(October 16, 2025) Brian Bell shares about repeating oneself…
Question: Ever been told you talk too much?
A few decades ago, I was told that I tended to repeat myself… no, not by my wife, Eveline (she who says that I am ‘the quiet man’!’).
But seriously, did you know that Psalm 107 is a chapter of repetition? I was taught that when scripture repeats a matter it’s emphasising a matter of real importance. So, I trust that you too sense that God is saying very important to our hearts here.
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(June 23, 2025) Robert and Maureen McQuillan remind us that God is still in charge…
To be concerned about what’s going in our own nation let alone around the world is only natural— especially if you’re a Christian who really cares! There’s great concern over recent TV news reports about—
Worrying Times
Other life issues and incidents lead to preachers talking about being in ‘dark times.’ Funny but in watching Worrying Times an old WW2 movie last week, at one point prime minister Winston Churchill tells England that they are living in dark times!
(May 30, 2024) Dr Robert McQuillan shares …
Dear Dr Robert
There’s mountains of ‘passionate and well researched material’ supporting Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, and Post-Trib positions! I used to be of the ‘Pre-Trib’ persuasion on the rapture of the church but I see some NT scriptures being desecrated and, as I’ve done more study in the OT, I’m not so sure now.
I’ve decided that I won’t hold a ‘fixed position’ on this issue, just ‘occupy and serve’ until whatever time the Lord decides to collect me. That’s now my personal theological position! What do you think? Kelvin.
Hi Kelvin
You’ve got it! Congratulations on deciding to ‘occupy and serve.’ That’s an attitude that all Christians should have: open to doing whatever the Lord requires – whether a ministerial position, cleaning the church, or warmly greeting attenders… no matter what age we are (Did you see our Reachout post about an old evangelist who believes to be ministering until he’s 100? (92-year-old-evangelist-to-hold-ukraine-rally).
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(April 26, 2024) Robert McQuillan shares very personally…
Well, it hit me unexpectedly the other night!
Reflection
Now I admit that I was feeling a little ‘under the proverbial weather’ being tired after a busy day of writing and ghosting (ghostwriting) for our E-Mag, some counselling, encouraging folk and other matters.
Encouraging some ‘seniors’ was directing them to ‘keep on keeping on,’ content with doing whatever God wants of them where they are and, if in ministry, not be concerned about being unable to travel around like they used to do. (Maureen and I have had to do so).
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(November 24, 2023) Brian Bell shares comfort in these troubled times…
As we look towards the end of 2023 we find the world still facing many difficult if not intractable issues.
Most recently and topical has been the situation in the Middle East centred on the nation of Israel and its conflict in Gaza. Naturally, it has caused a lot of controversy around the world, even here in my homeland of Northern Ireland where there are conflicting views about who is to ‘blame’ for the conflict and what to do about it.
Noticeable ‘End times’ resurgence
I have also noticed that it has caused a resurgence of ‘end times’ theogogy within the family of Christian believers and how the present conflict sits within that framework.
In the present situation my resolve is not to get sidetracked by speculative end time scaremongering… but rather keep with what I know is truth and try to ‘hold the fort’ to quote that old cliché and hymn. And I pray that it is so with other Christians around the world!
(February 20, 2022) Robert McQuillan challenges:
Seems that our main theme this month is on trusting God… and how vital that is as further disasters hit our already troubled world and people, including Christians, have many concerns, such as –
Worried? Well… remember how Jesus encouraged His troubled, worried disciples.
John 14:1GNB tells us: ‘Do not be worried and upset. Believe in God and believe also in me.’
That’s what faith and hope are really all about! Trusting God! No wonder the Message Bible puts it even more pointedly: ‘Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me.’
So let’s treat ‘this’ as ‘anything’ and not be ‘thrown’ as Jesus encourages. Why? Because it’s easy to think that Christians can’t be thrown by life’s curves – but it happens! Indeed, in life there are many things that throw us… if we let them.
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(January 25, 2022) Maureen McQuillan encourages all who feel unsure about the future…
A lot of good folks at this time of worldwide troubles have been experiencing disappointments… not being able to do certain things, go places, catch up with family and old friends, getting hit unexpectedly with covid-19 (but, praise God, had been vaccinated and are getting through), job losses, short of ready finance, suicides, troubled minds… and so on.
