The Anchor Weekly – The Chestermere Lake News

If there is one consistent theme that runs through all the stories of Jesus’ birth, it is the repeated claim that ordinary people had more insight than religious experts when it came to understanding the significance of it all. The coming of the one who was later claimed to be the expected Messiah was recognized not predominantly by the great and the good but by those who, to a greater or lesser extent, were on the fringes of the cultured society of their day. The first chapter of Luke’s Gospel paints a vivid picture of the little-known priest Zechariah and [...]

This is a great word from the late David Wilkerson: “They that carried us away required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” (Psalm 137:3-4). The people of God were in the hardest place of their lifetime. And as they were carried away, their captors required of them a song. Yet there was no life in them anymore, nothing but depression, despair, hopelessness. Multitudes of Christians are in the same position today. You may [...]

A friend and I were talking today and he mentioned a Scripture that grabbed my attention. John 3:34 says, “for he gives his Spirit without measure.” It struck me because I’ve been searching my heart lately and realizing how much stuff I do by my own strength. We look at the heroes of the Bible, these ‘Super Saints’ like Paul and Peter in the New Testament and Moses, David, and Noah in the Old Testament. Were they more special than us? The prophet Elijah did more miracles than most people mentioned in Scripture but in James 5:27 it says, “Elijah [...]

There is a plan for your life. Actually there are two plans for your life. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” –John10:10 Jesus teaches us about a ‘thief’. This thief is the devil and his plan for each of our lives is to Steal, Kill, and Destroy. Many people dispute the existence of Satan, but the Bible is quite clear that we have a powerful enemy and he is alive and well. Jesus faced him in the desert (and easily defeated him with [...]

“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” – Romans 8:34 He who was once despised and rejected of men, now occupies the honourable position of a beloved and honoured Son. The right hand of God is the place of majesty and favour. Our Lord Jesus is his people’s representative. When he died for them they had rest; he rose again for them, they had liberty; when he sat down at his Father’s right hand, they had favour, and [...]

Last week I sat beside my uncle as he lay on his deathbed. I didn’t know him well but when I heard he had a stroke and kidney failure which led to a coma I knew that I needed to go see him. So I drove to the hospital in Medicine Hat and there he lay unconscious. All kinds of monitors beeped and tubes were rhythmically pumping air into his lungs. He was on life-support and there was no hope of recovery. Beep after beep of the heart monitor soon translated into minutes. And every minute that ticked by meant [...]

“I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” – Psalm 23:4 Behold, how independent of outward circumstances the Holy Spirit can make the Christian! What a bright light may shine within us when it is dark without! How firm, how happy, how calm, how peaceful we may be, when the world shakes to and fro, and the pillars of the earth are removed! Even death itself, with all its terrible influences, has no power to suspend the music of a Christian’s heart, but rather makes that music become more sweet, more clear, more heavenly, till the last kind [...]

Last weekend my wife wrote this beautiful essay on her blog that I wanted to share. It really is a great take on the Easter weekend we just came through. I attended a memorial service for a dear friend of mine today.  The music was lovely and was very honoring to him.  Although I couldn’t help but think that a song just doesn’t sum up whom he has been to me and many other people.  As we spent time remembering key moments in his life here on Earth, I was overwhelmed with emotion.  I remembered the many times he held [...]

The last thing Jesus says to his followers in the book of Matthew has become our “Great Commission”: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Throughout history, the church, when institutionalized, has always become a reflection of society. This [...]

I just got back from three weeks in Thailand and Western Africa. I’ve been shooting footage for a film that we’re creating about the miraculous work of God through average Christians. Travelling to these countries was a brand new experience for me. Their cultures are completely different, the land is different, and the comforts (or lack of) are quite different. What I treasured during these trips were the Christian hosts that dedicated their time to looking after me. They picked me up, drove me around, translated, helped with purchases and provided food. It was the best feeling being half a [...]