Many people have asked for a good bible-reading plan for 2012.  Here I will list a few recommended plans.  But first a couple of thoughts; foundational or governing principles, if you will.

1) Read your bible. It may seem obvious, but we must be reminded.  The Psalmist knows the importance of reading scripture and reflecting on his own discipline of reading and study he says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

2) Bring discipline to bear. Chaos is the only thing that happens by chance.  Your bible reading will be most profitable when you treat it as a priority, setting aside space in each day.  Consider the discipline needed to continue going to the gym in February or the determination required to get out of debt.  When you hit Leviticus you will be tempted by the I’m-too-busy-to-read syndrome.  In fact, any discussion about time (or money, for that matter) is really a discussion about priorities.  You will always have time to do the things that matter to you.  Reading your bible... continued

We often talk about serving the Lord with our lives; our time, our money, our values, our affections.  But lately I have come to realize the importance of serving our Lord with our mortality.

So many of us prayed for Harry over the past month, and prayed for Doreen as she walked with her husband through his surgeries and long hospital stay.  I will always remember the time I spent with them in the Milton hospital.  I remember these times because of their humanity.  It is an honour to visit sick people in hospital.  But I will keenly remember visiting Harry and Doreen because of the glimpses I caught of of God’s grace.

From the time of his diagnosis unto the time of his death, Harry pointed his family and his friends to his faithful Saviour.  He used his suffering and mortality to remind us all of Jesus’ promises and our great hope.

On the morning of Harry’s passing I called their home.  I was greeted with Harry’s voice on their answering machine.  It touched my heart to hear the voice of this saint only moments after he met his Lord face-to-face.  After the obligatory salutations Harry closed off his... continued

I’ve started to notice Christmas music playing in coffee pubs; some good, some not-so-good.

So I’ve decided to pass along some of my favourite Advent and Christmas music.

The Messiah – George Frideric Handel 

Behold the Lamb of God – Andrew Peterson

Songs for Christmas – Sufjan Stevens

Glory in the Highest – Chris Tomlin

As the end of the year approaches, everywhere we turn someone is telling us we should be happy. But for families who’ve lost someone they love, the holidays can seem more like something to survive than to enjoy. The traditions and events that can add so much joy and meaning to the season are punctuated with painful, repeated reminders of loss. Many grieving people wish they could find a quiet place to hide until January 2.

So is there any joy to be found in the midst of the holidays when you are grieving the loss of someone you love?

Read this Joy to This Cursed World by Nancy Guthrie.

Every year I am asked how Christian families ought to observe (or not observe, as the case may be) Halloween.

I came across this good, thoughtful and faithful paper.  it is worth a read. Sent into the Harvest: Halloween on Mission

I fear that we have lost something in the fray of pro-trick-or-treaters v. anti-trick-or-treaters.

On October 31st, 1517 a Roman monk, named Martin Luther, nailed an essay to the church door in Wittenberg.  The essay was entitled Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, but is commonly known as his 95 Theses.  Historians point to this moment as the beginning of the Reformation of the church.

In this unprecedented act of courage and devotion to Christ, Martin Luther began to strip away the layers of medieval myth, exposed the corruption of the papacy and returned Christians to the confidence found in the simple gospel of grace.

Maybe the answer to the trick-or-treat question lies in recovering one of the greatest heroes of the faith, remembering and celebrating his life-message and thanking God for never leaving the Church without prophets who call us back to the scriptures – and... continued

Paul wrote to the fledgling church in Rome, a church he did not start.  Scholars speculate that it was started by Roman Jews who had returned home after the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2.  Having heard the gospel preached by Peter, they returned to their homes in the great city as converts to Christ.  Paul writes to them during his third missionary journey and from Corinth.  He has many reasons for writing, including his desire to stop over in Rome on his way to Spain.  He presents a fleshed out gospel, addressing some pastoral concerns in the new church, implicitly asking the Roman Christians to receive his gospel, his ministry and allow him to use Rome as a missionary base for his work in the Eastern part of the Empire.

We have spent 3 Wednesday evenings in Romans and find ourselves at chapter 1, verse 7.

In reading Romans again, and again, over the past few weeks chapter 1, verse 5 jumped out at me.  Paul declares that he has received grace and/for apostleship.  God’s grace in Paul’s life gave birth to apostleship.  What has God’s grace produced in your life?

Have you received grace... continued

Lately I have been reading the writings of Jonathan Edwards.  I read Religious Affections, as best I could, and have begun to tackle a compilation of his collective writings.

Edwards is known for his leadership in the First Great Awakening of the early/mid-eighteenth century in North America.  His writing has contributed greatly to my own spiritual life and Christian formation.  Edwards captured that rare blend of theological and philosophical rigor with spiritual passion, joy, love and affection for God.  So often we see either one or the other.  On the one hand we see tremendous spiritual passion and zeal that burns out over time, or loses its way like a ship with a massive sail and little or no keel. On the other hand great theological erudition in the absence of joy and affection is cold and never leaves the ivory tower.

Jonathan Edwards was neither.

Much of the fruits of my reading will come out in sermons and bible studies, but I came across this simple list written by Edwards.  I thought it helpful.  These are his Resolutions.

... continued