He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.                    Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”       Psalm 40:3 (ESV)   In her book, Prayer in the Night, Tish Harrison Warren writes, “The Christian life is more like a poem than an encyclopedia.” I think it’s a fair comparison. Christianity does have a definition that can be articulated. You want an answer - look it up. But it also has mystery that allows for multiple understandings. Opposing perspectives can be expressed – think eschatology! Still, we are prone to pushing the Christian faith into one of those two labels – poetry or encyclopedia. Literalists wave the biblical encyclopedia. Mystics point to riddles from the biblical poem. But both approaches need to be held together, despite the tension. How?   At the risk of creating confusion, I’d like to add another metaphor to Warren’s suggestion. Here it is: the Christian faith is like a song sung by God’s choirs. Singers know that sheet music contains both lyric and melody. There are words to sing. To be true to the song, a performer must know the words, understand their meaning, and convey that insight to others. You can’t simply make up the lyrics or we cease to have a song, at least one that is commonly familiar. Christians sing from the same page, conveying a common lyric. The truths of the Bible form verses of lyrics that have been shaped over centuries. The Church has debated and defined them. We have trusted the leadership of the Author to ensure that we have got the lyrics right. We continue to fine-tune the words for clarity and relevance to our world. But we can never ignore the lyric. There is a Bible [...]

A group of researchers working for the World Almanac and Book of Facts once asked over 2000 high school students to name the people they admired most and wanted to be like. They then tabulated the results and came up with the 30 most admired personalities. One columnist commented that all those who had been named were either entertainers or athletes. This columnist pointed out that statesmen, authors, painters, musicians, architects, doctors, scientists and spiritual leaders failed to capture the imagination of these students. He went on to say that the heroes and heroines created by our society are people who have made it big, but not necessarily people who have done big things.   As Christians, I think we need to train our taste buds. We do need heroes. Everyone does. Heroes provide us with role models and tell a culture whom or what to emulate. They express our values and give us a sense of where the culture is heading. In some ways, they are an indicator of our future. Moreover, Christians need heroes. If the only example that young people see is those Christian leaders that have morally failed, we lose a sense of the transforming nature of the life lived in Christ. To be sure, Christian athletes and entertainers who exhibit faithfulness and also those who are involved in needed charities and other community functions do serve as positive role models. But it is my view that we need to create a culture in which missionaries, ministry leaders, teachers, preachers and other Christian leaders are held up as laudable examples.   That is one of the reasons I think Christians should begin to read Christian biographies. For one, some of them, when written well, are highly entertaining. It would be a great alternative to paperback fiction, [...]

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, ESV   Grace Is the Key You can’t understand God or Christianity without a clear grasp of grace. The Bible says that when Jesus came to us, He came full of grace and truth. From His fullness, we all have received grace layered upon grace. So, what is grace? The word describes the fluid motions of a ballerina. A grace period can be an extension of time to repay a loan. Grace is a short prayer said before a meal. Grace is a girl’s name. Grace can be used in so many ways because there is so much grace around us. God infused creation with His grace. Every day we take a breath, eat a meal, enjoy a sunset or hug a loved one, this is all grace. Grace is described as “unmerited favour” and since we arrive in this world having done nothing to deserve it, all of life is grace. Still, we cannot understand grace simply by measuring its abundance. We need to recognize what grace does. Jesus told many stories to describe the function of grace. My favourite is the one that creates the most shock.   “Call Human Resources!” In Matthew 20, Jesus told a story of a landowner who had work to be done, but no workers. He went to the marketplace early in the morning to hire men wanting employment. They agreed upon a fair wage, and they headed to the vineyard. More workers were needed, so the landowner returned to the marketplace 3 hours later to hire more. He assured them that he would pay them what is right. This process was repeated [...]

