you, child,

will be called the prophet of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to his people

in the forgiveness of their sins

because of the tender mercies of our God...

Luke 1:76-78a

Sometimes you can read a passage over and over again and not see something significant in it; and on another reading of it, something will strike you in a new and fresh way. That happened with me today. I have read this passage from Luke so many times. It is the song of praise of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was the last Old Testament prophet before Jesus would make Himself known.

What would be the clear revelation of Jesus? What would prepare people to receive the Messiah, known as Jesus the Saviour? It would be in the fact that John preaches forgiveness.

It says in Proverbs 18:19

"A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,

and quarreling is like the bars of a castle."

We have all seen it: the folding of the arms, the tightening of the lines around the mouth, the eyebrows gathering in wrinkling wrath and a heart that becomes hard like a stone. This is what an offense does.

The Most High God has opened the only way to forgiveness. On the person of Jesus all our sins have been punished. There is no outstanding debt among believers, but the on-going debt to love. It is in forgiveness, offered and received, that the world sees Jesus Christ most clearly and beautifully.

God of Tender Mercies, I confess I have often crossed my arms and hardened my heart against offenses real and imagined. Forgive me, O God. Blessed be Your Name, Jesus, as it is in Your Name forgiveness is received and applied. Spirit of God, melt my hard-heart and open my arms in the embrace of forgiveness so that the world will see the glory of Jesus Christ to the honour and praise of our Father in Heaven! Amen.

April 30, 2018 - - I Corinthians 4:4

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

I Corinthians 4:4

A defiled conscience will take away all your joy in the Word of God. There are two sins in particular which steal the joy of reading the Word and mar our relationship with God: pride, which keeps us from humble confession; secret delight in sin.

The apostle Paul, guided by the Holy Ghost, wrote these words of our text. He examined his heart and was prepared to confess anything and everything so that his walk with God would be pure and joy-filled.

God has revealed Himself in Jesus by the Spirit and the Good News of the Bible which has been made precious to you. The only reason God chose you--He Who already knew all our sins (we are often surprised by our sinfulness and what we are capable of)--He knew it all and loved us. It is not the people who think they are fine and pretty good whom God calls to Himself, it is people who are aware of the stench of their sins and the foulness of their lives, to them He gives the Saviour Who alone takes away the stain and stench of sin.

Those who have experience the wonder of God's cleansing are the very ones who can say: "I am not aware of anything against myself". Our conscience is clear before God and others because we confess our sins to God and confess our wrong-doings against those to whom we have committed them.

God, Judge of all, it is so easy to pray the Lord's Prayer and not really say it with conviction. By memory we pray "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" all the while harboring bitter memories of all the wrongs committed against us. Open our hearts, O King of Mercy, to confess our sins to You and to one another. Humble us, God before Whom no one is pure, so that in confession and forgiveness we may find real and deep community with You and each other. Jesus the Word promises You break down the dividing walls of hostility; walk among us and accomplish that great work! Amen.

April 28, 2018 - - Psalm 1:1-2 What is the purpose of Bible-reading and prayer?

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2 ESV

As Christians we are called to read the Word of God and to think it over, chew on it mentally, let it have its effect on our minds, our actions and our very soul. Pray Holy Scripture back to God. Thank Him for the riches of the Holy Scripture and the profound help and guidance He gives us through it.

Consider these incisive words from Al Martin:

devotional assimilation and exercise of prayer

must find concrete expression in an increasing

ethical conformity to the will of God, if not

they [devotions and prayer] have degenerated

into mystical thumb-sucking...you're having a

spiritual experience that makes you feel good

but does not make you a better man for it.

O LORD my God, thank You for opening the gates of heaven through the work of Jesus Christ. Thank You for the riches of Holy Scripture and the gift of prayer. Spirit of the Living God, bring believers to their knees in meditation, wonder and praise. As You have purposed, O God, let the Holy Scriptures and our prayerful meditation on it change us from the inside out so that our will and our works conform more and more to Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation and the joy of our soul. Amen.

April 27, 2018 - - Psalm 138:2 What has God exalted above all things?

I will bow down toward your holy temple

and give thanks to your name

for your steadfast love and faithfulness,

for you have exalted above all things

your name and your word.

