Articles (Page 106)

By Not Known We know how times have changed and so have teenagers. Back when today’s adults were growing up, the church tradition involved recitation of Christian creeds during weekly worship services. The entire congregation participated, old and young. Whether as young people then understood the significance of those repeated words or not; whether we protested or…

By Not Known A devotional calendar page reads – God’s will for my life is not a neat box on the path, but the path itself – a pilgrimage to be discovered by trust and obedience. Simple words, yet words that resonate both human potential and pain. Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou did create all things, and because of Thy…

By Not Known This is the time of the year when we often express a need for “new beginnings”. However, “new beginnings” that are genuine must lead us to a new way of thinking and looking at things. For us, these must begin from within us and occur with the help of God’s Spirit. This inner change will not only open our eyes to see things from a God-dominated perspective but…

By Not Known It was lunchtime. Jesus’ disciples had left him to go and get food. Meanwhile, he spoke about spiritual matters with a woman who had a colourful past and who seemed to have now become his follower. Then the disciples returned with food. Their amazement about his conversation with the woman soon turned into a rather practical urging: Rabbi, eat…

By Not Known As the year ends, this is a good time to prayerfully look back. This has been a tough year for our nation. Continuing economic difficulties, SARS and a troubled regional environment have all taken their toll on national confidence, our sense of safety and our economic well-being. Yet, we end the year with a sense that we have survived and grown during the…

By Not Known What shall we give to the Lord in return for his gifts? For us he became human and, on account of our corrupted nature the Word became flash and dwelt in our midst. He was the benefactor to those who were ungrateful, the liberator to those in bondage and the sun of righteousness to those who dwell in darkness. He who was incorrupt ascended on the cross, the…

By Not Known The Bible says that God has given us every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1: 3). In particular, we are adopted as God’s sons and daughters through Jesus and have redemption in his blood. As Eph. 1: 5- 6 tells us: he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious…

By Not Known Christ came at Christmas time because God’s response to human sin was to save rather than to judge (Jn 3:17). This is a remarkable love and it is totally undeserved. However, the love of God GOES further than his choice to save and to send Jesus as Saviour. God also chose whom to save. Consider these words: For he chose us in him before the creation of…

By Not Known Consider this story: A man started a business, which, in time, he entrusted to others to run for him. These people turned against him and refused to pay any attention to him or to give him the loyalty he expected. He sent some representatives to meet with them and warn them. But they ignored these people and even mis-treated some of them. What do you think…

By Not Known LIGHT Light is a common theme in many religions. Candles and other lights are used in various religious observances in temples, synagogues, churches and other religious buildings. What is the spiritual significance of light? Light shows us what we are really like – with all our faults and needs. Light shows the way from where we are to where we want to…