Reading 2013

This past year I have read over 80 books.  The fact that ebooks and audio books are so available increased the number of books that I read this past year.  29 of the books were ebooks and 3 where audio books.  Apart from the Scripture, which I read through three times, here is my top five  books of the year.

5.  Flatland by Edwin Abbott.  This little mathematical novel is over 100 years old and though I have known about it for years I finally got around to reading it.  It is a delightful story about someone who lives in two dimensions and believes that that is all there is.  When he is introduced to the third dimension by a visitor from the third dimension he challenges his guest to think about a fourth dimension.  Like everyone in his two dimensional world the visitor will not believe that there is another dimension.  I think there is a lesson here for us who think we have everything figured out.

4.  Glorious Ruin by Tullian Tchividjian.  This was a delightful find as it showed up as a free ebook.  It is subtitled How Suffering sets you Free.  This book by the grandson of Billy Graham is worth the read and he shows you that suffering is part of being a follower of Jesus Christ, part of our path to freedom, part of the Gospel.

3.  The Covenant by James Michener.  This massive novel about the Boers of South Africa really opened my eyes to the roots of apartheid.  The Boers were convinced that they were the chosen people living in the promised land.

2.  The Meaning of Marriage by Tim and Kathy Keller.  This book which looks at marriage through the eyes of Scripture should be a must read for everyone getting married.

1.  The number one book on my list is a surprise.  It is an Old Testament commentary.  Deuteronomy, Loving Obedience to a Loving God by Ajith Fernando.  Though I have always loved the Old Testament and in particular I love the book of Deuteronomy this book brought Moses' words alive.  What a great commentary and I would recommend it to any one who wants to preach or teach the whole counsel of God.

I have a few honourable mentions but I may mention them another time.  I am looking forward to the surprises that God has for me in 2014.

Too Many Translations

I sometimes wonder if we have too many translations of the Scriptures.  I started reading this book and the author uses a different translation every time, or so it seems.  Now I know it is important to use different translations when we are studying the Scriptures but why do we do it?  The reason should be to make the original words clearer.  The problem is that too many people use different translations to fit their opinions and ideas.  To me this raises the question, Who is the authority?  The original Scriptures or the one who chooses the translation?  We must be careful to allow Scripture to say what it is intended to say and not to have it say what we want it to say.

Have you unwrapped the best gift?

This year millions of gifts will be given some of which are expensive, some home made, some with great meaning, some ... well you know.
However, in spite of all the gifts very often the best gift goes unwrapped.  It cost more than all of the other gifts combined but yet it remains ignored.  Could it be that we have concentrated so much on "stuff" that we ignore what is important.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift."  If you haven't taken time to unwrap it, claim it as your gift then how can you say with Paul, "Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift."
I see many signs around my community which say "Christmas is about Christ."   It is true but even behind some of those signs the gift remains unwrapped.
This Christmas remember the most important gift.

Duck Dynasty

This past week the church got its shirt in a knot.  You would think that it was persecuted for presenting the Gospel but rather it was because of the cancellation of the contract of the star of the show Duck Dynasty over some statements that he made to GQ magazine.  Phil Robertson made some very clear statements regarding the gospel but he then made statements about homosexuality.  What he said was his right and I wouldn't call what happened to him taking away his freedom of speech.
What concerns me is the reaction of the church to what happened.  You would think that the Gospel was muzzled.  The problem the church has is that it equates homosexuality to the Gospel.  They way some people talk you would think that a person would have to give up their homosexual life style before they became a Christian.  This puts the gospel message as a works gospel rather than a gospel of grace.
I remember a fellow worker and friend asking me one day, "Can a homosexual be a Christian?"  At first I wanted to answer "no" then I changed my mind and wanted to answer "yes" then I was back to "no" again.  Finally I said, "Anyone can become a Christian.  Becoming a Christian has nothing to do with how good you are but how helpless you are to do anything about yourself.  However, once you become a Christian the Holy Spirit will not allow you to continue in your sinful lifestyle whether it be homosexuality, adultery or any other sin.  Once a person yields themselves to Christ it is Christ who saves but He also changes us."
Christians are not called to be moral policemen.  We should work for the better of society and especially in the area  of abortion we should do our part to stop this atrocity against the helpless.  Christians need to show that Christ loved them so much He died for them but He also loved them so much that once they are adopted into His family He will not let them remain the same.
Is homosexuality a sin?  Yes it is as is fornication, adultery and other sexual sins.  Let us tell the world why we believe that these are sins but the greatest sin of all is the rejection of the Saviour.

Mom

It was 25  years ago today that my mother passed away.  Instead of writing a tribute to her I would like to share with you what my oldest brother wrote about her a few years ago.