Psalm 138:2 ESV

As far as sports go, it is an interesting time of year. Hockey teams are vying for the Stanley Cup (sorry Leafs, next year?!). Soccer is on. Basketball. Baseball has started. And so on, and so on. Each team is pushing for the trophy of its league and the honour which accompanies it. There are parades and ceremonies and people striving to touch or kiss the coveted trophy held up by the winning team.

Yet, the Bible gives an entirely different view of what is precious and praiseworthy. Above all honours, all ticker tape parades, all things--God has exalted the Name of Jesus and God has exalted His Word--the Holy Scripture.

Jesus has the highest honours as the One Who lived a sinless life, perfect in every way. He endured torment and suffering unimaginable and remained obedient to His Father. In His suffering Jesus took our place, bearing God's curse against sin, so that all who believe in Jesus are set free from God's curse against sin.

The Word, Holy Scripture, is exalted because it is the only, true, reliable witness to the finished work of Jesus.

Think about it for a minute. If you had the Stanley Cup in your house, you'd take every opportunity to boast, shout about it, and tell all your friends. You have something dearer, greater, costlier: the Word of God. Declare the greatness of the Word. Tell everyone about the Name of Jesus--the only Name by which men, women and children are saved from the curse of death and hell and raised to new life.

Blessed be Your Name, Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You, Father in heaven, for revealing to the world Your extravagant love, displayed with such splendour in Jesus Christ and documented in Holy Scripture. Spirit of the Living God, nurture in all believers an ever greater love and esteem and reverence for Jesus and His Word. Steady the steps of believers so that we turn from sin, repenting of evil and with all joy and humble obedience walk in the way of Holy Scripture to the honour and glory of Jesus' Name. Amen.

April 26 - - Matthew 6:6 Brief Instruction on Prayer

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father in heaven who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:6 ESV

Prayer is to be exercises at set times each day. It is to be a holy habit that we guard zealously.

This nugget of wisdom was recently given to me:

          "He who prays alone on impulse

          will soon have no impulse to pray."

Father, Rewarder of those who seek You, send us Your Spirit so that we will be drawn to faithful prayer. Father of mercy, grant us a greater intimacy with Jesus Christ, in Whose Name we are called "sons" and "daughters" of the Most High God. Amen.

April 25, 2018 - - Ephesians 6:18 Prayer

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints

Ephesians 6:18 ESV

In reflecting on these words, Elder Al Martin noted:

     It is amazing what God can do with a man

     of relatively limited gifts

     who is filled with faith and

     with the Holy Ghost and prayer.

There is no other way to succeed in the work of God, other than to pray. Pray not just when you feel like it but when you hit your limit, when you hit the wall and do not feel inspired anymore: pray earnestly. The second word for prayer in the passage is: supplication. That means to beg--repeatedly and urgently. Whatever it is that the Holy Ghost has put on your heart, pray for it and keep asking.

God Who hears the prayers of His people, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Ghost. Thank You that Your Spirit prompts us to pray, giving us a passion for people and situations where prayers are urgently needed. Forgive our laziness in praying. Forgive the times we go channel surfing instead of going to our knees. Thank You, for the fact that You hear our prayers because of the accomplished work of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our King. Give us faith to see Your answers to our prayers. And seeing such answers may our hearts magnify Your Name and our lips praise You. Amen.

April 23, 2018 - - Psalm 119:25

My soul clings to the dust;

Give me life according to your word!

Psalm 119:25 ESV

Have you ever taken a swimming course that teaches you how to help a drowning man? The first thing to be cautious of is the fact this man, in his great distress and anxiety, will pull you down with him. You must be strong enough and wise enough to help and rescue him.

Without God we are drowning in the depths of the grave. Our very soul clings to the things which bring us death, not life. As a society we cling to death, for example: the murder of pre-born children is called: abortion, or "pro-choice". Putting to death the aged among us is re-named: "mercy killing" or "euthanasia". Individually, we lose our moorings and get entangled in destructive patterns of behaviour from which we cannot rescue ourselves. The more we try, the more we realize it is hopeless.

