Hope's Reason

Hope's Reason Blog

Trust Protocol 0

Leadership Blog

The Trust Protocol – Review

In over twenty years of pastoral ministry, I have discovered that the most important currency in leadership is trust. If you don’t have the people’s trust, you can not do anything. To make things...

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Apologetics 2

Christian Apologetics Blog

Midweek Apologetics Roundup

Here are some apologetics-related posts that I came across this week. What is the Key to Discovering Truth? – Ryan Pauly Gold Metallic Umbrellas (An Apologetic Parable Exposing Relativism) – Marilyn Tyner Protein Amino Acids...

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The Impact Billy Graham Had on My Christian Faith 0

Personal Blog

The Impact Billy Graham Had on My Christian Faith

It was sad to hear that Billy Graham had died. I never had the opportunity to hear him preach in person. I attended one of his crusades but he was sick that night and...

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LinkedIn 0

Christian Blogging

Should You Blog on LinkedIn?

While many people think of LinkedIn as social media, it is also possible to use LinkedIn as a blogging platform. People blogging on subjects related to technology and business have had some success with...

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Lamar Hardwick 1

Autism Blog

Interview With Lamar Hardwick

I’m grateful to Lamar Hardwick for sharing his experience with autism. Lamar blogs at The Autistic Pastor. 
Could you share a little about yourself and what you do?
 My name is Lamar Hardwick. I...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that are worth checking out. Five Common Reasons Church Leaders Stop Leading – Thom Rainer 8 Insights from the Coaching World for Pastors – Chris Hefner Prevent Fear from...

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Autism 0

Autism Blog

Miraculous Healings From Autism?

I came across an article from the Charisma magazine website written by Becky Dvorak titled Miraculous Healings for Autism Begin to Manifest. How do I respond to this? When our children were first diagnosed with...

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Apologetics 0

Christian Apologetics Blog

Midweek Apologetics Roundup

Here are some apologetics-related posts I came across this week. Street Epistemology: Why? – Mark McGee Did Saul change his name for Paul? – Miguel Rodríguez Rivera Do Cavemen And Dinosaurs Fit Into The Bible?...

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The Second World War Podcast 0

Personal Blog

The Second World War Podcast

I have been interested in military history, especially that of the Second World War, for as long as I could remember. I would go through our family encyclopedia (this was long before the internet)...

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Good News 2

Personal Blog

Good News: Amanda is Recovering Well

My wife Amanda had surgery on Friday. The surgery she had was a gastric bypass, which is fairly serious surgery. Thankfully the surgery went well and Amanda is recovering. I haven’t seen Amanda since...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that I came across this week. Go and check them out. 9 Steps to Rebrand Your Church – Brian Jones Church Discipline (Jude 1:17-25) – Darryl Dash 3 Small...

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Wonder 0

Autism Blog

Wonder – Review

Our family was able to watch Wonder, a movie that we have wanted to see for sometime. The movie is about August “Auggie” Pullman, a boy with a facial deformity. For the first time, he...

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Good News 0

Personal Blog

Good News: A Restful Day

One of the best things I’ve done recently is to start observing a Sabbath. By Sabbath, I mean a day of rest. I’m not legalistic about it, but it is designed to be a...

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Comic Book 0

Personal Blog

The Comic Book Geek

One of the big parts of my childhood was collecting comic books. It started with war comics and moved on to superhero comics. I was mainly into DC but had a good Marvel collection...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that you should check out. 3 Things to Keep In Mind When Church Planting In The City – Chelsea Tyson The Path to Growth – Bill Finch 7 Leadership...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. Go and check them out. 7 Critical Abilities Senior Leaders Must Have – Ron Edmondson Should You Quit? – Russell Moore What Two Simple...

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Doubt 0

Leadership Blog

When Pastors Doubt

I remember as a teenager listening to our minister say during the service that he had one time doubts about Christianity. It really shocked me. Pastors should be giants in the faith, never having...

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PECS 0

Autism Blog

A Relic From the Past

Our family recently moved to a new house. It is not surprising that in the packing and unpacking that long lost items turn up. I recently noticed on the floor something that I hadn’t...

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Good News 0

Personal Blog

Good News: The Final Test

Much of my Good News lately has been about moving into our new home. Does this make me materialistic? Am I too focused on possessions? This weekend was a reminder that our new home...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts I came across this week. What Martin Luther King Jr. Teaches Leaders Today – Chris Williamson The Generation that Must Save Evangelicalism from Its Moral Compromises – Brandon Colbert Why...

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Gospel Fluency Handbook 0

Leadership Blog

Gospel Fluency Handbook – Review

The gospel should be central to the life of every follower of Jesus. But I find that even evangelicals (that label comes from the Greek for gospel) have trouble explaining what the gospel is....

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Good News 0

Personal Blog

Good News: Getting Settled In

Things are coming together in our new home. This past week, our children started at their new school and are already making friends. They seem to be comfortable with our new house and our...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that you should check out. 6 Thoughts on Leading an iGen’er for Parents and Ministry Leaders – Eric Geiger Andy Savage’s Standing Ovation Was Heard Round the World. Because...

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Leader 0

Leadership Blog

Don’t Be This Leader

There are a number of leadership styles. Some are better than others and some are a matter of taste or personality. But there is one style that I think is always unhealthy and unfortunately...

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Breathe 0

Autism Blog

Breathe – Review

Last night I watched the movie Breathe, directed by Andy Serkis. The movie stars Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spider-Man) and Claire Foy (The Crown). The movie is based on a true story about Robin Cavendish,...

