ATTITUDE

(January 9, 2017) Maureen McQuillan reminisces …

An engine had failed and was taken into a nearby shed. No one could fix it. Then they brought in an older chap supposedly with some 50 years’ experience on such engines.

Younger maintenance men sniggered as the old pensioner hobbled around. Ever so slowly he inspected the faulty engine very carefully, top to bottom. After looking things over, this old senior reached into his tool bag and pulled out a small hammer. Then he gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine surged with power into life. It was fixed! The sniggering stopped.

Seven days later the owners got the retired engineer’s bill for 10K. ‘What is this!’ they demanded when the retiree answered their complaining phone call. ‘You hardly did anything. Send us an itemised bill.’

He did so. The new itemised account read:

(more…)

THE POWER OF HOPE

(January 9, 2017) Peggy Kannaday reflects on a great biblical truth…

Hebrews is a very informative New Testament book. For example Hebrews 11:6 makes it clear that it is impossible to please God if we do not have ‘faith.’

What is faith? The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). In short, without hope; there could be no faith. Why? Because faith is based on the content of what the person is hoping to experience or attain.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12), and a hopeless person is very sad, depressed and ill. We must keep our hope strong at all costs because hope is a key to a healthy mind and life! It is a required prerequisite to activate God’s power in your life. (more…)

WORDS OF LIFE (#6) JUBILEE – (YOBEL)

(January 9, 2017) Dr Jim McClure, respected theologian, continues his series on selected scripture words…

As we have just entered a New Year, it is appropriate to mention a very important year in the history of the people of Israel.

In Leviticus 25:8-10 we read God’s instructions to Moses Mount Sinai, ‘Count off seven sabbaths of years – seven times seven years – so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you.’

Trumpets played a significant role in the Hebrew religion and different trumpets were employed for specific functions. The Old Testament refers to two types of trumpet, the chatsotseroth and the shophar. (more…)

INHERITANCE – 2017, THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY?

(January 9, 2017) Robert and Maureen McQuillan reflect on the inheritance we have in Christ …

Every good parent desires to leave an inheritance to their children.

Back in 1994 I (Robert) editorially covered a great Pentecostal conference in Seoul, Korea – I had the privilege and delight of being on the large high platform in the vast Yoida Plaza to view over a million Christians who had gathered from around the world to celebrate their Assemblies of God denomination’s worldwide 80^th anniversary.

That trip I learned many things about Korea and its people but a most important principle was discovered not in church but in the marketplaces! (more…)

NO MORE EXCUSES

(December 17, 2016) Maureen McQuillan looks beyond this joyous season …

No doubt all of us at one time or another has dreamed about whom we could become or about things we’d love to do for God. But then thoughts about circumstances, lack of education, experience or something else made us dismiss the idea altogether. Or we made all sorts of excuses or found ‘reasons’ why it just couldn’t happen.

And when we go down that track, we miss out on so much because we don’t go on to consider the possibilities in God. It seems that we don’t understand that Christians, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can discover abilities beyond our own natural skills.

A great truth to discover is that God’s Spirit can lift us above and beyond any excuse! (more…)

WORDS OF LIFE (#5) LOYAL LOVE – CHESED

(December 12, 2016) Dr Jim McClure, respected theologian, continues his series on selected scripture words…

The root of one of the most common Hebrew words for love is ‘aheb’ which occurs about 250 times in the Old Testament. In many ways its meaning is similar to the English word ‘love’ in that it has a wide range of applications. However, our focus in this study is on another Hebrew word, ‘chesed’ which has been translated by a variety of words in the KJV including mercy, kindness, goodness, favour, pity and loving-kindness (a word made up by Miles Coverdale in the early 16th century).

Sometimes it has been translated as faithfulness, grace, leal-love, steadfast love and troth. The fact that so many words have been employed to translate ‘chesed’ reveals that it is extremely difficult to find an equivalent English word and every attempt is ultimately inadequate. (more…)

ACTIVE FAITH

(December 12, 2016) Missionary statesman Dr George Forbes reminds us that wherever we live, we must be active Christians…

‘Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see!’

I came across this powerful saying in a great little booklet titled, God’s Little Instruction Book. It tends to stick in one’s mind as it encapsulates a fundamental truth.

We know that God’s word declares that…

‘Without faith it is impossible to please God!’
It is not possible to be a Christian without faith.
It is equally impossible to live the life of a believer without believing.

(more…)

THEBUZZ

GLEANINGS (December 12, 2016):

LESSON FROM A RABBI – Keep Christ in Christmas!
TROUBLE IN THE FAMILY? – Peace at Christmas!
MERRY CHRISTMAS – With an eye on the future
RESCUED FROM CHINA – Young pianist to play at Carnegie Hall later this month ______________________________________________________________

WHAT A RABBI TAUGHT ME ABOUT KEEPING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

Karl Vaters, pastor of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, Fountain Valley, California, shares…

When people come to your church this Christmas season, they want to hear the story of Jesus. Give them what they came for.

‘Keep Christ in Christmas’ is a familiar saying this time of the year. But you don’t expect to hear it from the local rabbi!

What do Jews think about Santa?
For several years I was involved in our town’s Police Chaplaincy. One year, at our December meeting, the Methodist pastor noticed that the napkins had a picture of Santa Claus on them. He slid one across the table to the rabbi from the local synagogue. ‘Hey Steve,’ he asked, ‘what do Jews think about Santa? (more…)

TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY – OR IS IT?

(December 12, 2016) Robert and Maureen McQuillan share …

The traditional Deck the Halls Christmas carol of possible Welsh origin is heard on radio, in department stores, certain old movies (if you’re into watching them) and Christmas Morning Melodies theatre shows (such as the one we attended last week).

Overall this popular carol encourages us to be happy at this season of expressing joy with lines such as Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la la la, la la la la. While I tell of Yule tide treasure, Fa la la la la, la la la la… Sing we joyous, all together…

Yes, Christmas is indeed meant to a joyous time, especially for Christians and the church of Jesus Christ. Carol singing services began at the weekend and are generally well attended whether in local parks, churches or their grounds. The Christmas spirit is indeed evident in several other ways too… (more…)

SEEING THE INVISIBLE GOD

(December 12, 2016) Dr Jim McClure, esteemed theologian, brings a Christmas reflection …

How often Christians have been mockingly dismissed as ‘people who believe in the invisible man upstairs.’

The implication, obviously, is that because God cannot be seen, He therefore does not exist! Apart from being patently false, the comment reflects not only an arrogance but also an ignorance of considered reflection. (more…)

Connecting with You!

words of encouragement from us