"... Yet I still dare to hope ... The Faithful love of the Lord never ends!" [Lamentations 2:19-24. NIV] In the face of unspeakable horror the Poet laments to God. A God who is, who hears, and whose faithfulness endures. Right in the middle of this sad poem we find hope that causes our spirits … Continue reading Lamentations – Where is my Happy Ending? (Pt.4)
Lamentations – Where is my Happy Ending? (Pt.3)
b. The Sorrow of Regret "... my sins have been bound into a yoke ... the Lord has rejected all the warriors ... I rebelled against His command ..." [Lamentations 1:14-18. NIV] If only! Regret truly is a terrible burden. You can hear it in the voice of this poet. If only the people had … Continue reading Lamentations – Where is my Happy Ending? (Pt.3)
Lamentations – Where is my Happy Ending? (Pt.2)
In the book of Lamentations, the Poet expresses great sorrow. Let’s examine a few of these: 1. The Sorrow of Loss “She who was once great among the nations ..." [Lamentations 1:1. NLT] The poet laments the loss that Israel has faced. She was once prosperous and blessed. Now she lies in ruins. She has … Continue reading Lamentations – Where is my Happy Ending? (Pt.2)
Lamentations – Where is my Happy Ending? (Pt.1)
[Guest post by Nicole Conner] At CityLife we are reading through the Old Testament and currently preaching through the prophets at our weekend church gatherings. I'm not sure what preaching team meeting I missed where the straws were pulled on who preaches what, but somehow Lamentations fell at my feet. After a year of mourning the … Continue reading Lamentations – Where is my Happy Ending? (Pt.1)
Ever Read a Entire Dictionary?
The Oxford English Dictionary has become the word lover's Mount Everest ever since its initial publication eighty years ago. Weighing in a 62 kilograms, it is the dictionary to end all dictionaries. Ammon Shea has been reading dictionaries since he was ten years old. Recently, Ammon set aside an entire year to read the OED … Continue reading Ever Read a Entire Dictionary?
Racism
Many have lauded the election of President Barack Obama as a new day for African-Americans, after a long history of abuse and mistreatment. Unfortunately, racism is still alive and well in America. Click here to read a shocking report of recent incidents since the election. Prejudice based on skin colour is not only sad, it … Continue reading Racism
Billy Graham turns 90
Last week, on November 7th, Billy Graham turned 90 years of age. He is one of the most well-known Christians in the world today and through his evangelistic ministry he has preached to over 215 million people. Through many decades of ministry he has remained humble and he has lived with utmost integrity, a shining … Continue reading Billy Graham turns 90
Spiritual Abuse (Pt.4)
So how do you recover from spiritual abuse? Here are a few suggestions: Find a safe place. God does not require you to stay in a place or a group that is abusive in its leadership. Be bold and courageous and move on. Find some safe relationships where you can process what has happened. Share … Continue reading Spiritual Abuse (Pt.4)
Spiritual Abuse (Pt.3)
For those of who have leadership roles, it is important that we understand how God wants us to carry out our responsibilities. The apostle Paul had been given great authority to plant churches and give them leadership. However, the way he handled his authority was very imoportant. Read these quotes from a few letters he … Continue reading Spiritual Abuse (Pt.3)
Spiritual Abuse (Pt.2)
Today we continue speaking about a very important subject - spiritual abuse. Peter Nash (former director of our church's counseling and community ministries and now school chaplain of Waverley Christian College) shared an important message with our church a few years back entitled Spiritual Abuse - When the Church Becomes Unsafe. Here are a … Continue reading Spiritual Abuse (Pt.2)
Spiritual Abuse (Pt.1)
Read the following words from the prophet Jeremiah ... "What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people — the shepherds of my sheep — for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for," says the Lord. Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to … Continue reading Spiritual Abuse (Pt.1)
Water Baptism
Water baptism services are a terrific time with an atmosphere of celebration and joy as friends and family members gather to show their support to those taking this significant step in their spiritual journey. Why be baptised in water? First of all, because Jesus commanded it (see Mark 16:16. Matthew 28:16-20) and obedience to his commands is a demonstration … Continue reading Water Baptism
A New American President
Yesterday, the American people voted in a new president - Barack Obama. Winds of change are in the air and there is a lot of anticipation about what kind of leadership Obama will bring to his nation. There is no doubt that he is a charismatic speaker who has captured the attention of people from all sectors of … Continue reading A New American President
Obama or McCain – who would you vote for?
On Tuesday, November 4th, Americans will vote for a new president as their presidential election takes place. Who will win - Barack Obama or John McCain? Who would you vote for? Some people tend to vote more 'conservative' while others vote on the 'liberal side'. Here is an article on the election by American political commentator, Jim Wallis … Continue reading Obama or McCain – who would you vote for?