Haliburton United

09/14/2021

It's been over a month since I last posted here. Let me know if this is still helpful. A lot of my time and effort now is invested in YouTube (where you'll find all these videos) and more people watch there. I'm happy to keep doing these but as you will notice I get pretty far behind. This is from April 18th, back in the Easter season. I was intrigued with Luke's account of Jesus eating fish on the day of his resurrection. He was determined to demonstrate that he wasn't a ghost. This message is about why that is so important. It's based on Luke 24:36b-48.

There's nothing very exciting about eating fish, but the resurrected Jesus asked his disciples for something to eat (Luke 24:41, 42) and they gave him some b...

08/04/2021

We believe something that is pretty wild, namely, that a man came back to life after being quite dead for parts of 3 days. Are we being childish and naïve? Is this supposed to be just a myth or perhaps a metaphor? Those who were closest to the event (apostles; early church) were firm believers in the actual, historical, physical resurrection of Jesus. The evidence is there for us to follow still today. This is based on John 20:19-31.

https://youtu.be/XyeB7p_o4Fo

'Doubting' Thomas became convinced of the resurrection when he saw Jesus for himself and touched him - but not before. Similarly, we too are skeptical. What ...

07/27/2021

Here's the Easter message! Frances Ridley Havergal wrote the hymn "Welcome Happy Morning" a few years back (1871). It contains the lines, "Bloom in every meadow, leaves on every bough,
Speak his sorrows ended, hail His triumph now."
This is about Jesus making our sorrows his, but wresting victory from defeat in rising from death itself. The scripture passage was John 20:1-18.

https://youtu.be/WPvUSs54lGk

The cross of Jesus is as relevant today as it ever was. The Bible and the evening news tell the same old, very human story - one of broken relationships, fai...

07/13/2021

People wonder why the existence of God is not more evident, more obvious. Here's the thing: A God who is absolutely humble is invisible to a humanity so infected by pride - even though he is apparent through all of creation. Jesus, who is God in the flesh, was of course a Humble King. This is based on Mark 11:1-11.

https://youtu.be/NQYzx-0nhNk

Jesus himself told us that he is "meek and lowly of heart". At his meekest, while dying on a cruel cross, the sign over him read "Jesus of Nazareth, King of...

07/06/2021

The first garden featured in Scripture is the garden of Eden. There, it would seem, Adam, Eve and God walked together and enjoyed sweet friendship. There too the first humans betrayed their Maker and broke off that relationship. In a second garden, Gethsemane, Jesus prepared himself through prayer to pay the price that would make reconciliation possible. This is based on Mark 14:32-42.

https://youtu.be/DR_WGpSmmiI

Sometimes the hardest part of doing something is determining to do it. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus determined to obey the Father and go to the cross fo...

06/30/2021

The great hymn "Just As I Am" was written by Charlotte Elliot back in 1834. She distilled the wonder of the gospel of Jesus in a few poetic lines. This comes to mind: "Just as I am, thy love unknown has broken every barrier down. Now to be thine, yea thine alone O Lamb of God I come". I can hardly write that without tearing up. This is the same message set forth by Jesus in John 3:16. The passage was John 3:14-21.

https://youtu.be/DR-2h10auPU

Much of our sense of self-worth is based on our achievements, our positions, our belongings and our looks. Naturally we tend to think God values us the same ...

06/08/2021

Herod's Temple, contrary to what I might say in this message, was not one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World - but it was a close runner-up! Jesus went there from childhood onward for the Jewish feasts. The priests had figured out ways to make lots of money from people visiting the temple, so when Jesus 'cleaned house' he was not popular. When challenged he basically re-defined the temple, saying "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days!" Lots to think about. This is based on John 2:13-22.

https://youtu.be/KtKdUDUCs0A

Did you ever wonder why it was that the religious leaders in Jesus' day wanted him dead? This story goes a long way toward explaining it. When he 'cleaned ou...

06/01/2021

Just for a change of pace here's a little song. This is 'Men Of A Certain Age' which Carl and I have performed together a few times. He took my voice and guitar and added his magic (we didn't actually see each other) and this is the result. Thanks Carl! The picture was taken by Iden Ford at our fundraising concert a couple of years ago. Hope you enjoy.

https://youtu.be/u4IwjK0PReg

05/25/2021

Our society is full of advertising. There's probably some on this webpage. Without fail there is a promise of a great benefit should we buy the product, sign up for the course or take the trip. In a way Jesus also promises would-be followers a reward: you will find your soul! The difference is in the price. It's neither money nor time. It's a cross. Is it a wonder that in our increasingly comfort-obsessed western culture there is a falling away from Christ and the church? Still Jesus continues to call us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him. He is challenging us to be the best 'us'. This is based on Mark 8:31-38.

https://youtu.be/NXIjt3DI9ro

Jesus speaks quite plainly about what it will mean to follow him - "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.....

05/18/2021

C.S. Lewis wrote a series of children's books known as The Chronicles of Narnia. They are essentially Christian allegory and Jesus is represented by the lion Aslan. At one point one of Aslan's friends, Mr. Beaver, is asked, "Is he safe?" Mr. Beaver replies, "'Course he isn't safe. But he's good!". Jesus isn't safe either. In fact he's quite wild by human standards. But he's good. Apparently he was quite comfortable spending time with wild animals. This is based on Mark 1:9-15.

https://youtu.be/hc-XHok6UT8

Religions often attempt to codify, quantify and identify God and his ways. They would leave us with the impression that they have Him all figured out. Nothin...

05/05/2021

The focus of our lives must always be Jesus. When we lose sight of that we falter. The Transfiguration was an opportunity for Jesus' first followers to discover more profoundly just who it was they were following. It was a 'reveal-ation'! We aren't likely to have that same experience, but there are many other ways through which God reveals his Son to us. There are many clues and I suggest a few here. This is based on Mark 9:2-9.

https://youtu.be/KlG1c1FACh0

This is about the day when Jesus took 3 disciples up a mountain and was altered in appearance so that he shone like a bright light. They call this the 'trans...

04/28/2021

I just heard an interview with a champion 'Town Crier' from England on CBC. Apparently there are competitions. I start off this talk with my best imitation of town crying. Preaching is similar in that it involves 'proclamation' or 'announcing' or 'declaring'. Of course, we have to earn the privilege of getting people to listen, but this is still the strange way by which God brings about faith in Jesus Christ. This is based on 1 Corinthians 9:16-23.

https://youtu.be/q9Sy-dzshdc

To proclaim is to 'declare' and to 'announce'. It's the strange way through which God brings people to faith in Jesus. Here are some thoughts about how that ...