Archive

Have you noticed that in the story of Noah’s Ark, God told Noah to bring into the ark all the opposites: the wild and the domestic, the crawling and the flying, the clean and the unclean, the male...

Have you ever participated in a large, multi-day event that was spiritually exhilarating and yet physically exhausting? In July 2021 we held the GCI Denominational Celebration as an online event. This...

We’ve all heard of selective hearing – we’ve all probably experienced this condition. Husbands in particular seem to have trouble with it more than wives(!). Selective hearing happens...

Citizens of God’s kingdom hold the act of baptism as a meaningful sacrament. We believe baptism is primarily a symbolic public statement of being united with Christ in his death and resurrection....

During British rule in India, public reciting or singing of Luke 1:46-55 – the passage we know as the Magnificat – was banned. It is a song of rejoicing, but also contains passages that were seen...

This time of year calls me out in the garden with great expectations and plans. I see the work that needs to be done, but I admit, my first reaction is distress at all the work I see ahead. I begin...

It is hard to overestimate the importance of the Trinity to Christian thought as it ‘takes us into the very heart of Christian belief in God’,1  it is ‘the very basis of the Christian...

Imagine standing at the centre of a great dance. The movements are harmonious, flowing with beauty and grace. Each dancer moves in perfect unity with the others, creating something far greater than...

The disciples were grief-stricken when faced with the hard truth of Jesus’ imminent death. Jesus acknowledges their grief and reminds them he is not leaving them alone. On Trinity Sunday, we...

Have you shared a problem with someone and been told not to worry, it will be alright? No, it won’t be, you think privately. And it isn’t. And you feel your concerns have been dismissed. Or that...

Freedom is precious. Most cultures protect the freedoms of their people, but sadly, some allow other priorities to get in the way and don’t allow as much freedom as they should. Those of us in...

This question was asked by some in the crowd, after Jesus had explained about who he was – the Good Shepherd (vv. 7-18). They were still confused, some saw him as a demon, some looked at what signs...

Have you ever heard of the phrase, ‘in the limelight’? It means that someone is the centre of attention. Limelight is an intense white light which is produced by heating a piece of lime in a flame...

The Church is often compared to a body – living, dynamic, interconnected, and filled with life. But it is also like a flame, ignited by the Spirit, burning brightly to bring warmth and light to the...

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost gave birth to a new living entity, a body whose international members powerfully proclaimed the revolution of Christ’s kingdom on earth: diversity does...

I’m about to hit the twelve-gallon mark of blood/platelet donations – when giving a pint at a time, it takes years. I hope to make it to 100 donations by next year. A needle in the arm is...

In his gospel account, Luke searches out the predictions of milestones that would define the life of Jesus. And he does it through the experiences of Mary.  Mary was given a lot of information in...

Have you ever had to split a cookie with one of your siblings? You try to make it perfectly even, because the other person has the first pick. They spend some time sizing it up, looking for the one...

The final verse of the New Testament encapsulates the essence of the Christian faith and the heart of Jesus’s message to humanity. The grace of Jesus is not earned by our actions or merits, it is...

A commonly held assumption for treating people suffering from heat exhaustion is to just give them more water. The problem is that the person who is suffering could drink a gallon of water and still...

A lot of us enjoy a good superhero story or movie. When I was a child, I remember being quite taken with the Spiderman tales. It was fun reading about a strong, larger than life hero, fighting evil...

In his farewell address before ascending into heaven, Jesus gave his disciples a mission and promised them assistance – the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, but they still didn’t understand...

After his resurrection, Jesus spent another forty days preparing the apostles for his ascension and for Pentecost, when they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit. During these forty days of...

I did not recognise my writing at first because of the edit made to the title, which is perfectly fine by the way. I realise the way I think is not always understood by others. I have a sense of...

As he draws his letter to the seven churches to a close, John paints a picture of the eternal glory and divine presence that awaits in the New Jerusalem. For Christians under persecution in the first...

Have you ever settled for less in your relationships? Healthy relationships don’t come easy and there is always a temptation to avoid the hard work they require. So, when there’s conflict, we may...

In our world, we have many things that come with warnings attached, such as the chemicals we may use in our homes and garden pesticides. Cigarette packets now are printed with warnings of serious...

The book of Revelation is intended for all believers in all ages. With all the present chaos and turbulence that pervades the present geopolitical landscape, Christians need not become agitated about...

Paul did not have that perfect life, a life that we all dream of, and continue to seek, he had many trials to endure. We all have our difficulties in life. I was reading about an incident on my local...

I enjoy watching murder mystery programmes that are full of twists and turns, red herrings, cul-de-sacs, suspense, deception and intrigue, all the while keeping the viewer guessing about the identity...

‘Circle, circle, dot, dot, now I got my cootie shot. Circle, circle, square, square, now I got them everywhere.’ Is a common playground rhyme chanted to tease or exclude another kid. As humans, it...

In Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul speaks very boldly about the nature of his ministry and the motivation that drives his message. Chapter 5 of 2 Corinthians...

Growing up in the Pacific, my fellow islanders and I have always been blessed with a rich heritage of culture, tradition, and faith. Just as the waves shape our shores, Christ’s love shapes our...

As beings with a human nature, we are all intimately acquainted with our old selves. If anyone needs a reminder, all they have to do is read Colossians 3, which paints a pretty good picture. Paul goes...