Jewels and Rainbows by James R. Coggins

Posted on January 21, 2026 by jrcoggins

In Revelation 4:1-3, the apostle John describes God’s throne room in heaven: “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.”

John’s vision of God on His throne in heaven is interesting and symbolic and should not be taken literally. The figure of God Himself was not described but rather only what was around Him. The primary impression was that of light. We know how a precious jewel such as a diamond reflects and refracts light to the point that it seems to be producing light itself. The jewels mentioned here are jasper, ruby, and emerald. We are not entirely sure what jewel “jasper” refers to, but it could be a diamond. The light around God’s throne would then shine white, red, and green. A small diamond in a ring will sparkle and catch attention. But imagine that light magnified and multiplied to be larger than a person sitting on a throne. The light would be dazzling, overwhelming the eyes of anyone who saw it. Royal thrones often have a high back adorned with gold and jewels and even a canopy, but this far outshines what any earthly king could afford.

The Greek word for “rainbow” is interesting. It is iris and refers to Iris, “a fleet-footed goddess who could travel quickly on the rainbow bridge between Earth and heaven” and was thus considered a messenger of the Greek gods. The name of the goddess became the name for “rainbow” (and, in English, the colored part of the eye). Revelation, of course, is referring to a rainbow, not a Greek goddess. But there is behind this the Old Testament idea that rainbows are a message from God.

Much of the imagery in Revelation, including the description of God’s throne, comes from the book of Ezekiel. This book opens with a vision Ezekiel had of “a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man…brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord” (Ezekiel 1:26-28). The Hebrew word for “rainbow” is qesheth, which means “bow.” It comes from a verb meaning “to bend” and refers to the curved shape. The same word is used for rainbows and for bows used by archers. This symbolism is intriguing. In Genesis 9, God made a “covenant” (a binding promise) with Noah to never again destroy the earth with a flood and set his “bow” in the clouds as a sign of this covenant.

When Ezekiel saw the vision of God on His throne, Ezekiel “fell facedown” (Ezekiel 1:28), and when John saw a vision of Jesus, he “fell at his feet as though dead” (Revelation 1:17). The rainbow reminds us of God’s glory and His awesome power and His righteous judgment (as devastating as an archer’s bow). But it also reminds us that He is a merciful God who keeps His covenants.

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Stories That Strengthen Faith and Shape the Heart

Posted on January 20, 2026 by Author Mary Alford

In a world overflowing with noise, opinions, and constant distractions, reading remains one of the quiet, powerful ways we can slow down and reflect. For many Christians, reading isn’t simply entertainment—it’s a chance to pause, to consider deeper truths, and to view life through a lens shaped by hope, grace, and redemption.

Reading as a Spiritual Practice

Scripture reminds us of the enduring power of words: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17, KJV). While the Bible is our foundation, Christian books—both fiction and nonfiction—often echo biblical themes in ways that connect personally and emotionally. Through story, we’re invited to wrestle with questions, recognize grace at work, and see faith lived out in imperfect, relatable lives.

When we read Christian novels, devotionals, or memoirs, we’re reminded that we’re not alone in our doubts, struggles, or joys. Characters face fear, loss, forgiveness, and restoration—experiences that reflect our own and gently point us back to God’s faithfulness.

Stories That Reflect Hope

Christian fiction holds a unique place in today’s culture. It offers suspense without despair, romance grounded in commitment, and conflict that carries meaning and purpose. These stories remind us that even in broken or uncertain moments, hope still exists—and that light can be found in unexpected places.

For many readers, a novel becomes a place of rest. It may offer comfort during grief, encouragement during uncertainty, or simply a quiet reminder that goodness and redemption are still part of the story.

Supporting Christian Voices

Choosing Christian books is also a way to support authors who thoughtfully use their gifts to tell meaningful stories. Many write with prayer, care, and a desire to reflect truth and hope through their work. When readers engage by reading, reviewing, and sharing these books, they help foster a community where faith-inspired stories continue to find their way into the world.

Because in the stillness of a good story, we often find reflection, comfort, and a whisper of hope.

All the best….

Mary Alford

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The Spirit’s Nudge by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Nancy J. Farrier

Have you ever felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit asking you to talk to a person about God? A friend? A family member? A <gasp> stranger?

I’m not talking about sharing the gospel with someone—not necessarily. I’m talking about the unexpected time when the Spirit nudges you to put yourself out there and approach a person you normally wouldn’t.

Sometimes that’s happened to me. At first, I would struggle with the idea of approaching someone I wasn’t in a conversation with already. Especially if they were a stranger. Well, maybe even if they were a friend or a family member, because sometimes it’s harder to talk to those who knew us before we became a Christian. Still, there was always a hesitation—maybe only for a moment but still there. Let’s look at one of my favorite examples of this.

