Paul and Barnabas

SINGING IN YOUR DARKEST HOUR!

(August 20, 2025) Dr Richard Winter challenges troubled Christians to sing in our darkest times.

There are times in life when things are hard, and life is difficult. Has that been the case in your life? Encountered dark hours?

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. They didn’t know whether they would be rescued or killed for their faith. Nevertheless, they prayed and sang to the Lord in their darkest hour. How were they able to do that, you ask. Because God is worthy of our worship no what matter our circumstances.

Hence a question for any troubled reader, any troubled Christian…
It’s easy to sing when times are good, but how easily do you sing when times are bad?

(more…)

GOD’S HAND IS ON YOU – FOR GOOD!

(February 06, 2024) Angeline Selvakumari shares scripture-based encouragement…

Nehemiah declared to his hearersthat ‘The hand of my God had been favorable to me (Nehemiah 2:18NASB).

The concept of the hand of God is intriguing. In the King James Version, the phrase ‘hand of the Lord’ appears 39 times, with 36 occurrences in the Old Testament and three in the New Testament. Additionally, the phrase ‘Hand of God’ is found 16 times in the Bible, seven times in the Old Testament, and nine in the New Testament.

Not only in biblical times did this phrase hold great significance but does so even today for our lives! These three scriptures alone tell us why…

  • Our times are in His hand (Psalm 31:15).
  • We are God’s handiwork (Psalm 138:8).
  • Our life’s breath is in His hand (Daniel 5:23).
(more…)

THE BARNABAS EFFECT

(March 13, 2023) Richard Winter shares on something badly needed in church circles today…

I love stories so let me begin by telling you one that I heard many, many years ago and has stayed ever fresh in my mind.

Once upon a time… (original story opening, eh)… it was announced that the devil was going out of business and would sell all his evil equipment to those who were willing to pay the price.

On the big day of the sale, all his tools were attractively displayed… Envy, Jealousy, Hatred, Malice, Deceit, Sensuality, Pride, Idolatry and other implements of destruction, each price tagged marked.

Over in the corner by itself was a harmless-looking, wedge-shaped tool very much worn down, but with a higher price than any of the others. Someone asked Satan what it was, and he answered, ‘Discouragement.’ 

(more…)

GET YOUR FEET WET (Meditations on Mark – 3)

(March 06, 2023) Richard Winter reflects some more on Mark’s gospel…

If we could ask Jesus just one question, what would you ask?

It may sound funny, odd, but what pops into my mind is a great line from a movie… ‘What’s it all about, Alfie?’ Only that it leads to the question I’d really love to ask my Lord – ‘So, Jesus, what’s it all about?’

And I’m sure the Lord would answer, ‘Richard, it’s all about Acts 1:8.’

1. Go!
‘Acts 1:8, Lord?’

This very  important scripture… ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

This scripture links with Jesus’ Mark 6:7 direction of to His friends, the first disciples! His training program then had been three years of on-the-job training and now He tells His disciples to go into all the world: a case of ‘You’ve learned how, so now go and do it. Go get your feet wet!’

And they did! Jesus’ disciples boldly went out, getting their feet wet as it were, and with a new title… apostles!

The Greek word is apostolos – one who is sent into all the world and today we call them missionaries.

But note: In Mark 6:7NASB Jesus had sent His disciples out in pairs – a small team. Now we could think that this was good reasoning because lone rangers are an easy target for the devil… but behind this was the biblical understanding of…

(more…)