And so it’s a joy when one hears good news stories, especially of God answering prayer and blessing in various ways. Mark Ellis’ GodReports regularly shares such testimonies, eg… Muslim Woman Dreams About Man in White With Bleeding Feet. And we ran missionary to Romania David McGuire’s excellent report Grateful for 2021 Successful Outreaching but Moving Ahead Into 2022 With Vision.
However, one also hears of Christians who have had bad life experiences and my ‘heart goes out to them.’Some are so troubled that as they hear negative news reports from around the world, wonder what’s next, or think ‘the end is near: Is Christ coming back very soon?’
Encouragements from God’s word
To troubled saints, I would say this: Be encouraged! Be blessed by scriptures such as the following…
(January 14, 2022) Robert and Maureen McQuillan challenge…
Many times Jesus spoke about truth: the classic scripture is that precious one of John 8:32, ‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ – relating to the gospel message.
And when He was before Pilate, His inquisitor asked Him emphatically, ‘What is truth?’ (John 18:38). Well, the Greek word here is aletheia – and as Dr Jim McClure pointed out in his November 2017 Words of Life (#G7), ‘can be translated as either “truth” or “reality.”’ (Link: Truth and Reality-Aletheia)
Ah… reality. A dictionary meaning of this word is ‘the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.’
There’s been times when I (Robert) have been able to work in two particular incidents to sermons to get a reality, not a notional point across. One is kind of humorous yet serious, the other clearly serious. In fact, they’re both quite serious! I’ll share the humorous one first…
A guy is running very late for church… let’s call him Kristian Kristianson. As he reaches the door, he stops abruptly because he finds the devil standing outside crying his eyes out. Astounded, but with concern, he thoughtfully asks, ‘Why, what’s wrong, Mr Satan?’
Between tears, the devil sobs, ‘Why it’s those Christians in there! They blame me for everything!’
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(October 24, 2020) Robert and Maureen McQuillan remind readers that Jesus truly cares…Life is like a terrifying storm to several at this pandemic time – including some Christians!
And not just because of uncertainties regarding loss of income, delayed/postponed desperately needed operations, increased crime, unruly behaviour in our streets and beaches, lockdown, and such.
Many, including some church leaders, are concerned about the future… and seemingly unanswered prayers. We’ve had some share feelings of ‘I don’t know what I’m meant to be doing… now or in future days. Doesn’t Jesus care?’
Doesn’t Jesus care?
What an audacious, unwarranted question! Of course, he cares!
Remember the Mark 4 incident where Jesus directed his disciples to cross over the lake by boat to a different region?
Verse 37Message recounts that ‘A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it.’ Verse 38a appears to casually mention that in all this fury ‘Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping!’ Then we read that the obviously frightened disciples ‘woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”’
See the bigger picture here… Jesus’ friends are accusing him of not caring! And with the storm raging around them, they would not have been gently whispering in his ear! No, this would have been a harsh, possibly screaming frantic, ‘Hey! Don’t you care?’ And no acknowledgement of his status as either Rabbi, Teacher or Friend! (more…)
(September 17, 2020) Robert and Maureen McQuillan share…Seems that every day TV newscasts share more bad news stories either about the current worldwide pandemic or crime, rebellion against authorities, government opposition groans instead of encouraging support… it’s rare to hear some good news, something to makes you laugh, even smile.
So let’s begin this article with a good news item!
Zimbabwean friend Raviro emailed a very touching story about a 93 year-old Italian being told th
e hospital bill for ventilator one-day usage was 5,000Euro (approx.. $8100AUD).
As he suddenly began weeping a doctor kindly advised him not to cry over the bill.
To his surprise the old man responded, ‘I don’t cry because I have to pay. I cry because I’ve been breathing God’s air every day for 93 years and never had to pay anything for it.’
He added, ‘But for using a ventilator in your hospital for just one day, I have to pay EU5000! I realise now how much I owe God… I never thanked him before for his free air!’
Now doesn’t that makes you smile – and think?
Powerful kick-start
Genesis 2:7 confirms that God himself gave his creation the ability to breathe and live life – ‘he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live’ (GNB). (more…)
Connecting with You! 