We’ve all felt them. The Apostle Peter warned us about them a long time ago. Fiery trials. Paul describes them as the fiery darts of the wicked. Their sting can completely unnerve and overwhelm us, sending our trust up in flames. But Peter says, “Don’t think those trials to be strange. Rejoice! Glory is coming!!” … Read more
What is it about music that moves us? Why is it that a song has the power to call forth our emotions, to elicit such joy and sorrow, such pleasure? After all, we are just talking about sound waves here. Why the magic? The unbeliever makes a weak stab at this question, but the mystery … Read more
Our nation is reeling in shock from the culture wars, chaos in our streets, breakdown of our Judeo-Christian foundations. How should the church react? To what is our Lord calling us? The words of the prophet Joel reach us over the ages. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the … Read more
Just a week away from Thanksgiving, my mind goes back over 400 years in time to remember those who started it all. This little band of believers suffered under the pressure of the State Church of England, who bullied them, forced them to pay church tax, and sometimes imprisoned them for no good reason. All … Read more
Some of you may remember this old hit from the ‘70’s sung by Chad and Jeremy. A group by the name of “Delirious” did a new version, quite beautiful, and in the opinion of some, musically superior to the original. After a close listen, I have to agree. The song catches the dilemma of modern … Read more
None of us can fathom the mystery of God. But that does not mean that our faith is a blind “leap into the dark”. Faith, by definition, is always based on what God speaks to us personally, just as He did to Abraham, the father of faith. And our Father has graciously spoken to us … Read more
What is faith? Imagine this. You’ve gone for a hike to the top of Mt.Chocorua in the White Mountains and lingered just a little too long at the summit. Taking a shortcut to get down the mountain before dark, you become disoriented. What seemed like a straight shot was a huge mistake, and everywhere you … Read more
It’s a trip of a lifetime for us, a dream come true. Our first stop was Helsinki, a beautiful, squeaky clean and uncomplicated city. Flowers abounded in bright blues and sunny yellows, gracing stately white buildings. Our friend and guide, Joonas, took us out on a ferry to one of the islands in the Baltic … Read more
A lifetime dream come true – a summer vacation in Finland! Our young Finnish friend had escorted us all over the beautiful city of Helsinki. It seemed that everywhere we looked, blue and white flowers were springing up, echoing the colors of the Finnish flag. We toured the cathedral near the Gulf of Bothnia, marveled … Read more
Many of us who know no better have an idyllic picture of growing up on a farm. So let’s debunk the sweet myth of childhood farm life. Truth be told, life on the farm was full of bumps and bruises, literally and figuratively. We can start by taking a look at the workload. Children were … Read more