Help Yourself

Recently, I saw a television ad for a restaurant chain that made a dramatic claim. At those restaurants, the ad said you could “Help Yourself to Happiness.” Wouldn’t it be nice if a helping of potatoes or meat or pasta or dessert would be all that was needed to provide happiness? Unfortunately, no restaurant can fulfill that promise.

Why Rape?

By Tracy Phua, Singapore On December 20, 2012, I read the news of a brutal and disgusting gang rape of a 23-year-old lady that took place in New Delhi, India. According to the news, the lady boarded a bus with a male friend at night after catching a movie and 6 men onboard the moving [...]

Why Rape?

By Tracy Phua, Singapore On December 20, 2012, I read the news of a brutal and disgusting gang rape of a 23-year-old lady that took place in New Delhi, India. According to the news, the lady boarded a bus with a male friend at night after catching a movie and 6 men onboard the moving [...]

Enjoy a musical theme to the Lord’s Prayer that brings Jesus’ words to life

Jesus’ instruction on prayer in Matthew chapter six has become an integral part of Christian teaching. But when the words become routine, their meaning can be lost.

No More Than That

By Megan Low In a classically professional method of preparing him for the journey ahead, Bilbo Baggins is presented with a contract listing the responsibilities required of him by the traveling party. Nothing short of heroism is desired from him. But along the journey, Thorin Oakenshield the exiled dwarf king is convinced that their greatest [...]

No More Than That

By Megan Low, Singapore In a classically professional method of preparing him for the journey ahead, Bilbo Baggins is presented with a contract listing the responsibilities required of him by the traveling party. Nothing short of heroism is desired from him. But along the journey, Thorin Oakenshield the exiled dwarf king is convinced that their [...]

Inheritance

By Megan Low Not too long ago I was helping my friend move her belongings and those of someone else’s—with their permission, of course. Some things were for another person to receive, but because she used the word “inheritance”, it made me think about the kind of inheritance awaiting us upon our arrival into heaven. [...]

Inheritance

By Megan Low Not too long ago I was helping my friend move her belongings and those of someone else’s—with their permission, of course. Some things were for another person to receive, but because she used the word “inheritance”, it made me think about the kind of inheritance awaiting us upon our arrival into heaven. [...]

A message on the grace and forgiveness of God, and finding a fresh start in 2013

Monday, December 31, 2012

The Land of Beginning Again

IDEA: It’s possible in the coming year to start over again.

PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that they are not trapped in their past.

Bless The Boundaries

In all the years I’ve worked with people, I’ve yet to meet someone whose life was all messed up because he or she kept God’s commands. Yet, in a day when personal freedom is celebrated as an inalienable right, talk of conforming our lifestyle to God’s ways is often viewed as an infringement. And anyone who speaks out in favor of God’s boundaries is ruled out of bounds. But in this frenzy to be free, it should not go unnoticed that our society is increasingly marked with a haunting sense of meaninglessness and despair.

Part of the Gift

by David C. Egner A young girl in Africa gave her teacher a Christmas gift. It was a beautiful seashell. “Where did you get this?” she asked. The child told her that such shells are found only on a certain faraway beach. The teacher was deeply touched, because she knew that the girl had walked [...]

Part of the Gift

by David C. Egner A young girl in Africa gave her teacher a Christmas gift. It was a beautiful seashell. “Where did you get this?” she asked. The child told her that such shells are found only on a certain faraway beach. The teacher was deeply touched, because she knew that the girl had walked [...]

Discover why we celebrate Christmas on December 25th

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness” (Luke 3:1-2).

IDEA: Dating Jesus’ birth depends on external historical information.

PURPOSE: To help listeners see the importance of external historical details in the Bible.

Last Tree on the Lot

by Haddon W. Robinson Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be the last tree on the lot on Christmas Eve? People have passed you by because you were the wrong size or had gnarled branches or a poor shape or your needles were falling. Perhaps you feel like a rejected Christmas [...]

Last Tree on the Lot

by Haddon W. Robinson Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be the last tree on the lot on Christmas Eve? People have passed you by because you were the wrong size or had gnarled branches or a poor shape or your needles were falling. Perhaps you feel like a rejected Christmas [...]