 “Teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12   Words in the Shadow of Death I recall my last trip to be with my mother in Ontario. Final words stay with us. She had returned to the hospital for the fourth time, facing the final stages of infirmity often paired with 87 years of living. On this visit, she was alert, comfortable and talkative. Geography and obligations dictated that this was probably the last time I would talk with Mom face-to-face. We talked about what mattered. Our words had a clarity, honesty and depth found in the shadow of death. We acknowledged that God held her days - not the doctors, personal wishes or physical determination. There were decisions that demanded attention, but I resisted the distraction of action. I chose to sit, talk and listen. To receive from God whatever it was He wanted to give. To release to God whatever it was He chose to take. These moments of life were shaped by the brevity before us – a truth taught by Desert Fathers.   Desert Wisdom A “seeker” approached one of the Desert Fathers and asked, “How should a man live, so as to please God?” The elder replied, "As if he were to die tomorrow." The elder believed that the reality of death would provide a foundation for a vibrant godly life. Wisdom invites us to consider death as an impending reality. Since death can reach us at any unpredictable moment, our days should be lived with death in mind. But that’s not our practice. We have lost touch with death. It is hidden within hospitals, delayed by miraculous cures, mentioned in whispers and ignored until it’s unavoidable. We don’t like to talk about it with one another. [...]

Carnival, Pancake Day, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday - you recognize the words but may struggle to explain their significance. Each of these traditions is connected to Lent. Lent is a 40-day preparation for Easter. Since Lent is a period of restraint, some use Carnival as a final party before the disciplines begin. Since Lent often entails fasting in some measure, Pancake Day and Mardi-Gras (Fat Tuesday!) speak of the last opportunity to enjoy rich foods before the fast begins. After Tuesday comes Ash Wednesday as the first day of Lent. It sets the tone to recognize Jesus’ death and resurrection by highlighting our own need for humble repentance. These words and celebrations, now woven into our language, have roots in the Christian calendar. But even as society has separated Christmas from its godly intent, so too some of these phrases have abused the meaning of Easter. So, should we abandon them because of their misuse? That would be a shame.   While I could dispense with Carnival, the other words carry important meaning at significant times. My own Christian heritage was largely unaware of these observances. We thought they belonged to other denominations and ancient practices. They highlighted moods we would rather avoid. “Don’t put ash on your forehead - celebrate the victory of Jesus! Don’t bemoan our mortality. We have a home in heaven!” We are quick to jump to the empty tomb and skip the season to remember why it was needed. But I have discovered the value of these 40 days for reflection. Even as Advent heightens my heart for Christmas, so Lent shapes my soul towards Easter worship.   That preparation is not automatic. Meaningful reflection doesn’t happen simply because a date appears on the calendar. But the calendar offers a grid and guide for my [...]

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20, ESV   In 2022, the Pew Research Center, a well-respected opinion polling organization in the United States, reported that most Americans believe that the founders of the nation intended for the USA to be a Christian nation.  However, they also reported that opinions varied widely as to what that means.  For many, it merely means Christian-based laws and governance.  But others believe that it means beliefs and values in individual lives.   That matter aside, the same study also found that 45% of Americans believe the country should be a Christian nation.  And since this article is about Christian nationalism, this becomes important.  What is Christian nationalism?  We might say, that at its foundational level, it is the belief that America, or perhaps some other nation, should be a Christian nation.   But again, what is it that America should be?  Opinions vary, but at its essence is the idea that the nation should pass laws and enact policies based on Christian values and ideals.  It also holds that the nation should ensure that the Christian faith should retain its position of prominence in the country.  It also believes that the marriage between the Christian faith and the American identity needs to be preserved.  Having said that, I can find no single Christian nationalistic agenda.  Rather than looking at specific policies, what one finds is a general mood that America must preserve her unique Christian heritage.   A little reflection will tell us that this idea is hardly unique.  What, after all, was the “Holy Roman Empire”?  It was the belief that the Roman Empire had become a “Christian Empire.”  Furthermore, the concept of “Christendom” that was held by western powers [...]

“Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place….My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.” 2 Chronicles 7:15-16, ESV   It is always tricky to attempt definitions of those things that are both deep and meaningful. But here goes. A working definition of love is, “that to which you choose to direct your attention.” The people and things we love are those to which we focus our attention. We think about them. They occupy our conversation and affections. We give ourselves physically to their presence. We submit the resources of time, energy, wealth, strength and will to the beloved. That applies in casual matters like a sports team, a hobby or a favourite pastime. It becomes central and powerful when it applies to our friends, family and our God. Simone Weil stated that, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity”. It’s one of the greatest gifts we can offer anyone. Considering the countless things and people that compete for our attention, it is also one of the hardest to give. Our heads, hearts and hands flutter from item to item, even from person to person. But when we focus our benevolent attention upon someone or something, the heart begins to follow, attention becomes love.  Using “attention” as a metric of love moves our understanding of love from warm fuzzies or heart flutters to a focus of our will. Attention is a choice. It can be distracted, but it can also be directed, even commanded. When God commands us to love Him with everything we have and are, He is calling for our attention (Mk. 12:30). We are to harness our thoughts, feelings, energy, body and resources and turn them all in His direction. We [...]

You see it in coffee shops. Many sip their caffeine and engage in conversation, but others are focused on their keyboards, typing a term paper or a report for work. They can block out the clatter and write. That's Dr. John Neufeld. He will visit a local cafe and make it his office. The public workspace invites interactions, and some turn into gospel opportunities. Recently, a woman approached Dr. John and asked what he was working on. He answered, "I am writing a book called 'The Heart of the Gospel.' It's about the book of Romans, which points to the problem of sin and God's answer to it." When the lady responded that she had never heard that before, the door was opened to speak of Jesus. Again, Dr. John's writings prove to be an entrance to the Gospel.

Our lives are filled with demands for more. We are told that we need to eat better, exercise more, find better balance, invest more effectively, and the list goes on and on. Everything in our lives is expected to be more efficient, more attractive, more productive, healthier, and more environmentally friendly. Oh, and by the way, you're also being told that you're failing at all of these things. Fun, right?

The story is told of a little boy who was saying his prayers at bedtime.  As he prayed, he said, “Lord, bless Mommy and Daddy.”  Then he paused.  Finally, in as loud a voice he could muster, he shouted, “AND GIVE ME A NEW BICYCLE!”  His mom, who was kneeling next to him at his bedside said, “Son, God is not hard of hearing.”  The boy said, “I know, but Grandma’s in the next room.  And she is.”

“The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.” Proverbs 20:29, ESV   I took my first breath 70 years ago and haven't stopped since.  I celebrated this achievement with my family and absorbed the jokes about grey hair, noisy knees and the time it takes me to get up off the floor. Underneath the well-meaning jokes lies a truth we don't like to admit. Aging is hard because it seems to steal from us. It robs us of certain qualities and capacities we assumed were safely ours. Our skin wrinkles. Our hair thins. Our vision and hearing diminish. Our physical strength and mobility decline. Cognitive skills take longer to remember and retain. Many move to a smaller space, with the advantage of having less distance between the bed and bathroom. We see our doctors more often than our friends, and often, we end up with more doctors than friends! And the greatest theft of all, our tomorrows are fewer than our yesterdays.   It's easy to complain about the changes, and many do, but loss is only half the ledger. God speaks of the aged as being blessed. The senior years are fruitful and a time of glory (Ps.92:12-15). In other words, growing old adds more to our life than just years. This perspective is not loud in our society, but there are benefits available to all who walk through and beyond the “three score and ten.” What are they? Everyone will have to make their own list, but here are some riches I have noted in the credit side of life’s progression.   Aging sorts life’s priorities When I was young, everything mattered. Every decision was crucial. Every relationship was a priority. I tried to push on the door [...]

