Rev's Ramblings

Sun 14 Feb

Valentine's Day is usually celebrated by giving a card or flowers or a gift so that the one you are giving to will know you like them, even love them. You seek to get their attention and their heart. When Jesus looks at the religious practice of giving, he turns Valentine type thinking on its head. When...

Sun 7 Feb

When I was taken to church in the 1960s, one of the things that was drummed into me was the Lord's Prayer. At a particular part of the service, the minister would recite the Lord's Prayer and the people in church would follow his recitation by saying the Lord's Prayer themselves. I was on of those who...

Sun 31 Jan

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). One of the most well know and loved Bible verses in John 3:16 which speaks of God's love for the world. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls His...

Sun 24 Jan

Revenge is a powerful emotion. It drives us to do more things we normally would not contemplate. It occurs more frequently than we realize. The last time we were cut off by a driver on a roundabout - did we want to get even? We were picked on at school - did you want to retaliate in some way? You were...

Sun 17 Jan

The tradesman says he will be there at 9am! You promise to pray for a friend going through a difficult time. You go guarantor your son's car loan. You tell your children you will get them an ice-cream after you have finished mowing the lawn. We recognize each of these scenarios, for we have been caught up...

Sun 3 Jan

The taking of human life is common place. Abortion, domestic violence, terrorist activities all reflect something of how easily human life is taken. Where did such a low view of human life start? Why is the value of human life not honoured? At times it would appear that a whale or penguin or a chicken has...

Sun 27 Dec

We've spent several weeks preparing for Christmas, putting up decorations, preparing for family get together and work parties. But now it is all over, what is next? Working out how to pay off a maxed out credit card? Considering how we might remove the extra grams we put on from too much Christmas food?...

Sun 13 Dec

There is much that captivates people at Christmas. The lights put up around houses. The parties and good will wishes. The giving of gifts. We could stand back and ponder what does captivate us at Christmas? Yet there is a searching question we should ask ourselves as we journey through the Christmas...

Sun 6 Dec

Teaching children manners can be an exacting art. Instilling “Please” and “Thank you” can be time consuming. Teaching which fork or plate to use. Maybe you have interesting memories of when you were a child and the manners your parents tried to teach you. The apostle Paul faced a challenging time in the...

Sun 29 Nov

What is involved in being a member of a church? On the day of Pentecost when God added some 3,000 to the number of disciples, Peter made it quite clear what was involved in being a disciple and a member. “God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When a disciple of Jesus states this...