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” Acts 8:26-30

Here we have Philip following the direction of the Lord to go to a desert place. He didn’t argue and say, “But I’m doing work here,” or “I’m supposed to hang out with the guys tonight.” Instead, he rose and went.

Then there’s the Ethiopian. This is a man of means, a court official to the Queen, and in charge of all her treasure. He was important, riding in a chariot or carriage of some sort—probably dressed in expensive clothing. Someone a little above the normal traffic on the road.

And here’s Philip, who is not any of those things. Yet, when the Spirit said, “Go over and join this chariot,” Philip ran. Once again, he didn’t question the directive. He didn’t hesitate or stall with excuses—he ran. Can I emphasize that enough. He. Ran!

How I admire Philip’s heart for God, his unquestioning obedience, and his eagerness to serve. When he ran to that chariot he had no idea what he would find, what need was there. He simply obeyed, and that obedience encouraged a man to give his heart to Jesus.

Going forward, let’s remember this simple act that Philip did so eagerly. Perhaps the next time the Spirit nudges us to talk to someone, we won’t hesitate or come up with a million and one excuses. Instead, we’ll face the task with eagerness and the expectation of what God will do in that moment.

In fact, I challenge you to pray about a chance to serve by asking God to give you the opportunity to share the gospel, listen to a grieving person, pray with someone who is hurting, or just to see what God is asking you to do. I know I will be listening for His nudge. I hope you do too.

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Learning to Rest

Posted on January 15, 2026 by dtopliff

I was a hardworking eager beaver in college when my advisor said I was working too hard and ordered me to take a PE class. I chose Beginning Downhill Skiing that spent Saturdays on beautiful Mount Baker in Washington state.

Our first lesson was learning how to fall down and get up again. That took practice, but we mastered it.

Next, we needed to learn to ride the rope tows. That wasn’t as easy. Each time I concentrated and grabbed the rope with all my might, it jerked me up in the air and dumped me at the side. Gradually, every other classmate made it to the top, while I stood at the bottom.

Our instructor skied back to me. “You’re overthinking and trying too hard,” he said. “Hold on loosely. Relax into it. Lean against me, and I’ll show you.”

The next thing I knew, he stood behind me with his arms wrapped around me. My hands loosely held the rope, while he did the holding on. And then, the next thing I knew, we glided effortlessly to the top of the hill.

“That’s how you do it,” he said. “It’s not meant to be hard.”

I’ve succeeded fine every time since.

That example also fits our spiritual lives. We’re not meant to overthink and try so hard we get flipped into snow piles. Relax into the One holding us. Let His fully paid effort get us to the top.

That ski class brought me more than fresh air exercise in beautiful scenery. It taught me that most challenges aren’t as hard as I think. My first task is always to lean into the One holding me and let Him carry me to the top of the hill in front of me. Then, I can enjoy the ride and the beauty of each new vista.

May we remember that the next time we stand at the bottom of any hill.  

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A Young Woman and a Young Man by James R. Coggins

Posted on January 14, 2026 by jrcoggins

The young woman worked in a medical clinic and was living in an apartment in the city, alone with her dog and cat. One day at coffee break, a fellow worker mentioned that her father, one of the doctors, owned a couple of duplexes out in the country and one of the units was vacant. The young woman expressed interest in moving. Sometime later, as she was coming in from walking the dog, her phone was ringing, and she managed to pick it up on the last ring. It was the doctor, asking if she wanted to rent the vacant unit. He said that this was the third time he had called her and if she hadn’t answered this time, he would have offered it to someone else.

She moved into the duplex and became friends with another young woman living in the other half of the duplex. They began sharing meals, with each cooking every other night.

The young man was living in another province half a continent away. He had completed a couple of university degrees but was working in a factory, trying to figure out what he should do with the rest of his life. He had a friend from university who was teaching far away in a Christian college in the same province as the young lady described at the beginning of this story. This friend said she almost never went into the staff lounge at the college, but one day she went in, and there she encountered a man who was one of the senior professors and administrators at the college. He mentioned that he was looking for an editorial assistant for some book projects. She immediately thought of her friend working in a factory half a continent away. When he got home from work that day, he found an urgent message from his friend, asking him to call her right away. He did, and she connected him with the senior professor. The professor happened to travel to the other province shortly afterward. They met, and the young man accepted the job.

The job, of course, was half a continent away, and he prepared to drive across country. His older and wiser sister, fearing it was too far for him to drive alone, offered to travel with him. When they arrived, he had only a few days to find somewhere to live before the sister had to fly home. The sister thought he should rent a room in a house with a group of other young men because it was less expensive, but this did not appeal to him, and he moved into a duplex in the country, across the driveway from the young woman.

The first night he moved in, the two young women invited him to join them for dinner. Soon, he was part of the rotation, with each of them cooking every third night. Friendships grew.