On three occasions, twice in 1 Peter and once in 2 Peter, the apostle Peter calls believers exiles.  For the first time in my life, I am beginning to understand.

For some, studying the Bible is a familiar and cherished part of daily life.  Perhaps that’s you – you’ve read your Bible devotionally for years and taken the time to study significant passages of Scripture.  You’ve experienced the deep benefits it brings to your life. But for others, the art of Bible Study is somewhat of a mystery. How do I get started?  How do I do it?  You may hear Bible teachers draw deep insights from Scripture and wonder how to do it yourself.

A three-legged stool is built to support weight in a balanced fashion. Take away any one of the legs and you'll find yourself on the floor. A partial support is not enough. In that regard, it resembles the faith you and I live by. It struck me this month that after 65 years of faith in Jesus, I had not given enough regard to one of its three essentials. I was unbalanced.

Telling time is a basic life skill, but it's not as simple as it seems. Digital or analogue? Pacific or Mountain Time? Ante or post meridiem? Throw in Daylight or Standard Time and the confusion grows! Since time comes to us not only by hours, but by seasons and stages, it is vital to discern our lives as well as the clock. As we step into a new year, the wisdom of Solomon guides us.

Peace with God is miraculous and unexpected.  Let me explain that. Many assume upon God's smile.  Most can’t imagine there would be anything but peace with God. 

There's not a Scrooge bone in my body, so don't take this as an attack upon this festive season. I get Christmas goosebumps in early November and love to celebrate the holiday to the max. Still, there's a nagging concern about how we celebrate it.

There are, in the Advent story, two seemingly contradictory accounts. One account would lead us to despair. The other would lead us to overwhelming optimism. Both accounts are a part of the Bible. Both are at the heart of the Christmas event.

Life is filled with complexity hidden beneath simplicity. Things that appear straightforward may be intricate beyond explanation. So computers, cars, even sly smiles, are not as simple as they seem. That applies to Christmas as well. It is complexity wrapped by simplicity. It doesn’t take long for a child to catch on to Christmas; but we’d be mistaken to think of Christmas as a simple story. Like a surprise package, the Christmas narrative hides theological depth which is crystallized into a single word - incarnation.   Incarnation is a term used to encapsulate the fact that God became flesh (Jn1:14). Incarnation does not mean that God squeezed Himself into a body. It means more (remember complexity underneath simplicity.) Jesus’ conception and birth are a unique harmony of Deity and humanity. Both at once and both in full, equal measure. Jesus is God without diminishment. Jesus is human without diminishment. He is both at once, without contradiction, tension or division. And while I can type those words, I can’t explain them. It bends my brain. I know the incarnation is central to God’s grand plan for creation. I know it is vital for my salvation. I know it is a portal through which I grasp God. But any elucidation I try to make of it will always fall short of the marvel of it.  AlI I can do is state the reality as the Scriptures present it and then stand back in wonder. No, wait… I can do more. I can try to express what the confounding truth of the incarnation means not to my head, but to my heart. What is beyond my mind can still stir my heart.   While there is much I cannot grasp, this I hold on to.  At its core, the incarnation means that God [...]

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” - Psalm 19:14   Renovating the Neighbourhood of Your Mind Anne Lamott is a unique author who mixes spirituality with humour. She relies on Jesus and writes in a way that provides insight with a laugh. While I don’t agree with everything she says, her writing often contains valuable truths. For example, she once said, “My mind is like a bad neighborhood. I try not to go in there alone.” With one sentence she highlights a common struggle with our thoughts and the need for guidance.   Most of our lives happen in our minds. Our thoughts produce opinions, ideas, fears, loves, and insights, constantly running even when we sleep. Even though our thoughts shape our words and actions, they are often hidden from others. You can see my actions and expressions, but you can’t read my thoughts, and I can’t read yours. This privacy can cause concern.   Since our thoughts are personal, we often trust them too much. We tend to win imagined arguments in our heads and think our conclusions are correct. Left unchecked, our thoughts can lead us to mistaken beliefs. As Lamott points out, our minds can be like a bad neighbourhood—confusing and risky. Because our thoughts are private, we may feel alone and trapped by errors or lies. Anyone who has tried to convince someone of their worth knows how tough it is to change negative thoughts.   Thinking With God But we don’t have to face this alone. There is a Companion Voice that can guide us through the darkness. God is with us in our hearts, souls, bodies, and minds. He understands our struggles. While our thoughts are [...]

