More Than Words...

There are lots of things I genuinely enjoy about the Christmas season—the food, the family gatherings, the gift-giving, the celebrations. It's the one time of year when songs about Jesus play openly in public spaces across our city. In many ways, Christmas really is a good celebration. And yet, if we're honest, it also awakens something deeper in us—a longing, a heart-cry that won't quite go away. This month, I've had a fresh rendition of the Christmas carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel on repeat. It's not a version everyone enjoys. It is stirring some controversy because it slowly builds toward a raw, heavy metal crescendo—a guttural roar of longing—before collapsing back into a quiet plea: O come, O come Emmanuel.   (Thank you, Skillet)  Your taste in music may be more refined or reserved than mine, so that particular version might not be your thing.  But the cry behind it is. Because beneath the lights, the music, and the celebrations is a shared ache—a yearning for ...

  A couple of weeks ago, I witnessed a scene in the mall that has stayed with me. After grabbing a hot coffee and finding a seat in the food court, I opened my laptop to catch up on some emails. Suddenly, I heard an excited lady exclaim in a loud voice, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Pastor!" I looked up to see a middle-aged woman completely overjoyed as a young pastor unloaded a small grocery cart filled with potatoes, tomatoes, bread, and fresh fruit into her arms. "Thank you! You remembered me," she said. After handing over the groceries, he offered a short prayer, gave her a big hug, and then continued on his way. It was an overcast Monday morning when I had not seen a single smile, only many tired and weary commuters with heads down and shoulders hunched. That scene felt like a bright light piercing through the darkness, and her joy was contagious. A few moments later, a young mom and her child took a seat at the table in front of her. The two connected with...

Most followers of Jesus genuinely long to see the church grow and the kingdom of God advance in the world. That’s a good and right desire—we should care deeply about seeing more people come to faith and experience transformation through Christ. But when we look at how “growth” is often measured in today’s church culture, it’s easy to assume that the key to advancing God’s kingdom lies in our ability to communicate skillfully, plan engaging events, market strategically, and draw large crowds to hear a gifted speaker. Jesus, however, gives us a very different picture of how His kingdom grows. God's Kingdom Grows Through Faithful Sowing In Matthew 13, Jesus tells a story about a farmer scattering seed. The seed represents God’s Word, and the different types of soil symbolize the condition of people’s hearts as they hear it. The point is simple yet profound: when the Word of God’s kingdom takes root in receptive hearts, lasting transformation happens. Kingdom growth doesn’t come from c...

One morning, as I was reflecting and reading, my attention was drawn to these disturbing verses near the end of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  - Matthew 7:21 (ESV) Jesus isn't addressing those who criticize Him, but rather individuals who seem to follow Him—those who speak positively about Him and minister in His name. They engage in impressive activities: "Prophesy in your name" - Warning others and calling for obedience, sometimes revealing future events. "Cast out demons in your name" - Liberating people from spiritual bondage.  "Do many mighty works in your name" - Performing good and miraculous deeds. These actions resemble the ministry of prophets in the Old Testament and what we see from Jesus and His apostles. While one might think these acts fulfill God's will, Jesus responds in a shocking ...

I’ve come to realize that I’m something of an expert in one area of life.  I'm not being arrogant, it is just true and it’s not really something to brag about.   I am an expert in sinning.  I am a sinner.  I may not hold that title as my primary identity anymore, but I know what sinning is.  I’ve had plenty of practice, both in secret and in public, for all to see.  I sin.  I’m not proud of this, but let's be honest, I’ve sinned throughout my entire life, and so have you.   When I first believed in Jesus, I was just a little boy, only 5years old, which means that I have sinned in my life more as a Christian than a non-Christian.  Think about that for a moment, because you may have been a Christian for a long time, yet you still wrestle with sinful patterns and attitudes.    Welcome to the club.  As a sinner, I can tell you that sin is more than just breaking God’s law.   The root of all our sin begins in our...

  If you’ve spent any time in leadership—especially within the church—you know about ‘the weight’.  It’s the invisible burden carried by leaders who feel that, ultimately, "the buck stops here." I've felt this weight acutely in my years serving as a pastor at Don Valley Bible Chapel (DVBC), particularly as we navigated a series of intense, community-shaking trials. My tenure at this small North Toronto church has included the profound tragedy of an eight-year-old girl’s murder, a wound that cut to the soul of our community and tested our faith to its core.  We then faced a devastating fire that displaced us for many months, forcing us to redefine what "church" looked like without a physical home.  And, of course, the communal challenge of COVID-19 that forced us to rethink church gatherings and demanded constant, high-stakes decisions with no clear playbook. In moments like these, leadership scrutiny is immense.  Every decision is analyzed; every word is weighed...

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ ministry is often described as being centered around meals. As Robert Karris famously put it, "In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal." This simple observation uncovers a profound truth: Jesus chose the table as a primary context for kingdom ministry. His mission strategy wasn’t built around events, buildings, or platforms. It was built around meals. Jesus spent a lot of his time eating and drinking with people. His evangelism and discipleship were built around long conversations over grilled fish, loaves of bread, and wine. The rhythm of his ministry was deeply relational, immersive, and hospitable.  It was a strategy of presence, not performance. Consider the stories in Luke alone: Luke 5: Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Levi. Luke 7: Jesus is anointed at the home of Simon the Pharisee during a meal. Luke 9: Jesus feeds the five thousand. Luke 10: Jesus eats in the home of M...