BITS and PIECES
A random collection of news and views
compiled by Frank McClelland for the
Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
264th Edition – October 12, 2025
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Today is the Canadian Thanksgiving Day, as opposed to the American one due to be held on November 27. The Canadian holiday goes back a long way, in fact to 1578 in the time of English explorer Martin Frobisher who made three trips to Canada looking for the north-west passage. However, Thanksgiving was not officially recognized until 1859.
We read in the Bible that “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord” [Psalm92:1]. It is a blessing to set aside a day upon which to focus our attention on giving of thanks. But we should not restrict our thanksgiving to one day in the year, but as the Lord blesses us every day so we should thank Him daily.
There are three things that are necessary for life here on earth. Air to breathe, food to eat, and water to drink. These come from the Lord in abundance, and we should be careful always to remember that fact.
The Christian has much more to be thankful for than these physical provisions. The Lord has supplied the necessities, at great personal cost, for spiritual life. He sent His Son down from heaven to live a life and die a death, to make a sacrifice for our sins.
We know that at the end of life here we are assured of eternal life in heaven with the Lord. We have much for which to be thankful. Paul teaches us, “in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” [ 1 Thess 5:8]
THE GIVER OF PRAISE
“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” [Psalm 50:23]
The name of Enoch’s grandfather was Mahaleel. As the marginal translation of the Authorized Version confirms, it means “the giver of praise.”
What a lovely name to have! Oh, to be known as the “giver of praise.” Years ago, in the city of Belfast, there was a milkman who was a well-known Gospel preacher. He was known as the “Hallelujah Milkman.” I can still remember the joy that seemed to radiate from his face as he would shout “hallelujah” while making his deliveries. He was a Mahalaleel, a giver of praise.
The late Dr. A. W. Tozer once wrote, “As we go on with God we shall see the excellency of the life of constant communion, where all thoughts and acts are prayers, and the entire life becomes one holy sacrifice of praise and worship.”
Today, much of the Christian life is lived with little praise and worship. Have we forgotten that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever?
The Lord is looking for Mahaleels who will be praising God and offering “the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” [Heb. 13:15]. [Dr. Stanley Barnes].
A HOPEFUL CEASEFIRE
War is an awful thing where literally millions of people are hurled into eternity to satisfy someone’s lust for power or possession. I well remember, as a five-year-old, the bombing of Belfast in 1941 when many buildings were destroyed. I remember seeing hundreds of bodies piled up in the marketplace awaiting burial. It was an awful sight to see.
Two major wars dominate the news in our day – Gaza and Ukraine, both causing immense suffering to many innocent people while the warmongers continue to rain death upon them.
After years of conflict, there is a glimmer of hope in Gaza, where Israel and the terrorist group Hamas have signed a tentative cease-fire with the promise of the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. It is hoped that this ceasefire will blossom into full-blown peace.
Some ask, why doesn’t God stop wars, after all, He is Sovereign? Remember, it is man who starts wars, not God. The Lord is not some sort of divine Santa Claus whose only reason for existence is to keep us from hurting ourselves. Not everybody is a warmonger, though many are. Jesus is “The Prince of Peace” [Isaiah 9:6], and He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” [Matthew 5:9].
“He (God) maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder” [Psalm 46:9].
