Sermons by Rev. John Tapscott (Page 6)
GOD IS MINDFUL
If you have the opportunity this summer, look up at the sky on a clear night, especially if you’re in the countryside. I try to do it at least once each summer. It really is amazing. You see an uncountable number of bright stars from one horizon to another. The full moon appears so bright and large. It seems you could almost reach out and touch it, even though…
GOT THE SPIRIT
Some years ago a piece of music was written entitled “Got the Spirit.” It was actually a jazz piece with a gospel feel to it. Now the title was a statement, “Got the Spirit.” But I’ve put a question mark behind it, “Got the Spirit?” Do you and I have the Holy Spirit? And if you say, “Yes, I’ve got the Spirit,” how do you know that you have the Spirit?…
THE SHAKING OF THE FOUNDATIONS
I have never experienced an earthquake. The places I’ve lived are not really prone to earthquakes, at least not large ones. But some places in North America are, especially on the West Coast where they are still expecting the “Big One.” People who have experienced an earthquake say that it’s an unsettling experience. The…
HE TORMENTS OUR TORMENTORS
The hockey season is coming to an end. One more series. The Stanley Cup Champion will soon be crowned. It may be a team many of do not like very much. I apologize if you are a Boston Bruins fan, but I am not. A question was recently sent in to Kevin McGran, the editor of the Toronto Star sports mailbag. A fan named Carlos wrote, “Leaf…
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. …