There was one hitch. He was a committed Christian, and the young woman across the driveway was not. Then, one of the doctors she worked for invited her to a Christian Businesspersons’ dinner, and a few days later she committed her life to Jesus. The young man and young woman began looking for a church together. They found a church, and she was baptized there, choosing the same Bible verse as he had chosen when he had been baptized years before.

In time, the friend in the other half of the young woman’s duplex became involved in other things and was not around as much. The young man and the young woman were eating together and going to church together. It was not a usual romance, but their lives became increasingly entwined. A year to the day after he had moved into his duplex, they were talking one evening, and they realized they were being drawn together. They became engaged. (Of course, she had discerned where things were going long before he did.)

He did not have doubts, but an unexpected phone call from a friend half a continent away extolled the blessings of marriage and confirmed that he was going in the right direction.

Looking back at all of the many steps that had brought them together, the young man and young woman were convinced that there must have been a divine plan behind it all.

Two months and six days after they became engaged, they were married, and they lived…together, with love, through all of life’s ups and downs, guided by the same Divine Hand that had brought them together.

The young man and young woman are no longer young. This month, we celebrated our 47th anniversary. We give thanks to the One who had brought us together. We thank Him for the many years we have had together, the many blessings we have received, including children and grandchildren, and the continued guidance we continue to receive.

“God sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6).

“What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Mark 10:9).

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Living Sacrifice by James R. Coggins

Posted on January 7, 2026 by jrcoggins

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:1 (NIV): “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

How would this verse have been understood by its original recipients? The book of Romans was addressed to the Christians in Rome, both Jews and gentiles. These Christians were living in what was a very pagan and immoral society. Let’s look at some individual phrases:

• “in view of God’s mercy”: Paul had spent much of the book of Romans up to this point in arguing that “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22-23). And then he explained that “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). In other words, Paul was explaining how God saves us Christians through faith in Jesus even though we are sinners.

• “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice”: Paul was saying that our response to God’s mercy should be to sacrifice ourselves for God. Both Jews and gentiles knew about sacrifices. In both Judaism and Roman religions, animals were sacrificed in worship. The animal would be killed and then burned on an altar as a way to gain the favor of God (or the pagan gods). People who had witnessed such grisly sacrifices would be reluctant to be sacrificed themselves. It was not a pleasant thought.

• “living sacrifice”: This might have been confusing to Paul’s readers. They knew about lethal sacrifices but what are living sacrifices? In one sense, the usual form of sacrifice would be easier because the Roman Christians would only have to do it once. Being a living sacrifice would mean giving up their lives, their wants and desires, every day to follow Jesus. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Being a living sacrifice means to live for God rather than for ourselves and to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). For the early Christians, it also meant facing the real possibility of being killed for their faith. This was very clear to the apostle Paul, who said he had been “exposed to death again and again” (2 Corinthians 11:23-26). He said, “I face death every day” (1 Corinthians 15:31); “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11); “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16); and “For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena” (1 Corinthians 4:9). Essentially, the early Christians were dead men walking.

• “holy and pleasing to God”: Not all sacrifices in the Old Testament were acceptable to God. For instance, God did not accept Cain’s sacrifice (Genesis 4:3-5). The Law given to Moses required that any animal offered as a sacrifice had to be perfect, without any defect: “Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted” (Leviticus 22:17-25). This Old Testament law was a prophecy of Jesus being the perfect sacrifice for our sins: “You were redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). As Christians, we are told to model our lives on God and Jesus: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The Old Testament prophets denounced the Israelites for their sin, particularly their attitude that they could go on sinning and it wouldn’t matter as long as they presented sacrifices. God’s answer through the prophet Jeremiah was, “What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me” (Jeremiah 6:20). The psalmist described the kind of living sacrifice that God would accept: “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17).

• “this is your true and proper worship”: The word for “true and proper” is logikos. This has also been translated as “reasonable” and “rational” and “logical” and “spiritual,” which suggests that there is no simple or literal translation. Logikos is related to logos, which means “word,” which the apostle John used as a name for Jesus (John 1:1). The word for “worship” is latreia, which means “service”; this does not denote a religious ceremony or ritual or gathering, but rather it means to serve like an obedient slave. Paul said that we Christians should present our bodies as a living sacrifice. The word for “bodies” (soma) is the same word that Jesus used when He said that He was sacrificing His body for us (Matthew 26:26). It is clear that this passage is not talking about spiritual worship, in the sense of singing praise songs or saying good things about God. What is meant is that we are to serve God with our whole being, in daily life. We are to serve the Word (Jesus), serve as Jesus served, committing our whole lives to serving God and living as He commands us to.

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When Christmas Ends, the Work Begins

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Author Mary Alford

“When the song of the angels is stilled…”

Those familiar words come from Howard Thurman, whose poem The Work of Christmas has quietly challenged believers for generations. Not because it’s loud or dramatic—but because it’s true.

Christmas does not end when the decorations come down.
It begins there.

