Have you ever read a book and been disappointed with the ending? Well, what about the greatest story ever written – the Bible? Genesis, the template for the entire story, starts with, “In the beginning God…”. God takes an earth that is nothing and makes something beautiful. And into this, he places humans. But it’s… Continue reading Rev 22v20 – Choose your ending
I have often laughed sardonically at the names places are given. A new housing estate is called Sunset Estate, yet it does not have a view of the sunset. Or it is called Nature’s Retreat but all the natural vegetation was destroyed to stuff in the maximum number of houses. Yet despite this, we buy… Continue reading Num 14v21 – Don’t buy the dream
Did you know that Abraham wasn’t Jewish? He was from Ur, a city in modern-day Iraq. When Yahweh, the God of the Bible, called him, in faith, he left his family and all their idols and followed God. God called him Abraham – father of many nations. From him came Ishmael – father of the… Continue reading Was Abraham Jewish?
I’m sitting in an aeroplane, and outside, rain lashes the window while cargo handlers scurry around, bracing themselves against the wind and rain. The weather has been like this for weeks, and it seems it will never change. The thrust of the aircraft’s engines pulls me from my reverie and moments later, we are powering… Continue reading 1Co 15v52 – In a moment
We recently visited an eco cabin in the mountains where birds were abundant. They were very playful and comfortable with our presence. As soon as we sat down on the deck, the birds would perch nearby, looking for food. A huge storm was brewing, and I wondered where the birds would go to shelter from… Continue reading Mat 6v26 – Unfettered and free
God speaks in many ways – pictures, words, symbols, and numbers. The number 7 represents perfection and rest. But God also uses multiples like 70×7. “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people…to bring in everlasting righteousness” (Daniel 9:24). 70×7 speaks of God’s deliverance. In the New Testament, Peter asked Jesus: “Lord, how often shall my… Continue reading Dan 9:24 – 70×7
I was recently at a shop looking at a book about plants in the area. It struck me how, without thinking of the significance, we have a desire to name and know the names of things. Every human, plant, mammal, bird, insect, street, ocean and even star has a name. If life came from nothing… Continue reading Exo 34v5 – Named
“$100,000 Reward offered’”. The offer of a monetary reward will motivate most people to do whatever is needed to claim the reward. In fact, most things in life are connected to rewards. You train to run a marathon and get rewarded with a medal. You study for a degree and get rewarded with a degree… Continue reading Gen 15v1 – Our reward
We are cycling, and I look down and see on the side of the track a small white cross. Grief. Pain Someone lost. I look up at the mountain above; I see a large white cross. Hope. Peace. Jesus found. In our world, wherever we look, we will see loss and pain. Whether our office… Continue reading Rom 6v23 – Look up
Wars, floods, deadly viruses, earthquakes, famine, people who are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. There is no doubt we are living in the last days. Even scientists and environmentalists are warning us that unless something changes drastically, this world as we know it is heading for catastrophe. Greed, hatred, envy, selfishness, pride,… Continue reading Luk 21v28 – The last days