“False friends” is a term used in linguistics for pairs of words in two languages that look and/or sound the same, but have different meanings. Being embarrassed in English means something rather different than to be embarazada (pregnant) in Spanish.
We live in an age when many mistakenly think that the essence of Christianity is inclusiveness or “unconditional love.”
Read More inclusiveness, circumcision, blameless, covenantRead Reflect After facing death in Asia, Paul traveled to Troas and then to Macedonia to proclaim the good news. We are reminded that travel was difficult in the first century notwithstanding the network of roads built by the Romans. Paul’s words reveal his commitment to his colleagues. He was unable to rest because of […]
Read More covenant, transformation, work of the SpiritDuring my time in pastoral ministry I knew people who remarried after their spouse passed away. Because of the intimate nature of marriage, definite adjustments in lifestyle had to be made. It would be silly and even pointless for the remarried person to treat their new spouse just like the first one …
Read More covenant, law, marriage, dead
Sometimes we miss God’s big picture. This psalm helps us see God in his covenant grace forming and guiding Israel for nearly 600 years from Abraham to Moses.
Read More remembering, covenant, God’s faithfulness, big-pictureEvery once in a while, a new innovation emerges that completely changes how things are done. The horse drawn plow has been replaced by mechanised farm equipment. Flip phones have been replaced by smart phones. In Canada, our paper currency has been replaced by polymer bills.
Read More covenant, priest, innovation, JudaismAccess is all important. What use is there in a fat bank account if you can’t access the funds? We may draw a vague measure of comfort from knowing there is money stored up in our account, but if we can’t access the funds to pay for urgent daily needs how useful is that bank account?
Read More covenant, access to God, nearness to God
Malachi’s harsh words of judgment now fall on the common people. His complaint is that they have been unfaithful in their spiritual and human relationships. They have gone after other gods, worshipping them, even disgracing the temple recently rebuilt. Even when they worship, it is not with the heart.
Read More marriage, judgment, covenant, forgiveness, faithfulness