Mabel Hall (nee Jasper)

It is not odd to hear one say that they love their mother and I am no different but I also hold a deep admiration and reverence for our Mom. She had a depth of character that almost defies explanation and a steadfastness that was rooted in her faith like a mighty tree that withstands the buffeting of every torment. Life was not easy for our Mom but she was not given to complaining or self pity; she just faithfully persisted in her God ordained task of raising a family that knew “The Way”.

Lilian Frances Mabel Hall was a quiet, unassuming woman, never one for the glamour of spotlights, but she was powerful in a way that extends well beyond her lifetime. In fact, she was a strong link in that virtuous and Christian heritage passed down to each of her eight children from Arthur Roland and Emily Eliza Jasper.

For those of us that had the privilege to know him, Arthur Jasper Sr. was a quiet yet powerful man. Everything on the Jasper home bore the mark of his hand – orderly, practical, efficient, quality workmanship. He ruled his household with a firm but loving hand based on biblical standards and by clear and unwavering example. As a result, what you saw in one of the eleven Jasper offspring, you saw in all. With the exception of Vern, who had Down’s syndrome, they all left that household prepared to make their mark in the world. No, they had no illusions of being headline makers, just faithful witnesses of God’s grace and exemplary parents. A quick review of the number of missionaries, pastors and Christian lay workers among their descendents will give testimony to how well it has worked.

Mom was a product of that household. She was steadfast in her Christian beliefs and living but she was non-condemning. That was the Jasper way. As I remember Mom, she was very clear in her beliefs with a faith that could endure whatever misfortunes, hardships or obstacles life could send her way. That Dad was a spiritual leader is due in large part to the early influence of Mom and her siblings. In fact, the lengthy courtship of Harry and Mabel was because of her determination to see Harry mature spiritual before marrying him.

I recall saying in her eulogy that I could not recall Mom raising her voice or striking out in anger yet her authority was clear. I recall frequent examples of her wise counsel and her firm but loving disapproval of inappropriate behaviors. Of course, there was always a good reason to comply with her wishes since failure to do so meant that it would be taken to a higher court where both Mom and Dad presided. Even more importantly, I know that she averted many potential problems through early intervention and diversion. As you read on you will see an example of this in the paragraph entitled “Horse sense”.

In today’s social climate of “bubble wrapped kids” where parents are regarded negligent if they do not prevent every conceivable exposure to risk, Mom might have been criticized for her somewhat more permissive attitude toward inventive play. For one, I am grateful indeed for this freedom that she permitted in our self regulated activities. In fact, it is my belief that this early independence gives rise to resourcefulness and creativity. If she had known, she might have been horrified at some of risks to which we exposed ourselves but we all survived and I believe we are better for it. 

Thank you John.

He is not my Pope.

Once again Time magazine has named its man of the year and this year it is Pope Francis.  Now he is probably a good choice for the man of the year by a magazine like Time but my concern is not with his relationship with the Catholic church but with many evangelical's quickness to embrace him as if he was their pope.
Now I think that this pope may be good for the Catholic church as an organization.  He is willing to take on many of the issues that have been destroying the Catholic church and he has addressed them in a manner that is both acceptable by the church and the people.  He holds to the traditional catholic doctrines without compromising but he still makes the people feel that they have been heard.
My concern is how the evangelical church has embraced him.  The gospel of the Catholic church is still a false doctrine.  Mixed in with the doctrine of grace is the doctrine of works.  There are Catholics who would deny this but when you study the doctrine it is a mixture of grace and works.
Let us suppose that there are 4 points to true salvation (I am only using this as an example because really there is only one).  Suppose that you keep three of the four but shift slightly on the fourth then you have preached a false doctrine.  Suppose you keep all four but then add a fifth of the church's making then once again you have come short and you have a false doctrine.
Salvation is by Christ alone, not Christ and the church, not Christ and works.  Not some other way.  Christ alone.  Evangelical Christians need to go back 500 years and revisit why there was a split.  Is it any different today?

The Myths Surrounding the Magi

It has always been a source of controversy regarding the magi. Let us take a quick look at a few myths. First, it has often been shown that the wise men or magi went to the stable but if you read the story carefully you will notice that they came to the house where Joseph, Mary and Jesus were staying. The timing was wrong as well as Jesus was no longer a new born baby but maybe even a toddler. Also there is no indication that Joseph was there when the Magi came. He probably was working in a carpenter shop he had set up in Bethlehem. Second, it has often thought that there were three wise men equating the number of wise men with the number of gifts. Though three gifts are mentioned there could any number of wise men. Third, the star was seen in the east but the star was to the west of the wise men as it led the wise men from the east westward to Bethlehem.