KEEP YOUR COOL!

(September 17, 2022) Richard Winter reminds us that, like Timothy, we too have an obligation to finish the race.

Keep your cool is great advice for all of us in trying moments, testing times, troubling escapades, upsetting incidents… and when we just don’t know if we’ll get through, if we’ll make it.

It’s our modern phraseology for the great advice the apostle Paul gave young Timothy in respect of fulfilling his ministry obligations: ‘… keep your head in all situations…’ (2 Timothy 4:5a).

I would draw your attention to 2 Timothy 4:5-8 in full… ‘But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.’

Remember Graduation Day when you have finished your educational journey? In the above verses Paul is talking about his own soon-to-be graduation day and exhorting his young son-in-the-faith regarding his future one. He highlights what Timothy  must be about, especially in view of the fact he must soon take his mentor’s place. And that must have been a frightening prospect to the young man.

Note a reality here: All of us, followers and servants of Jesus, must pass on eventually to our own graduation day, and leave kingdom work to others. That is what we have before us in this passage.

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‘TOO COMMITTED TO CHRISTIANITY’ – SISTER KILLED IN MOZAMBIQUE

September 15, 2022) Elizabeth Kendal reports concerning news regarding Mozambique…

Late on the night of Tuesday September 6, Islamic jihadists attacked the Catholic mission in Chipene city, Memba District, in northern Mozambique’s Nampula Province. They burned much of the mission, including the church, the hospital, the primary and secondary schools, the dormitory and the new computer room.

‘Too committed to Christianity’
Four Christians were killed in the attack, including Sister Maria De Coppi (84), a nun with the Comboni order who had been living a life of service in Mozambique since 1963.

Hoping to reach the dormitory to alert the students, Sister Maria (left) ran out into what must have seemed like a war zone! The terrorists saw her and killed her with a shot to her head. Two other nuns escaped to raise the alarm. Six people were beheaded and three were abducted.

Islamic State claimed responsibility and explained in a statement posted to Telegram, that they killed the nun because she was ‘too committed to spreading Christianity.’ As His Exc. Msgr. Inacio Saure, Archbishop of Nampula remarked, ‘If the statement is authentic, then Sister Maria is truly a martyr for the faith.’

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SLAVERY TO SERVANTSHIP TO SUCCESS

(September 15, 2022) S. Sam Selva Raj shares about a Godly leader and challenges us whether Christian churchgoer or leader…

After Moses’ death, Joshua became leader of Israel in his place. Joshua 1:1 refers to him as a mere servant of Moses, but Joshua 24:29 says that he was a servant of the Lord!

God’s timing
God permitted Joshua to be the servant of another and later made him His own. Joshua means ‘The Lord is salvation’ and his mission in life was to possess the land which the Lord promised the Israelites.

Joshua was not born into a rich family – he was born to a slave in Egypt. But God exalted him when he was eighty years-old and gave him leadership authority and, as it were, the keys to heaven!

Out of a burning bush God had called Moses. When Saul was on his way to Damascus, he heard a voice calling, ‘Saul, Saul…’ Joshua was neither called by name nor had any vision or sign. But God made him assistant of Moses who taught him about the Lord, and he received God’s power through listening to an old man, and being obedient to him.

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STORMS OF LIFE…

(September 13, 2022) Brian Bell shares comforting words to those troubled in these uncertain times…

Think for a moment on Psalm 107:23NASB, ‘Those who go down to the sea in ships…’ What one natural element of creation did Jonah, Jesus’ disciples, and Paul experience in their lives?

  • Jonah…

The Lord had called him to go to Nineveh, but Jonah had other plans and took a to go in the opposite direction. A fierce storm beset the ship and caused him to end up in the belly of a great fish.

  • Jesus’ disciples…

They were quite familiar with the Sea of Galilee, yet while crossing the sea in their boatone day a great storm blew up causing even those hardened fishermen to fear for their lives.

  • Paul…

The apostle was on his way to Rome under Roman guard when the ship in which they were sailingwas caught in a severe storm and they were shipwrecked on the shores of the island of Malta.

Yes… storms! Contemplating vessels and storms, makes me think about sea and other disasters…

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NO SLOPPY LIVING – PLEASE!

(September 11, 2022) Richard Winter charges us even as Paul did…

No doubt you are immediately thinking ‘Sloppy living? What do you mean?’ Well, one dictionary definition of sloppy is ‘not taking care or making an effort.’ Consider that definition in respect of your life…

Many people today ask themselves, ‘So, what am I living for?’ Some will say pleasure, money, family… but what if you are a Christian – what are you living for?

The apostle Paul’s answer would be this: The business of Christians in any age is to guard the truth which has been entrusted to them.

In fact he gave this answer as a charge to young Timothy – ‘Guard the truth which has been entrusted to you’ (2 Timothy 1:14).

The 1st century world in which Timothy lived was one of –

  • Distorted values.
  • Misleading commitments.
  • Confused thinking.
  • Dangerous misconceptions.

