Yearly Archives: 2005

On Wednesday October 5 the Roman Catholic bishops of England, Wales and Scotland published a document called The Gift of Scripture which warned Roman Catholics not to expect total accuracy from the Bible. They seized, for example, on the first eleven chapters of Genesis and insisted that these were not historical, and then they condemned […]

The late Dr. S.M. Lockeridge, a preacher from San Diego, California who said these words in a sermon in Detroit in 1976 My King was born King. The Bible says He’s a Seven Way King. He’s the King of the Jews – that’s an Ethnic King. He’s the King of Israel – that’s a National […]

To you God says, “I have seen his ways and I will heal him” (Isaiah 57:18). How does he heal? By sending Jesus Christ into this world to die for the sins of sinners and rise again from the dead to give them everlasting life. “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his […]

“Christ loved the church” (v.25) says Paul. The verb is in the past tense. He is not speaking of his present love (though he does love us today) but of an attitude the Son of God once displayed in things he accomplished. So many of the great verses in the Bible on the love of […]

Recently a news item came to my attention. The Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, called for an impartial study by historians into the claims that over a million Armenian people were slaughtered by Turkish troops from 1915 until about 1923. April 24, 2005, marked the 90th anniversary of what the Armenians refer to […]

The title refers to the inspiration of the Bible, the holy book from which the Christian faith is derived and in which it is expounded. The Reformed doctrine of inspiration explains how we are justified in regarding the Bible in its entirety as the Word of God, so that we can be sure that, wherever […]

It was 1972: I was 28, married for four years, and as an environmental heath officer my career was developing well. But then I was struck with an abdominal disorder that meant five weeks off work and needed micro-surgery: the Lord, though I did not know Him, was at work with me, and with time […]

Can we imagine life without the spoken and written word? If humanity lost the ability to learn and use language our civilization would be reduced to an extent that we can hardly imagine. How could we convey ideas? Such a possibility seems to be quite unbelievable and qualifies for the realm of fantasy. But a […]

In mid-August Germany saw a religious open-air on stage in Cologne as was probably never seen before. Never before did a visit of one individual receive so much attention as that of the first German Pope since the 11th century, Joseph Ratzinger. When the 78-year-old German was elected Pope the leading German newspaper, the Bild, […]

On 21 October 1805 – 200 years ago -Admiral Horatio Nelson died in battle aboard HMS Victory at Cape Trafalgar, near the western entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar. At Trafalgar Britain defeated the combined French and Spanish Fleets, dominating the high seas for the next hundred years. The British Fleet consisted of 27 ships, […]

Behold, the Potter and the clay, He forms His vessels as He’s pleased; Such is our God and such are we The subjects of His high decree. Does not the Potter’s power extendO’er all the mass, which part to choose? And mold it for a nobler end, And which to leave for viler use? May […]

Princeton and Preaching, Archibald Alexander and the Christian Ministry, written by James M Garretson, (Banner of Truth Trust, hardback, 304 pages, £16.75) is a book which has recently appeared. Although this book is primarily directed to ministers, everyone should profit from the excellent account of Alexander’s life given in the first chapter. Garretson’s purpose is […]

Unconverted people do not have much interest in the right use of the Lords day and countless Christians are confused about it. This confusion will not go away until we all take on board eleven important facts. WHAT ARE THE FACTS? 1.When the Bible says ‘Sabbath’, it does not mean ‘Saturday’. ‘Sabbath’ is not the […]

When all my labors and trials are o’er, And I am safe on that beautiful shore, Just to be near the dear Lord I adoreWill through the ages by glory for me. When by the gift of His infinite grace, I am afforded in heaven a place, Just to be there and to look on […]

During my days in Kenya this past summer I spent hours with a converted Somali Moslem named Mohamed. He served me in innumerable ways, unobtrusively, sacrificially, humorously and imaginatively. He was a refugee from Somalia escaping from the civil war in that land. When he first was invited to discussion groups with other Somali men […]