ALL SET FOR THE NUPTIALS?

MATTHEW 25:1–13 It was meant to be a noon wedding, but we had been waiting for the bride to arrive at the church for more than an hour. Counting down the minutes, I wanted to keep my daughter busy until the ceremony began. As we waited, I felt like we were enacting a parable. The vicarage … [Read more…]

THE SURVIVAL FLOAT

PSALM 55:4–23 The swimming pool was glistening with sunlight. I heard an instructor talking to one of the students who had been in the water for a period of time. “It appears that you are becoming tired,” he said. “Try the survival float in deep water when you are feeling tired.” David experienced distress when his … [Read more…]

IN AN EMERGENCY, PRAY

PSALM 71:1–12 On September 11, 2001, Stanley Praimnath, working on the 81st floor of the World Trade Centre South Tower, saw an aeroplane approaching him. As he dove under a desk, he prayed for protection: “Lord, I can’t do this! You take over!” Stanley was trapped behind a wall of debris. As he prayed and cried for … [Read more…]

EVIE’S CHOICE

ACTS 1:1–8; MARK 16:15 Evie, one of 25 American teenagers in a high school choir, travelled to Jamaica to sing, witness, and demonstrate God’s love to diverse cultures and generations, with one day being particularly memorable and joy-filled. The choir visited a nursing home and sang with the residents. Evie, a choir member, sat down with a … [Read more…]

WHAT MATTERS MOST

1 JOHN 4:7–19 John, Jesus’s disciple, emphasised God’s love in his three letters, a teaching he emphasised as he grew older. Peter Kreeft’s book, Knowing the Truth of God’s Love, references this. Jesus’ mission is centred on God’s love, as stated in John 3:16. Believers in Jesus will have eternal life, as God’s love for the world … [Read more…]

WATCHING WHAT WE CONSUME

PHILIPPIANS 4:4–9 Food monitoring involves counting calories, measuring every bite, estimating portions, monitoring macronutrients, and various “listen to your body” approaches. These methods help individuals track their food intake and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Watching food consumption is crucial, but media consumption is even more important. Research indicates that what we see can have a lasting impact … [Read more…]

LINKING THE DOTS

LUKE 24:13–32 In the 1880s, French artist Georges Seurat introduced pointillism, using small dots of colour instead of brush strokes. His work was like groupings of individual dots, but when observed from a distance, the human eye blends the dots into brightly coloured portraits or landscapes. The Bible’s complexity can leave us with a sense of dots … [Read more…]

HARSH TRIALS

JAMES 1:2–12 One of the biggest threats to trees is fire. It can, however, also be beneficial. The forest floor is cleared of dead leaves and branches by little, regular burns (that spare the trees) known as “cool” fires, according to experts. A wonderful environment for seeds to develop is the ashes they leave behind. … [Read more…]

A GRACE-BASED GRADE

ROMANS 5:6–15 Excitedly, my son showed me a paper he had brought home from school, and his blue eyes shone. It was a mathematics test, with a perfect score of 100. He said that when the teacher announced that the allotted time had expired, he still had three questions unanswered. I was perplexed as to … [Read more…]

THE GATES OF WORSHIP

PSALM 100 Famous gates in world-renowned cities, such as Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, and Downing Street gates in London, represent the distinction between being outside or inside specific areas of a city. Some are closed, while others are open to only a select few. Psalm 100 invites the Israelites to enter God’s presence … [Read more…]