One of the primary questions people ask about Christianity is whether it produces actual outcomes: whether it makes a real difference to their lives. We know that Jesus is God’s son, that he died and rose again, that he rules the universe, and that he is returning to complete his restoration of all things. But [...]
Archive for the ‘Presence’ Category
Will God really protect me?
Posted in Christian faith, Christian Living, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Discipleship, Jesus, Mission, Presence, Refuge, Relationship, Spirituality, Struggle, Trials on February 21, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Following and Sacrifice
Posted in Christian faith, Christian Living, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Discipleship, Grace, Incarnation, Jesus, Mission, Presence, Reformed Theology, Relationship, Spirituality, Struggle, Transformation, Trials, Worldview, worship on January 11, 2012 | 3 Comments »
At first thought, following Jesus seems easy. It seems a matter of changing your mind about who Jesus is, recognising and accepting him as Saviour, and acknowledging him as King and Ruler. I suppose it is easy, relatively speaking, to see ‘following Jesus’ as a ‘decision’. Western Christianity often focuses on people making ‘decisions’ to [...]
God wants you to flourish
Posted in Christian faith, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Grace, Mission, Presence, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, Transformation, Worldview on August 10, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
It is no secret that from within the general camp of what might be called Reformed Evangelicalism there are a number of people who view God as a stern master whose primary interest is to impose rules, expose sin, and generally fume about how bad the world is. Make no mistake: humanity is deeply and [...]
Test yourselves… what?
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Family, Grace, Great reading, Preaching, Presence, Reformed Theology, Relationship, Spirituality, worship, tagged Authentic Faith, Relationships, transformation on July 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read: 2 Corinthians 13:5-10 I have often wondered about this verse: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” I mean, wouldn’t I know whether I am in the faith? Don’t I know my own motives, whether I really do entrust myself to Jesus? There will always be some who will say that [...]
The God Who Implores: Can we contemplate worshipping a God who would beg for anything?
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Grace, Healthy Churches, Incarnation, Mission, Pastors, Preaching, Presence, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, worship, tagged Begging, Passion of God, Pleading, Reconciliation on June 16, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Read 2 Cor 5:11-21 Try and remember the last time you begged for anything. I mean, seriously pleaded and entreated anyone for something. After we get past the trivialities of begging as a child for a puppy, or pleading with an adolescent son to get out of bed and go to school, we start to [...]
God and the Live Export Beef Trade
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Environment, Presence, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, tagged Animal welfare, Beef Exports, Four Corners, Grace, life on June 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read: Gen 9:7-17 In his book, ‘Engaging God’s World’, Cornelius Plantinga observes that Genesis 1 opens our eyes to the core character of God. In his act of creation, God answers the formlessness of the heavens and the earth with his creative word ‘Let there be light.’ While Plantinga does not make the point directly, [...]
A Straight Line with a Crooked Stick: How God works in broken people like us
Posted in Christian faith, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Election, Grace, Presence, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, Struggle, Trials, tagged Anointed, Messiah, Sovereignty on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read Isaiah 45:1-11 The Old Testament tells us that certain special leaders were anointed with oil: prophets, priests, and kings. In addition to that sort of ‘anointing’ we read passages that refer to a coming ‘anointed one’, God’s promised Messiah (see Ps 72:8, Ps 18:44-48). This promised Messiah is the one whom the New Testament [...]
Grace is free, but it’s not cheap
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Grace, Presence, Relationship, Spirituality, tagged Grace, Obedience, Response, Responsibility on May 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read: Deuteronomy 7:6-16 Have you ever noticed that we love hearing about God’s grace, but we are not so keen to hear his call to obedience? Do you ever wonder how God feels about that? Maybe he feels like a lover who showers their mate with affection, gifts, and security only to find that their [...]
The Interference of Self
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Grace, Opposition, Popularity, Presence, Relationship, Spirituality, Struggle, Trials, tagged Fear, Love, Procrastination, Self, Selfishness on May 26, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Read: Heb 13:1-6 Sometimes when I am met by a need or a context where I know I should move forward and respond, I push back and either procrastinate or simply turn away. Why do I do that? Is it fear that my incompetence might be exposed Is it a sense that I might not [...]
Watch what God does, and then you do it
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Family, Grace, Incarnation, Mission, Presence, Relationship, Spirituality, tagged Imitation of Christ, Influence, Injustice, Justice, transformation on May 25, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read Eph 5:1-20 The command to ‘imitate God’ seems impossible to honour. How can failed and fallen human beings imitate God? True, but that’s not what Paul is getting at. He is asking us to imitate God in his values and character toward people and their world. This makes it more exciting than impossible, right? [...]
What I am doing- DaveGroenenboom: Because of Jesus, we have a different story to tell: one where the destination determines how we do the journey February 25, 2012
- DaveGroenenboom: If your life is seen as a story, what are the major themes? Is it all about the journey, or is the destination Important? February 25, 2012
- DaveGroenenboom: It seems Labor has to choose between a leader who cannot win and a leader the party cannot love #respill February 25, 2012
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