My wife and I like to kayak. This summer, we went on an inlet of the ocean in BC. As we were getting our boats ready, we could see the wind and the waves. We noticed some whitecaps. As we paddled out, the water was against us. If we stopped for too long, we found that all our progress was lost. We were no closer to reaching our destination. I was struck by how much the Christian life is like our paddling. The winds and waves of this world are against us. It is not possible to drift into godliness (Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15–17).   Growing in our spiritual life requires something from us. Progress demands that we paddle against the tide. The reality of our modern world is that if you just drift, you won’t find yourself closer to God. The current of our culture pulls away from God and righteousness, towards sin and death.   The values and expectations of godliness are not our natural drift. It’s easy in our world to seek our own comfort, our own happiness, our own short-term pleasure, to feel good about ourselves, to look good in front of others. It won’t come naturally to love selflessly, to give our money away, to seek the good of others above ourselves, to embrace discomfort and pain for the good of the Kingdom. Those things are like paddling upstream because Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world, and this world is stained by sin (John 18:36).   Conversion is a turning against the tide. We recognize the way the winds are taking us and realize our lives need a different direction. We have seen a better way: the glorious light of God's truth. We choose to seek God with this promise, “You will seek [...]

“Why will they not believe?!”   I’m sure many of us have had a similar experience; We present the gospel to a dear, unbelieving friend, only to have them reject it for seemingly no reason at all. We get frustrated and saddened because in the depths of our hearts, we know that our friend has nothing to lose and everything to gain! So why do they turn away? Well, by the grace of God, His Word offers us a clear answer; It’s because no matter how bright the light of the gospel may be, to those who are blind, the gospel isn’t even a lighter shade of grey.   In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes of the glorious light of the gospel, and the ministry which every believer is responsible for carrying out in the world. And knowing full well that in the sharing of this gospel we’re often met with rejection, the Apostle says; “Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:1, ESV). But how can we not lose heart!? Our loved ones are perishing! Our friends know nothing of the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ! How can we not lose heart!?   The answer is simple: We don’t lose heart because the God who worked a miracle in our hearts is more than capable of doing the same in others. Paul tells us that the state of every unbelieving person is one of spiritual blindness. The unbelieving simply cannot see the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So how is it that we do? How is it that anyone does? Paul answers this with an incredible statement in verse 6; “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in [...]

Recently, someone called in to the Back to the Bible Canada office wanting to know, if I had been an American, how I would be voting in the upcoming US election.  Of course, there is no upside to answering such a question.  And furthermore, Back to the Bible Canada exits to declare the gospel by remaining faithful to expositional Bible teaching.  In many places, our ministry and teaching have been accepted because it is not about politics. Rather it focuses on the gospel, the Bible, and faithfulness to our Lord Jesus.  Political discussion is not our ministry mandate, nor mine. This is not a new idea for me.  Long before coming to Back to the Bible Canada, I had refused to use my pulpit as a means of encouraging the election of one candidate over another.  I’m aware that, especially among our neighbors to the south, it’s quite common for prominent churches to invite presidential candidates to speak. During my 15 years pastoring a large church through multiple election cycles, several candidates requested to come and greet our congregation. I welcomed them to join us in worship and even acknowledged them, but I held firmly to my principle. Using the “Lord’s Day,” the worship of God’s people, or the pulpit to promote one candidate over another was simply out of the question. Is this a Biblical approach? I am not unaware of the significance of some of the moral issues that we face.  I still believe that the abortion of children is a great crime against God and humanity.  I am fully aware of the candidates that support this evil practice.  There are other matters, such as euthanasia, whose long-term effects will dull the value of human life.  I might also cite the new ethic surrounding sex and sexuality.  Why [...]

