Dear Brothers and Sisters: The death of George Floyd at the hand of a Minneapolis, Minnesota policeman was brutal, unnecessary, and outrageous. We unequivocally condemn what was done to Mr. Floyd and encourage all members of the Body of Christ to pray for Mr. Floyd’s family and for our community, state or provincial, and national […]
Faced with eviction from the only home they had ever known, Adam and Eve were escorted out of their garden paradise. Adam remembered the warning words of God: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in […]
The theme of reconciliation is as old as humanity itself. Because of sin, humans damaged their relationship not only with God but also with their neighbor. Because of the Fall, communion between Adam and Eve was lost, giving rise to individualism. Both covered themselves with fig leaves, which they had not needed before: “I was […]
In the last “Spotlight” we examined Revelation 21 and the new creation that began in Christ and the ministry of reconciliation. This time we focus on the new covenant. Just before Paul communicates that reconciliation is a God-given ministry and that we are ministers of God (2 Corinthians 5:18; 6:4), he writes that God has “also […]
Editor’s Note: This was my original First Word for the May-June BA, written in February before the COVD-19 outbreak. It was replaced with a more timely editorial just prior to publication. Written with “The Ministry” theme in mind, the original is offered to you here as an online exclusive. ….. We have another beautiful cover […]
It wasn’t your intention to send some of your garbage on a tropical vacation. Nevertheless, there it lies, basking in the sun as it floats near Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. In an odd twist, some of its toxic chemicals may wind up back in your home and on your plate, courtesy of the fish […]
In the last issue of the Bible Advocate I began a series of six articles exploring 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 with a question: “What motivates you?” That article discussed the power of Christ’s love that compels us, and concluded with a call for us to join God’s redemptive mission in the world. Cosmic courtroom However, […]
In a time long since passed, the prophet Isaiah recorded a powerful message from the God of Abraham. The Lord spoke to him, and the divine utterance has been passed down for centuries. In the book of Isaiah, we read the words of the Lord assuring us that His Word will always prove to be […]
In exploring the ministry of reconciliation this year, we will spotlight six chapters from the Bible to aid us in understanding it and all its implications for life in the church. But before we jump into our first selection, here’s a fascinating piece of trivia. Have you ever wondered how the Bible got the indispensable […]
Tuba players can be difficult neighbors. Denise discovered this firsthand as a property manager for an apartment complex. “He just didn’t understand that he shouldn’t play his tuba at two o’clock in the morning.” Of course, situations like this tend to escalate quickly. Neighbor A (the tuba player) wakes Neighbor B. Neighbor B parks in […]