We spend weeks preparing for Christmas—planning, baking, wrapping, decorating, gathering. We linger in the holy beauty of the manger, the miracle of God stepping into the world as a child. And then, almost without noticing, we move on.

But the Incarnation was never meant to be admired and then shelved.

It was meant to be lived.

The Quiet After the Glory

The angels return to heaven.
The shepherds go back to their fields.
The stable grows quiet.

And Thurman presses us with an uncomfortable, necessary question:

What happens next?

His poem reminds us that the work of Christmas starts when the celebration fades—when the music ends and ordinary life resumes. When faith is no longer carried by candlelight and carols, but by obedience, compassion, and courage.

Christmas Was Never the Finish Line

Jesus did not come so we could admire a baby in a manger once a year.

He came to:

  • Bring peace where there is division
  • Offer hope where there is despair
  • Heal the broken
  • Seek the lost
  • Teach us how to love when it costs us something

Christmas was not the destination.
It was the launching point.

Carrying Christmas Into Ordinary Days

The work of Christmas looks less like celebration and more like faithfulness.

It looks like:

  • Choosing kindness when patience wears thin
  • Speaking truth with grace
  • Loving difficult people
  • Standing quietly for justice
  • Trusting God when the miracle feels far away

It is Christ carried into ordinary spaces—workplaces, strained relationships, grief, uncertainty, unanswered prayers.

It is Emmanuel—God with us—not just in December, but in February… in June… in the long, quiet weeks when no one is singing carols.

This Is Where Faith Takes Root

Anyone can celebrate Christmas when the lights are bright and the story is familiar.

The deeper work happens when:

  • Faith is tested
  • Hope feels fragile
  • Obedience requires sacrifice
  • Love demands more than comfort

That is where transformation grows—not in the manger scene, but in the daily choice to follow Christ when no one is watching.

So What Is the Work?

Howard Thurman’s answer is simple—and demanding:

  • To find the lost
  • To heal the broken
  • To feed the hungry
  • To bring peace
  • To love as Christ loved

This is the work of Christmas.

Quiet. Faithful. Ongoing.

Because Christmas does not end.

It sends us.

Howard Thurman (1899–1981) was a theologian, philosopher, and civil rights leader whose writings explored how faith is meant to be lived beyond worship and ritual. A mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurman believed Christianity must move from celebration into action—shaping how believers love, serve, and pursue justice in everyday life. His poem The Work of Christmas continues to challenge readers to carry Christ’s presence into the world long after the season ends.

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The Importance of 1925 by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 31, 2025 by jrcoggins

1925 was a watershed moment in North American life.

At the beginning of the 20th century, there had not been a major war in Europe for a century, and there had not been a major war in North America for half a century. Evangelical revivals had increased church attendance and spawned worldwide missionary efforts. They had also spurred wide-ranging social improvements. Schools, libraries, and hospitals had proliferated. So had a host of social service agencies—the YMCA, the SPCA, Boy Scouts, children’s camps, Sunday schools, the Salvation Army, street missions, and prison visitation ministries, among others. Slavery had been abolished. Laws had improved working conditions and limited child labor. Women were gaining increased rights and opportunities, including the right to vote (Canada in 1917 and the United States in 1920). The temperance movement was gaining strength, and Prohibition promised to eradicate alcohol and the crime, violence, and abuse that went along with it. Scientific and technological breakthroughs and economic growth were making people healthier and wealthier. Transportation and communication systems had been tremendously improved. Science and religion were working together to create a better world. The watchword of the day was “progress.” In theological terms, the prevailing ideology was a form of postmillennialism, the idea that the world would keep getting better and better until it emerged into the millennium, the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth.

The horrendous butchery of World War One should have provided a cautionary warning that the future might not be as rosy as was expected. However, in some circles, that brutal event was considered “the war to end all wars,” literally Armageddon, the last great battle that would usher in the millennium.

The mid-1920s changed all that.

The Scopes trial in July 1925 was the first highly visible crack foreshadowing the massive rupture that was coming. A Tennessee school teacher named John T. Scopes was prosecuted for teaching evolution. Evolution was the ultimate secular theory of progress, the idea that humanity had evolved over long periods of time from simple cell organisms and would evolve into a superior human race. The trial was widely publicized and had implications far beyond the fate of one teacher. It pitted science against the Bible, humanity against religion. It contrasted the belief in progress against the biblical idea of the fall. Christianity had been marching forward in harmony with science and education, and they were now being torn apart to pursue different trajectories.

This was not the only sign of the rupture. Prohibition was in force in the United States from 1920 to 1933. Prohibition was enacted by most provinces in Canada during World War One and repealed by most provinces in the 1920s. This attempt to “legislate morality” failed because North American society was divided on the issue. Some, especially Christians, supported it strongly, while others, especially the more secular minded, opposed it. Society divided here along similar lines as it did on the evolution question.

