Consider this

“Churches are not Victorian parlors where everything is always picked up and ready for guests. They are messy family rooms… Things are out of order, to be sure, but that is what happens to churches that are lived in. They are not show rooms. They are living rooms, and if the persons living in them are sinners, there are going to be clothes scattered about, handprints on the woodwork and mud on the carpets” (Eugene Peterson, “Reversed Thunder”, page 54). What Peterson says about churches is true of life in general. Unfortunately, life can be messy. It would be nice if everything was simple, easy and straightforward, but it rarely works that way. If seen in picture form, most people’s lives would look more like a river winding its way across a valley, rather than a man made canal that makes a straight line from “point A” to “point B”. We sort of expect things to go smoothly, but experience tells us that is rarely the case. Even a cursory glance at the word of God should be enou...

Do you remember those plastic adapters that you used to put in “45 records” so that you could play them on a standard record player? On Sunday morning, I held one of those things up and asked a bunch of kids, “What is this?” They had no idea. Then I turned and asked the adults. There was no uncertainty or hesitation from the “Fifty and over crowd” because they knew the answer (I then asked, “Who knows how to download music from the internet?” – you can guess which group knew the answer this time). There is a difference between knowing and guessing. That difference becomes very clear when we begin to talk about spiritual things. Are you certain about what you believe or are you just hoping that it may be true? Are you convinced or are you “on the fence”? As John closes his first letter, he gives his readers three big ideas to “know” and be certain about. First, if you are a Christian, you are safe. “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was...

The interrogation from the “Israeli Airlines” attendant was not unexpected. I had been warned that they had the strictest screening policy in the airline business (even before 9/11). After taking me aside, asking a bunch of questions and leaving me standing all alone in the middle of “Pearson International Airport”, there was no question who was in charge in this situation. If I wanted to go anywhere, I needed to recognize this man’s authority, answer his questions and do whatever he asked me to do. Fifteen minutes later, he came back, gave me my passport and wished me a good trip. Authority is not to be fooled with. “By what authority are you doing these things… who gave you this authority” (Luke 20:2). Over the course of his earthly ministry, Jesus heard those questions many times. Jesus’ reply is summed up in these words, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). The “Authority of Christ” is not just a subject for theological discussion...

I believe that we all need a “Barnabas” and a “Timothy”. Barnabas was a respected leader in the early church and his name is found all over the book of Acts. His greatest trait, though, seemed to be the fact that he was an encourager. (His real name is “Joseph” but apostles nicknamed him “Barnabas” which means “Son of Encouragement”). Barnabas did many great things, but maybe none more influential to the course of Christian history than what he did in Acts 9. At the start of that chapter, we read about the conversion of Paul. Formerly known as Saul, he opposed the teaching about Christ and even actively sought out believers so that he could have them arrested and brought back to Jerusalem for trial. One day, as he traveled to Damascus, Saul saw a bright light, heard the voice of Jesus and within days he was he was baptized and became a believer. The conversion of Saul could not have been more surprising, so it is understandable that the Christians were a little wary of him. Ac...