Several years ago now, a popular magazine posted a list of 21 books they claim are no longer necessary to read. Their reasoning? These books have, in their opinion, lost relevance and no longer hold meaning for our culture. Among that list was the Bible.   Now, it seems likely the magazine included the Bible to provoke a reaction and boost readership. Given that many print publications face declining readership, it’s probable this list was crafted to drive interest and attract subscribers. However, it’s far more likely that this magazine itself may fade from cultural relevance long before the Bible does—but I’ll return to that thought later.   Eric Metaxas, the brilliant biographer, offered a powerful response to the article. He asked, “Why do we have a seven-day week? And why is this the year 2018? And why is the average Westerner literate at all?” His answer is simple: “the Bible.”   Metaxas points out that without the Bible, we lose the ability to understand much of Western culture. He points out works of art like the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta, and the Last Supper. He also says we can’t understand Dante, Milton or Bach. We won’t be able to understand the allusions in Shakespeare, nor what gave rise to the abolition of slavery. Martin Luther King’s “Letters from the Birmingham Jail” are unintelligible.   Of course, Metaxas has only scratched the surface. The development of both modern English and German languages was based on the Bible. The very nature of our society as one based on a common understanding of right and wrong finds its foundation in the Bible. The modern scientific enterprise found its root system in the Bible. And furthermore, the Bible still leads the world in terms of volumes of sales. In spite of the fact [...]

We have a Choice We are surrounded by several election cycles. I write on the eve of a provincial vote in BC. A federal election is looming, and it is impossible to ignore the presidential election in the U.S. I have no comment on which direction any of this balloting could go or should go. I am struck by what a privilege the democratic process is. It is an opportunity for our voices to be heard on things that affect everyone. I encourage every believer to participate in the process before them. I consider it a Christian freedom and duty to vote. Many factors go into the decision we make at a polling station - our moral values, our local context, the quality of candidates, our understanding of what civil authorities should be doing. This last criterion requires a bit of unfolding. God Still Rules Christians know that God establishes the governing authorities. "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God" (Rom.13:1). Paul ties no conditions to his instruction. Whatever authority exists does so by the sovereign purpose of God. Regardless of quality, morality, competence, favourability or effectiveness, the authorities which exist are the servants of God. That doesn't mean that every authority recognizes God's hand upon them, nor that they yield to His Word. In fact, most don't. But we are told that even poor authorities deserve our submission, respect and exemplary conduct (1 Pet.2:13-17). Above all, we are commanded to pray for all who govern (1 Tim.2:1-3). Since God is sovereign, Jesus told us to pray, "Thy Kingdom come." It is this petition that is causing problems for some. Two Kingdoms How does God unfold His Kingdom so that His [...]

In life, we have two ways of living: getting and receiving. Both ways can support us, but they feel very different. When I’m getting, I’m the one in charge. But when I’m receiving, I’m the one being helped. When I focus on getting, I think about words like work, earn, achieve, deserve, and ambition. These words are connected to how I feel about myself. I see my life as a result of my hard work and success. I might think, “This is my house,” or “I have to do well at my job.” I want to hold on to what I have. This can lead to fear because if my success is all about what I can do, then anything can be taken away from me. But there’s another way to live: receiving. When I’m receiving, I’m the one being blessed. I think about words like gifts, kindness, and grace. These words don’t depend on what I do; they remind me that I get things without needing to earn them. Instead of worrying about losing what I have, I feel humble, amazed, and grateful. I think, “Why do I deserve this?” Instead of my efforts being the center of my life, it’s all about Grace, the Giver. When I look at my life, I see both ways are there. No one can do everything by themselves; we all have responsibilities. But I’m often surprised by how much of my life comes from the receiving side. I didn’t earn sunsets, laughter with family, fresh air, or moments of joy. These gifts are given to me. The Bible reminds us that everything we have is a gift: “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7, NIV). Even my paycheck is proof that I’ve received help along the way. [...]

