How McMaster University Drew Baptists Together Then Split Them Apart

Because many people don’t know the background, I wanted to share an article I wrote back in 2016 on the history of our church association.

What comes to mind when you think of McMaster University? Great medical school? Decent football team? Large, sprawling campus? Whatever image you have of McMaster University, you probably weren’t aware that, more than anything else, it was once what drew Baptists in central Canada together, and then split them apart - understanding how is an important part of the history of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Canada.

Overcoming Shame by Rebuilding Your Identity

I was on vacation last week, so I wanted to share an article I wrote back in 2016 on shame.


While guilt can be a clear-cut response to something specific we’ve done, shame is often a vague attack on our identity and value. And we don’t just feel shame over bad things we’ve done but we’re also affected with shame at the circumstances we experience. That’s why abuse and trauma are often accompanied by shame. And also why just asking for forgiveness doesn’t take it away.

What Happens to the People Who Have Never Heard?

I’m on vacation this week, so I wanted to share an article I wrote back in 2016 on the people who have never heard.

I was 20 years old when I first raised the objection against Christianity: “If Jesus is the only way, what about all the people who have never heard?” I was pretty proud of my logic. And I think I half-believed that I was the first one to come up with the argument. “Had I single-handedly proven the inconsistency of a religion that spanned thousands of years and had duped hundreds of millions of followers?” It felt like it at the time, but I eventually came to think otherwise. I now believe I had a number of things wrong. Let me explain.

What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say

I was on vacation last week, so I wanted to share an article I wrote back in 2017 about a lesson I learned when a church member unexpectedly showed up on my doorstep.

When I lived in Japan, one afternoon, without warning, I got a hurried call from a church member. She was in the area with her daughter and wondered if they could stop by. I sensed that there was some urgency to the visit, but she wasn’t giving me any clues as to what it might be. I didn’t know what to say, but it was one of those times when you take a chance, not knowing how the person will respond or what God might do.


Was Jesus in the Lion’s Den?

Jesus said that the Scriptures pointed to Him but for a long time, I wasn’t sure how. It seemed as if the Bible mostly told stories about people like Noah, Moses, and David. I came to learn that one of the ways that the Old Testament points to Jesus is by laying down patterns that foreshadow Him. Those parallels can be seen clearly in the account of Daniel in the lion’s den.

Unlocking the Psalms: Insights into Prayer, Poetry, and Emotion

I was someone who avoided the Psalms. I couldn’t figure out what to do with them. They don’t contain great stories or many commands, principles, or warnings. And there’s lots of repetition and emotion that feels like it gets in the way while you’re reading. But as I’ve continued to learn about them, I can now say that I love the Psalms. Let me share three things that helped me along the way.

The Meaning of the Temple From Eden to Eternity

People often assume that the temple is just an Old Testament church and essentially the same as the building Christians go to on Sunday, or they think it’s so foreign to their experience that they can’t relate to it at all. The temple is such a prominent theme in Scripture that having a sense of what it means and why it’s so significant helps in understanding the Bible's message.

How To Read the Story of Gideon

We love biographies of successful business people, great inventors, and glamorous celebrities. When we read stories about people in the Bible, we tend to read them in the same way. We assume that the central figure must be a hero, and we look for ways to imitate them. But that usually isn’t a great strategy.


What’s So Important About Abraham?

This week’s E100 readings looked at the life of Abraham. By any standard, Abraham is a person of incredible influence. Honoured by Jews, Muslims, and Christians alike, he is an important individual. But why is he so important? What’s the significance of his life? Consider how the clues in the context of his story make the significance of his life clear.

Marriage Checkup: How the Prepare/Enrich Assessment Helped Our Relationship

I’m on vacation this week, so I wanted to share an article I wrote back in 2016 about a marriage assessment Jennifer and I did.

Couples that are dating will often talk about having a great “connection.” But in a survey developed by a doctor in psychology and family science and refined through over 4 million surveys in the last 35 years, there wasn’t a single question about connection.

What’s Beneath our Christmas Rom-Com Obsession

I have a confession to make. Over the years, I’ve watched more of those Hallmark Christmas movies than I care to admit. Even though the movies are cheaply made and incredibly unoriginal, people can’t stop watching them. I think it’s important that we stop to ask why.

How to Avoid Being Unchristian in Your Parenting

While I was away at our Fellowship’s National Conference, I wanted to share an article on parenting which is so foundational, I felt it warranted repeating.

What do you do when your child has disobeyed you or broken your rules? The temptation is to play the part of a sentencing judge. Lying to your sister? Go to your room! Stayed out too late? You’re grounded. If all we do is hand out sentences and demand obedience, there is no good news in our parenting.

6 Myths About Grief That Get in the Way of Recovery

This week, I’ve been processing the death of Kevin Kerswell, someone whose passing was so sudden and unexpected, that it stunned me. He joined as usual for the morning prayer meeting one week. The next week he was gone. As I attended his funeral, my thoughts went back to a seminar on grief and mourning that was put on by Glenn and Roslyn Crichton, the founders of The Coping Centre. Let me share some of the insights that I learned.

Tips for Being Slightly Less Angry With Your Children

I’m on vacation this week, so I wanted to share an article I wrote back in 2019 about how to be slightly less angry with your children.

While some parents treat anger as a discipline strategy, Scripture has convinced me that getting angry at children usually does more to model the parent’s lack of grace than it does to help build grace in children. This article looks at what you can do to be slightly less angry with your children.

How Funerals Help Us To Live

I’m on vacation this week, so I wanted to share an article I wrote back in 2017 on How Funerals Help Us To Live.

When David Bowie passed away, according to his wishes he had a “direct cremation” without any funeral service. He was just gone without an opportunity even for family to mourn his loss. Are funerals outdated traditions? Should we replace them with happier substitutes? Or maybe just do away with them altogether?