The Bible teaches us that Adam was created out of the dust of the earth. God Himself formed Adam and breathed life into his nostrils. Originally Adam was created to be without sin. Adam and his wife Eve, rebelled against God and chose sin. They chose uncreation and death--clinging to the dust from which they were formed.

This Psalmist is referring to Adam and Eve's choice for death. God in His mercy did not put them to death, but promised the sinless One, Jesus, would bear the punishment for our sin.

As dead dust, rebelling against God and drowning, it is Spirit of God Who revives us, He breathes life into us. Our former patterns of sin and rebellion against God are ended and the Word of God lifts us up to the path of life. As those who were formerly drowning, clinging to the dust, we are now compassionate to those who are clinging to the ways of death and drowning in the grave. We speak the promise of this passage and our own experience: Life is found in Jesus Christ--the Word of God.

God of Mercy and Extravagant Kindness, thank You for the rescue You have given in Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your Spirit given so that sinners can clearly see the difference between drowning in the patterns of evil and sin versus the rescue into new life You give in Jesus. Arm us, as those rescued in Jesus who are now living men and women, with the life-ring of the Bible so that with great love and tender compassion we can help others who are drowning. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

April 22, 2018 - - Luke 13:10-11

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.

Luke 13:10-11 ESV

This is a text I have posted before. It is so powerful to read. This woman did not let her real, painful, physical condition keep her from worship. It moves me, as one who struggles with depression. There are many times I just don't want to see people. Crowds overwhelm me. I am afraid to answer the simple question: how are you today? All I want to do is stay in bed, in a darkened room, listlessly. But this passage inspires me.

Before she knew Jesus would be there at worship, she was prepared to go to worship God her Father.

Before she knew Jesus would heal her, she had determined the most important thing in her life was to praise God, no matter the cost.

Before she knew Jesus would show His great compassion, rather than offering her body as an instrument of unrighteousness, despair, she offered her broken body as an instrument of righteousness unto God.

As each Sabbath approached, for the eighteen years prior to this one, she had prepared the day before so that she would get herself to the Synagogue, doing so with no other purpose than bringing to God the honour due His Name.

Forgive me Father in heaven, for the paucity of my faith. Forgive me Father in heaven for the times I will succumb to whatever struggle I have rather than taking the time to submit my struggle to You in the context of worship. Whether or not You heal me mentally or physically, You are great and the Source of all good. I know that in Jesus Christ, I have the greatest healing imaginable--my sins are forgiven. I know, not I feel, but I stretch out my heart and mind to know by the promise of Your Holy Scripture that the Spirit is the guarantee of my eternal inheritance until I take possession of it, to the praise of His glory. Thank You for the example of the saints who have gone before, whose faith inspires me to hold onto Your promises, of Faithful God. At the same time, help me, this Sunday, to attend church with an ever greater awareness that there are others around me who will present themselves well, but are likely struggling with pains I know nothing about. Blessed be Your Name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

April 20, 2018 - - II Corinthians 6:16,18; 7:1 God's Great Promises

I will make my dwelling among them

and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

...and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the LORD Almighty.

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

II Corinthians 6:16,18; 7:1 ESV

He Who spoke creation into being,

He will live among His people.

He Who gives breath to every living creature,

He is our God.

He Who created the whale and elephant, microbe and mouse,

He is our Father.

The Psalmist exclaims (103:12):

"as far as the east is from the west,

so far does He remove our transgressions from us"

That means, in Jesus Christ, our wrong-doing, our sins, our willful rebellion against God is forgiven!

What incentive we have to cleanse ourselves from sin. What glory is in view, stripping ourselves of old sins and patterns that hinder such sweet communion with God. As family in Christ, we encourage one another with this view--running from sin we flee into the open arms of our Father in heaven. Where one sister is stumbling or another brother has fallen, we pick them up and encourage them and supporting them as we go to the arms of Him Who loves us.

