Our second daughter, as a newborn, would let no one carry her or comfort her except my wife. This went on for a little while and then I refused to let it go on any longer because my wife was wearing out. Besides, I was her Father.

So I picked her up. She screamed. After awhile it turned to crying. A little later it transformed into a whimper. Finally she went to sleep. After that I could care for her.

During this ordeal of behaviour modification my wife had to leave the house. A nursing Mother not only has an emotional reaction to her crying baby, but also a physical one.

I was just sitting here remembering that incident because a life event triggered a different memory, and this flashed into my mind afterwards.

It is for me a picture of how humans treat God. We complain when God reaches out to care for us, because we want it the way we want it and there is no compromise. So God performs a transformation to open our hearts to the mothering of our Creator, and it is sometimes an ordeal. (Imagine, we fight being cared for by the Creator of the universe Whose love transcends all limits!)

What my wife endured reminds me of how we look on at God working and we judge it and condemn it and blaspheme our dear Saviour because we do not understand what is going on, yet in our humanity we assume we are all-knowing and can stand in judgment against the eternal, just and infinitely fair Judge.

Whoever ignores discipline despises self,

but the person who listens to warning gains understanding.

The fear of the Lord is discipline {leading to} wisdom,

and humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:32-33 God’s Word ©). Read more…

One of the risks of organizing a religion around Jesus is that it can lead to a herd mentality rather than a Christ vitality. This can happen whether the religion is denominational or self-defined. Read more…

So you make a decision on a matter and think you have done a great work. Notes are made and the decision is filed. Read more…

“All of us must appear in front of Christ’s judgment seat. Then all people will receive what they deserve for the good or evil they have done while living in their bodies” (2 Corinthians 5:10 God’s Word©). Read more…

“So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned” (Romans 8:1 God’s Word).

I heard a praise chorus as I drove home last night from work that repeated this verse over and over. While that kind of music does not rate in my top five of preferred styles, a thought crossed my mind. Read more…

One of the things I have found in writing a newspaper column or a blog has to do with feedback and response. The content of negative reaction particularly causes me to scratch my head. Read more…

As I read through many blogs I see doctrinal arguments flying everywhere. Now, some of these seem important. Some probably are significant.

I have spent most of my adult life as an academic. I have found it personally inspiring and exciting, but in the past very few years I have searched for the simplicity that Jesus promised is present in serving the Saviour. Read more…