Consider this

           In my mind, I can still smell the mixture of grease and used motor oil that permeated my Dad’s shop.   He was a mechanic and he and a bunch of his buddies used to spend most of the winter rebuilding old cars in our backyard garage.   It was always sort of a strange and mysterious place to me.   I had no idea what the various tools did and I did not know what all the parts were for, but I wanted to learn.   In fact, it never even occurred to me that there were people in the world who wanted nothing to do with repairing old cars.   I saw it being done and so I wanted to know how to do it too.            Another place of mystery was my Uncle Grant’s work room.   He had a basement room full of electronic stuff including diodes, capacitors and electronic test equipment.   I had no idea how to use them and I did not know how electricity worked, ...

            I was feeling pretty good about myself as I rode my motorcycle around the little town of Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park.   The sun was shining, it was hot outside and the place was packed with people.   Many times in the past I had watched guys ride through this town on their motorcycles and thought, “Look at that lucky dude!   What a great place to ride!” and now I was the “lucky dude” that everyone else was watching and envying.   It felt good to be the centre of attention.             As I turned the corner and headed back down past all the shops to show off one more time, a couple of guys stepped out on the street right in front of me.   I grabbed the brakes and the clutch lever and stopped.   The guys jumped back and gave me one of those “Oops – sorry about that” waves. I waved back, let out the clutch… and sta...

            Though he had no idea where to find them, Alvin McDonald went back into the cave.                  The previous day, three people had become separated from their tour group somewhere in “Wind Cave”.   Searching the cave, located in the south east portion of the Black Hills in South Dakota, was not going to be an easy task.   With more than 139 miles of known tunnels (and an average of 4 more miles being discovered each year), there was no telling where the lost tourists would be found.   However, if anyone could find them, Alvin McDonald was the man.             McDonald, born in 1873 began exploring “Wind Cave” when he was sixteen years old.   Over the next four years, until his death in 1893, he mapped the tunnels and a kept an extensive diary describing what he had fo...

In Revelation chapter twelve, John hears a loud voice from heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!” (Verses 10-12) I like that the first word is, “Now”. There is no waiting for some future event or time. We can participate in God’s kingdom, receive salvation and live with God’s power - “Now!” We can be reborn as God’s children and participate in what he is doing in this world – “Now!” Notice, too, the definite article in the phrases, “the salvation… the power… the kingdom… the authority of his Christ”. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” ...

            Every once in a while, in every church, everywhere, you will hear people say things like:   “I did not like the singing today” or “That service went way too long” or “The preacher was really boring today!”    You may also hear something along the lines of, “No one ever visits me” or “Why is there not more stuff for my kids?”             Why do people make comments like that?   Well, at least partially, it is because they see themselves as “guests” to be served, rather than “hosts” with a responsibility.               If I am hosting someone in my home, I will go out of my way to make sure that they are looked after and enjoying themselves.   In fact, I will give up just about anything (my food, my space, even my bed) if it means that my guest will be cared for properly. ...

            I hate “gimmicky” things and nowhere is that more true than when it comes to evangelism.   Over my 22 years here, I have seen more useless “evangelism strategies” than I can count.   If we are ever going to share the story of Christ effectively, we are going to have to do it in a way that is real and natural.   Here, then, are four “real” and “natural” ways to live and share what you believe.            1.   Look around.   While most people seem to have their lives together, many times that is not the case.   Many quietly struggle their way through their days just hoping to survive.   The question is not whether people need help or the hope of the gospel, rather the question is “Can we see where people really are and will we put ourselves out to get involved?”            ...

            As the boy packed his lunch that day, I am sure that he had no idea how significant that action would become.             Jesus was nearby, teaching and healing a huge crowd of people.   As evening came, Jesus’ friends became concerned about the fact that the crowd had not eaten anything all day.   Approaching him they said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food” (Matthew 14:15).   Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat” (verse 16).   Philip, looking around and seeing more than five thousand people said, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” (John 6:7).             Enter, again, the little boy.   I am not...