(September 14, 2025) Brian Bell shares…
This short meditation is taken from a New Testament encounter in the life of the Lord Jesus, which is found in John’s gospel 5:1-11NKJV.
The Place Jesus Walked
Verse 1 describes the place as ‘a pool which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.’
While the physical structure of this place was likely an area with five covered walkways around the pool, Bethesda means ‘house of mercy.’
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(July 28, 2025) Robert and Maureen McQuillan share…
As most of you know we like relaxing by watching old movies… especially these days as I (Robert) can’t do much as a result of that very bad fall I had early this month (Thanks to the many friends who are praying for me.. and Maureen, my first-aid specialist ‘nurse!’).
Yes, just to please me Maureen still lets me suggest watching old John Wayne movies! (and yes, she enjoys them too!). And yes, since I was a kid the Duke has been ‘my hero’… even beyond Batman, Flash Gordon, Cagney and Bogart.
Discovery
But… better still, and more meaningful, both Maureen and I at a very young age, five or six, discovered the greatest ‘hero’— Jesus Christ! And recently in my taking it easy to recover, we discovered the brilliant Rosemary Siemens singing those precious old hymns that so many Christians and churches don’t sing or even know these days! And what a precious gentle voice and her mastery of integrated violin playing. We’ve been so blessed!
(November 12, 2024) Dr Richard Winter challenges…
A reality so often overlooked is this— we have no excuse for wrong decision-making regarding God, His wishes and invitations!
Luke 14 tells that one-time Jesus went to a prominent Pharisee’s home for a meal and someone at His table commented, ‘Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God’ (v15).
The eyes of all the other guests were on Jesus (v1) and He immediately took the opportunity to tell a parable of a great (megas… exceedingly big!) banquet…
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(December 08, 2023) Angeline Selvakumari shares good points…
Ever since I was a child, Christmas has always held a special place in my heart. It brings indescribable joy. When I was young, we didn’t have enough money to buy new clothes or gifts, or to decorate the house with fancy colored paper or lights. We lived in a small one-bedroom house with limited food, but… my parents always found ways to make our childhood beautiful and meaningful.
My brother and I are forever grateful for their efforts. It was an amazing time! Visiting grandparents, meeting cousins, going to church early in the morning with sleepy eyes, eagerly waiting to eat a delicious lunch with the whole family gathered around, playing games, and even the occasional sibling squabble – all these things made those days truly beautiful.
Even now, every year, the scent of candles, aroma of cookies, twinkling decorative lights, and the chilly wind, along with heartwarming carols, bring back great memories.
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(October 29, 2023) Stuart Reynolds challenges so-called October 31 ‘fun’ …
Unfortunately me and mine have had the horrendous experience of having our home burgled … and more than once!
The most frightening occurrence was the time I was actually in our house. In anticipation of my wife Helen returning home from a night out, I had left the front door closed but unlocked.
No laughing matter!
Assuming it was Helen returning I didn’t react and check when I heard the door opening – it was a shock to discover later that some intruders had quickly stolen a mobile phone and snatched some car and house keys with the intention of returning later for more plunder!
Just five minutes prior to the break in, I had taken my two young children to bed – right past that closed but unlocked door! No danger at that moment – but what might have happened had we been there in that spot when the thieves came? Even now I shudder to think.
That incident of leaving the door open – unbolted – was definitely no laughing matter! Neither are unbolted doors to the occult
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(July 29, 2023) Brian Bell continues sharing his meditation in Amos…
When I began looking at Amos it was for my own ‘personal’ study and I did not expect the Holy Spirit to lead my thoughts into what is now the third article and which is meant to be the ‘final’ in a short if unexpected series!
In this meditation I bring your attention to Amos 8:11 and 9:9-15 and encourage you to consider the –
Famine of God’s word
Chapter 8:11 reads ‘I will send a famine … not a famine of bread … but of hearing the words of the Lord.’
In writing his gospel account, Luke records the Lord Jesus as saying the following words in response to the temptation to turn a stone into bread… ‘The scriptures say people need more than bread to live.’
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(February 28, 2023) Brian Bell shares a timely meditation…
Standing Somewhere in the Shadows (that 1943 once very popular number by E J Rollings) came to me afresh recently…
Are your crosses too heavy to carry,
And burdens too heavy to bear;
Are there heartaches and tears and anguish
And there’s no one who seems to care?
Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus,
He’s the friend who always cares and understands.
Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him,
And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands.
Overshadowing darkness
Christians are called to carry crosses (Matthew 10:38, Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23) and as we do so, life can be shades of shadows at times! Praise God that our Saviour is there for us!
The reality is that it is not Jesus who is standing in the shadows, it is us – men and women ‘lost’ in the dark shadows of life.
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(February 13, 2023) Richard Winter shares some salient facts…
The rumours had come in from a far-flung corner of the Roman empire…
So what are the facts? Mark tells them rather simply…
(A continuous history which – if you follow – you will know how it all links together and how that Jewish Messiah will affect your life and others).
Seven facts…
1. New start
A guy had come baptising people who were repenting of their sins. Jesus was baptised… even though He had no sin! What Jesus was doing was demonstrating that all old ways of doing things either religiously or secularly needed to be buried and everyone can start a new spiritual life.
(April 01, 2022) Robert and Maureen McQuillan solemnly share Easter thoughts…
‘The night is always darkest before the dawn!’ is an old but for many today still a very realistic adage.
It’s Easter’s Good Friday next week – but a dark Friday indeed when one fully realises what Jesus Christ must have gone through!
Good Friday? Bad Friday, evil Friday, fearful Friday!
Thinking aboutthat daycaused Robert to recall staying overnight at a colleague’s home many Easters ago. Not immediately sleepy, he browsed the bedroom’s shelves and found the most unusual book… an old, handwritten volume of on-the-scene experiences of a young WW1 British soldier.
An amazing diary really, filled with drawings of horrific battle scenes. One incident caught Robert’s attention… aware of what his friends and he would face as one particular new day broke on them, the writer had painfully detailed fears, confusions, and concerns.
Dark hours
Certain death faced this little group of outnumbered comrades when superior forces would attack them! Graphically he described that dark lonely night filled with alarm, horror, fear, and tension as they waited in the terrifying blackness during those long trying, uncertain hours.
Connecting with You! 