As the Roaring Twenties went on, it became clear that not only had the war to end all wars not ushered in the kingdom of God, but church attendance was beginning to decline in the Western world. The progress toward achieving heaven on earth was stalled. This, along with the Great Depression, the rise of Nazism and fascism, and World War Two, convinced many Christians that not only was the world not getting better and better, but the world was actually getting worse. Many Christians lost hope of improving society and turned to attempts to mitigate the damage in a troubled world. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935.

The great divide also affected Christian churches. On one side, some churches continued to believe in progress and embraced the social gospel. One of the earliest expressions of this was Walter Rauschenbusch’s 1917 book, A Theology for the Social Gospel. Rather than individual salvation, social gospellers focused on making society better, on achieving social progress, on creating the kingdom of God on earth. In Canada, the social gospel was promoted by the Social Service Council of Canada, founded in 1912, and by thinkers such as J.S. Woodsworth. This resulted in the founding of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (precursor of the New Democratic Party) in 1932.

On the other side, other churches refocused on the “fundamentals” of the Christian faith. These were codified by brothers Milton and Lyman Stewart in The Fundamentals: A Testimony To The Truth, a collection of twelve pamphlets published between 1910 and 1915. Rather than looking forward to improve society as a whole, fundamentalists looked back to the Bible and sought to save individuals through evangelism, rescuing the few who could be saved from a dying society.

In a sense, the divide between social gospelers and fundamentalists (also known as the “fundamentalist-modernist controversy”) could be considered a divide between optimists and pessimists. Social gospelers believed in progress, that the world was getting better and better, to the point that it would gradually emerge into the thousand-year reign of Christ. Stated another way, they were postmillennials, believing that Christ would return and the world would end after (post) the millennium. Fundamentalists were increasingly pessimists. They believed the world would go “from bad to worse” (2 Timothy 3:13), until it finally climaxed in the Great Tribulation. They were thus premillennials (in the general rather than the precise sense), believing that Christ would have to come before (pre) the millennium because humans could never build the kingdom of God on their own.

Besides the Scopes trial, 1925 also saw the creation of the United Church of Canada when Methodists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists decide to merge into one mega-denomination, one of the first efforts toward church unity and ecumenism. (The World Council of Churches was established in 1937.) Informally, they called the new entity “Canada’s Church.” They hoped and expected that other denominations would also join and create a single, united national church. This new church would combine with social and political forces to build a better society. The new church was definitely in the camp that believed in progress and the social gospel. However, splinters from some of the founding denominations refused to join, and the result was not fewer denominations but more. Further, as it blended in with social and political forces, in time the United Church (like many other “mainline” and ecumenical churches) had little that was unique and original to offer, and this once mighty denomination is now on the path to oblivion.

At the same time that the United Church was uniting, another significant Canadian denomination was dividing. In 1926, the main Baptist denomination split into Convention Baptists and Fellowship Baptists. It is significant that the dividing issue was the denomination’s university (McMaster), with the “progressive” wing siding with the university against the more conservative or fundamentalist wing.

The divisions that started a century ago have continued to the present day. For the past century in North America, chaos has resulted from the great struggle between the two competing visions of the world—“progressives,” who believe all change is good, and conservatives, who want to return to the golden age of the past. This division has been evident in the church and in the social and political spheres in society as a whole.

Despite its admirable concern for the needy, the social gospel has largely proven to be a dead end for the church, as the “gospel” has tended to be subverted by the “social.” Organizations launched by the social gospel have mostly become secular. Attempts to build the kingdom of God on earth without God’s help have often ended in oppression and suffering, as communism has clearly demonstrated. The social gospel has the tendency to place humans in the place of God, overlook human sinfulness, and remove the anchor that restrains evil. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. On the other hand, a single focus on evangelism is also inadequate. Evangelism is essential. Until people are born again in Jesus, they cannot begin to build His kingdom. But Jesus also called His followers, once they have become His followers, to feed the hungry, satisfy the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the needy, look after the sick, and visit those in prison (Matthew 25:31-46 NIV). Like the other apostles, James said the same thing: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). The early church overwhelmed the Roman Empire by following this direction. Irish monks evangelized northern Europe by establishing outposts that offered a variety of social programs. The evangelical revivals also combined evangelism and social betterment. So did many overseas mission agencies.

Is the world getting better or worse? The question is overly simplistic. History does not all flow in one direction. The Bible compares human society to the chaos of the ocean, with conflicting currents flowing in different directions, throwing up unexpected waves. No human predicted the rapid spread of Christianity across the Roman Empire, the evangelization of northern Europe by Irish monks, the Protestant Reformation, the evangelical revivals, the rise of Pentecostalism and the charismatic movement, the growth of the church in China, the increase in church attendance in North America after World War Two (and the concurrent decline in church attendance in Europe), the recent increase in church attendance in England, and Alpha. No human predicted the fall of the Roman Empire, the rise of Islam, the Great Depression, Nazism, the rise and fall of communism, nuclear weapons, AIDS, or Covid-19. Sometimes the same current produces both good and evil consequences. What we know is that in all things God is working for good (Romans 8:28) and that in all circumstances so should we.

