By Not Known Fear is a terrible ‘thing’ to live with. People in some countries have lived in fear of their tyrannical governments. The international community constantly live in fear of some reclusively unpredictable neighbours. Children often also lived in fear of their angry parents. Fear has its way of controlling, suppressing, and manipulating human…

By Not Known One of our members was awarded the finisher medal for the 116th Boston Marathon held on 17 April. (We’re proud of you!) Winning the race is one thing, for some finishing is totally another. Much have been written about finishing the race. But one aspect of finishing has to do with another…

By Not Known We struggle between the tension of praying and action (planning). Some are comfortable with the aspect of praying by faith into a great unknown, living with ambiguity and uncertainty – all the while resisting the urge to over-plan, because we want to “leave room for God.” Some are comfortable with over- planning,…

By Not Known You came down from Heaven’s throne This Earth You formed was not Your home A love like this the world had never known A crown of thorns to mock Your name Forgiveness fell upon Your face A love like this the world had never known You took our sin You bore our…

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…

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…

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?…

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.…

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…

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…