Recently I had a fruitful conversation with a bright and articulate young man. I find that so many people are reading their Bibles and are able to interact with it both intelligently and through the eyes of faith. The conversation brought up some basic principles of Bible study. Let me suggest six key factors in learning to study your Bible well.   1. Commit to a lifetime discipline of actually reading the Bible. No method can substitute for the person who actually reads Scripture. I often recommend that one read through Scripture in chronological order every year. There are a number of guides that will assist in this endeavour. Back to the Bible Canada produces a calendar every year for this.   2. Read the Bible to discover its plain meaning. One of the great mistakes is that we spiritualize the text or believe that the Bible has a meaning which ordinary Bible readers won’t be able to understand. While it is true that some Bible texts are poetic and others are highly symbolic, the vast majority of Bible texts can be understood by anyone with appropriate reading skills.   3. Ask the Holy Spirit to take your sinful ego out of your Bible reading. Let’s be honest. A great many Bible passages deeply impact our sinful pride. The Bible consistently speaks about our inability to please God. It confronts us in our sins and commands us to repent. It tells us that God’s ways are just and ours are not. Finally, it repeatedly reminds us that, without redemption, we are eternally lost. These thoughts are an affront to human pride; we will always find the Bible to be unwelcome unless the Holy Spirit changes our heart so that Its message is welcome in our lives.   4. Learn to [...]

It was 10 days before my 10th birthday that I came to faith in Jesus. Providentially, my faith journey began right around the same time the stomach aches started.  My young faith limped along as I clung to Him and screamed out to Him from intense pain, uncertainty and endless, invasive procedures. Those weeks in the hospital were excruciating. I felt some level of comfort knowing that people were praying for me but honestly, many didn’t understand. Thankfully, the other kids I met in the hospital fully understood. Unlike other kids our age, our thoughts weren’t on bikes or birthday parties or building forts or the snacks in our lunch boxes. Instead, we held each other’s hands as we breathed through pain, endured endless tests, mourned the loss of friends on our ward. We talked of death as if it was the natural conversation of any preteen. It sobers a kid ya know; it stealthily re-aligns your priorities without your knowing and provides a wisdom far beyond your young years. And then came diagnosis. It was Crohn’s Disease. I was 12.   It’s fascinating to me how life-changing, traumatic moments have a precise clarity to them, like images forever etched in our memory. I vividly remember the concerned look on the doctors’ faces, my mom’s tears (she tried to hide them), the treatment plan, the medications. There are other memories too. Memories of well-meaning family and friends praying for my healing. Memories of unsolicited remedies being offered endlessly. Adults whispered in my presence.  Some insisted there must be a reason for me being sick, while others just wanted to fix it.  Suffering isn’t something we’re very comfortable with, is it?  We don’t want it, and we struggle to effectively encourage others going through it. But the Scriptures are clear. Faith doesn’t excuse us [...]

