commitment

WAKEY, WAKE-AAAAY…LET’S BUILD TOGETHER

August 6, 2016 – Robert and Maureen McQuillan challenge both ministers and churchgoers…

Recently we’ve heard Christians comment that they feel God is giving them, their church, our nation, America and the world a wake-up call. Wake-up calls are meant to be acted on!

Decades ago, English bandleader Billy Cotton was particularly known for his rousing catchphrase intro to his BBC radio and television shows – ‘Wakey, Wake-aaaay! ’

A London choirboy, Cotton was awake to living life. Not yet 19 he had seen action in World War 1, become a pilot, worked at several jobs and commenced his own orchestra (even though he couldn’t play an instrument or read a word of music).

Billy Cotton went on to become a boxer and a racing driver and lived life to the full. His was a life regarded as ‘a life less ordinary.’

This first August Encouragement article is a wakey,wake-aaaay call to both ministers and churchgoers!

Don’t miss out
Paul encouraged Jesus’ followers not to miss out on life: ‘So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded’ (1 Thes. 5:6NLT). (more…)

TIME A-WASTING? SEIZE THE DAY! (July 11, 2016)

Robert and Maureen McQuillan reflect on ‘time’ …

We humans are definitely creatures of time! We’re preoccupied with it… measuring our days in time, wearing watches to keep check. At some point each day, we wonder ‘What time is it?’ Or ‘How much time do I have left to do this task?’

We may even lament ‘Gosh, time goes on’ or comment to someone, ‘Seems time stood still since we last met’ or ‘It’s been a long time, where did it go?’… and so on.

It’s been said that the concept of time has been problematical for philosophers, even biblical scholars in the divine scheme of things. (more…)

FEELING HELPLESS? KEEP PRESSING ON – BUT NOTE…

Robert and Maureen McQuillan share…

February already! If God were to judge our 2016 life achievements by a row of 12 candles that had been lit in anticipation, he’d be reminding us that one is already snuffed out and we’ve only eleven more before the year is gone.

It’s the proverbial case of tempus fugit (line 284 of book 3 of Virgil’s Georgics, where it appears as fugit inreparabile tempus: ‘It escapes, irretrievable time’). We usually say ‘time is on the wing!’ (more…)

2016 – A GOOD TIME TO SURRENDER AND DO SOMETHING FOR GOD!

Paul Morgan looks forward to a good 2016 future and challenges…

The events of Genesis 1:14 – ‘And God said: “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky…
and let them serve as signs to mark seasons, and days and years”’ – obviously happened quite some time before January 2016!

But we can see in the first book of the Bible that even as he created this world, God had a plan for it… one including seasons, days, years. Indeed God’s plan includes our lives – yours and mine. I believe that this new year of 2016 is a significant one of opportunity for us as we hear from God and obey. (more…)

COMMIT YOUR 2016 PLANS TO GOD

Carol Round shares meaningfully re 2016 resolutions…

The apostle gives good advice in 3 John 2: ‘Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.’

A New Year has arrived and with it the usual resolutions to lose weight, get in shape and quit smoking. Some look for quick fixes through crash diets, new exercise crazes or so-called ‘magical’ pills while others seek a solution through surgery, bringing with it a host of possible complications and side effects.
(more…)

2016 – GOD’S PLANS AND YOU

Andrew Corbett reminds us that of this reality …

The capstone of the accounts of Jesus life, ministry, and redemptive work is John’s gospel.

It is quite possibly the most profound book in the Bible. It opens with the same three words that the entire Bible commences with – ‘In the beginning.’ (more…)

BEING AVAILABLE

Robert and Maureen McQuillan remind readers that ability is good but that availability is more useful to God.

In Galatians 5, Paul speaks very strongly regarding our freedom in and through Christ. The Message Bible version uses some down-to-earth wording in urging us to get rid of ‘stuff’ – such as ‘a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage…trinket gods; magic-show religion … small-minded and lopsided pursuits’ (v19-20). (more…)

SOME BIBLICAL INSIGHTS INTO GOVERNMENT

Dr Augusto Zimmermann, professor of law, shares some pertinent biblical principles…

The Bible sees government as an institution established by God (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13). The government’s primary goal is to promote justice for its citizens – protecting the innocent from the aggressor and the lawless. Without security, every other function of government (such as protecting life, liberty, property, reputation) is meaningless. (more…)

THE END IS NIGH?

Dr Jim McClure, noted theologian, brings a new slant to the Great Commission onus in these troubled times … days when not only does the world need to hear and the accept the gospel message but side-tracked Christians need to understand scripture deceptions by so-called ‘teachers’ …

I don’t think anyone would disagree that we are living in very difficult days. I don’t remember in my lifetime a period when the world has been so restless, confused, violent and hopeless. (more…)

CONNUBIAL DISCOMBOBULATION

Editorial note: Although we ran this article last month in the Generational category, it is so in keeping with this month’s Biblical Perspectives, we rerun it here.

Andrew Corbett shares important facts about marriage and love:

As connubial means ‘of or relating to the married state’ and discombobulation ‘a fun, fancy word for confuse’ this is a good title for this article! (more…)

Connecting with You!

words of encouragement from us