English Corners 2016

January 2016

Once again another year slips into history and a new year is about to begin. The past year, 2015, has been full of conflict in the Middle East. Thousands of people have fled seeking safety, many have died in the attempt to find a better life. The leaders of the European Union are facing internal disagreements concerning the flood of refugees.

It reminds me of the flight of Joseph and Mary who fled from Bethlehem to Egypt to avoid the terror and massacre that Herod unleashed in his attempt to kill the baby Jesus. Herod acted out of fear of losing his position of power and that desire to achieve and maintain power still motivates the horrors that we are witnessing today. I pray for the swift return of Jesus in all His glory to end the strife in this world.

Amen

Read Matthew Chapter 2.

Be blessed,
Bruce

February 2016

A frequently asked question that is becoming even more common is, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” or “If God really is all powerful why is there evil and pain in the world?” When people ask such questions they are, in fact both admitting and denying that God is all powerful, all knowing and everywhere. (Omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.) There is also a fundamental misunderstanding of God’s relationship with His creation.

God gave humankind a gift which He did not give any other creatures He created. He gave the gift of free will and the ability to choose to do God’s will or not. Human beings could choose between good and evil. God will never remove this ability to freely choose from us. So there are people who will choose self over the good of others, or possessions over sharing and from these choices follows harm for others.

Let us pray and await the return of Jesus and His kingdom here on Earth for then there will no longer be any evil or bad things and no need for such questions any more.

Be blessed,
Bruce

March 2016

John begins his gospel with the words “in the beginning.” The same words which also start the first book of the Old Testament. However, in John’s book they are in the Greek spoken by people on a daily basis (Koine) and not in the Hebrew. This is a signal that John is bringing a new dimension to the “Creation Story” in Genesis. He is in fact saying, “You’ve heard this, you know this; but have you considered this!”

In Genesis, God creates the Sun, Moon and stars and everything in our world. John takes this further to reveal that Jesus, “The Word” (Logos in Greek) also took a very active part. God’s Son had been with Him always and they worked together to create everything. Jesus’ role in The Creation was both central and dynamic. It still is.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Be blessed,
Bruce

April 2016

The act of creation did not end after the sixth day. Genesis tells us that God rested on the seventh day. That means that God resumed work after the seventh day! He and Jesus are still working today. Here in Finland we are quite familiar with snow, yes? Did you know that every snowflake that has ever fallen, falls today or will fall in the future anywhere in the world is unique? The ice caps of the polar regions hold immense numbers of snowflakes; all unique. The mountain tops and glaciers are also holding myriads of snowflakes none of them the same. Each one is unique.

There are many things that are being created today and each is unique. We are told that each person’s DNA is unique, fingerprints, the pattern of the iris and many other things too. Mankind produces many things too in factories, but they are all identical, made from the same raw materials in the same way.

Everything that God and Jesus make are unique and wonderful and amazing and beautiful. Each day we should open our eyes with renewed wonder and awe at the power and majesty and goodness of the Holy Trinity. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Matt. 18:3 Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Be blessed,
Bruce

May 2016

Matt. 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

This verse is repeated in the gospels of Mark and Luke almost word for word. It came straight from the lips of Jesus; but who were the little ones He was referring to?

When we first become “converted and become as little children” we are filled with a new sense of amazement, wonder, and love for God, Jesus and the world that they created. We know very little and have become innocent once again no matter how long we may already have lived. It is fascinating to watch a small child exploring everything around. Eyes wide and a smile at everything it encounters. As newly reborn followers of Christ we should explore the Scriptures, which are our guide to the Kingdom of God and to the nature of God, The Son and the Holy Spirit, in the same way as we explored our world when we were very small. It is of converts to belief n God and Jesus that Jesus was speaking of as “these little ones”.

Be blessed,
Bruce

June 2016

Newborns take nourishment for growth from their mother’s milk. As “little children” in faith in Jesus Christ we need spiritual nourishment which is easy to absorb and understand. Just as the growing child’s body adapts to solid foods, so the growing convert needs to feed spiritually on more meaty matters of the Gospels and faith in God and Jesus. The maturing Christian believer must know and understand and be able to discern the true meaning of the Scripture and exercise such understanding and true discernment in the course of everyday life.

1 Cor. 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able.

Heb. 5:12 For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb. 5:14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Be blessed,
Bruce

July 2016

As children grow physically, mentally and socially, bit by bit they need to learn the rules of life in all aspects of life. Not just to know them, but to obey them. This gives them protection against physical danger, social danger and being able to think properly protects the child from more abstract dangers.

The same is true of growing in faith, knowledge of the Bible and of God Himself and the works and teachings of His son Jesus. This knowledge and obedience to God’s teachings and commandments protects believers from spiritual mistakes and dangers and makes further development possible and increases our usefulness to God’s work here on earth.

Psa. 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Be blessed,
Bruce

August 2016

I have heard it said that becoming a Christian means losing one’s personality, intelligence and talents. God gives us all of these things and they are part of the life and armour of the committed Christian. Paul was a very intelligent and well educated man. When  he was stopped on the road on his way to persecute the followers of Christ, None of his intelligence, learning or speaking skills were taken from him. The only thing that Paul was asked to give up was his belief in his own infallibility. He was confronted by living proof that Jesus was and is the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. In the face of this evidence Paul’s own intellectual honesty compelled him to re-evaluate, the received wisdom of his teachers and his own interpretations. This fresh interpretation of the Scriptures enabled him to become an extremely powerful and effective ambassador for Christ.

Acts 9: 1-19

Be blessed,
Bruce

September 2016

Reading the Bible is essential for spiritual growth. However, not all possible ways of reading the Scriptures will bring about this kind of growth. We need to approach it with an attitude which will promote such growth and not hinder or prevent spiritual growth. Reading the Bible simply to seek confirmation of one’s own opinions or points of view will not  achieve growth, but will actually prevent it. The Scriptures need to be approached with humility and an openness to learning what is actually written and what is actually meant. A knowledge of the events and culture of the times when the scriptures were written is extremely useful.

Approach the Word of God with a prayerful heart, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to open the passage, chapter or book you are reading. After reading remain in prayerful contemplation or meditation until a greater depth of understanding comes to you. Read Acts 9: 1-19 again and seek the Lord’s desire to change your life.

Be blessed,
Bruce

October/November 2016

Deuteronomy 6:4 is known in Hebrew as the Sh’ma “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is One.” This is said as a daily (twice daily prayer) by observant Jews, who are told to live by this commandment.

Verse 5 goes on to command that the people should love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind and strength. The words of the Sh’ma are worn in the phylacteries that observant Jews wear on their heads and arms during prayer.

And yet several centuries later in Ezekiel, we find that God searched for someone to build the gap in the wall and stand there, but could find no one. (Ezek. 22:30)

Jesus himself used the words in Deut. 6:4-5 and said they are the most important commandments.

Today we as Christians need to remind ourselves that these words are still the most important commandment and by living according to them each day we can take our place in the gap in the wall and build up the wall.

Amen and be blessed.
Bruce