by jot and tittle

Sometimes the world gets pretty depressing. There is so much badness going on in the news and in the church we are constantly reminded that persecution is coming to the western world in our life time and there's nothing we can to do about. Basically we're all doomed thanks to natural disasters, wars, school shootings, and the leftist agenda. But. What if we weren't doomed? See, you really can't complain about how bad the world is if you are doing nothing to change it. I know we don't have control over natural disasters but we do have lot more control over changing this culture of death then you might think and I would like to encourage young people in particular to not sit still. We have energy when we're young that we will never have again. Let me give you just two examples of young people who aren't sitting still. 1. This week I was extremely blessed do some volunteer work with a pro-life group. As I drove home on Friday afternoon an exceptional th...

I'm reading a book. In this book it was talking about the culturally acceptable and expected phenomena of degrading men. All too quickly our mouths spew unkind, disrespectful, rude words and jokes which people laugh at but they make God frown and hurt the hearts of the men around us. For this I am truly sorry. Chivalry, gentlemanly behavior, and male leadership are offensive in our feminist culture. For this I am also truly sorry. On behalf of other grateful women I would like to just take a moment to thank men for 25 things they do. Thank you for; 1. Taking out the trash 2. Opening the door 3. Scraping the car 4. Cleaning the driveway 5. Carrying heavy (and not so heavy) things 6. Leading Bible study 7. Praying 8. Working hard 9. Watching for the safety of others 10. Starting the car 11. Going last (for meals, through the doorway, and just about everything else) 12. Holding the umbrella 13. Answering questions 14. Helping your mom 15. Drying the dishes 16. Pla...

In my research for this article I discovered that a verse in the Bible that says "be in the world but not of it" is not to be found, but the idea itself is everywhere. Jesus prayed that His disciples would not be taken out of the world but that they would be kept from evil (John 17) and John said that if we love the world and the things of the world we do not have the love of God (1 John 2:15-17). But here is a confusing problem that faces me as I look at the modern North American Church; we are far more of  the world than in  the world. We spend our time the same ways, watch the same movies, listen to the same music, and go to the same places. We are concerned with the same things, namely money, sex, and entertainment, and spend a lot more time perusing those ends than praying, studying and memorizing the Bible, fighting injustices, changing society, caring for our neighbours, and encouraging our leaders both in the church and politically. But how did Jesus portray being...

The Farmer sits high overlooking the earth below as his body bounces up and down thanks to the plowed field beneath him. He looks down at the small, brown-haired head bouncing up and down beside him. Perched on a five gallon pail, the neighbour's son sits quietly, watching the tractor, watching the sky, and watching the woods to the left. He looks up and watches the Farmer and they share a smile but neither says a word.  Farmer thinks back to when his own sons were small and would come out to the fields, dragging their own five gallon pails behind them to provide a place to sit in the tractor with Dad. Mom had sent them out, hoping for a few moments of peace. Many little heads had bobbed up and down beside him; brown heads, blond heads, and heads sporting piggy tails. The piggy tails had since changed into pony tails and braids. Has any of it made a difference?  the Farmer wonders, thinking back on his life.  Farmer has rough hands, callused from working every day...

Christmas, New Years, and Groundhog Day are all over which means the next big holiday is Valentine's Day. Stores are manicured in pink and red with signs proclaiming "chocolates, roses, and teddy bears" (why any grown woman would want a teddy bear is beyond me but that's besides the point). In less than a week some people will be waking up to either flowers at their breakfast table, invitations out to dinner, or a rather upset significant other. And some people will be waking up to an empty, angry feeling. Both these groups will probably feel the need to share their experiences with the world at large via social media. If you feel obligated to shout out to all your Facebook friends about your love life or lack thereof I would just like to remind you of a practical verse found in Romans 12:15. It goes like this; Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep I'll start by addressing the down-trodden singles among us. I understand that you m...

Today is my day off. So I slept in. Whenever I sleep in I feel a little guilty that I've wasted time but since I'm also getting over a bad cold I figured that justified things. I lay staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before convincing myself that I really did need to get up and get things done. After finding some juice I pulled open my Bible and read the next two chapters in my reading plan, then I put the Bible down and started to pray. My voice was praying out loud "Lord, please forgive me for my sins..." but my mind was thinking; wow, I have a lot of cleaning to do today. My place is a mess! I can't believe I let it get this way. I have to vacuum and dust and there's a pile of dishes to do... And right then and there it was as if God put a spotlight on my soul which made my mouth and mind stop. He put before my mind the example of Mary and Martha.  The story goes something like this. Jesus goes to visit with Mary and Martha (who are sisters) ...

Quietly I wonder thoughts twist inside my head memories and questions and tears I once did shed He laughed with us not long ago corny jokes he told his eyes alight and smiling mine would merely roll But that laughter now is quiet on earth we do not hear but up there in heaven the joy is very near On earth we ask the question "why'd he have to die?" but you see, up there in heaven he's praising God Most High His job was finished at least the earthly part so God took him away to the home of his heart Today would be his birthday I think of all he left behind but he and God don't feel that way so contentment I will find In God who's plans are always good and who never leaves my side He hears, He sees, He knows the hurt in His love I will abide