What Happened to the Word of God?

  A matter that is of great concern to me is how the church for the past number of years has been viewing the Bible. I had a minister in a sister denomination say to me that; “the Bible is not the Word of God but the Word of man.” I had someone say that they don’t read portions of the Bible especially in the Old Testament because they simply don’t agree with what is being said. Then, there are those who love to pick on the Apostle Paul and they will say with a laugh, “well you know that’s Paul and we all know what Paul is like.|” What about the overused claim, “that statement is simply a matter related to its time and really doesn’t have anything to say to us today.” Then, there is the coup de grace; “very learned people today tell us that certain statements mentioned in the Bible disagrees with modern science. And we prefer to accept modern science” Wow where does that leave us? If we are going to accept the words of specialists over Biblical statements and creeds then we might just as well toss the Bible out or rewrite it completely. I don’t know of a man or woman of science today who will tell you that a virgin birth is possible, that the miracles recorded in both the Old and New Testament are possible and certainly the resurrection of a dead body is possible. So whose word will we accept? We have literally torn the Bible up into little bitty pieces some of which we accept with modification of course while other pieces we will discard as totally unbelievable and therefore non applicable.

   I believe and I was brought up in a church that believed that the Bible in total is the Word of God. Whether it is the Apostle Paul that is speaking or Jesus it is one and the same; “God’s Word.” The Old Testament is every much the Word of God as the New Testament and so we cannot make the claim that we believe in the God of Love as proclaimed in the New Testament but we have problems with the God of Justice found in the Old Testament for they are both one and the same God. I tend to agree with a colleague in a sister denomination who once said; “I prefer to believe the words of those who were closer to the actual event than someone who is writing about it today.” I am one who still believes that the Bible is the inspired, infallible and inerrant Word of God. We have to recapture the wonder and awe of God’s Holy Word and start living by it rather than playing with it.

What Happened to the Word of God?

  A matter that is of great concern to me is how the church for the past number of years has been viewing the Bible. I had a minister in a sister denomination say to me that; “the Bible is not the Word of God but the Word of man.” I had someone say that they don’t read portions of the Bible especially in the Old Testament because they simply don’t agree with what is being said. Then, there are those who love to pick on the Apostle Paul and they will say with a laugh, “well you know that’s Paul and we all know what Paul is like.|” What about the overused claim, “that statement is simply a matter related to its time and really doesn’t have anything to say to us today.” Then, there is the coup de grace; “very learned people today tell us that certain statements mentioned in the Bible disagrees with modern science. And we prefer to accept modern science” Wow where does that leave us? If we are going to accept the words of specialists over Biblical statements and creeds then we might just as well toss the Bible out or rewrite it completely. I don’t know of a man or woman of science today who will tell you that a virgin birth is possible, that the miracles recorded in both the Old and New Testament are possible and certainly the resurrection of a dead body is possible. So whose word will we accept? We have literally torn the Bible up into little bitty pieces some of which we accept with modification of course while other pieces we will discard as totally unbelievable and therefore non applicable.

   I believe and I was brought up in a church that believed that the Bible in total is the Word of God. Whether it is the Apostle Paul that is speaking or Jesus it is one and the same; “God’s Word.” The Old Testament is every much the Word of God as the New Testament and so we cannot make the claim that we believe in the God of Love as proclaimed in the New Testament but we have problems with the God of Justice found in the Old Testament for they are both one and the same God. I tend to agree with a colleague in a sister denomination who once said; “I prefer to believe the words of those who were closer to the actual event than someone who is writing about it today.” I am one who still believes that the Bible is the inspired, infallible and inerrant Word of God. We have to recapture the wonder and awe of God’s Holy Word and start living by it rather than playing with it.

What Happened to the Word of God?

