Archive

When we talk about the kingdom of God, we, of course, understand that we are speaking of the kingdom Jesus established in his earthly ministry. His kingdom is real, and it will have no end. It is...

In the closing chapter of Revelation, the exiled apostle John is given the encouraging and comforting news that, despite the present, relentless suffering of the persecuted church, Jesus’s...

I enjoy reading mysteries and it seems many people do, considering the plethora of books in that genre. We like the suspense. Some enjoy trying to figure out the clues as to who did what and why....

I was walking up a footpath that made its way up a long low wide hill, which had woods on either side, when my eye was caught by a large bird spiralling up on the thermals to my left. Not actually an...

We all know what it is to feel weary. Life throws many difficulties our way: we may have struggles at work, stress at home, conflicts with other people, and conflicts within our minds. Sometimes it...

Have you ever had your home remodelled? You excitedly start with a vision of what will be, but once construction begins, you wonder if you should have ever started. The project disrupts your normal...

Human beings are sometimes called ‘children of God’: they are children by adoption but as the header scripture states God sent his only Son (‘unique Son’ ISV – Bible Hub) into the world....

How many times have you heard someone say this? When I hear it, I wonder if the person has been lying up ’til now. If I ever get the urge to utter such an expression, I stop myself and rephrase....

Often when checking in to my motel, they would offer the comfort of a warm cookie. They are inviting us to enjoy and be comforted, ensuring our approval and loyalty. I must admit that the cookie...

Paul is addressing believers who faced uncertainty, confusion, and persecution, offering them and us words of reassurance rooted in the steadfast character of God. He writes ‘God our Father, who...

I’ve been privileged to attend the births of our four children, and as a result, I have the utmost respect for mothers everywhere. Though I haven’t experienced it in my own body, I’ve witnessed...

I’m new to my neighbourhood. I have high hopes of making new friends and building community. I make eye contact, smile, and greet every neighbour I see. And some of them return the greeting. But...

What does an ordinary life that is being transformed by Jesus look like? I love to dwell on this response: ‘a life compelled by the love of Jesus.’ Our Jesus is a relational, incarnational God –...

The other day I passed an intersection where an accident had occurred. I thought about when my son was younger, and he experienced four accidents – two his fault – with the last one resulting in...

What was going through Paul’s [Saul’s] mind during those three days? Was he in pain? Shock? Mourning the fact that he had given his whole life to God and now found out...

The world is a difficult place to live in. It just seems to be full of stress, anxiety, worry, fear, apprehension, conflict and the search for meaning. In such a world, Paul’s opening greeting to...

There’s a tension every traveller knows when your plane is delayed, your train is late, or your ride hasn’t yet arrived. You stand at the curb or in the terminal, watching the minutes tick by,...

There are moments in life that pull us out of the ordinary and fill us with awe. One such moment happened when my son Abel invited me to Joshua Tree National Park in California to witness the Milky...

It seems social media has caused us to be more isolated and less connected, even though the social part of social media might suggest otherwise. Nothing can replace the connections we make when we...

When I think about the Apostle Paul, I see a very powerful and strong Christian man; one to look up to. It is not because he was so perfect, he was thought to have weak eyes because of the...

As Paul writes the words of our header scripture, he is imprisoned in Rome, not only facing death but abandoned by some of his friends (vv.10, 16), and yet his confidence and trust in God doesn’t...

Have you ever been involved in a mistaken identity? Several years back when I was working for Youth for Christ, I was in Denver, Colorado for ministry training. Some younger staff friends and I went...

The opening of Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae begins with a brief introduction which includes a warm greeting from Paul and Timothy (Colossians 1:1-2), some words of thanksgiving for...

Who does God work with to help fulfil his purposes? Humanly we might think it would be those who are strong, or wealthy, or well educated, or have the right social status or connections. After all...

Have you ever worn a crown? I came close once, when I was in the running to be the ‘Honoured Queen’ in Job’s Daughters (a service organisation for young women with ties to the Masons). I...

It was in the middle of an inspection of the washing machine. Replacing a part was not going well. it was old and stubborn and refused to return to its original place. The tension grew with...

Paul’s final words to Timothy came at a time when challenges were mounting both for the early church and its young leader. Timothy was facing opposition, discouragement and uncertainty, and yet Paul...

Do you want to be known as someone who is after God’s own heart? God the Father desires his children to be people after his own heart, the same as David. So what was so unique about David to be...

Have you ever played Consequences?  It goes like this: players take it in turns to write a phrase or a sentence in a story, then fold the paper so no one sees what they have written and pass it...

In courtrooms, judges sometimes dismiss charges. When a trial is over, the judge dismisses the jury. In the military, personnel are dismissed. Classes are dismissed for the day or the term. Other than...

As we learn about the happenings in this world, we mourn the cruelty and the mishaps. We long for a world without hate, crime, and disasters. We pray for those in need, that is the heart of God,...