JOHN 6:53–69 In 2016, theatre companies worldwide celebrated William Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary with special productions, concerts, lectures, and festivals. Shakespeare is considered the greatest playwright in English, and his work has been celebrated through concerts, lectures, and festivals. Contemporaries like Ben Jonson wrote of him, “He was not of an age, but for all time.” Jesus … [Read more…]
GALATIANS 5:16–25 Self-control is a challenging skill to master, often overcoming bad habits, bad attitudes, or wrong mindsets. Despite making promises to improve and seeking accountability, many people feel they lack the will or ability to change. Despite talking, planning, and reading self-help books, many find it difficult to overcome and control their inner thoughts … [Read more…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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