UBC Wed For Life

Most people, Believers and nonbelievers alike, understand that believing in and following God requires faith. Jesus spent much of his time instilling the importance of faith into his disciples. Therefore, building and demonstrating faith have always been central parts of the Christian experience. As Christians, we all have likely been exposed to a wide variety of examples of Believers demonstrating or speaking on their faith. Some of those examples may have been relatively routine such as the testimonies we often hear where Believers explain how God rewarded their faith or provided in a way that strengthened their faith. We’ve also seen or heard about examples of faith that sound almost miraculous such as with the faith healers that claim they are able to heal infirmities and sickness through their faith in Jesus, just as was done by the apostles in the Bible. You may have even heard or seen more extreme examples of displays of faith like the church services of the snake handler...

On this blog, we have talked a lot about love. We have good reason for that given the importance that the Bible puts on love. Along with faith, love is a fundamental part of every Believer’s walk. However, the Bible does not just put a lot of emphasis on what and who we should love. It is also clear about what we should not love. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world. – 1 John 2:15-16 These are strong words from John and they have led some to take strong measures in the way they live their lives. We see sects of Christianity where people live very simplistic and basic lifestyles in an effort to avoid the things that John mentions in this scripture. While such measures are certainly valid and fair, are they what God expects from all of us? The world has a lot t...

If you’ve watched the TV or surfed the internet at all in the last couple of weeks, you know that another Marvel movie is in the theatres. This one, Avengers: Endgame, is the culmination of all the story telling that Marvel Studios has been doing over the past 11 years. What they have accomplished is unprecedented in cinematic history. They have told 21 different stories while building a shared world full of interesting characters and concepts. Endgame is the 22nd and it is supposed to tie together everything that has come before it and give this era of stories a conclusion. While, what Marvel Studios, has done is impressive as far as movies go, it’s not quite as rare in the world of literature. In fact, we all know of an example where a similar feat is captured in a single book – the Bible. If we look, we can see some interesting parallels between Marvel’s work and superhero movies in general to what’s done with the Bible. Much of this is likely unintentional. However, the ...

Reliance on God is an important part of the Christian experience and, for many, one of the hardest things to do as a believer. We, initially, find it easier to rely on ourselves even though we know ourselves to be flawed and capable of failure. We also find it easier to rely on others, such as family and friends, even though they too may fail from time to time. It’s a matter of accessibility. It is easier and more intuitive for us to reach out to those that we can see and touch. However, as we mature in our relationships with God, we gain greater understanding of the importance of prayer and communing with God. We use prayer to repent. We use it to thank God for his blessings. And we use it to lean on God in our time of need. Prayer is important. As Paul instructed in his letter to the church in Ephesus: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. - Ep...

March was Women’s History Month. With some of the movements taking place in today’s world, it is now more important than ever to acknowledge and understand the contributions that women have made to our society. It is vital that we encourage our girls and let them know that they are free to aim for and capable of achieving any goals that God wills for them. As Christians, it is also important that we set the record straight about the role of women in the Christian faith. Some have pushed the idea that women are to be seen as second class citizens in the Faith and that the Christian God somehow sees women as lesser beings. That is simply not true. Yes, the Bible makes it clear that men are supposed to play a leading role. Paul taught: For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. - Ephesians 5:23 That can be hard for many women to hear in this world where independence is pushed so hard. However, we have t...

This Easter you will undoubtedly hear about how Jesus was tortured after being arrested. And you should, after all, it is important for us to understand that He suffered on our behalf. You’ll definitely hear about how Jesus died on the cross. And you should, after all, we all must remember that He sacrificed himself in our place for our sin. You will likely hear about how Jesus rose from the grave three days later. And you should, after all, that act was a testament to His power over death and opened up the possibility for us to rise above death too. Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection are indeed crucial parts of the story of his life as a man on Earth. It is vital that we understand their significance and what they mean to us. However, there is one thing that tends to get glossed over when we discuss the end of the story told in the Gospels. Jesus didn’t just die, rise, and then go to heaven. He didn’t just leave the world and the people he had lived amongst behind....

  The battle for the next presidential election is already starting to heat up. A number of people have already put their names into the pot for consideration and are already beginning to make their cases for why they should be selected. The potential candidates have already started trying to ingratiate themselves with the public, while attempting to tackle the tough topics that will play a factor in America’s upcoming decision. One particular point of contention is being raised more now than perhaps ever before in America. Currently, our system is mixed to some extent. It is largely capitalistic in nature, but we do have socialist style programs like welfare and medicare. Is a more capitalistic system than what we now have what’s really best for the country? Should we adopt a more socialistic system? Maybe an even more mixed economy would be best? These questions will factor into whatever decision you choose to make when the time comes, but for Christians all such ...