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 ‘Trials’ 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 [...]
Why you (still) need the church…
Posted in Christian faith, Church, Church systems, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Family, Grace, Healthy Churches, Opposition, Popularity, Preaching, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, Struggle, Teachers, Trials, worship, tagged community, Love, Neighourhood, Spiritual Gifts on June 24, 2011 | 2 Comments »
(Apologies that my posts have been a little irregular these last weeks. Leonie and I have visited a few churches, as well as ReCharge – The CRCA pastor’s conference, we have considered a few calls from churches, we’ve decided to accept a call to Gateway CRC, and this last week we’ve out our house on [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Not much to look at…
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Grace, Opposition, Pastors, Popularity, Preaching, Presence, Relationship, Spirituality, Struggle, Trials, tagged inferiority, powerlessness, Weakness on May 21, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Read: 2 Cor 4 I don’t like being weak, and I certainly don’t like being perceived as weak. So I engage in the stupidity of covering up. It is a clumsy attempt to project some other reality, one of relative strength and having it together. I think I shortchange God when I do this. Paul [...]
The Audacity of Grace
Posted in Christian faith, Church, Church systems, Devotional Readings, Grace, Mission, Pastors, Teachers, Teaching, Trials, tagged Grace, Hope, Leadership on May 19, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Read Ezekiel 34:11-16 I am struck by the contrast between the abusive shepherds of Israel and the Lord, who is the good shepherd. A context of the shepherd’s self interest and abuse we are drawn to the breathtaking faithfulness of the Sovereign Lord. He knows all, and decides to do all to change this ugly [...]
Fuel for the fight…
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Grace, Opposition, Presence, Relationship, Spirituality, Trials on May 16, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Read: Leviticus 26:1-13 The book of Leviticus is a challenge at the best of times. One writer says ‘The contents of the book, perhaps more than any other book of the Bible, see so removed from the daily life of the contemporary Christian that one is tempted to avoid the effort.’ Even so, maybe today’s [...]
It’s tough, but…
Posted in Christian faith, Church, Devotional Readings, Grace, Opposition, Spirituality, Struggle, Trials, tagged Discontent, Opposition, struggle on May 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read: Acts 18:5-11 Paul encounters great opposition as he preaches the Gospel in Corinth (18:5-6). In the context of this abuse, the Lord spoke to Paul and said “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because [...]
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
Vistor Locations:
Categories
- Aged Care
- Alzhiemers
- Brisbane
- Christian faith
- Christian Living
- Church
- Church systems
- Comfort
- Culture
- Dementia
- Devotional Readings
- Discipleship
- Driving
- Election
- Environment
- Family
- Flood
- Funeral
- Grace
- Great reading
- Healthy Churches
- Incarnation
- Influence
- Jesus
- Kerouac
- Koala
- Men
- Men's Issues
- Metanarrative
- Mission
- Newell Highway
- Opposition
- Pastors
- Perth
- Popularity
- Preaching
- Presence
- Reformed Theology
- Refuge
- Relationship
- Road
- Road Trip
- Small Groups
- Spirituality
- Story
- Struggle
- Teachers
- Teaching
- Transformation
- Trials
- Unwanted Advertising on WordPress
- Worldview
- worship
-
Top Posts
-
Recent Posts
-
Recent Comments
- cleaners in brisbane on The Mudzone: After the flood in Brisbane’s West End
- Kerri Schefe on Following and Sacrifice
- Jack De Vries on Following and Sacrifice
- Leonie on Following and Sacrifice
- Kerri Schefe on Follow Me!
