The final eruption of Mount St. Helens in May of 1980 was not a sudden event. For two months prior to the massive blast—the most deadly and destructive in American history—earthquakes and volcanic activity signaled a major event was underway. Authorities had plenty of time to sound the alarm and warn those living nearby of the looming danger. Yet despite the seriousness of the threat, some people chose to disregard the warnings. Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living
“Anybody can become angry, that is easy,” observed the ancient philosopher Aristotle, “but to be angry at the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way–that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.”
Often called “righteous indignation,” Jesus is the perfect example of channeling his anger against sin, especially religious folks who were guilty of hypocrisy and hurting others. Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
This story has been told as a joke for many years, but Joseph Parker, the famed 19th Century British orator and evangelist claimed it actually happened to him.
Following a sermon where he was preaching in London an older lady waited to thank him for his sermon “You do throw such wonderful light on the Bible,” she said. Continue reading
Filed under Bible
“Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment,” once quipped American author and scientist James Jay Horning.
Our Sunday morning Bible class at Wellandport has been studying Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Yesterday, we devoted the entire class to one verse. Matthew 7:6 that speaks to the issue of good judgment. Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
Following the horrific mass murders in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, politicians and pundits are asking the same questions, promoting familiar explanations, and making urgent demands that we’ve all heard before.
“One question no one is asking,” raised columnist Cal Thomas is “Why is evil rampant in our country?” Continue reading
Filed under America
While we are enjoying the cooler Canadian weather this summer and the wonderful fellowship of our Ontario brethren, our neighbors to the North are not any better off when it comes to the culture wars we’re fighting in the US.
The Toronto Sun recently reported that a Canadian family, Jason and Pamela Buffone, filed a civil rights complaint when their 6-year-old daughter became confused over her gender identity. Continue reading
Filed under Culture
“To err is human; to forgive, divine” penned the British poet, Alexander Pope.
The apostle Peter probably thought he was being deeply divine when he asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Peter undoubtedly thought he was being excessively generous and magnanimous. After all the Rabbinic teaching as expressed by Rabbi Jose ben Hanina said, “He who begs forgiveness from his neighbor must not do so more than three times.” Continue reading
Filed under Passage To Ponder
Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas are 1500 miles apart, but over the weekend became one in shock and sorrow, as a nation was once again stunned by two mass murders.
At least 31 were left dead and dozens more were injured, leaving pundits, talking heads, and average American citizens with the same old haunting questions. Why? What were the motives of the two young gunmen? And what can be done so this never happens again? Continue reading
Filed under America
“Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked Peter.
His response was immediate. Direct. Unequivocal. And divinely inspired. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:15-16)
It is a question still discussed, debated and deliberated today. Who was Jesus?
Many want to reduce Jesus to just a great Rabbi, a unique prophet, or moral reformer. In fact, it is not politically correct to say that Jesus was the Son of God or that He is the only way.” Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
“Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person,” wrote Joseph Stowell in Fan the Flame.
“It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. It has been described as the place of conscious and decisive spiritual activity, the comprehensive term for a person as a whole; his feelings, desires, passions, thought, understanding and will, and the center of a person. The place to which God turns.” Continue reading
Filed under Heart
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