Truth, What’s it Worth?

truth “Buy the truth and sell it not..” Proverbs 23:23a

A few years back while jogging through the neighbourhood, I came across a gentleman who began talking with me. We talked about his house and land that had a small farm attached to it which he had owned for well over 40 years. An expression of pride and joy beamed across his face as he told me about spending everything he had to get the land and then building the house with his own two hands. As we talked I enjoyed the vigor and passion with which this man spoke of his land, he had such a love for it. He said that there was no price someone could offer him that he would be willing to give up his piece of paradise as he called it. He said that none could match the price that he paid for the land. This struck me as I began to think of the weight of his words. There is a spiritual parallel with this train of thought as we should not be willing to sell this precious truth that we hold so dear.  (more…)

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Is it Time for an Oil Change?

heart changeThis object lesson was inspired by a long overdue oil change in my car. Without changing the oil, the engine cannot function properly which can lead to very costly damages.  As I entered a gas station in a little town in the middle of northern BC, this is what I heard:

There are many types of oil in the world, I will highlight two, crude oil (unregenerated, destructive and likened to this world and our sinful past); and refined oil of the Holy Ghost – that’s Jesus in us – regenerated and renewed.  (more…)

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Puzzling Isn’t It?

puzzle pieceI sat beside a psychoanalyst on the plane on my way back from St. Louis and discussed the status of young people in our society and how they are affected by the condition of our world. She informed me that from her study and observation adolescents in our society today have not lost their desire or ambition to become a great contributor to society, but merely have become lost in the fragmented society in which we reside.

I got to thinking about this; it’s like a puzzle that doesn’t seem to want to work. All the pieces are on the table and yet it feels like there are still missing pieces. Have you ever looked for that missing puzzle piece? Ever finished a puzzle and still had a piece missing? That feeling of the puzzle not being complete can drive you crazy.  (more…)

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Amazing Love

Amazing loveRecently a friend commented, “I wish someone would look at me, like some people look at menus.”

It was such an unusual and thought provoking statement that it stuck with me for days. I think at the core of this expression there is a longing that resonates in each of us to be known completely, desired, and loved unconditionally. Most of us long for this kind of unconditional love and search for it through human relationships. Hollywood often portrays the message that if you could just meet the right person, your soulmate, you would find this kind of a relationship. As I was pondering the almost universal longing in this statement, (more…)

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A Proper Perspective

mountain perspective“How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel! Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. Numbers 24:5-6 NIV

What a beautiful picture this passage of scripture depicts. To hear the writer describe it, one would think it was a vacation destination in the tropics. Let’s go!

The truth is a little less exciting to our short sighted natures. This was the picture of Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years after they had sinned against God by refusing to believe and obey His commands. They were in a hot, barren wilderness waiting for all of those 20 years and over to die before God would give them another opportunity to enter into His promise. It sounds pretty bleak, but that’s not how God viewed it. Let’s consider three points of interest.  (more…)

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How to Have a Better Day

lightstock_214470_medium_phil_smallerI’ve had the privilege of growing up going to church and I can say it is simply the greatest place to be.

There are many places and things to busy ourselves with. We find ourselves doing one thing or another, going to one place or another or perhaps your week has just bogged you down. It’s worth the effort and sacrifice to make ones way to church where you will find new strength.

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