If you could have dinner with Jesus and some other guests, wouldn’t you be curious to know who makes an impression on Him, who touches His heart? Let’s join such a dinner in John 12:1-8. Would you please take a couple of minutes to read this passage? 2,000 years ago in Palestine, a
I have a confession to make…there are times when I get too busy. However, I take heart from the Gospel of Luke 2:41-52. Would you please take a couple of minutes to read this passage about the boy Jesus at the temple?Let’s talk about Luke 2:41-44a. The road to restoration has a sign marked “Distracted”.After
I see a picture of the kind of man I want to be in Luke 6:17-26. Would you please take a few moments to read this passage? A man who is measured by God as head and shoulders above the crowd is attractive. A large crowd gathered with Jesus on the mountainside in
Mother’s Day Origin—Sermon Notes Central “Did you know that the idea for Mother's Day was born in a small Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia? It was 1876 and the United States still mourned the Civil War dead. While teaching a Memorial Day lesson, Mrs. Anna Reeves Jarvis thought of mothers who had lost
Footprint on a Beach on Ruegen How smart is your right foot? This will boggle your mind and you’ll keep trying it, at least a few times, to see if you can outsmart your foot—but you can't! While sitting down, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles with
What do we do with sin? How do we treat the sinner? We might try to stay away from people who would defile us, or we might try to blend in—neither ditch is the road we are called to travel. God’s heart toward sin and the sinner is demonstrated in John 8:1-11. Would you
As the movie “Brian's Song" powerfully depicted, the friendship between Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo deepened into one of the best relationships in the history of sports. Friendships between professional black and white athletes, during that time, were few and far between, so theirs was unique. Then, during the 1969 season, Piccolo was
We say there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. Let me add a third: change. We often struggle with change. I have experienced a lot of changes in my life—some I have chosen, while others have been imposed upon me. Making Sense of Life's Changes is the subtitle of William Bridges'
During the Christmas holidays we try to reach back into our childhood for good memories associated with the season—the people, the surroundings, the sights, the sounds, the tastes. These memories bring us comfort and joy as we seek to relive them. As well, Christmas movies and songs are rampant. Our family Christmas gatherings
I invite you to enjoy one of my favourite stories, “The Sneetches” by Dr. Seuss, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-QevAGsl6A. Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2nd, 1904 to September 24th, 1991) was an American writer and cartoonist best known for his classic children's books under the pen name Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss wrote Sneetches in 1961 to
How can you and I become so stirred that we lose all our inhibitions when we express our affection to the Lord? How can we stir God’s heart when we come to Him with our prayers and our praise? In Luke 17:11-19, we read of one man who truly connected with Jesus Christ.
John Wesley, from his death bed, wrote these words to William Wilberforce [a change agent who fought against slavery in England for more than 40 years]: “Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for
Perhaps you have read the children’s classic Winnie the Pooh by English author A. A. Milne (1882-1956). Two of Pooh’s closest friends are Tigger—a perpetually bouncy, excitable, happy cat and Eeyore—a long-faced, pessimistic, depressed donkey. The Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at https://youtu.be/tB-Sd0qRL-Y is but one example of how different they are. I
When I travel, I am tempted to bring along more than I will use. You never know, I just might need these items! So, in they go … just in case. The design of modern-day luggage makes it much easier to pack more when we leave home. The handle that extends from one end
Can you imagine being a parent to 12 sons and one daughter? Seventeen hundred years before Christ, a man named Jacob was. Jacob‘s home was far from perfect. He played favourites with his sons—the boys reacting with intense sibling rivalry. In the midst of his mistakes, however, Jacob did get some things right as
Mothers have a tough job! A prominent early church leader had a mother and grandmother who played key roles in his life—so much so that the Apostle Paul singles them out in 2 Timothy 1:5: “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother
The British preacher, W.E. Sangster, began to lose his voice and mobility in the mid-1950s. He had a disease that caused progressive muscular atrophy. He recognized the end was near, so he threw himself into writing and praying. In the midst of his suffering he pleaded, “Let me stay in the struggle, Lord.
Traits that identify a follower of Jesus Christ are found in Galatians 5:22-25. Would you please take a minute to review the fruit of the Spirit? At first glance, we could conclude that the qualities listed in Galatians 5 are impossible to get. But are they? It’s possible to be like Jesus when there
A famous instrumentalist was asked, "What is the most difficult instrument to play?" He replied, wisely, "Second violin." Not all of us have the leading part, but each one of us has a part to play; and this part is just as important as the others. One of my unsung Bible heroes is a
Feel free to listen to the audio version of the blog post. Matthew, a tax collector, is making money hand over fist. Despised by all the people for collaborating with the Romans, he absorbs himself in his world of money. Then one day, (in Matthew 9:9) Jesus passes by, looks at Matthew and simply
