Christianity doesn’t call us to curb all our appetites, just the unhealthy ones—the ones that can eat us alive. Unhealthy appetites are those that prompt us to seek satisfaction apart from God’s plan for life. When our appetites are not…
Read More Why does denial of appetites play such a large role in every religion?
Linda and I returned from Louisville, KY last Sunday evening, grateful to God for the week we spent at Southern Seminary. One "souvenir" I (Rick) brought back from the States was a nasty head cold and cough. In fact, we…
Linda and I have spent this week on the campus of Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. She’s been taking her comprehensive exams for her EdD program (Doctor of Education). I’ve been meeting with various administrators and professors at Southern. We’ve…
Last summer I was asked to write an article for SEVEN, the magazine published by Promise Keeper's Canada's. Their upcoming Fall 2016 issue was going to centre on the theme of "celebrating women." My article dealt with the practical implications…
Next week begins the new semester at Heritage. We’re prayerfully anticipating that God will do great things in the lives of the students who are preparing for a lifetime of service. Here are some requests that I would ask you…
Respectability is generally a good thing. In fact, when the Bible highlights the essential qualities needed in church leaders, “respectable” makes the short list (1 Timothy 3:12). But while it’s commendable to be respectable, it’s not enough. In fact, when…
Read More Why do so many churches settle for mere respectability?
The last time Christmas was on a Sunday, I preached a message at the Metropolitan Bible Church on The Word as Lamb. The passage of Scripture we studied was from the first chapter of John's gospel. When you think of "Christmas…
Christmas isn’t easy. For some students, going home is hard. For others, coming back is hard. Some face confusion, disappointment and fear. Christmas can reveal rifts in our relationships and patterns of pain. The first Christmas wasn’t easy. There was…
Christmas can be a time of great highs and lows. On one hand, it’s a time of celebration for many. At the same time, it’s a season of struggle for others. While some are delighted, others are depressed. Why do…
Read More Why do so many people get depressed around Christmas time?
As I sit down to write this prayer update, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Heritage. The campus is blanketed with snow and Christmas lights shine brightly on the spruce trees outside my office window. Inside, things are…
Rick and Linda Reed 