BITS and PIECES
291st Edition – April 19, 2026
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
TO THE MOON AND BACK
Undoubtedly, the recent journey of four astronauts to the moon and back was an amazing feat of engineering. They travelled further from the earth than any human being, circled the moon, and returned safely to earth.
The voyage was fraught with danger from the fiery lift-off until the fiery re-entry but they completed their task to the relief and applause of millions of watchers.
However, there was one thing notably absent. To go to the moon does not mean pointing a rocket to the visible moon because by the time the rocket got there the moon would be long gone!
The astronauts therefore must plot a route that will intersect with the moon’s orbit. How could they do that if the orbits of the earth and moon were not predictable? These were created by God their Creator [Genesis 1]. They, and the billions of stars, [Genesis 1:16] were made by Him and each one placed in perfect orbit, neither a second early nor late. This enables astronomers to plot routes to the heavens.
Amidst all the euphoria of the recent achievement I never heard one word of thanks or acknowledgement to Almighty God who made it all possible. To add insult to injury they named their journey, Artemis II.
Who was Artemis? A non-existent Greek goddess whose exclusive preference for the company of women led to her adoption as a homosexual and a lesbian icon in modern pop culture. Nuff said!
THE PRESIDENT AND THE POPE
A nice little brouhaha is developing between the U.S. President and the Roman Catholic Pontiff, both Americans. The Pope started it by criticizing Trump’s position on the war involving Iran. The President replied by saying we don’t want a Pope who supports a country that is trying to become nuclear.
The Pope replied he is not going to enter into debate with the President, who shot back that the Pope should concentrate on being a “good pope” and stay out of politics.
In my lengthy lifetime, I do not recall any political leader having the courage to point out papal or Vatican errors. They were all too afraid of losing the next election, as President Trump may yet discover. The fact that the present pope is American and siding with the Democrats is no accident.
A lot of U.S. voters are going to have their loyalty tested between their nationality and their religion. Genuine believers need to pray much for Godly wisdom to prevail.
REVIVE US AGAIN
“Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee” [Psalm 85:6].
Psalm 85 is a prayer of David for revival. What God had done in past days inspired him to look forward in faith and prayer that God would do it again. In this verse we have three great principles of revival.
Notice first of all, the source of revival. David recognized the truth of the sovereignty of God in revival; only God can send revival. It is not something that the church works up, but something the Lord sends down.
Isaiah prayed, “Oh, that Thou wouldst rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at Thy presence” [Isaiah 64:1].
David also speaks of the subject of revival. “Wilt Thou not revive us again? The emphasis needs to be placed upon us. The Lord’s people are the subjects of revival. Every one of us needs the breath of the Holy Spirit to quicken and revive us in our service for the Master.
Finally, we have the song of revival. One of the fruits of true revival is that of song and spiritual rejoicing. When revival comes, God’s people come back to the fountain of joy, the Lord Himself, and they begin to rejoice in who He is, and what He has done for them. Let us pray that we may expect such revival days both in our lives and in our land. [Dr. Stanley Barnes].
“Spiritual pride is the last resort of the tempter, and whosoever is enabled by divine grace to foil him at this point, will foil him at all points” [W.G. T. Shedd].
