Encouragement and wisdom
Some thoughts and reflections to encourage faith and understanding in all who read and consider them
A Prayer
Lord, I do not understand what I feel. The uncertainty, however, has ceased to fill me with unrest and turmoil. I wait with you, Lord, and wonder where next you will lead me. The valleys of disappointment don’t seem so horrid, the summits of idealism so magnetic...
He taught them – Part 4 – The law’s demands
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” The people had been taught that the commandment...
He taught them – Part 3 – The law fulfilled
“You are the light of the world.” Hearing on that day such wonderful words, full of life and hope, spoken with great authority and love, the disciples and the gathered crowd must have begun to think that this teaching was so new, so different from all they had known,...
He taught them – Part 2 – Disciples of Jesus
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus’ teaching on the mountain was not about how to be saved from the penalty of sin, but about the sort of people who would be His disciples and about how they were to live. It would be some...
He Taught them – Part 1 – Standing in the crowd
Imagine yourself living at a time when a fever could be a death sentence, when life was short and hard, and people suffered without hope. Then Imagine hearing of a man who freely healed all who came to Him of whatever diseases and torments they had, and who, with just...
Euthanasia
Questions: (submitted by a group of young people) Is it a sin if you are extremely sick and you ask the doctors to end your life?Euthanasia - isn't it my choice to end my suffering? Answer: Summary: Many western countries are passing legislation to makes medically...
Abortion
QUESTION (submitted by a group of young people): Should abortion be permitted or not? ANSWER: Summary: At what point during the growth and development of the unborn life within a pregnant woman, from fertilisation through to birth, does it become human? Certainly not...
Does God exist?
QUESTIONS (submitted by a group of young people): How do we know that God is real?Is there evidence that God does not exist? ANSWER: Summary: The universe, and everything in it, has an origin that is either personal or impersonal. If it is impersonal, life is utterly...
IF
(A Christian version of the well known poem by Rudyard Kipling) If you can follow Christ when all around youAre following themselves and their desireIf you can trust the Shepherd who has found youAnd walks with you through every flood and fireIf you can act with grace...
The Two Tables of the Law
It has become customary to think that when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, one of the stone tablets contained the first four, and the other, the remaining six. Why? Because the first four commandments concern our relationship with God, and the remaining six our...
I find no fault in Him
Pilate was in no mood to pander to the Jewish rulers. He had to come out to them because they would not “defile themselves” by entering the Praetorium! It was early morning and he resented being used by them. They had probably sent a late-night delegation to his...
Hold on to Christ
Hold on to ChristFor when the worldMay blissful beAnd full ofOpportunityRemember inThat ecstasyYour eager handHas hold of HimWho made it Hold on to ChristFor when the warIs waging longThe enemyEngaging, strongAnd seems the stormIs raging onYour fearful handHas hold of...