The brightness of this passage is almost too intense for us, too great for our imagining, Father of Mercy. It is easier to see the stains of our sins and the blotches colouring all our thoughts and actions rather than contemplate the majesty of Your promises. Spirit of God, renew our faith so that we will be lifted up to hope and greater faith in Jesus Christ. Let us walk, no run, towards to blessedness pictured here today. Free us from every sin that entangles us and every weight that hinders us and let us, together, set our course to greater intimacy with God. Amen

April 19, 2018 - - I Corinthians 1:2-3 The path to peace

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those in every place who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and

the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 1:2-3 ESV

It is easy to rush past these powerful words. It is helpful to know something about the people of the church in Corinth. Paul is writing to a people who are divided, allowing sexual immorality among the membership, who are failing in their faith and have compromised their faith in order to fit in with their culture.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Sounds like people in any number of Christian churches.

These people are sanctified in Christ Jesus and being sanctified by His Spirit. (To be sanctified means to be set apart, to be made holy by God.) Sinners who call on our Lord Jesus lose all their guilty stains. They are declared to be free from the punishment of sin because Jesus Christ has taken their place at the cross. He was crushed and put to death in the place of His people for the sins of His people. Staggering isn't it?!

If you are aware of your stumblings, it is the Spirit Who will lift you up in Christ. If you are aware of your failures and can not bear to look to God know this: Jesus' death is life for ruined, lost sinners who cry out Jesus.

The letter to the people of God in Corinth speaks harshly against sins, failures, divisions and compromises with the culture for this reason: God has supplied His grace so that sin should not master His people! Those who are sanctified and being sanctified (being made holy) in Christ Jesus will have their sins pointed out to them and will run to from this sin to the Saviour Who brings forgiveness and the strength to live in the way the Bible instructs. The way of life and peace.

Faithful Father, sustain Your people. We are so aware of our failures. Keenly knowing the good we should do and don't. We can identify with the believers in Corinth: divided, immoral, compromised and longing for something more, something pure, something different. Thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ, in Whose Name we are made guiltless. Thank You for the Spirit poured out Who guards us in Your grace and peace. We often feel too unworthy even to pray, unsure of how You will hear us or receive us--thank You for the blessing of this passage this morning and the assurance of Your grace and peace. Amen.

April 17, 2018 - - Romans 16:20 The defeat of Satan

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Romans 16:20 ESV

Strange statement isn't it? To understand it you need to go all the way back to Genesis 3. When God created Adam and then made Eve from one of Adam's ribs, creation was good. There was no death, no cancer, no accidents, no disease. The world was perfect, declared by God to be "very good". God gave one rule: do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. When Adam and Eve disobeyed, sin, death, evil and all the consequences of this entered the world.

God in His great mercy promised, one day, the offspring of the woman would defeat Satan. This happened at the cross of Jesus Christ. Our sins were placed on Jesus' account and punished on His person, and His goodness was credited to all believers.

Satan's schemes, his temptations, his plans are crushed under the feet of believers who have received the grace of Jesus Christ. Believers still face hardships, trials, and suffering, the consequences of the fact we live in a world under bondage to sin. But the glorious hope of this passage is that the victory of Jesus over sin has won the day and believers will see Jesus face to face and sin and death and disease and cancer will be no more in the new heaven and the new earth. What a glory we will share.

It is the God of peace Who brings this about. Recognize this: any and every violation against the Bible (which is God's revealed will) is rebellion and turmoil and tearing of the heart and mind. Any and every sin brings the raging sense of warfare and disorder. Yet, God is restoring peace by bringing stubborn, rebellious hearts into peace won for us at the cross of Jesus Christ. He stood in our place and took our punishment for our sins and He gives us a clean slate before God. That is true peace. That is why Jesus is so beautiful and glorious in the eyes of believers.

Thank You, Father in heaven for the peace You give us in Jesus Christ. Thank You Jesus, for taking our place and bearing God's punishment against sin. Thank You, Spirit of God, for showing us the riches that belong to believers and revealing the magnificence of Jesus our Redeemer and King. Help me, God of peace, to walk in Your will and Your way, especially when the days are very hard and the temptations to sin are pressing in. As Satan's influence is being crushed, may the true peace of Jesus be the joy and song of believers. Amen.

April 11, 2018 - - Philippians 1:12 The cost of advancing the gospel

I want you to know brothers,

that what has happened to me

has really served to advance the gospel

Philippians 1:12 ESV

Paul wrote those words while he was imprisoned for the sake of Jesus. Amazing. Humanly speaking imprisonment is shameful. For the sake of Jesus imprisonment is for the glory of the gospel and blessing to the Name of Jesus. While in prison, many learned of Jesus, Who He is and why our lives are to be dedicated to Him.

