Church Blog (Page 39)
Them and Us#1. “So that I may by all means save some.”
I once visited Singapore during a Chinese New Year’s Celebration. I had never been among so many people before. I moved in time with the sea of local people as they expertly weaved their way around each other walking up and down the streets. Of all the things that stuck out to me in that beautiful city, were not the huge crowds, shops, lights, music, and colours, but instead the other people who looked like me. There was no way…
Labels#12. “Divisive.”
To deal with the divisive is to strike at the heart of Satan’s demolition crew. Never are the destructive more willing to implode a church than when they are confronted with their evil ways. Knowing they have nothing to lose, they attempt to “torch the place” on their way out—I have seen it with my own eyes! The strength of a congregation resides in its collective faith and love (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4). Years of labouring together in the church as…
Labels#11. “Enemies.”
It is a rare day that a Christian will admit, “That person is my enemy.” They know better than to say such a thing. Instead, they would tend to speak in terms of: “That person treats me as if I am an enemy of theirs;” thus putting it back on the other person. Every child of God will accumulate enemies; it goes with the calling. Jesus said that the world will hate us as it hated him (John 15:18-19). However,…
Labels#10. “Lukewarm.”
It is a strange irony that every lukewarm Christian that I have met has been the nicest of people. They were characteristically congenial, and when their sensibilities were challenged, they tended to default quickly to their agreeable dispositions. One would wonder if the world would be a better place if everybody was like them. Of course, I am only skimming the surface of things when suggesting that every lukewarm person lives to please others. Crack that pleasing veneer open and…
Labels#9. “Biased.”
The first major principle of study that Terry Brown taught us at Bible College was: “No one comes to a subject as if a blank sheet of paper.” That was 40 years ago, and it was exactly what I needed to hear at that beginning point. Since then, it has helped me to smile when I have discovered that all my “original ideas” were somehow miraculously written down by scholars long before I was born. When making decisions or judgements…
Spinago Login: Your Gateway to Exciting Online Gaming
For Australian players seeking thrilling online casino experiences, Spinago login is the key to unlocking a world of entertainment. This article will guide you through the Spinago login process, highlight the benefits of creating an account, and provide valuable tips for a seamless gaming experience. Getting Started with Spinago Login To begin your journey at Spinago, you’ll need to create an account. The registration process is quick and straightforward: Visit the official Spinago website Click on the “Sign Up” button…
Labels#8. “Bitter.”
Bitterness of spirit is a sad thing to behold. I have known Christians who lived and died believing that God and man alike had deliberately dealt them one bad hand after another. Nothing was their fault, and you would be adding your name to a very long list of enemies if you told them so. One can hear echoes of Esau’s bitter cry when realising that he was bested by his brother, Jacob (Genesis 27:34). Conversely, I have met very…
Labels#7. “Scared.”
The older one gets the less they are likely to care about admitting to their fears. By contrast, it takes a brave child to shrug off those dreaded words, “Are you scared?” I asked a brother if he had been to Queenstown and seen the spectacular scenery from the gondola. He said, “I went on the gondola, but I saw nothing.” I wondered if there had been a strange happening that prevented everyone from seeing anything. But he continued, “I…
Labels#6. “Useless.”
Before I had a major operation the surgical team visited my bedside. I appreciated the reassuring tones of the conversation and admired them for believing it possible that I might be able to understand a word they were saying. When they asked me if I had any questions, I saw myself as a TV Medical Drama patient who was trying to nod and smile in all the right places. This team had a job to do, and someone somewhere had…
Labels#5. “Arrogant!”
In my early teens, I attended a few evening Bible Classes held at a Catholic school. One of the classes covered the mythical story of Narcissus, the handsome young man who fell in love with his own reflection. Though there is more to the story, it ends with him gazing into a pool of water and slowly pining away and dying. In recent years we have heard the term Narcissus applied to more than a few people; both great and…