Church News (Page 64)

By Not Known The Septuagint (the translation of the Hebrew Scripture into Koine Greek began by the 3rd century BC and was completed by 132 BC) speculates Nehemiah to be a eunuch (eunochos) rather than a cupbearer (oinochoos) to the Persian King Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 1:11c).  According to the Torah, no eunuch shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord and so some…

By Not Known It was during the service at one of our local churches.  The rendering by the choir of Psalm 96 was perfect.  Well almost.  Technically the piece was perfect, but then what had happened to the exuberance that characterizes the psalm?  There was not even a hint of a smile on any of the faces of the choristers when they sang this…

By Not Known “You are hopeless!” – When a parent spewed these words at her child, what might she mean? When an employer sized down an employee with these words, what might he mean? When a teacher threw her arms in the air as she sentenced her pupils with these words, what might she mean? It might mean, “You just wouldn’t learnt!” or…

By Not Known “We’re not going to buy this set of furniture this month, my husband wants to wait…” and then you see them sitting on that set of furniture from that other dealer across the road. “I’m just not interested…” and then you see him signed up with another salesman from the same company. “I don’t think…

By Not Known We are into the season of Lent now which started the previous Wednesday.  I have found it helpful for us to think about Lent and why we should take some time to “be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a). The season of Lent has been a part of the church’s spiritual life, but for many it is still largely unfamiliar. Lent leads up…

By Not Known To stir is to move one’s hand or a device continuously or repeatedly through (a liquid or other substance) in order to cool, mix, agitate, dissolve, etc., until the desired result is attained.  It has to be a continuous action performed intentionally until the desired outcome happens. In Hebrews 10:24, Paul tells us to “stir up one another to…

By Not Known Let us start by reviewing last Sunday’s sermon which was about our calling. What was the one application point that God impressed upon your heart about our calling as his servants? What would you do about what you have heard? Paul in chapter 2 highlights two key ideas for Christians: one, the display of Godly character in men, women, and servants…

By Not Known I am fairly certain that each of us spent some time in front of a mirror this morning. I am also fairly sure that you did not use your time in front of the mirror simply to admire your features. Rather you used the mirror to help you shave, put on makeup, style your hair and brush your teeth. Mirrors are used as tools for personal grooming. Its purpose is to…

By Not Known For the Jews, Malachi marks the close of God’s revelation for Israel in about 450bc when the book was completed.  Malachi expressed God’s final words to Israel as the Hebrew (Old Testament) canon closed.  No prophet nor words of prophecy was to come from God for the next 400 odd years.  God remained silent to His people until John…

By Not Known We should all be bracing for an economic downturn soon.  Yet the news during the last few days had been predicting a baby boom for the year of the water dragon.  According to Chinese folk beliefs, dragon babies are especially auspicious.  So despite the tendency for Singaporean parents normally to give birth to fewer babies, the dragon year…