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Good News 0

Personal Blog

Good News: All Moved In

This has been a great week for the Bedard family. We moved into our new home. We have been renting for the past two years and have been hoping to buy. Things worked out...

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Human Origins 0

Christian Apologetics Blog

Views on Human Origins

I recently did a Twitter poll on people’s beliefs on human origins. Here are the results. What is your view of human origins? — Stephen Bedard (@SJBedard) January 6, 2018 Obviously the numbers are...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that are worth checking out. The 5 Essential Practices Of Leaders Who Multiply Leaders – Carey Nieuwhof 12 Brainstorming Ideas that WILL Improve Team Creativity – Charles Stone 10...

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Apologetics 0

Christian Apologetics Blog

Midweek Apologetics Roundup

Here are some apologetics-related posts I came across this week. How Christians Can Take Back Their Minds – Douglas Grouthius Some Proteins Act Almost Like Humans – Discovery Institute Deliver Me From Evil: Demonic...

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Love Thy Body 0

Christian Apologetics Blog

Love Thy Body – Review

What are the most controversial issues facing society today? In addition to long-time debates about abortion and casual sex, there is an increase in discussions about euthanasia, as well as an almost total reversal...

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Goals 0

Christian Blogging

Setting Blogging Goals

It is always the right time to be setting goals for your online activity, including blogging. The key is to set SMART goals. What are SMART goals? Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Timely Anything less...

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Good News 0

Personal Blog

Good News: A Great Year

This is my final Good News post for the year. I have already posted about the year in review. But as 2017 comes to a close, I’m still reflecting on what this year has...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that I came across this week. Go and check them out. Five Reasons My Family Loves (Really!) Ministry Together – Sam Rainer Pruning! 3 Ministry Areas to Tackle |...

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The Year in Review 0

Personal Blog

The Year in Review

I have never had a boring year yet in my adult life and 2017 was no exception. I thought that with the year coming to an end, it would be a good idea to...

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Apologetics 0

Christian Apologetics Blog

Midweek Apologetics Roundup

Here are some apologetics-related posts that I came across. Truth in the Story of Christmas – John Dickson The Connection Between Christmas and Hanukkah – Misty Callahan Christmas is Christmas Because Jesus is God...

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2017 0

Personal Blog

Top Ten Posts of 2017

Thank you for the support of this blog. I have enjoyed this year of blogging and have seen some significant growth. I have tried to organize the blog in such a way to make...

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Good News 0

Personal Blog

Good News: Candlelight Service

One of my favourite parts of Christmas is the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. We had a wonderful service tonight at Queen Street Baptist Church. Not only is the image of lighting candles meaningful, it...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that you should read. What Ebenezer Scrooge Can Teach Us About Generosity – Jeremy Lott Armed Only with Vulnerability: Sean Palmer on the Mission of God – Derek Vreeland...

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Unimaginable 0

Christian Apologetics Blog

Unimaginable – Review

Would our world be better off without Christianity? John Lennon, in his song Imagine, asks us to consider a world without religion and the peace and prosperity that would result. The New Atheism, in...

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Apologetics 0

Christian Apologetics Blog

Midweek Apologetics Roundup

Here are some apologetics-related posts that you should check out. Does “Jesus” Actually Mean, “Hail, Zeus?” – Chad Gross Can Robots Become Human? – Rosalind Picardand Michael Littman J.P. Moreland asks: does truth matter...

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Group Home 0

Autism Blog

Don’t You Dare Judge!

One of the outcomes that some special needs families experience is that the children move into a group home. How that takes place depends on the situation. Ideally, the family is aware of the...

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Good News 0

Personal Blog

Good News: Positive Change

There is a joke that Baptists don’t believe in change. I’m thankful that is not the case with my church, Queen Street Baptist Church. Today we had an important business meeting. Business meetings are...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that are worth checking out. Research and Thoughts on Billy Graham’s Legacy and Leadership – Eric Geiger I’m an Evangelical Ecumenist? What Does That Even Mean? – Ed Setzer...

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Pastors 0

Leadership Blog

Pastors and Titles

I have had numerous titles during my ministry career. I have been pastor, reverend, padre, chaplain, captain and hopefully soon, doctor. But what titles, if any, should a pastor use? In my first ministry...

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Good News 1

Personal Blog

Good News: Blue Christmas

Advent is one of my favourite seasons of the year. It allows us to prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Last year we started at Queen Street Baptist Church to observe...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that you should check out. 7 Ways Great Leaders Handle Their Mistakes – Carey Nieuwhof 10 More Signs that a Church Has Settled for Mediocrity – Chuck Lawless Sticky...

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Apologetics 0

Christian Apologetics Blog

Midweek Apologetics Roundup

Here are some apologetics-related posts you might find interesting. Confronting Questions-with complications from concussions – Alison DeLong If Evolution Is True, Our Cognitive Faculties Cannot Be Trusted & Atheism Cannot Be Rationally Held –...

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Leadership 0

Leadership Blog

Weekend Leadership Roundup

Here are some leadership posts that you might find interesting. Seeking Counsel & Empowering Others: More Biblical Practices That Businesses Embrace and Stuck Churches Avoid – Tony Morgan 3 Ways To Increase Your Attendance...

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Advent 0

Leadership Blog

What is Advent?

As I write this, it is the day before the first Sunday of Advent. But what is Advent? I don’t want to just assume that everyone knows what Advent is. Even within the church,...

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Day Off 0

Leadership Blog

Pastors Don’t Need a Day Off

“The devil doesn’t take a day off and so neither should the pastor.” Have you ever heard that one? But then again, perhaps Satan is not the best model for healthy leadership. At the...

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