Posts from 2023 (Page 8)

Years ago, I attended the funeral of a great woman of God. Certain family members encouraged her grandchildren to write notes on her coffin (something I had never seen before, nor have I seen since). One of her sons, a man of God, was praising what was happening…until he saw one of the children writing out a verse from a book that one particular cult counts as “scripture.” He did not say anything to the family at the time, but…

I have often repeated the tragic fact that many Christians who move to other countries never unpack their faith. When realising that they are no longer held accountable for neglecting the rhythms and responsibilities of congregational life, they abandon God and His church. Imagine you and your congregation have been forcibly moved to a country of strange customs, language, and religion. Then, when looking around at this totally foreign environment, you realise that the only things you have to call…

Despite what the experts say, there is no set formula for the state of “Happy.” Admittedly, the state of “Unhappy” that those same experts claim to be able to lift you out of does seem to fit a set formula. It is true that lives cluttered with debt, anger, and restlessness, do appear to have jagged edges—as if stamped out by the same damaged cookie-cutter. However, all things being equal, the same things that one person dreams will remove them…

I have met at least a couple of those rare persons who have lived lives where they got to touch their dreams. It is not for nothing that they were the envy of many. Few men rise above mediocrity, and fewer still can look back on a life of undeniable success. These men worked very hard and never lost faith in God. Their motives were pure, and their lives were wholly invested in the church. I was blessed to meet…

I try to imagine myself looking at my feet bolted into those stocks in that dirty, stinking jail in Philippi. There in my misery I look to my left and my right and I see Paul and Silas—two of the happiest souls on earth. But if that’s not disconcerting enough, Paul slaps me on the back, laughs and says, “Lead us in a hymn of praise, brother.” But before I can stop my desperate, repetitious prayers for deliverance long enough…

To travel on Jesus’ road to success is to go in the opposite direction to the world. Though I do not believe that Jesus wants his followers to be living one pay cheque away from financial ruin, I also do not believe that he wants his followers to see their walk with him as a sure road to riches. So, those who are promoting either poverty or riches as divine virtues are best ignored along the way. Instead, the very…

If going to the cross was contingent upon man’s expressed appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice, our confusion and lack of appreciation would have prevented it. Human beings are not very good at calculating the cost of their sins. Even when it dawns on us that they separate us from God and cause destruction in our lives, we are still prone to making it all about ourselves. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are many good Christians doing many good things. They…

Some have suggested that the death of a religious movement begins when a paid clerical class is established. This is when volunteers are eventually replaced with a paid leadership staff. What was once voluntary becomes vocational. At the other end, some churches have decided that any paid staff is tantamount to clergy, so they have come up with various ways to pay, or not to pay, preachers depending on their current convictions on the subject. One thing that is for…

Today started with rain and will end shortly with rain. This is nothing new for Auckland, New Zealand, and usually is of little surprise. But today was a day of destruction. Firstly, Lynda came out of a public building to find her car up to its windows in flood waters, and secondly, our basement was flooded. The stream in Henderson town was overwhelmed by the day’s heavy rain and it engulfed a number of cars in the car park next…