In a few months time I will be 58 years of age. As I grow older, I find myself reflecting more on my life. Where I’ve come from, where I’ve been, where and who I am now, and where I am going.… Read the rest
A Map of Life’s Journey
What Happens After Death?
Life is a gift – to be enjoyed and lived to the full. Yet life is uncertain and death is inevitable. In many ways, life is like a room with two doors. We enter through the door of birth and we leave through the door of death.
The Priority of LOVE (Part 4) – Awkward Love
The Christian God exists eternally in a Trinity of loving relationships – Father, Son, and Spirit. God created us as the object of his love and invites us to participate in a community of loving friendships. As we fully understand how much God loves us, we are able to love others from a strong foundation of acceptance, significance, security, and purpose.… Read the rest
The Priority of LOVE (Part 3) – I Am Loved
The foundation of our love for others is a revelation of God’s love for us. The most important question in your life is not how much you love others or even how much you love God. It is how much do you think God loves you.… Read the rest
The Priority of LOVE (Part 2) – Original Love
Relationships in Turmoil
Despite the fact that there are many good things happening in our world today, it doesn’t take a lot of insight to realize that we are a time of turmoil – especially in our relationships. At our very core, human beings are relational creatures.… Read the rest
The Priority of LOVE (Part 1)
The fairly new church in the bustling seaport city of Corinth back in AD 65 was booming. It was a dynamic charismatic and Pentecostal community attracting pagans and religious people alike. The meetings were pumping – inspiring worship times, sensational preaching, insightful teaching, as well as regular healings and miracles.… Read the rest
The Book of Job and the Question of Suffering (Part 3)
Today, we conclude our reflections on the book of Job.
What the book of Job CAN do for us:
1. It teaches us to be careful and compassionate in how we respond to people who are suffering. When people are suffering, they don’t need theological debates (“maybe this is an attack from the devil”), personal accusations (“maybe God is punishing you for sin in your life”) or advice for a ‘quick fix’ to their calamity (“if only you had more faith in God …”).
… Read the rest The Book of Job and the Question of Suffering (Part 2)
Today, we continue our reflections on the book of Job.
What the book of Job does NOT do for us:
1. It does not answer the question as to 'why' there is suffering in the world today. Theodicy
… Read the rest The Book of Job and the Question of Suffering (Part 1)
Over the last few months, I have been slowly reading through the book of Job in The Message Bible translation, reflecting on it, and also reading John Walton's excellent commentary on Job in the NIV Application Commentary series, as well as Tremper Longman III's book on Job in the Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms.
… Read the rest The Greatest Love Song of All Time (Pt.2)
Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to read through the Song of Songs – an extraordinary love poem.
How can we apply the insights from this love poem to our own lives today?
- What efforts are you making to keep the romance of your love relationship alive?
Easter Reflections
The signs of Easter are all around us – cooler weather, school holidays, an upcoming long weekend, hot cross buns and extra church services to cater to people's faith which comes in all shapes and sizes. For many people, it is also a time to reflect on some important events that took place over 2,000 years ago – the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.… Read the rest
Trinity
A few years ago, when I was on a week-long prayer and silent retreat, I had just finished dinner and I walked out to the retreat centre's garden area. A lot of it was over-grown and unkept but there were some beautiful spots.… Read the rest
OMEGA: How Will It All End?
'End Times' Fever
One of the last questions Jesus’ disciples asked him was about the end of the world (see Matthew 24:1-3). After the resurrection and at the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, he ascended up to heaven. As he did, two angels appeared and boldly proclaimed, “Why do you stand here looking into the sky?… Read the rest
End Times Fever
The topic of the ‘end of the world’ has been one of interest to humans since time began but it has intensified in recent years.
Church History
Here is a quick overview of what has taken place from the end of New Testament times up until today:
1.… Read the rest
A Church United
John 17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus and it reveals what was important to him. After praying for himself (vs.1-5) and his disciples (vs.6-19), he prayed for all who would believe in him – for the church yet to born (vs.20-26).… Read the rest