Posts from May 2022 (Page 3)

I feel confident that we agree that the “Heaven can wait” mentality is endemic. And that even those who have a good number of ‘miles on the clock’ act as if the pearly gates are too far off to worry about. What happened to the prophet’s cry: “Prepare to meet your God!”? (Amos 4:12). It appears to have been drowned out by the irrational assurances of deathbed repentance. Not only is this irrational, but it is also dangerous. For it…

Selfish ambition is the opposite of serving the needs of others. Jesus leaves no room for guessing as to his divine perspective on where selfish ambition takes a man. He asks: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Once the soul is lost, what can a man offer to buy it back…? And even if he had gained the…

Listen long enough to the various forms of religious teachings that are passed off as Spiritual Enlightenment, and you will see why Paul insisted that Timothy: “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly” (1Timothy 4:7). If, as Paul asserts, “godliness has value for all things” (1 Timothy 4:8), then why does it find itself a veritable poor cousin to other forms of “Human Development?” Since the day that Eve snatched…

There is a silly joke about a lady who was being plied with questions by a rather nosy acquaintance. The enquirer asked all manner of personal questions, and finally touched a raw nerve when she asked about her husband’s occupation. The lady responded curtly, “My husband has his own business, and he is at home minding it!” At first glance, we might find it strange that the apostle Paul tells the Thessalonian church to “Make it their ambition to lead…

Do you remember those feel-good TV movies from the 1990s that emphasised participation over winning? At the time, a teacher who worked with struggling children expressed her frustrations over the films. She said to me, “Those films don’t help anybody. Most of the children I teach are well aware that they will never be able to compete and win against their peers.” She too believed that the filmmakers were well-intentioned, but she could see that the Participation Trophy motif neither…

For two millennia Christians have looked to The Sermon on the Mount for inspiration, comfort, and guidance. Some of the first scriptures that a Christian will memorise will come from the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh chapters of the Gospel according to Matthew. And many a sermon will be heard from this the most famous of Jesus’ discourses; leaving our hearts convicted and our lives changed forever. It is hard to fathom that a man can come to Jesus’ teachings and…

I had a missionary friend who contracted Malaria in the 1980s. By the mid-1990s his robust six-foot-three frame had been reduced to but a shell of its former glory. But he was still leaving home (health allowing) to go wherever he could be of use for Jesus on the mission field. I once asked him, “Do you have any regrets that you went to the country where you contracted malaria?” Being a man of very few words, he dismissed my…

When is a church considered to be “Alive?” Many atheists view Christianity as they view God—as dead! They believe that churches have nothing more to offer the world than basic social services. Others see churches as drop-in centres for the spiritually inclined; a smorgasbord of faith, tradition, and hobbies from which to pick and choose according to time and taste. However, most churches probably view themselves as being alive with faith, friendship, and fun; a place to live their spiritual…

Do you remember the old fridge magnet that read, “Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them?” Yes, the way you come across when you’re cross matters! Having to “eat your words” is bad enough, but if the offended party shows delight when you are proved wrong, the Humble Pie is made even harder to swallow. I am reminded of the words of Jesus: “For in the way you judge, you will be…

On one of my foreign trips, I visited the home of a lady with a medical professional. The home needed refurbishment and was situated in an old and poor part of the town. The lady herself showed all the signs of someone who had always been of very modest means. The visit was brief and pleasant, and he had obviously known her for a long time. A few days later I found out that the lady was actually the mother…