Christian Integrity: “Stand Firm: Evaluating our Spiritual House”
Podcast Audio: This is the final week we will be spending on Psalm 15. We have been going through it for nine weeks now, and it has been a challenging, […]
Christian Integrity: Using Wealth Well Because of God’s Amazing Grace
Sermon Audio: We are saved by Grace. We cannot know God, be forgiven, get to heaven, or be saved from our sin, unless God is willing to give us grace. Graceless Amazing Grace The song Amazing Grace says, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” Now listen to this article I found online: “In recent […]
Christian Integrity: Keep Your Vows
Here’s the Audio for this sermon: For the past while we’ve been studying the characteristics of a person and a Christian of integrity. We’re asking the question, “what does it mean to look and act like a Christian, and a Christian church?” It all starts with the first verse, the question that is asked at the of the list, “LORD, […]
Christian Integrity: Honouring The Faithful
Here’s the audio for the sermon: You may have noticed that I changed the title of this series. Instead of being “Being People of Integrity”, I’ve simply called it “Christian Integrity”, and that’s because I believe that it’s important to distinguish the fact that we are specifically talking about the characteristics of a person and church of faith. These things […]
Integrity: Reject the Vile – Dealing with Unrepentant Sin in the Church (Part 2)
Last week I presented a problem: What do we do with hypocritical people who call themselves Christians, but continue to love their sin? This week I want to look at a biblical solution. This is all part of a series on Psalm 15 which talks about what it looks like to be a person of Christian Integrity. We can probably […]
Integrity: Rejecting the Vile – Dealing with Unrepentant Sin in the Church (Part 1)
What we are talking about in this series is how to be a person of Christian Integrity. To do that we are examining what Psalm 15 says about what it means to look like a Christian. I don’t mean how to be superficial in our faith, nor is this a list of ways to impress God or earn salvation. What […]
Integrity: Loving Your Neighbour & How to End Discrimination
For the past couple weeks, and the next few, we are looking at what it means to look like a Christian. Saying that it is controversial because a lot of […]
Integrity: Speaking the Truth
I asked you last week to start meditating on Psalm 15 and Colossians 3:1-17. The more I considered these passages, the more I realized that this is where we needed to go for the next while. We’re going to put our Mark Study on hold for a little while and park on Psalm 15. We’ve talked about it before, a […]
The Importance of Integrity
As we set out into 2014, a word that I want us each to ponder, to reflect on, and to think about is the word “Integrity.” It’s a big, important word, and has been significant in my devotional life for a long while. It comes up all the time. I’m reading through the Bible right now and am in the […]
The Cathedral of Your Heart – Preparing for Easter by Looking Inward
Podcast Audio: Let’s start with a couple of short stories: I remember, a while back, going to a fancy restaurant on my parent’s 25th anniversary. We had a great meal, and my brother had bought a bottle of Dom Pérignon, which was pretty good too. After the appetizer we were served a small bowl of orange sorbet. I thought, “Wow! […]
Context, CLRA & the CBOQ
We’re just beginning a new series on the Gospel of John. Last week we did a bit of an overview of who John was, and his audience was, how John’s gospel fits in with the other three, and that the major theme is introducing and defending who Jesus really is. He’s writing decades after the other three gospels were written. […]
The GoodFaith Blog
I want to introduce you to The GoodFaith Blog, where I share my thoughts on faith, family, books, and culture.
Cosmic Treason: 4 Modern Idols
Polycarp We don’t know many names of people who were pastors of churches in the time of the Apostles. But we do know who the pastor of the church in Smyrna was. He was a man named Polycarp. Pastor Polycarp. He was born in about 70 AD, in the days of the Apostles, and studied under the apostle John, probably […]
Confronting Sin: The Biblical Steps to Take When Helping Somone Caught in Sin
Audio: Text: Anosmia Have you ever heard of “Anosmia”? It’s a fancy word describing the inability to smell and thousands of Canadians have this problem. I read a little about it this week and it’s actually a much more serious problem then one would think because our nose is something that keeps us safe. Why do we sniff leftovers or […]
There’s No Deception Like Self-Deception
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they […]
Review of “Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men” by Stephen Mansfield
“Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men” An Utterly Invigorating Guide to Being Your Most Masculine Self Stephen Mansfield and William Boykin Nelson Books – 2013 Summary New York Times best-selling author Stephen Mansfield uses manly maxims, mini-biographies, and stirring illustrations to inspire men to evaluate their lives, raise their standards, and embrace their God-given masculine identity. Review This book is not only […]
“Fly, You Fools!”: Fear, Foolishness & Gandalf
One would think that it would be universally true that no one likes looking like a fool, but that’s not really the case is it? There are countless websites, YouTube channels, gifs, tv shows and blogs that are solely dedicated to watching people do foolish, dangerous, stupid or ridiculous things – and they get thousands, even millions of hits and […]
Life Sucks Then You Die
Please open up to Habakkuk 2, and as you get there let me give you a quick reminder of what we’ve covered so far. Quick Review Habakkuk is a book that show us a conversation between God and one of his prophets about the incredibly sinful things he’s seeing around him. His whole nation was corrupt and He wanted to […]
Simeon & Waiting (Advent 2015)
Welcome to the Season of Advent. Over the past years I’ve really appreciated the this season-before-the-season because I think it’s a wonderful tool and jumping off point for what Christmas is all about. I appreciate the Advent wreath that has one candle lit each week – and having to wait seven days to see the next… and then another seven […]
Scrutinizing Our Path as the New Year Approaches
Podcast Audio: Ant City “For Christmas one year we bought our children what was called, ‘Ant City.’ This consisted of clear plastic plates on either side, filled with sand and […]
The Importance of Knowing Our Core Values
Podcast Audio: It’s important that we remind ourselves what God has been telling us in scripture, in prayer, and through the leadership of the church. Which is why, if you recall before Thanksgiving, we started a short series on our Mission and Core Values statements. What is a Core Value? When we asked the question, “What does God want us to […]
Having Faith During Suffering and Crisis
Podcast Audio: And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of […]
The Demise of Biblical Manhood (a Father’s Day Sermon)
Podcast Audio: The Same Message I’ve been reading a lot about men these days. I just finished The Screwtape Letters and The Abolition of Man by CS Lewis, Happy Happy Happy by Phil Robertson, and am half-way though Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men by Stephen Mansfield. Mansfield is a New York Times best selling author who writes about history and […]
From Shrove Tuesday to Mardi Gras
My nephew was asked to put together a report on Mardi Gras which reminded me of a reflection piece I had written that might be of help to him, and hopefully you too. Throwing the Baby Out With the Bath Water The traditional Christian season of Lent starts on February 13 this year. Christians have been practicing the 40 days […]
My Favourite Leadership Blogs
The internet is full of extremely bad blog writers, but coming across a good one can be a real blessing to spiritual growth and open life to new and challenging ideas. Therefore, I’d like to introduce you to some of my favourite blogs. On a practical note, I’ve been using Google Reader to follow blogs. It’s simple to use, has great interactive […]
Father’s Day “Relationships & Success”
I’m breaking pattern this week so I can share something I wrote for Father’s Day, a sermon based on Psalm 1:1-2. It’s challenging and practical, and I hope will help you next time you have the “I’m worried about the path you’re going down” talk with someone. —— “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the […]