Does that extend to Christians today? Whatever is happening to you, does it serve to advance the gospel? Are you suffering at work because it is known that you are a Christian? Then yes, what you are going through serves to advance the gospel.

Are you suffering sickness requiring hospital visits or regular medical attention? It can serve to advance the gospel. This one particularly comes at some cost to me as I wrestle with depression. Yet there have been a number of times where it has been the case God used this to advance the gospel.

What about celebrations? Birthday parties, anniversaries, promotions, quiet times with friends, family reunions, neighbourhood BBQ's, these too can be used to advance the gospel. Our lives are bound up in Jesus our King, therefore wherever we go, whatever we do, we are His ambassadors. What happened or happens to us really does serve to advance the gospel.

God of Love and Power--for You hold the past, the present and the future of every believer in Your care. No matter what happens to me, to my particular church, or to the family of believers, for good or woe, it is given not by chance but from Your Fatherly hand. Prepare me, Spirit of God, so that in all things I will testify to Jesus Christ, the Captain of my salvation. Prepare us, together as believers, Spirit of God, so that in all things we will hold fast to Jesus Christ our Very Great Reward, and seek to advance the gospel. Amen.

April 9, 2018 - - I Corinthians 12:7, 26 Suffering and hope

To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

If one member suffers all suffer together;

if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.

I Corinthians 12:7, 26 ESV

We live in a world of suffering. The daily news reminds us of this all the time. However, there are times when tragedies touch us, as Canadians, so much closer to home. This past weekend Canadians stood still with grief and bewilderment at the news from Humboldt, SK. The crash of the Humboldt Broncos team bus took the lives of ten players and five others associated with the team.

Years ago in a speech, Ravi Zacharias noted "We live in a world of suffering. We are called to brotherhood. The problem is that we have more hoods than brothers."

Grief strips away all our defenses. We realize exactly what the Scriptures state: if one member suffers all suffer together. While many of us run from grief--frightened by its implications--there are men and women uniquely gifted to who run to those who are suffering. These men and women exemplify the brotherhood that is ours.

Think of first responders rushing to the scene.

Firemen, police officers, paramedics, and behind the scenes workers like communications centre operators who are relaying this dreadful information to the key people who needed accurate information to get to the scene and coordinate services.

Think of the next line of gifted people given gifts for the common good: doctors, emergency room nurses, X-ray technicians, chaplains and surgeons.

Then the longer term caregivers: those who minister to the hockey players who survived, like physiotherapists. Those who offer spiritual care for all the first responders--men and women who saw things which can haunt the heart and affect the brain. Pastors and social service workers who, in the longer term, will care for the players and families and community.

As the President of the Canadian Police Chaplain Association--I write knowing there are members of our team who are on the ground helping--I urge you to pray. Pray for the team members, coaches and all associated with the Broncos. Pray for the family members and their friends. Pray for the first responders and the chaplains who are standing with those in depths of bewilderment and grief. Pray, thanking God, that when disaster and tragedy do come, God has equipped men and women to respond by helping to shoulder burdens. Chaplains offer a stable, loving, knowledgeable presence for a time such as this. Chaplains remind us that we are brothers and sisters--part of the human family.

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be Your Name.

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the Kingdom and the power

and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

April 8, 2018 - - Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God,

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10 ESV

Where can any of us find stillness in our world today? The cell phone dings and immediately we check our email, or latest instagram or game score. The TV is on. The monitor flashes. There is a constant barrage of noise. Our brains and day planners push thoughts through of all that needs to be accomplished, or all that is not yet accomplished.

What glorious words from the LORD are spoken over us this morning! Still your brain. Turn off all the electronics. Focus your attention on Him Who is exalted and Whose glory will be revealed among the nations!

Sin has been disarmed and defeated at the cross of Jesus. Death itself will one day be defeated as is promised by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Spirit is calling you to worship. The Spirit of God is stirring you to gather with Christians and know the glory of God, His power and awesome majesty. This life, this earth, and all the chaos of our times will come to an end and the splendor of the LORD Most High will be revealed. Are you ready? Get to church!

