Pastors Pen
Connect to God, Grow as Disciples, Serve with Our Lives
“Do Us A Favour…”
In the beginning of the film, Evan Almighty, Evan Baxter, a reporter turned U.S. Congressman, is confronted by a series of troubles stemming from his begrudging agreement to serve God by building an Ark on his property. Evan faces numerous stresses and strains,...
“Believers, too, are Voters”
On April 1st, 2025, Wisconsin voters went to the polls for a State Supreme Court election, and voted by 55 to 45% to keep the judicial status quo— that being, a progressive majority on the State’s highest court. It was, according to statistics published since,...
“Powerful Life Lessons in Popular Culture”
Do you recall that significant moment when, in the Peter Jackson finale ofJ.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Frodo fails to throw the Ring of Powerinto the lava flows of Mount Doom, and instead takes it for himself?Viewers seemed to linger almost torturously on that...
“A Case Study in Open-Eyed Justice” 02-08-2024
[Image: Virginia City Justice Statue: Glen Franco Simmons] On the second floor above the main doors of the Courthouse in Virginia City, Nevada, stands a rather unusual statue. While not utterly unique, according to some sources, the figure is one of only about 20...
Observation on Grace and Cancellation
(Image credit: Alamy) The recent experiences of Bay Community Church— with a local newspaper speculating about church “hatred” in its headline, and then assuming its speculation is factual by the time the article was half-way through— is a curious indication of the...
“Unreasonable Reasonable Limits”
Christians often grapple with the degree to which they should be invested in the general culture and political climate. As near as I can determine, no Biblical formula exists. We are to be led by the Holy Spirit, and prayerfully move as He directs. In point of...
Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time, there was a Fortune 500 CEO who fell in love with a beautiful company intern. An honourable and handsome man, he had never married because of the ever-increasing demands of the business that he had helped grow since its inception. His employees now...
Word Over Whim
An honest tracing of political evolution through Western history tends to implicate the Bible more than the average citizen realizes. The idea of a national covenant, which informed British constitutionalism, for instance, is a Biblical concept. Even in a more...
“Scarlet, Pink, and White”
"Though your sins be as scarlet..." is a remarkably realistic assessment from the Lord through the prophet Isaiah. And the Apostle Paul was, likewise, a realist as regards his own human failure. But we do occasionally find ourselves justifying our own 'pinkish hue'...
Reflections Upon Prayer
On the weekend of July 19th, 2026, Pastor David Carson from Surrey, BC, came to walk our prayer trail, and speak on his experiences as an intercessor on Sunday. This is his Biblical reflection on the topic of prayer and his encouragement for Bay Community Church.
“In Defence of Evangelists”
There is a weird moment in Passion Week, where disciples are "wowed" by the Temple stones. Jesus, however, is not. His focus is on salvation, as the ultimate reason behind all human history.
“Miracles in Mud and Spit”
What shall we Canadian Christians pray in order to help the nation strengthen? Do we have the audacity to pray like Habakkuk did? A sobering sermon for a maturing people.
“Solomon’s Seeking”
The bookends of Solomon's life allow for the perfect illustration of Jesus' Sermon-on-the-Mount advice to seek the Kingdom first.
“Jesus, the Good”
"There's a lot of bad news out there. There's a lot of sin out there. But Jesus is not fazed; neither is He repulsed."
“Michael and the Counterfeits”
The apocalyptic contrasts between heaven and the demonic reign of the beast never get more interesting than when worship is analyzed in Revelation 12 and 13.
“Pentecost: Policing Ourselves”
In our continuing exploration of the multi-faceted implications of Pentecost, we arrive at the public implications of internal revival in the Holy Spirit.
“Pentecost: the Restrainer of Chaos”
In this third installment in a series in anticipation of the Day of Pentecost, we take a look at the Holy Spirit's capacity to restrain the evil that manifests as chaos.
“Pentecost: Navigating Deception”
Deception begins in the realm of belief— hence, it isn't visible immediately. But by the time it is full blown, it inevitably manifests, and this is precisely why it is best addressed by the Spirit of Truth— the Holy Spirit.
“Pentecost: Rebutting Philosophers”
There is something very contemporary about emphasizing the living and indwelling Christ. In a world where A.I. is touted as one day "taking over" religion, we need to know that there are certain spiritual realities that can neither be updated nor replaced.
“The Canaries of Calvary”
Christ is NOT peripheral to history, despite what the world thinks. And the ways in which the people of God are treated will define the Judgement.
“Look Upon and Live”
The early disciples wanted to see the Father; they failed to recognize that the incarnate Son is a true (and much safer!) reflection of the eternal God.
“Inevitable!”
Among all the other oxymorons we know, there is this one called "partial fulfillment". And yet, given what we know of the character of God, because Jesus' resurrection is called the "first fruits", it also means that the rest of the crop is assured. The resurrection...
“From Cursed to Cured”
Sin bring curses. Jesus brings the cure. Substitutionary Atonement is not a modern analysis of Christ's work on the cross. The idea was there from the beginning among the Apostles and is even embedded in the Suffering Servant passage of Isaiah 53.