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A Cow in the Cornfield by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Roger Starnes Sr on Unsplash

I first wrote this post six years ago. I reread it recently and realized how apt it still is today. I had to stop and consider how to go forward in light of the message in these words. I hope the post makes you consider where you are with God and what He’s asking of you in the coming year.

“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your [masters], “Bring wine, let us drink!”  Amos 4:1 NKJV

I grew up on a small farm in Indiana. My dad had a full-time job but also raised cattle on a small scale. One of my jobs was to bring the cattle to the field behind the barn every evening and count them to make sure they were all there. I learned a few lessons about counting and patience when trying to tally up a constantly moving herd of cattle.

Most of the time the cows were docile and easy to manage, but there were always those days when they decided to ignore fences—or rather push through them—and get out. The worst times were when they got into the neighbor’s corn field. Trying to find a cow in amidst corn taller than you or the cow wasn’t fun. The corn leaves were sharp and would cut my arms if I wasn’t careful. But, we had to get the cows out. What they saw as a wonderful adventure, actually meant sickness if they were left there or worse, their death.

I have been pondering the scripture from Amos 4:1 in light of what I learned as a child and where I am today. In the past few weeks, I’ve realized I’m not in a good place and need to make changes in my life. So, what do the cows of Bashan have to do with the cows of Indiana or with me and my need to change?

The cows of Bashan lived in a fertile area. They were large and known for pushing their way out of the hedges around the field that protected them. This caused problems for the cows and their owners. Just as the cows in my childhood got into trouble when they got into fields where they shouldn’t be. Just as I am when I am out of God’s will and floundering to try to get back on course. That’s the way I felt at the end of the year—as if I’d taken a wrong turn and was lost in the midst of a corn field and couldn’t see the way back.

You might think getting back on course is easy. Just call on God. He will answer, tell me where to go and what to do and voilà, I’m all set. I only wish it were that easy. 

You see, when you get in the corn field at night, you are walking blind because of the dark. You can’t hear properly because of the obstacles – corn stalks breaking, cows lowing, other people calling, etc. Sounds are distorted and finding the correct voice to listen to becomes very complicated. Even if you are familiar with their voice, you can have trouble telling where they are and which direction to walk.

A cow in the corn field is one demanding her rights. She has no concern for the poor or needy. She wants that tasty corn and her freedom, not considering the dangers around her and that the hedge had been in place for her safety and protection. She is self-focused, although she may have followed others of her kind to that destination.

As I ponder this, I see that many of my actions have been self-focused. I don’t intend that to happen. I want to always consider others before myself, but somehow self always creeps back in without me noticing. Instead of considering Jesus words in Matthew 25 where He asks us to clothe the naked, feed the hungry and visit those in prison and by doing so, we are doing this to Him, I am the cow demanding things for myself. 

Don’t get me wrong. I do not want to do this, and most days I am thinking of others, but this attitude has crept into my home life and needs to be addressed. The subtlety of the change is distressing. Only in looking back and being honest do I see how far I am from where I should be.

So, what do I do? For this coming year, I am not choosing a word to meditate on, but instead choosing a hedge to crawl through and a field of safety to graze in. I want to be so centered in the will of God that I won’t long for corn fields and night time escapades of self, but will think only of Jesus and the others He brings in my life. I want to only do what makes Him happy, not considering what will please me. 

For 2026, I want to listen for God’s voice and His leading in my life. This may mean quieting some of my busyness and focusing more on Him. I want to ask every day, “Jesus, what would You have me do? What do You need from me?” I want to be the cow in His hedge of safety. I hope you want that for your life too. 

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GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 24, 2025 by jrcoggins

Do we pay enough attention to the songs we sing?

One of the frequently sung Christmas carols is “Angels We Have Heard on High.” The carol is about the angels telling the shepherds to go to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. The song’s author is unknown, but the song seems to have originated in France at least a couple of centuries ago and was soon translated into English by James Chadwick. It might be that the chorus was sung in the fields by French shepherds.

Many people sing the song without thinking about the meaning of the chorus, “Gloria in excelsis Deo.” This is not French, but Latin. It is a translation of what the angels proclaimed to the shepherds in Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest heaven.” There is no Greek word for “heaven” in this verse, but just the word hupsos, meaning “highest.” The Greek just says, “Glory to God in the highest.” This might be an echo of the Old Testament phrase “God Most High.” It is not the heavens that are the highest, but God Himself.

