Jesus bids us shine, then, for all around, Many kinds of darkness in the world abound; Sin and want and sorrow, so we must shine, You in your small corner And I in mine. (From “Jesus Bids Us Shine” Verse 3, by Susan Warner) From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17) This has been a really hard week, hasn’t it, my Bethel friends. It feels like we’ve watched the scaffolding of international norms wobble in public. We’ve watched power posture as if it were policy. We’ve watched leaders treat ... Read more

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. (John 1:35–39) ... Read more

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” (Matthew 11:10) “My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.” (Psalm 31:15) My first child was overdue, about 10 days past my expected due date. Now – I had read all the books and understood what they were saying, but honestly, it was the LONGEST 10 days of my life. I wanted to meet this baby so badly, and honestly, my belly was so large and uncomfortable that I felt like I couldn’t ... Read more

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ” (Matthew 3:1–3) I’m not sure how many of you know this, but I used to teach Behavioural Science at the college in Kingston. I also ran the program there. I liked the job a lot – it was busy, to be fair – but I’m ... Read more

This Sunday is Advent 1. I personally love the season of Advent — to me it’s a time of warm invitation into our life of faith. It’s that quiet, hushed, anticipatory waiting for a tiny baby born to be our Saviour.    I confess I also really like the glitter and lights of the North American Christmas. I enjoy the gift-giving and the sense of celebration. I don’t much care for many aspects of what our social Christmas can become — the stress, the materialism, the weight of expectations in fractured families. But maybe that’s part of the whole of who we are: a mixture of hushed faithful ... Read more

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous…” [Joshua 1:5–6] “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” [Philippians 4:12–13] I used to run in some fairly serious music circles. When I was a late teen, I studied music in the U.S. and was convinced I wanted to be a professional musician. I’d come from a fairly small musician-pond—I’d rubbed elbows with very talented people and had an excellent ... Read more