Salvogesis

I have spent the past few days and nights cleaning and packing. I'm exhausted. We've been working around the clock getting the house all ready for our move out west. The truck came today to take our belongings. We go soon but first we have to finish cleaning. I remember once, a few years ago, maybe after an earlier move when we were living out of boxes still. Susan and the girls were away for the weekend so I thought I would clean the laundry room. We had quite a large laundry room in our basement then. It was a big job: washing everyone's laundry, putting it away, vacuuming, washing walls and floors, cleaning the kitty litter box that was also in that room, washing down the machines and the windows. It took me the whole weekend of working hard but when I was finished it was the cleanest room in the house and everything was put away. Sunday night they came home and Monday morning I headed off to work. When I came home from work where do you think that all of them were? ...

Galatians 5:19-25: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.             But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  2 Timothy 2:14-16:  Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who...

At Commissioning this year, Commissioner Susan McMillan read from the book of Jude. The book of Jude reminds me of the title of an old Clint Eastwood film, “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Jude in this very short letter that we are looking at today is telling us how to be good in the face of the bad and the ugly. The Book of Jude has been called the most neglected book in the New Testament.[2] Thus there are a couple of things we should probably know about Jude: Do we know who in all probability wrote the letter Jude? (Jude) Jude is a nickname. Do we know what Jude is short for? (Jude is short for ‘Judah’ in Hebrew and ‘Judas’ in Greek; they are the same name). The author of this letter is probably either the disciple named Judas (not Judas Iscariot because, among other reasons, he was dead when this letter was written: Matthew 27:3-8, Acts 1:18-19) or more likely this Jude is Jesus’ biological brother, Judas (cf. Jude 1:1; cf. also Matthew 13:55, John 7:3-10, Acts 1:14, 1 Corint...

The other day a good soldier came into my office as I am  about to be transferred and he asked me to interrogate him. He wanted me to help him discern if he has been a good soldier and a good christian. Another officer had done this for him in the past. It was important to him so I agreed. I complimented the soldier on his musical abilities and willingness to perform for the Army at food banks, soup kitchens, talent nights, and Sunday services. I encouraged him in his faithfulness in participating in our 7am prayer walks around our community every week. I told him I was pleased with his regular reading of the Word. I asked him how he was progressing at managing his temper. He said he was doing fine. The very next day this same friend called me to complain against God and his fellow saints because he was not receiving the sort of attention he felt he deserved. He felt that he was being left out of ministry opportunities and was quite upset. We followed up on our conversation fro...

We are moving. We have lived in the same place for a few years. My children have grown up a bit. My youngest is too old for the board books she read when we got here. The hobbies and interests of my teenagers have changed a lot. The clothes that the kids like have changed and of course the clothes that fit them when we moved here no longer fit. We need to examine everything. We need to evaluate whether we need to take it with us across the country to our new home or not. We have to decide if it is valuable and worth keeping or whether we should get rid of it. Paul is saying something similar to the Corinthians. They need to test themselves to see whether they are in the faith or not. If they are not then there are somethings in their life they need to jettison and not bring with them into their new lives. There is even more to this passage too. This part is important. John Wesley spoke about examining ourselves regularly to see if indeed we are Christians or if we are almost Chri...

If I am going to heaven why do I need to read my Bible? If Christ has saved me why do I need to read my Bible? It is confusing. I can't read that well. It takes time. Abraham and Isaac didn't need to read the Bible to go to heaven; why do I need to read my Bible? My oldest two daughters are taking exams this week. They are their final examinations for grade 10 and 11 respectively. I was speaking with one of them today. She told me that she has 88% going into the exam. The exam is only worth 50% of her mark; so even if she doesn't get a single question right on the exam she will still pass the course. She is still studying for the exam. She wants to know as much of the subject matter as she can. She wants to be able to achieve as well as she possibly can. She wants to know more and she wants to perform well. She wants to do this for herself, her friends, family, and teachers. And the knowledge in the course will be very useful, it will make next year at school easier as ...

On the anniversary of D-Day, we solemnly remember this historic event and pay our respects to the lives of our comrades whose death we mourn but whose spirits still live on. Let us pray: Almighty God. To paraphrase a now famous D-day prayer: Our soldiers, they were sore tried, by night and by day, without rest— until the victory was won. The darkness was rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls were shaken with the violence of war. For those who served were drawn from the ways of peace. They fought not for the lust of conquest. They fought to end conquest; hoping to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people, yearning but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some, however, did not return to their home here but rather to their eternal home with Thee. Continue to embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. We are here today Lord to commemorate those who lived and died through the battles of D-day. W...