  A matter that is of great concern to me is how the church for the past number of years has been viewing the Bible. I had a minister in a sister denomination say to me that; “the Bible is not the Word of God but the Word of man.” I had someone say that they don’t read portions of the Bible especially in the Old Testament because they simply don’t agree with what is being said. Then, there are those who love to pick on the Apostle Paul and they will say with a laugh, “well you know that’s Paul and we all know what Paul is like.|” What about the overused claim, “that statement is simply a matter related to its time and really doesn’t have anything to say to us today.” Then, there is the coup de grace; “very learned people today tell us that certain statements mentioned in the Bible disagrees with modern science. And we prefer to accept modern science” Wow where does that leave us? If we are going to accept the words of specialists over Biblical statements and creeds then we might just as well toss the Bible out or rewrite it completely. I don’t know of a man or woman of science today who will tell you that a virgin birth is possible, that the miracles recorded in both the Old and New Testament are possible and certainly the resurrection of a dead body is possible. So whose word will we accept? We have literally torn the Bible up into little bitty pieces some of which we accept with modification of course while other pieces we will discard as totally unbelievable and therefore non applicable.

   I believe and I was brought up in a church that believed that the Bible in total is the Word of God. Whether it is the Apostle Paul that is speaking or Jesus it is one and the same; “God’s Word.” The Old Testament is every much the Word of God as the New Testament and so we cannot make the claim that we believe in the God of Love as proclaimed in the New Testament but we have problems with the God of Justice found in the Old Testament for they are both one and the same God. I tend to agree with a colleague in a sister denomination who once said; “I prefer to believe the words of those who were closer to the actual event than someone who is writing about it today.” I am one who still believes that the Bible is the inspired, infallible and inerrant Word of God. We have to recapture the wonder and awe of God’s Holy Word and start living by it rather than playing with it.

What Happened to the Word of God?

  A matter that is of great concern to me is how the church for the past number of years has been viewing the Bible. I had a minister in a sister denomination say to me that; “the Bible is not the Word of God but the Word of man.” I had someone say that they don’t read portions of the Bible especially in the Old Testament because they simply don’t agree with what is being said. Then, there are those who love to pick on the Apostle Paul and they will say with a laugh, “well you know that’s Paul and we all know what Paul is like.|” What about the overused claim, “that statement is simply a matter related to its time and really doesn’t have anything to say to us today.” Then, there is the coup de grace; “very learned people today tell us that certain statements mentioned in the Bible disagrees with modern science. And we prefer to accept modern science” Wow where does that leave us? If we are going to accept the words of specialists over Biblical statements and creeds then we might just as well toss the Bible out or rewrite it completely. I don’t know of a man or woman of science today who will tell you that a virgin birth is possible, that the miracles recorded in both the Old and New Testament are possible and certainly the resurrection of a dead body is possible. So whose word will we accept? We have literally torn the Bible up into little bitty pieces some of which we accept with modification of course while other pieces we will discard as totally unbelievable and therefore non applicable.

   I believe and I was brought up in a church that believed that the Bible in total is the Word of God. Whether it is the Apostle Paul that is speaking or Jesus it is one and the same; “God’s Word.” The Old Testament is every much the Word of God as the New Testament and so we cannot make the claim that we believe in the God of Love as proclaimed in the New Testament but we have problems with the God of Justice found in the Old Testament for they are both one and the same God. I tend to agree with a colleague in a sister denomination who once said; “I prefer to believe the words of those who were closer to the actual event than someone who is writing about it today.” I am one who still believes that the Bible is the inspired, infallible and inerrant Word of God. We have to recapture the wonder and awe of God’s Holy Word and start living by it rather than playing with it.

The Blessing of The Fishing Fleet

   While I ministered in Freeport Grand Bahama I was asked each year to hold a blessing for the fishing fleet. This was an annual deep sea sports fishing event. Boats came from far and wide to participate. The organizers would always ask a local minister to hold a special prayer blessing on the first day of fishing. Very early in the morning I would meet with the chief organizer on a small piece of land jutting out into the ocean. The fleet of boats forty or even more would be all lined up in port waiting for the prayer and waiting for the green light. The organizer called for the attention of all boats and then handed his two-way radio over to me. The following are the very words I shared with the fleet of boats when I was asked to bless the fleet for the very first time.

   The Blessing of the Fleet as you are probably well aware is an old and revered tradition. It has been passed down from generation to generation. It is as ancient as biblical times.
This centuries old rite calls on divine providence to safe guard ships and crews from the danger of the seas. It was meant to ensure that the fishermen would return to port and have a bountiful catch. Let’s ask God’s blessing on your fishing during the days ahead. Let’s pray.