Today, we live in a similar kind of age, in a world deep in trouble. There are many manifestations of unrest and evil in our day too, such as…

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THE MOST POWERFUL THING IN THE WORLD

(September 11, 2022) Carol Round encourages us to think of others…

Recently I came across an article titled, 10 Of the Most Unexpectedly Powerful Things in The World. Scanning the article, I was amazed at the information provided by the author.

Evidentally some of the most powerful things in the world are related to the animal kingdom.

And on a mission trip to Costa Rica several years ago, I was to experience one of the most powerful things in the animal kingdom.

Watching ants marching in a line across the dry soil, I was astonished to see each one toting a leaf on their backs. Later, I learned they are called leafcutter ants. These ants can lift up to 50 times their body weight, which – according to this article – is the equivalent of a human casually lifting a truck!

I’m convinced, however, that love is the most powerful thing in the world. Not the love of romance novels and movies, but the kind of love that led Jesus to surrender to a bloody death on a wooden cross. It’s called agape love.

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3 REASONS WHY I’M DELIGHTED BEING UNSETTLED

(September 8, 2022) Mama Lava encourages us to be at peace, especially ‘unsettled peace’…

It’s September! For most people on this side of the globe, September means summer holidays have been taken, kids are back in school, routines have been implemented, and plans have been settled for the next several months. This can be a major transition… but often settles into cosy anticipation once it’s all arranged.

Is that how you’re feeling? To be honest, I feel something much deeper this year. I feel overwhelmed by unsettled peace. And I’ve come to view major transitions differently than expected… I’m actually delighted to be unsettled!

Delighted to be unsettled?
Yes, ‘unsettled peace’ sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Yet the two are coexisting easily in my heart! Here’s why…

I know that I know that I know that God is on the throne! He’s bigger than anything that would trouble me and in charge. Nothing gets by Him without His permission.

  • I know He is with me.
  • I know He is for me.
  • I know that nothing can stand against me.
  • I know this is unquestionably my peace!
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LEVELLING MOUNTAINS – NOT BY MIGHT, NOT BY POWER BUT BY MY SPIRIT! (Part 2)

(September 4, 2022) Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, concludes his timely challenge on overcoming ‘mountains’ of various kinds…

Last month I shared reflections on Zerubbabel, how God helped this faithful prophet fulfill the challenge He’d been given him. I had mentioned two aspects regarding our accepting of God’s challenges to us, in brief –

1. Inflexible commitment to God’s will… God requires followers like Zerubbabel who are truly committed to Him, Christians whose integrity and commitment will be unshakable, no matter what ‘mountains’ we might encounter!

2. Intimidating pressure of discouragement… God also requires such dedicatedfollowers to bravely face and overcome pressure that comes when we commit to accepting His assignments. Such as the mountains of discouragement that not only come from Satan and outside the church, but sadly from within!

I now reflect on two other aspects, highlighting thatour all-powerful God who has all things already planned goes before us (Isaiah 45:2)!

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BARNABAS – ‘SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT’

(September 4, 2022) Brian Bell reflects on Barnabas’example…

‘Son of encouragement’ is a tremendous accolade for anyone to receive from their contemporaries. Not that it means a person is without imperfections, but it says something special about how other people find them to be in the general demeanour of their character and daily living.

As with other biblical characters, the life and witness of Barnabas has profitable lessons for us all to consider, and I share with you those which have spoken to me.

The disciple
We are introduced to Barnabas by Luke the writer of Acts, who tells us that the early believers were of one heart and mind. They freely shared their material possessions not considering what they each owned to be their own! Some even sold land or houses and gave the proceeds to the apostles to give to others in need (Acts 2:44-45).

Among those who sold land was a disciple named Joseph nicknamed Barnabas which means the Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36-37). Luke also tells us Barnabas was a Jew from the tribe of Levi and came from Cyprus. Clearly the Holy Spirit had done a wonderful work in the life of Barnabas since he had come to faith whether it was before or even among one of those 3,000 who responded to Peter’s message (Acts 2:41).

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‘HELP, HOLY SPIRIT!’

(August 30, 2022) Maureen McQuillan recalls a bad incident, and shares her favourite prayer…

Dear Pastor Maureen
This is a thank you for your article,  brrr-baby-its-cold-outside. It so encouraged me. Caroline.

Hi there, Caroline

So glad to hear that my little article blessed you. The Holy Spirit is always there to help us, encourage us. Many times something comes up out-of-the-blue, so unexpectedly and it’s great to know that we can call on Him to help.

This reminds me of a really unexpected catastrophic incident I encountered when visiting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania quite a few years back…

Our very hospitable hosts had taken us to their favourite Rotary restaurant and afterwards decided to show us a few local sites. One was the famous Duquesne Incline and we really enjoyed travelling up and back down, seeing the beautiful panoramic night views of the city.

Unfortunately, as we were walking back to their car chatting away, I stumbled over some uneven paving I hadn’t noticed and had a very painful fall! My ankle immediately swelled up and I hurt so much.

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