LOVE IN PERSON
Jesus was once asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Do you find that a rather difficult commandment? Do you find it hard to really love God? Well, many of us do. Perhaps that’s because we feel a distance…
SURROUNDED BY THE SHEPHERD’S CARE
Confirmation Sunday is a special day as we welcome these young people into membership by profession of faith. It is good to do it on Mother’s Day, because we have several proud mothers here and fathers too, along with grandparents and other relatives. Today these young people have confirmed the promises their parents made at their baptism, and accepted for themselves the…
THE COMPLETION OF A GOOD WORK
A couple of times over the last month I have travelled to downtown Toronto to support a person going a challenging medical situation. I take the Go Train from Clarkson to Union Station where I meet the individual before we proceed to the appointment. Now I know some of you often make that trip, perhaps everyday if you work…
THE INDISPENSIBLE FACT
A certain politician was once taken to task for using inaccurate facts in some public statements. We can think of several who qualify. The politician responded by saying that accurate facts do not matter as much as having the right attitude and motivation. Now it’s important to have the right attitudes and motivations, but so too is being factually correct. Right…
JESUS’ PASSWORD
Anyone who uses a computer and the internet knows that you often need a password. Actually you need more than one, since different websites require different forms of passwords. I have about four and it can be a challenge to remember which one I have used for a given site, especially if I haven’t visited that site in a while. Often I have to make a request to create a new…
FILLED WITH THE FRAGRANCE OF NEW LIFE
It’s a bit too early yet, but soon the smell of spring will be all around us. It’s that fresh fragrance that floats through the air as the ground thaws. The newly formed buds on the trees give off their special scent. The soil starts to get soft, warmed by the sun. Even the mud gives off a fresh scent. The fragrance of new life will soon be all around us. …
RESTORING OUR JOY
Last week I told you about how I learned to skate. My first experience on the ice was not a happy one. But after a few more tries I got it. Today I want to tell you about a much more recent experience. Right after Christmas I bought myself a pair of new skates. It was the first new skates I’ve owned in 45 years. The old ones had served me well. But whenever I took…
STANDING, FALLING, STANDING AGAIN
The title of today’s sermon may lead you to think that it’s for people who are learning to skate or ski. Well, it’s not, but I certainly remember my first time on ice. My mother took me one afternoon to the local arena. I was six years old. She put my new skates on, took me out on the ice, and I’m sure she was doing her best to hold me up. But before I even reached…
WHERE WE SEE HIS GLORY
Sometimes we say about someone – “That person really in their glory.” We usually say it when we see someone doing exactly what they want to, or exactly what God intends them to do, using their God-given gifts to the fullest. For example, when we hear and watch John Shillingberg play one of his special organ pieces or when he’s conducting the choir we say, “John’s in his…
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
I read of something that happened a few years ago in Quebec. The story didn’t mention the town or city. Anyway, two brothers, Antony and Jerome, wandered off from their backyard and entered a local Toys R Us store. While amusing themselves Antony and Jerome slipped into a playhouse where they quickly fell asleep. When they woke up, the lights were out, and the store was…