   Dear Lord who art the creator of earth, sea and sky and all that dwell therein we give thanks for the day before us. We ask for your blessing upon the fishing fleet; a blessing of calm waters, blue skies, fair winds, comradeship, a good catch but most important of all a safe return to port. Lord, who chose fishermen for his disciples bless the men and women of the fishing fleet today. In Jesus name we pray; Amen.  

    I’m sure that most of you have heard of the serenity prayer!

God, grant me the
SERENITY
to accept the things
I cannot change

COURAGE
to change the
things I can

and
WISDOM
to know the difference

The Serenity Prayer for Fishermen is as follows:

God, grant me the Serenity

To accept the size of the fish I catch;

The courage not to fib about it,

And the wisdom to know

That no one would believe me anyway.

Have a great day!

The Blessing of The Fishing Fleet

   While I ministered in Freeport Grand Bahama I was asked each year to hold a blessing for the fishing fleet. This was an annual deep sea sports fishing event. Boats came from far and wide to participate. The organizers would always ask a local minister to hold a special prayer blessing on the first day of fishing. Very early in the morning I would meet with the chief organizer on a small piece of land jutting out into the ocean. The fleet of boats forty or even more would be all lined up in port waiting for the prayer and waiting for the green light. The organizer called for the attention of all boats and then handed his two-way radio over to me. The following are the very words I shared with the fleet of boats when I was asked to bless the fleet for the very first time.

   The Blessing of the Fleet as you are probably well aware is an old and revered tradition. It has been passed down from generation to generation. It is as ancient as biblical times.
This centuries old rite calls on divine providence to safe guard ships and crews from the danger of the seas. It was meant to ensure that the fishermen would return to port and have a bountiful catch. Let’s ask God’s blessing on your fishing during the days ahead. Let’s pray.

   Dear Lord who art the creator of earth, sea and sky and all that dwell therein we give thanks for the day before us. We ask for your blessing upon the fishing fleet; a blessing of calm waters, blue skies, fair winds, comradeship, a good catch but most important of all a safe return to port. Lord, who chose fishermen for his disciples bless the men and women of the fishing fleet today. In Jesus name we pray; Amen.  

    I’m sure that most of you have heard of the serenity prayer!

God, grant me the
SERENITY
to accept the things
I cannot change

COURAGE
to change the
things I can

and
WISDOM
to know the difference

The Serenity Prayer for Fishermen is as follows:

God, grant me the Serenity

To accept the size of the fish I catch;

The courage not to fib about it,

And the wisdom to know

That no one would believe me anyway.

Have a great day!

Give Thanks

   There was an old Scottish minister who was always noted for his prayers of thanksgiving. No matter what the day or week was like this man always found something for which to give thanks! The people in the congregation use to shake their head in amazement. One Sunday only a few managed to make it to church. The weather was utterly chaos. Rain, thunder, lighting, high winds and whatever could make the day miserable combined together to make this day utterly miserable. The people in the pew knew that there was nothing for which the preacher could give thank today. They were utterly amazed as the he began his prayer with the familiar words; “Dear God we thank You,” (for what the people wondered) “that every day is not like today.”

   That little story by the way is true. Even in the midst of a storm there is always something to be thankful for. The people of St. Andrews and indeed the people of Bermuda were thankful that every day was not like last Sunday! Churches across the Island were cancelled because of Hurricane Leslie. I received emails from as far away as Calgary Alberta saying that they had heard of the storm and that they were praying for us.

   Well, even amidst a storm there was much we could give thanks for. First, Hurricane Leslie was downgraded from a hurricane two to a hurricane 1. Secondly, we were thankful that it was further downgraded from a Hurricane 1 to a Tropical Storm. Third, we were grateful that the center of the storm did not pass directly over us but close to a 165 miles to our east. Fourthly, we were thankful that the storm at least in our part of the Island consisted of heavy rain although in some places there was some high wind. Fifthly, Jill and I are very grateful that our cistern has reached the overflowing mark which means that we will have plenty of water over the coming months. So, even amidst a storm there is much for which to give thanks.

   We are also very grateful though that today was not like last Sunday in that we did not have to cancel church. Today, we had a great attendance. Praise God!