Brave Movie Review
By Joanna Hor, Singapore If you consider yourself an avid Pixar follower, you should know that Pixar has never produced a fairy tale, up till now. Brave, the simply titled animation film, marks Pixar’s first foray into the fantastical world of medieval Scotland, complete with picturesque landscape and Scottish accented royalty and clans. But beyond [...]
Jesus Is Near
Samuel, who was 4, had finished eating his dinner and asked if he could be dismissed from the table. He wanted to go outside to play. But he was too young to be out alone, so his mother said, “No. You can’t go outside by yourself. You need to wait for me to finish and go with you.” His quick reply: “But, Mommy, Jesus is with me!”
Personal anecdotes of how God brings us through difficult situations
Tuesday, October 9, 2012, Part 2
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10).
IDEA: People pray that God’s will be done who have never thought about God’s will before.
PURPOSE: To help listeners sense the hypocrisy in requesting that God’s will be done.
Still In God’s Hands
During my first year of seminary, I listened as a new friend described her life. Abandoned by her husband, she was raising two small children alone. Earning just over minimum wage, she had little chance of escaping the poverty and dangers she described in her neighborhood.
Divine Encounters: Mapping Your Spiritual Life
Welcome to Divine Encounters: Mapping Your Spiritual Life, a course designed to prepare you spiritually and emotionally as you begin your biblical and theological studies. You have a desire to know more about the Bible and to develop your relationship with God. Sometimes forward movement can occur most effectively after a backward look.
The problems of reciting the Lord’s Prayer without understanding its significance
Monday, October 8, 2012, Part 1
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10).
IDEA: People pray that God’s will be done who have never thought about God’s will before.
PURPOSE: To help listeners sense the hypocrisy in requesting that God’s will be done.
What does it mean to be “yoked”?
By Beth, Singapore Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and [...]
Much Ado About Stigma
By Tracy Phua, 23, Singapore I stared in disbelief at my re-test script. I had failed both my Chemistry and Physics examinations. Again. Science was never my forte. At 15, I struggled through an entire year of Pure Sciences before 5 schoolmates and I were put in the Combined Science class (a simpler science subject [...]
Helping With Hurdles
When my daughter Debbie was a little girl, she took ballet lessons. One dance exercise involved jumping over a rolled-up gym mat. Debbie’s first attempt resulted in her bouncing off this hurdle. For a moment she sat on the floor stunned, and then she began to cry. Immediately, I darted out to help her up and spoke soothing words to her. Then, holding her hand, I ran with her until she successfully jumped over the rolled-up mat. Debbie needed my encouragement to clear that hurdle.
Still Bearing Fruit
Sometimes the harvest comes late. Sometimes you sow seeds of hope without really knowing it. Sometimes the fruit of your life comes in a way and time you would never expect.
My daughter Melissa had accepted God’s gift of salvation at a young age. But she never saw herself as some great Christian who could change lives. She was just a high school junior trying to cope with a job, school, and sports while balancing friendships—just a kid trying to live as God would want her to.
Drop Your Hands
You’d think I would have my mother’s fingerprints embedded in my knee from all the times she squeezed my leg in church and whispered in no uncertain terms, “Be still.” Like any boy, I had a bad case of the wiggles in places like church. So for years, when I read, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10), I thought of it in terms of not being antsy.
What is God’s purpose for prayer?
Friday, October 5, 2012, Part 4
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10).
IDEA: We pray that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven because God’s will is not being done on earth now.
PURPOSE: To help listeners pray the Lord’s Prayer with understanding.
Least Powerful People
An unusual list called The 100 Least Powerful People in the World appeared in the online publication 24/7 Wall St. Among those selected were corporate executives, sports figures, politicians, and celebrities who shared one common characteristic—they used to be powerful. Some were victims of circumstances, others made poor business decisions, while others lost their influence because of moral failure.
Friends?
By Edna Ho, Malaysia Lately I’ve been pondering about friendship. I’ve read tons of articles by various authors on the Internet. Through those articles, I’ve learned that some friends were meant to stay, and others were meant to go. It is rare to find a true friend who accepts you as you are, a friend [...]
Do you need some hope to cling to in the midst of a trial?
Thursday, October 4, 2012, Part 3
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10).
IDEA: We pray that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven because God’s will is not being done on earth now.
PURPOSE: To help listeners pray the Lord’s Prayer with understanding.
