Words of Wisdom
Coping With Death
It has been said that the best soldier is one that has already died in his own mind. Matthew 16:25, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” So I can be dead and alive at [...]
Life Before Death
It has been said that the best soldier is one that has already died in his own mind. Matthew 16:25, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” So I can be dead and alive at [...]
Life / Living -3
How is this life in its fullness expressed or experienced? By loving God and our neighbour as ourselves. Not two isolated commands but one. Loving our neighbour who is also part of the Godhead, as one in seamless union with the Father and the Son (John 14:20). This is [...]
Life / Living -2
A consideration of other thoughts or philosophies concerning the beginning of life opens up a whole can of worms as we see in the world today. Some advocate that life starts when a heart beat of the foetus is heard but can’t be called a living being until it’s [...]
Life / Living -1
Definition of ‘life’ by Merriam-Webster 1 : the state characterised by the ability to get and use energy, reproduce, grow, and respond to change: the quality that plants and animals lose when they die. 2 : the period during which a person or thing is alive or exists. [...]
Judgement
When we as christians read the word ‘judgement’, we usually have a preconceived connection with penalties, as the word has come to automatically imply a negative result. However, judgement in the Greek = Cresus, is an opinion or decision concerning everything (can be either for or against). Second word [...]
Forgiveness
Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who have harmed you, or that you perceive to have harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness. God’s Forgiveness The vast majority of the original [...]
Creation vs Evolution
Which is true, Scripture or science? Which can be disproved? Science has provided much in terms of modern accomplishments because of its system of being able to replicate observable experiments. However, when discussing origins, science cannot replicate those observable experiments. An honest investigation of the science of beginnings shows [...]
All Means All – 2
The “All” inclusiveness is not only a NT teaching. Isaiah, in the Old Testament, already spoke about All in chapter 25 “God will prepare a feast for all people, He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers up all nations. He will eliminate death, [...]
All Means All – 1
When we are raising our children we make it very clear to them: NO means NO, we ask them the question; what part of the word NO don't you understand, if they persist in their behaviour. Thus emphasising the seriousness of the word NO. But what about the word [...]
Perfectly United-Steve Farrar
“The fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:23 After the prayers of Christ on your behalf claiming your total union with himself and God, do you believe that there remain two beings within yourself? Within you is there still an illusion of a person with a life [...]
Curses – 2
Where do curses fit in with a loving God? No where! God is love and therefore He only gives us good gifts, not curses. Curses will come into existence where people start believing lies about themselves, who they really are as the sons and daughters of God as part [...]
Curses – 1
We have all read books or watched TV where curses or spells were uttered in the course of the storyline or the program. But what are curses, are they real and how can they affect us, if they can affect us at all. Are they used by the powers [...]
Heart
Once again, our English words seem to fail to explain the many nuances that our Hebrew and Greek scriptures express. Even in our own culture we use the word ‘heart’ with different meanings in different situations. Is it a muscular blood-pump? A mystical crucible for holding warm-fuzzies? The central [...]
Grace
Grace has been defined as: a : unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification. b : a virtue coming from God. c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance. a :approval, favour, stayed in his good graces b archaic : mercy, pardon. c : [...]
Evangelism – part 2
The traditional style of evangelism declares that we are all ‘filthy sinners’ and are bound for hell unless we repent. This is what you would call a real judgemental style of evangelism - the 'Fire and Brimstone' message. This is in stark contrast to the real truth of evangelism, [...]
Evangelism – part 1
Evangelism is defined as the sharing of good news (gospel). For Christianity, that ‘good news’ concerns the restoration/presentation of our identity in God, and of His in-dwelling presence in all of humanity through Christ Jesus. The purpose of evangelism is to awaken men, women, and children to their position [...]
Born Again – 2
And then onto verse 7 (Mirror), “Don't be surprised when I say to you (humanity plural) You couldn't get here in the flesh unless you got here from above”. For you the most benefit will be: the awareness, the understanding that you are both flesh and spirit. We have [...]
Born Again – 1
What is the evangelical, traditional, usage and understanding of ‘being born again’? Is there such a thing as ‘born again’? What do we understand by it? Do we understand it at all? Do we have the right understanding of Jesus' words? Have the words or the meaning of the [...]
Idolatry – part 2
We are all familiar with the statues, carvings and paintings depicting various gods from different cultures. In the West the gods of Olympus, Rome and Egypt have shaped and guided our psyche for millenia. Other cultures such as the sub-continent, mesoamerica and the orient all have their own, though [...]
Law / Covenant – 09 Conditional or Unconditional
Conditional or Unconditional Which of these covenants described above were conditional? Though Noah was required to ‘build an ark’ antediluvian, and Abraham was required to love his wife, and the Israelites needed to cover their lintels with blood, it is easy to see that God provided for and fulfilled [...]
Law / Covenant – 08 Kingdom
Kingdom And yet our Lord gave us but one ‘law’, though in three parts: “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with [...]