PASTORAL MESSAGES (Page 60)

By Not Known     I was at the Botanical Gardens “underground” car park café recently. While in the queue waiting to order I stood behind a young girl, probably JC or first year uni student who was eating with other similar-aged youths. As I stood behind this girl, a young boy, about same age came and stood beside her chatting as she…

By Not Known Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy or Passion week and ends on Easter Sunday. From the triumphal entry of Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem to his crucifixion is only a span of five days. The crowd moves from hopeful cry of “Hosanna!” (Lk 19:28-40) to the angry shout, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Lk…

By Not Known Much of today’s church has a continuum mindset, ie a mindset that has no discernible division into parts. Rather than seeing things as right or wrong, true or false – it prefers to see things in infinite shades of grey. In C.S. Lewis’ satire ‘The Screwtape Letters’, a senior demon instructed an apprentice demon to keep his human…

By Not Known If you were to ask someone: ‘Do you feel blessed by God?’ they would probably answer with either a ‘Yes!’ or a ‘Not yet.’ Common causes would then likely include: good/bad grades (if you are a student), good/poor relationships with colleagues or with family, a secure/troubled career, financial security/burden, etc. It…

By Not Known Uzziah was crowned king of Judah when he was only sixteen years old.  For many years, he sought the Lord and was a king celebrated for victories against her enemies − the Philistines, the Arabians, the Meunites and the Ammonites.  God gave Uzziah great prosperity and power, building towers, fortifications, cisterns and war machines. He also…

By Not Known Today is the last of the 15-day Lunar New Year celebrations. Festive decorations and dining cutlery will be stored away afterward, perhaps to be re-used next year. Empty drink cans and bottles will be sent for recycling, only to find their ways back into our fridges again. “Masks” of cordiality that have shielded dislikes and disagreements between…

By Not Known RELATIONSHIP: Having accepted Jesus as our Saviour, we now have a relationship with Him which needs nurturing (just like any friendship). God longs for us to know Him intimately. It’s a daily walk with Him that nourishes us, not just messages from camps or on Sundays no matter how inspiring they may be. DISCOVER: There is so much of God to discover!…

By Not Known Today is the first day of Chinese (Lunar) New Year.  This major celebration is celebrated by Chinese all around the world including Vietnamese and other Asians who observe the lunar calendar.  Visits are made, mandarin oranges are exchanged with wishes and greetings.  Companies present hampers and gifts to their clients as gestures of…