The date is October 24, 1526.  English Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall was preaching a sermon in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.  His sermon that day was directed against a copy of the New Testament, translated into the English language by William Tyndale.  From that sermon against an English translation of the Bible, Bishop Tunstall then held a public bonfire, burning copies of the Tyndale Translation.  Three years later, in the summer of 1529, Tunstall purchased the entire stock of Tyndale Bibles from Antwerp, and held an even bigger bonfire.  Not satisfied with that, the bishop of Cambrai then held a trial for Tyndale, which led to the burning of Tyndale himself.[1]   Tyndale’s Bible was preceded by another translation.  Martin Luther translated the New Testament into the German language in 1522, while hidden in the Wartburg Castle.  Luther added his Old Testament and Apocrypha translation in 1534.  It was two years after his translation of the entire Bible that Tyndale was burned in England.   To many, unfamiliar with how the Bible came to us, the burning of William Tyndale, and Luther becoming a fugitive strikes us as strange.  Why would church leaders work so hard to keep the Bible from the hands of everyday people?  It can be argued that before the invention of the printing press, Bibles were expensive, rare and hard to acquire.   And yet, going as far back as the ancient Jews in the time of Jesus, Old Testaments were available in local synagogues and were intended to be read and heard by all of God’s people.  This familiarity with the Hebrew Scriptures made it possible for the proclamation that Jesus was the fulfilment of all that was written in the law and the prophets.  Indeed, as the early church grew, thousands of copies of the writings [...]

How easy it is for human beings to make quick judgments of others on a daily basis! How often do we fail to hear from the perspective of the ones we so easily condemn? Let me illustrate an example that I will never forget. In the church where I used to serve, I remember one time just before one of our annual Christmas productions was about to start, the fire department suddenly showed up. Apparently, they had received a phone call from someone in our church indicating that our performances did not meet fire regulations.

"Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to your gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and save."   - Isaiah 46:3-4

It is said there is wisdom in our senior years. Education, experience, and reflection yield insight reserved for the second half of life. What needs to be recognized is that senior sages are not simply a well of answers. They also learn to embrace the mystery of life. Their wisdom is evident in becoming comfortable with not knowing the answers. The Psalm above reflects the wise acknowledgement that there are things above our understanding. Rather than trying to solve the questions that can't be solved, the writer nestles into the arms of God, and is quieted by the hope placed in Him. A peaceful posture of wisdom.

"…the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you..."                                                                                                                                                                                                                Deut. 7:7-8 (ESV).   Written for Both Sides These articles flow from the premise that the first and the second halves of our lives are different. The "far side of 50" is not simply an extension of the "near side of 50." Of course, there is commonality and overlap in this simplistic division, but still, the halves are unique in situation, circumstance and purpose. The distinction between them is not caused simply by the addition of years. God designed us this way to deliver unique lessons in their appropriate season. The previous article suggested that in our society, the purpose of the second half is diminished, even ignored. The near side of 50 tries to avoid what is coming. The far side of 50 longs to return to what was. Many assume that the tools and means we employed to get to 50 will be sufficient for us to navigate beyond 50. But new territory with new purpose will require new insights and discoveries. God wants to take us further, even deeper. As one who has been on the far side of 50 for a while, I'm trying to articulate some of the significant lessons God has unfolded in my aging. I am not suggesting that I have mastered the material, but I can name what is written on the blackboard. His instruction has not been about making a will, [...]

“O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come." Ps 71:17-18 (ESV). The Psalm's author testifies that throughout his life, God has been his help and his hope. In his youth, God taught him. In his senior years, God has purpose and power to give. So in youth and in maturity, God has been faithful. The same holds true for us all. In every stage of life there is something to gain and something to do for God. Still, some struggle to live well in the season God has for them. Looking Over the Fence It's possible to think that we are on the wrong side of 50. If 50 years is a proximate marker of half of our lives, those on either side may look wistfully over the fence. The younger side can feel overwhelmed with raising families, forming careers, buying a home and building a life. They long for the time past 50, when the kids are established, careers are secure, the mortgage is paid, and the freedom of retirement knocks at their door. Those on the far side of 50 look to their youth and wish for muscles and joints that don't creak or pop getting out of a chair. They long for the sound of family in the house, the purposeful energy of younger days and being in the center of things instead of the periphery. While our time is in God's hands (Ps.31:15), we might prefer to be elsewhere. Those under 50 glance to the future, believing life will be easier. Those over 50 long for the past when [...]