Martin Wickens
Speaking the Truth in Love
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Genesis 6-9; Psalm 3
Genesis 6-9 Several words stand out to me in this passage. Words that describe humanity include, wickedness (6:5) evil (6:5) violence (6:10) corrupt (6:12) Yet, Noah found grace in the eyes of God. Words associated with Noah include, Just Perfect (not sinless, but upright) Walked with God Righteous We could add obedient and faithful to…
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Genesis 3-5; Psalm 2
Genesis 3-5 “Yea, hath God said…” Satan’s opening salvo against God began with these words. He followed this initial question with simple, yet effective, tactics to deceive Eve and Adam. But to say Satan deceived them is not to remove any blame from them. Had they embraced the truth, the deception would not have worked.…
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Genesis 1-2; Psalm 1
The consistent themes that run through God’s Word point to a single author. Genesis 1 opens with a clear division between light and darkness. Genesis 1 also describes the natural order of each creature or plant reproducing after its own kind. Genesis 2 speaks specifically of the creation of humanity in God’s image. Genesis 2…
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2010's – ✔ A Time for Reflection
People seem hardwired to reflect on the past. It doesn’t take much for an individual or group to reminisce on the old days. As we approach the 2020’s I feel like we only just began the new millennium! A new year. A new decade. In what feels like what is still a new century and…
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God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
“… at the first sound of ‘God bless you, merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!’, Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.” A Christmas Carol, 1843 The carol that caused such terror in Ebenezer Scrooge dates…
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"I Heard the Bells…" A Carol of Hope with Roots in Political Division
On Christmas morning of 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sat and listened to the bells of churches ring out in the traditional celebration of the day. Some 1800 years had passed since the time of Christ and the Gospel had spread far and wide across the globe. Much had been accomplished. In some places, you could…
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Hymn Focus: "Weary of Earth, and Laden with My Sin"
In 1866 Samuel J. Stone penned a hymn that he later described as the one most dear to him. Samuel was born in 1839 and during his 61 years of life wrote some 57 hymns. The most famous being “The Church’s One Foundation”. His poems, such as The Knight of Intercession and Lays of Iona…
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Contentment – the Antidote to the Poison of Comparison
In Psalm 73 the writer wrestles with the injustice he witnessed in the world. Three verses from this song will enable us to join the psalmist on his journey from comparison to contentment. 1. Comparison “…I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Psalm 73:3 In Proverbs and throughout…
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“Enough!” – Dealing with Discouragement and Depression
In recent months I have studied and preached on the life of Elijah. Most weeks I reference James’ description of him as a man of like passions. He faced the same highs and lows that do, he knew strength and weakness, joy and sadness, victory and defeat, peace and discouragement, and perhaps even depression. At…
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God to the Rescue
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31 In Psalm 107 we witness God rescuing sinners from themselves. Many times in other psalms the author describes God delivering him from his enemies, but here we see God saving…