Andreas Basson

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 (ESV). Come close to God, and God will come close to you. I remember life before constant digital noise: no inbox pings, Twitter tweets or Instagram notifications. Because of the Covid-19 virus, our culture is pulled toward distractions like binging Netflix shows, scrolling through endless news feeds, and checking every two minutes to see if we have a new notification.[...]

It's almost like we are allergic to repentance and forgiveness. Think about it? When was the last time someone came to you and simply said, "I was wrong; please forgive me?" Recently I received an apology from someone in our church; the email began with, "I might have been a little harsh... I had a bad week…." In a later communication, the person referenced their apology. I was left with a question, "When did they apologize?" When they said "I might have…" followed by an excuse? I'm sorry, but that is no[...]

"You have made each of my days as long as a hand is wide. My whole life is nothing in Your eyes. Every man at his best is only a breath." Psalms 39:5, NIV. We all have had near-death or death experiences, either our own or someone we love, and it leads to a few essential questions: What is life all about? Why am I alive? What am I living for? All of us need some motivating passion, which gives our lives purpose. Unfortunately, some people don't know for what purpose they're living. Many people are only kil[...]

"Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 Our world is in a confusing time right now, with days feeling like weeks and no clear end in sight. Many people are wondering what to do in a time like this. I was praying and asking God the same question, and His answer was not what I expected. I was hoping for new and fresh informa[...]

Have you ever experienced seasons when the moments, days and weeks seemed to slip away without noticing? If we are honest, most of us will say yes. Maybe we were consumed by the busyness of everyday routines or a difficult season when merely staying alive seemed like a challenge. Regardless, we often look back on these seasons with a great sense of regret and the feeling that moments were wasted. Time was wasted. The book of Psalms (a great place to start when you realize the shortfalls of our humanity and w[...]

It is easy to read the Bible and the principles established by God and think of God as some sort of intergalactic police officer, patrolling the world with the mission to enforce holy law. Yes, God is the author of the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31. But God is not standing over each of those commands with a lightning bolt in one hand, just waiting for us to “cross the line” so He can zap us. God is not mad at you, and God is not an[...]

This morning as you woke up, so did 'possibility.' It's constantly lingering in the air around you. What can I do today? Your 'possibility' is ready to enlarge your life. Possibility means you are aware of God, who is behind all things good and makes all things possible to those who believe. "And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 Yet, the opposing possibility is the anxious and attention-seeking 'limitation.' Limitation[...]

This is a tricky question because three motivational thoughts usually guide the answer. I want it now, I want it my way, and I want it to be pleasurable. The idea that we have to wait or work for it is not pleasing to us and causes us to change our wants and adapt to easy, quick and satisfying things. The Bible is God's Word, and I love it because it is God's manual for us on how we are to live life. It reveals how to get the most out of life, what life will bring across your path and how to navigate through[...]

"Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20 (NIV). Isn't it interesting how misled the general population is on the importance of having an active church body in the community? There are truly a thousand things going on at Church that exist beyond the Sunday sermon, and all of them are benefiting the mental & physical well-being of members of our community. Think about the hundreds of homeless people in our province who have walked into a church to stay dry for an h[...]

The words printed on the t-shirt I am wearing as I write this are: Work Hard, Stay Humble. This is a biblical principle. The only thing that the Bible says, God exalts and lifts up, is humility. It is interesting that it's not talent, ability, good looks, popularity, or how much you earn or own. The one thing God exalts is humility. "…whoever humbles himself will be exalted" Matthew 23:12b "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." I Peter 5:5. To live in relationship with God means we have[...]