God, our Refuge and Strength, thank You for the beauty of Your Word which draws our minds and hearts and attention to Your radiant glory. Spirit of God, draw us to church. Bring us into contact with believers so that Jesus Christ and His great victory will be the song on our lips and the strength of our hearts. Still our raging thoughts and all that might distract us from the gladness of being with You. Praise and honour belong to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen.

April 7, 2018 -- Psalm 36:1,6 Anyone need an axe?

Transgression speaks to the wicked

deep in his heart;

there is no fear of God

before his eyes.

Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;

your judgments are like the great deep;

man and beast you save, O LORD.

Psalm 36:1, 6 ESV

Have you heard of the legend of Hydra? It was a mythical creature, snake like, of which it was said if you cut off one head, two more would grow in its place.

For me, it seems like the sin of my heart is like the Hydra. Once a particular sin is slain, I think it is defeated. Then I look closely, deep into my heart and realize there are other sins I had not even seen before, which have grown up in its place. Transgression, sin, speaks to the wicked deep in his heart.

I would be utterly without hope, except for the blessing of verse 6. Higher than any sin is the righteousness of God. Jesus, the sinless one, has taken my place and been punished for my sin. The judgments of God are deep--even deeper than the roots of my sin. It is the good pleasure of God to save sinners.

What is the difference between the wicked and the saved? The mercy of God has reached to the saved. The one saved by the righteousness and judgment of God desires to honour God and hates sin more and more.

God alone can slay the sins of our hearts and mind. God alone can set an axe to them so that they will never re-grow. It is the Word of God, which points us to the victory of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God uses the Bible to point out the way to our freedom: Jesus.

Tomorrow is Sunday. Plan on attending a Bible-believing church and find freedom from the attacks of sin.

God of the Mountains of righteousness and depths of just judgments, set us free from the monstrous sins that take hold of us. Let the victory and freedom that is ours in Christ be powerfully preached from many pulpits around this world. Spirit of God, bring many sinners to salvation. Rescue Christians who are war-weary and in need of revival. Amen.

April 3, 2018 - - Luke 5:16 What do YOU in secret?

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Luke 5:16 ESV

What are you like when no one else is around? Are you snarky? Do you rehearse all the wrongs others have done against you? How ashamed would you be if other people could see what you do in secret?

Jesus withdrew and isolated Himself so that He could pray.

Jesus, when He was alone, cultivated and deepened His relationship with His Father in heaven.

Jesus was revived by the Spirit by such times in prayer.

Jesus subdued His own will in such times of prayer so that He would carry out the will of the Father, Who sent Him.

Jesus pleaded with His Father for the protection of His disciples.

Jesus sought the strength He needed to carry out the work which was given to Him.

Father in heaven, thank You for the great gift of life that is ours in Jesus. Thank You that Jesus prays for us, at Your right hand. Spirit of God, direct us into times of isolation for prayer, for cultivating a deeper relationship, fleeing from sin and intentionally driving ourselves further into faithfulness. Forgive us for the times we have isolated ourselves to feed our secret sins. Put to death in us the old ways. Even as we pray these things, we are tempted, distracted and half-hearted, renew in us the joy of our salvation so that our time with You is joy. Amen.

April 2, 2018 - - Luke 5:4-6 Your life, is it: pointless or purposeful?

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

Luke 5:4-6 ESV

Simon had toiled all night with no result.

Simon had come to the end of his human efforts.

Simon was a skilled fisherman.

Simon was obedient to His Master.

Jesus is LORD.

Jesus is the Giver of Blessings when He directs our toil.

Jesus is the One Who gives all strength to the weary.

Jesus used the skills of the fisherman for His divine purposes.

Jesus works in and through our obedience for His glory.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners and Lord of my life, direct my efforts. I confess how easily I am tired or frustrated or stymied. Spirit of God, teach me the patience and the blessing of prayer before, during, and after any undertaking so that He Who-strengthens-the-weary will be the One who directs my thoughts and efforts. Thank You God that my life and the talents and gifts You have given me can be used for divine purposes. Tame my restless and rebellious heart so that I will be directed and obedient bringing to glory to You: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.