<strong>Why Can</strong>’<strong>t Life Be Perfect?</strong>
Life can at times be tiring and draining. It places obstacles in the paths to climb over to reach where we want to go. How many times have you been asked about your day, only to reply, “I’m so tired,” “It was a rough day,” or “Today was so stressful?” Public holidays are no better. Your extended family comes over for a gathering. You’ve to set the place for more people than available chairs. Just thinking about the amount of […]
The Ideal Community
One great myth of church life is that community is something we stumble upon. In an ideal world, community is simply out there somewhere, waiting to be discovered like lost treasure on a map, or the elusive ‘somewhere over the rainbow’ pot of gold. All you have to do is find the right people, join the right group, or become involved with the right ministry. That’s why so many go from relationship to relationship, cell group to cell group, or […]
<strong>The Thing About Frustration</strong>
You’ve heard it before through exasperated tones, and you’ve probably felt it as well. The thing about frustration is we often get it when we feel challenged or opposed. We blame others, isolate ourselves, and vent our emotions in negative thinking and conversation. We give it life and allow it to fester in our hearts. As a result, we feel unheard or unloved. Frustration will put us in one camp or another. An ‘Us vs Them’ dynamic develops and we […]
Loving Well
Many of us know the truths of the Bible well – we can even recite the Ten Commandments and other key principles for Christian living. We’re committed to our relationship with Jesus, and keep our spiritual disciplines. But the issue is that our commitment to Jesus often excludes relating to people in an emotionally mature way. We believe wholeheartedly that loving others well is one of the goals of Christian life. We may even desire relating to those around us […]
The Gospel Of The Elite And The Outcast
John 3-4 records Jesus’ conversations with two people on the opposite ends of the social spectrum. First, He meets Nicodemus, one of the most respected, scholarly leaders in all Israel. He was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Jesus called him ‘the teacher of Israel’. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night and addressed Him as a rabbi. “We know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God […]
God’s Unwelcome Instrument
The global pain relief market is worth USD80billion. Analgesics, narcotics and other pain killers are used to treat conditions ranging from headaches to arthritis and other forms of chronic pain. Pain is uncomfortable and at times unbearable; and we’re conditioned to do whatever we can to avoid it. In a popular Korean drama entitled ‘Doctor John’, the lead, Dr. John Cha suffers congenital insensitivity to pain, a genetic disorder that prevents him from feeling pain. While a painless existence may […]
Hope Again!
The prophet Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 31, uttered a promise from God that sharply contradicted the circumstances in which the Children of Israel found themselves. The ‘wilderness’ of exile was a place of despair and hopelessness. In this place where old memories of faith had faded, this prophetic promise ground against the rocks of negativity. The Lord through the prophet stops Israel from accepting their circumstance of despair. Instead, Jeremiah declares that, because of God’s lovingkindness and grace, restoration is underway. […]
Learning To Hear
When I was a young believer, I was deeply fascinated whenever I hear men and women of God share how God spoke to them. The stories of how they heard the voice of God were powerful and real. They birthed a desire in my heart to hear God and relate to Him in a similar manner. Yet, for a long time, I felt like I never heard God’s voice and began to wonder if it was really possible to hear […]
Jesus and Social Justice
The subject of social justice is prevalent. We hear it spoken by politicians, preachers, celebrities, authors, and media influencers. Fallen humanity has produced countless injustices. In the family, it’s in the form of domestic violence, adultery, and child abuse. In the political realm, unjust wars, discriminatory laws, and corruption abound. Human trafficking, child labour, genocides, and abortions go unnoticed around the world. When we see fellow humans treating others unjustly, we’re appalled. “How can husbands abuse their wives?”, “How can an adult […]
After Darkness, Light
Jesus exhorted us to watch and pray over events in our times. The polarising dynamics of the great outpouring of the Spirit and increased darkness over nations are happening right now and will continue until His return. As intense darkness accelerates, so will the light of God’s glory. Isaiah 60:2 tells us, ‘For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.’ […]
