A few days ago the Australian people voted their national government out of office. Elected in 2008, it has been considered by many on both sides of the political spectrum to be the worst government the nation has ever had. ‘Inept’ ‘bungling’ ‘wasteful’ ‘careless’ ‘irresponsible’ ‘selfish’ ‘foolish’ ‘incompetent’ ‘useless’ – these are just some of the words used to describe the last six years we have endured. Having decided some time ago not to take sides with any political party, I can’t say, nevertheless that I disagree with those descriptions. Certainly it has been a government of Continue reading “Each Flipped and Flopped Frequently”
It Was not God who Looked Silly
The leader of our nation (until last Saturday) who says he is a Christian, told his audience on national television earlier in the week that the fundamental principle of the New Testament is, “one of universal love – loving your fellow man.” He said this in response to a pastor’s question on why He had “chopped and changed” his view on same-sex marriage. The pastor and most Bible-Christians believe he did it simply to get a popular vote. Like all “deeply religious” church-goers who are hell-bent on defending their views on this topic, his well-rehearsed-in-advance Continue reading “It Was not God who Looked Silly”
Clergymen are Scratching their Heads
The mother of a twelve year old girl sexually abused by a seventy-nine year old clergyman in January of this year has refused to accept his apology and request for forgiveness. She said his letter to the family, in which he asked for forgiveness, was “puerile and self-serving.” The Crown prosecutor told the Court the man displayed a lack of remorse and a “concerning lack of insight into the fact that he has done wrong by an extremely young child.” The mother said the most devastating thing was that she couldn’t erase from her mind the irreparable damage he’s caused her daughter. The young girl previously normal and outgoing now struggles Continue reading “Clergymen are Scratching their Heads”
Churches That Have a High Rotation of Pastors
As a matter of curiosity, I checked out the website of a church in my community the other day and was amazed to discover that since its inception sixty-six years ago it has had twenty-three pastors. That averages out at one pastor every 2.86 years! Four pastors look to have been there for four years, one for five years, two for six years and one for seven years. That averages the other fifteen pastors out at staying for 1.7 years! I spent the next few minutes checking the history of other churches to see if they had a list of former pastors but couldn’t find any. It’s probably just as well. In fact, if I was pastor of that church I would Continue reading “Churches That Have a High Rotation of Pastors”
The Chief of All Sins
I’ve been thinking about the chief of all sins of late. It is the rejection of Jesus Christ – unbelief. Not rejection of Him by those in the unbelieving world, but rather, by those in the church. The greatest sin we have in the church today is unbelief. For surely this is happening when men and women within it seek to deny, water down, overlook or by-pass what the Bible clearly tell us about the need for living in holiness, godliness and righteousness. When we in the pews embrace the “theology” of religious rebels and fools standing in pulpits, we too become religious rebels and fools. God Continue reading “The Chief of All Sins”
Cowering Behind Skirts of Political Correctness
Comments from Hal Lindsey (article here) struck a chord with me this week: “I believe, too, that the justification for the prosecution of individual Christians will be our refusal to follow the dictates of political correctness……..Satan’s real goal is to convince men that there are MANY roads to heaven. So, if he can make us unwilling to suggest that one way is better than another way – for instance, capitalism is better than collectivism, democracy is better than theocracy, life is better than death, or heterosexuality is better than homosexuality – then he can set the stage for prosecuting Christians for claiming that Christianity is the better way because it is the ONLY way to heaven.” Did you Continue reading “Cowering Behind Skirts of Political Correctness”
Uncountable Tyrants Rule the Day
A young man once told me he believed the gospel of Jesus Christ to be true. When asking if he wanted to take advantage of it by surrendering his life to the Lord he declined saying, “It would mean I have to change my life.” After listening to responses containing all sorts of objections, justifications and excuses, his response was, in one sense, a breath of fresh air. Another honest reply came from a woman, “I’m not handing my life over to anyone.” Another one asked, “What’s with you, can’t you manage your own life?” He was not impressed when I responded in the negative! Why is it Continue reading “Uncountable Tyrants Rule the Day”
The “Jesus never said anything about it” Crowd
The following comment grabbed my attention the other day, “The trouble is men are not willing to let the Scriptures say what they want to say. This is largely due to their training, environment, prejudice or desire to make the Scriptures teach some favorite doctrine.” Clarence Larkin (1850-1924). It was in reference to his day that he made the comment; if he were alive now I wonder what comments he would make about our day! I wonder what he would say to those who say to us Jesus wants His people to be financially and materially rich. What would he say to those who say Continue reading “The “Jesus never said anything about it” Crowd”
God’s Last Resort Language
Over the past twenty-five years a mother has suffered the loss of three sons. Now ninety-three years of age, she wants to know what she did wrong. When family members tell her it’s not her fault she cannot accept it. Another mother suffered the loss of three sons within ten years. In her eighties when I meet her, she too asked the question, “What have I done wrong?” It took her a few weeks to accept the reality that she was not to blame. A young mother’s four year-old son was lying gravely ill in hospital and she said, “I think God is punishing me.” Why do people point the finger Continue reading “God’s Last Resort Language”
Amazing Grays, Amazing Grace – Book Review
The important question is not how, why, where, or when; the important question is “Who?” This book is a collection of scripturally-based true stories offered for the sole purpose of sharing how horses allow us to find a closer relationship with God. Woven into the fabric of the message is love, correction, wonderment, obedience, accountability, success, failure, birth, and death. But the heartbeat that gives each life is a relationship with the Lord.
The above paragraph is lifted Continue reading “Amazing Grays, Amazing Grace – Book Review”