COLOSSIANS 4:7–18; MATTHEW 5:16 Hollywood musicals during the 1950s and 1960s were popular, with Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood, and Deborah Kerr delivering compelling performances. Their singing was a significant part of their appeal. Marni Nixon dubbed the voices for these leading ladies, but for a long time went uncredited for her vital contribution. Within the body of … [Read more…]
EPHESIANS 2:19–3:11 According to Henri Nouwen, a “community” is the place where the person you least want to live with always lives. We frequently develop clubs or cliques rather than communities when we surround ourselves with the people we would most like to live with. A club may be formed by anybody; a community requires … [Read more…]
PHILIPPIANS 3:1–11 Growing up, my parents raised us to be “good people” by obeying them, telling the truth, succeeding in school and work, and attending church, including Easter and Christmas. This definition is familiar to many people, regardless of culture. Paul, a devout first-century Jew, was a true good person, born into the “right” family, educated, … [Read more…]
PSALM 37:1–6, 23–27 For forty years, John F. Burns covered international news for The New York Times. In a post-retirement piece from 2015, Burns quoted a close friend and fellow journalist who was terminally ill with cancer. His colleague said, “Never forget, it is not how far you have travelled; it is what you have brought back.” … [Read more…]
JOHN 14:15–26 An old woman in an elderly home did not say anything or ask for anything. She appeared to be doing little more than rocking in her rickety chair. One young nurse used to frequently visit her room during her breaks because she did not have many visitors. She just pulled up another chair … [Read more…]
1 JOHN 1:1-10; PSALM 119:176 A friend of mine occasionally surprises his family as he comes in after work. He would yell, “You are forgiven!” as he entered through the front door. It was not that he needed to forgive family members for wrongdoing. He was telling them that even though they had probably sinned during … [Read more…]
ROMANS 6:15–23; ROMANS 8:2 Olaf Wiig, a New Zealand news cameraman, declared, beaming broadly, that he felt more alive than he had in his entire life after being abducted, held captive for thirteen days, and then freed. Olaf’s joy serves as a reminder of the easy forgetfulness of our spiritual blessings. Christians often forget the pain of … [Read more…]
HEBREWS 12:18–24 The replica of the tabernacle in southern Israel, built to exact specifications from Exodus 25–27, stands tall in the Negev desert. During a tour, some participants were hesitant to enter the “Holy Place” and “Most Holy Place” to see the “ark,” feeling it was too holy to enter casually. The Israelites must have experienced … [Read more…]
JOSHUA 7:1–12 I was battling with a writing deadline and a disagreement with my wife. I realised she was wrong. As my computer screen went black, I noticed that the unacknowledged wrongs were not only hindering my work but also causing me distress. All I needed to do was work towards reconciling our differences. Like Achan, we do … [Read more…]
PSALM 145:1–13 Opinions differ among generations on a wide range of topics! Life experiences and ideals vary greatly between generations. Among Jesus’ followers, this is also true. Still, our spiritual bond transcends all material differences, including how we dress and the music we listen to. Psalm 145, a powerful praise song, symbolises our shared faith. It encourages … [Read more…]
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