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O Holy Night: When Heaven Met Earth in the Darkest Hour

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Author Mary Alford

There are Christmas carols we sing out of tradition—and then there are carols that stop us mid-breath. O Holy Night is one of those rare hymns. From its first line, it pulls us into a quiet, starlit moment when heaven broke into human history—not with fanfare, but with light piercing darkness.

So what makes O Holy Night linger in our hearts long after the last note fades?

A Night Marked by Darkness—and Hope

“Long lay the world in sin and error pining…”
The song doesn’t begin with celebration. It begins with waiting. With weariness. With a world aching for rescue. This is a reminder that Christmas was not born out of comfort, but out of desperation—a people longing for redemption they could not create on their own.

That truth resonates deeply with Christian readers and storytellers alike. We understand brokenness. We write about it. We live it. And this lyric reminds us that God chose that very moment—the lowest point—to step in.

“Till He Appeared and the Soul Felt Its Worth”

Few lines in any hymn carry such profound meaning. The coming of Christ didn’t just change history—it restored value to every soul. In a world that measures worth by status, success, or perfection, the manger declares something radical:

You matter because God came for you.

That message alone could carry an entire sermon—or an entire novel.

A Thrill of Hope

Not a shout. Not a trumpet blast.
A thrill.

Hope often arrives quietly—especially in our darkest nights. For weary hearts, discouraged believers, and those walking through grief or uncertainty, O Holy Night reminds us that hope doesn’t require everything to be fixed. It only requires God to be present.

And He is.

Fall on Your Knees

This isn’t a suggestion. It’s a response.

The proper reaction to the miracle of the Incarnation isn’t applause—it’s humility. Worship. Surrender. The song gently but firmly shifts our posture from observer to worshiper, from storyteller to witness.

Love That Breaks Chains

“Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother…”

This is not only about physical chains, but spiritual ones—fear, shame, sin, despair. Christ didn’t come merely to comfort us; He came to set us free. That freedom is at the heart of the gospel and at the heart of every redemption story we love to read.

Why O Holy Night Still Matters

This carol endures because it tells the Christmas story honestly:

  • A broken world
  • A holy God
  • A humble entrance
  • A hope that changes everything

It reminds us that no night is too dark for God’s light to reach—and no soul is beyond His redeeming love.

As readers and writers of Christian stories, we recognize this truth:
The most powerful moments often begin in the shadows.

And that is why, year after year, we return to this song—standing beneath the stars, listening for angel voices, and remembering the night that changed the world forever.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Mary

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The 365 Days of Christmas – Delores Topliff

Posted on December 18, 2025 by dtopliff

It’s that time of year when we sing Christmas carols, and our hearts turn to the amazing eternal gift of God’s son sent to Bethlehem’s manger to redeem all who will receive and believe on His name.

This year, instead of singing the Twelve Days of Christmas, let’s expand it to include The 365 Days of Christmas (plus one more during Leap Year.)

Similarly, we look back over our year to thank Him for many things. We look forward like Moses and say, “”If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here,” Wonderfully if we ask Him, His presence does go with us! In fact, Hebrews 13:5, promises “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The truth is, instead of Him going with us, we seek to find His path and follow closely after Him. We had a need, and God sent His only son to be The Way Home to all who receive His gift to join His eternal family. This is the perfect time of year to remember that.

I love mission trips, taking the Good News to those who seldom hear it. Those trips have taken me to South America for 3.5 months in 1980, to Israel nine different times since 1984, and to the Philippines six times starting in 2007. Each time, we take funds, love, messages, and service, but we receive so much more in gratitude, life connections, and seeing precious lives changed forever.

2026 will soon be here. Ask the Lord what new thing He has tucked inside of it for you—how He may strengthen and use you in the coming year. As we partner with Him, resources are multiplied and limitations fall away. He works tirelessly and sends us forth with His words as instruments of His love. We are ambassadors representing the greatest authority anywhere to make Him known. Enjoy the process!

Winter and holidays are also a great time to read. Check my delorestopliff.com under the Books tab to find and choose my titles. You might especially enjoy The Christmas Tree Wars and The Traveling Grandma’s Guide to Israel: Adventures, Wit, and Wisdom – half memoir and half travelogue of nine lengthy trips to Israel over 41 years.

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Christmas Giving 2 by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 17, 2025 by jrcoggins

Historians are often very wise people. I know this because I am one. Historians are wise because they have access to far deeper reservoirs of experience. They learn from the centuries of experience of other people. As someone said, “Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions.”

One of the other historians I have come to know a little bit and appreciate a great deal is Gerry Bowler. Gerry has become a recognized expert on Christmas. He has written several books on the subject, including a biography of Santa Claus (actually, a history of the idea of Santa Claus).

One of the aspects of Christmas that I learned from reading Gerry’s work was the history of giving. From its beginning, the Christian church has encouraged and practiced giving to the poor and needy. However, things have changed in recent centuries:

• Originally, people in “Christian” countries gave gifts to the poor and needy.

