Pastoral Messages (Page 74)

By Not Known Idols are ever-present in human affairs, but they take many forms. Jeremiah and others mock the folly of hand making an earthly object then worshipping it. As he says, the idols are like scarecrows in a melon patch –  there is nothing to be scared of, for they can do neither good nor harm (Jer 10:5). That’s something to ponder as we see…

By Not Known First of all then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may live a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good and it is pleasing in the sight of God who desires all people to be saved .. (1 Tim 2:1-3). As we celebrate the 45th…

By Not Known The void Formless without substance Emptiness spilling into nothingness No light, no life Silence   The word A sound Let there be… Light and life   Life Bristling, bursting, bustling Colour, shape, texture, scent, variety, Wonder beyond imagination     Another void Form without substance Religion without reality Silence  …

By Not Known In our time-starved lives we want to squeeze the most from every moment. The Apostle Paul says … make the most of every opportunity (Col 4:5b). We may rejoice at this apparently shrewd advice in time management. This is all the more so when we hear that the word he uses for opportunity is the Greek word for special or opportune time. Seen this way,…

By Not Known Wikipedia defines it well: Repentance is choosing to turn to God and it usually refers to confession to God, ceasing sin against God, and resolving to live according to religious law. It typically includes an admission of guilt, a promise or resolve not to repeat the offence; an attempt to make restitution for the wrong, or in some way to reverse the harmful…

By Not Known Routine can be nerve-numbing. After some repetitions, mechanisation sets in. One can just go on doing it without much thinking and reflection. It becomes just a job to be done. No wonder, many are employed in jobs but few are finding meaning in what they do. This can happen to religious practices too. Rituals, they call it. When…

By Not Known In 2002, Fritz Ridenour wrote a book entitled, “How to be a Christian without Being Religious.” It was a book that questioned religiosity. He asks: Do you sometimes feel you have been trapped into playing a game called “Church”?  The book goes on to show why religion has failed and points readers to the way of being Christians…

By Not Known The Bible in several places reads, I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. (Ex 20:5; 34:7; Nu 14:18; Deut 5:9) So the mention of “generational curses” strikes fear in many but also fury in others. Am I being punished for the sins of my…

By Not Known It is most encouraging thing to know that God not only works all things according to his big and good plans in Jesus (Eph 1:11) but he also works them for the individual good of his beloved people (Rom 8:28). This gives consolation that the worst of times are also the best of times. When life seems overwhelming and the valley of despair just gets deeper and…

By Not Known Have you tracked your family tree? It can be interesting to see where our ancestors came from and to have a sense of where we fit it. Many in our congregation are of immigrant stock – with ancestors who came from the southern Chinese provinces or via a time as Straits Chinese. My ancestors are also immigrants: from Celtic stock in Ireland and Cornwall.…