• Then, as the world moved into the early modern era (after 1500 or so) society and priorities changed, and so did practices. Increasingly, wealthy people did not give to the poor and needy in general but to their own servants and employees, those in their own households. This practice still endures in many companies, which give their employees Christmas bonuses, Christmas turkeys, or Christmas banquets.

• In the 1800s, with the development of the idea of Santa Claus, there was a proliferation of children’s books and children’s toys. The focus of Christmas giving was still restricted to the household, but now the gifts were given to the parents’ own children, and not the servants and employees. This is still the central focus of much Christmas giving throughout the Western world.

• In very recent years, another shift has been taking place, with the emergence of Boxing Day sales. Now, a lot of the Christmas buying occurs after Christmas, as people go out to buy presents for themselves

The narrowing of Christmas giving is disturbing and haunting. The coming of Jesus at the first Christmas was “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). But increasingly our focus has shifted from the whole world to our households, to our families, and finally to ourselves. This increasing selfishness is the opposite of what God intended when He sent the ultimate gift, His Son and our Savior, Jesus.

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In the Midst of Advent by Tara Randel

Posted on December 15, 2025 by tararandel

We are in the midst of Advent. A time of anticipation. A celebration knowing that Jesus will soon come.

Imagine how Mary must have felt when we she found out she was greatly favored by God. That she would carry the Son of God.

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.    Luke 1:29-38

May your word to me be fulfilled. Could you have said those words? Accept the future that Mary was about to step into?

Last week, my pastor had an evening for us to come together to read the Magnificat. It’s become a yearly tradition that we love; spending time with Mary’s beautiful response to the future.

In Luke 1:39-45, Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant with John the Baptist. He leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary announced that she would bear the Son of God. Because Mary was so moved by this, she gave praise.

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1:46-55

This is the Magnificat. The prayer that Mary sang. She gave her all to the promise, even when her life was about to become more than she ever could have dreamed or prayed for. Her focus was on God the Father and how the coming of Jesus would change the world. I’m sure she was scared, but her praise and gratitude shone through in her words.

As we wait for Christmas, I pray that you will find time to be filled with that same anticipation. That we reflect on the coming of Jesus and His wonderful light.

I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Giving by James R. Coggins

Posted on December 10, 2025 by jrcoggins

Recent visits to two widely different events have left me disturbed and thoughtful.

I was asked by our church to help serve dinner at a Christian street ministry. That evening, we served a simple but nutritious meal to about 150 clients. Most of the clients were street people, homeless. They were hungry—and grateful. But I soon realized that they needed far more than food. They also needed clean clothes, a warm, dry place to sleep, and access to clean water. Many had medical needs. Some were in wheelchairs, some were on crutches or had limps, some had badly curved spines, and some had gastro-intestinal problems and other ailments. Many were suffering from the effects of addiction and mental issues. All needed the hope and spiritual healing that Jesus brings. I served for one night, but I have great admiration for the regulars who serve meals at this ministry three times a day 365 days a year. They also provide a safe place to sleep, medical care, addiction recovery, counselling, long-term housing, and occupational training. The needs are enormous, but this ministry is meeting many of them.

The second visit was much different. My wife and I went to a Christmas craft fair, looking to buy some Christmas presents. For more than an hour, we walked up and down the many aisles in a massive event space. We inspected the wares in dozens and dozens of booths. As we walked away, I realized that we had not seen anything that anybody needed. Everything we had seen was a frivolous extra, a decoration, a novelty. The contrast between the two events was startling. When I considered the many needs of the clients at the street ministry, I realized that there was nothing in the vast Christmas market that they needed and very little that they could even use. And some items (such as the wine, alcohol, and “edible” products) would be detrimental.

Before these two events, my wife and I had already decided we would not buy each other presents this Christmas—not because we don’t love each other but because there was nothing we could think of that we needed or wanted. And we have asked other family members not to buy us anything either. We are old, and our wants and needs have diminished. When we look at our own Christmas shopping lists, we realize there are people on those lists who have considerable needs, which overshadow wants. I remember one year when we sent some Christmas money to some friends we knew were struggling. They later apologized for spending the money on a new toilet. This was something they needed, and we praised them for their wisdom.

Do not misunderstand. I recognize that there are times when frivolity, fun, games, and silliness are also a need. The manager at another street ministry told us that clients at its food bank gravitated first to the dessert section. Years ago, I wrote a major research paper on “Service and Pleasure in the Millennium: Ontario Baptist Attitudes to Amusements and Recreation between the World Wars.” Before this time, Baptists had stressed work and service, but during the Great Depression they realized that people (many of whom could not find work) also needed recreation (which they related to re-creation/divine renewal). Besides food and clothing, people also need hope, love, joy and peace.

But in our current time of economic dislocation, when many people are struggling, there is something wrong when needs are neglected and so many of our Christmas efforts are wasted on buying more useless gifts.

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