My 6,000-piece school of life
One of our early YWAM mentors, Alan Williams, frequently reminded us that if your output exceeds your input, your upkeep will be your downfall. So, taking this advice to heart, I decided to build a puzzle- one of my holiday hobbies. But not just any old puzzle – a whopping 6,000-piece, patience tester, perseverance builder, and virtue expander puzzle. As I completed But I achieved much more than just fitting pieces together. I feel like I fitted pieces of my life together as well. Every time I build a puzzle, I realize how many life-lessons are to be learned from patiently putting piece after piece together. Sometimes I feel I can learn more from life by building a puzzle than by attending a Bible school – just from a practical point of view. Here are some of the lessons I re-learned:
Holy Bewilderment
For the first time in centuries, Christianity is now a minority in England and Wales. How do we respond to those who feel faith has no place in society?
Qatar Soccer World Cup and Christian ENTHUSIASM
Football enthusiasts ultimately decided that the World Cup will be a success, regardless of moral, political or ethical objections. And this is where we as Christians can learn a lesson.
THE 3 FORGOTTEN FRONTIERS of modern missions
Christ describes a season of unimaginable turmoil and persecution BUT promises that the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world. This should strengthen our resolve to daily put our hand to the evangelistic plough. The three forgotten frontiers of modern missions are as follows…..
SWEETNESS – The flavour of salt
Ironically, you have to be seasoned with salt to be sweet. Here are a dozen trademarks of a sweet person
THE SPIRITUAL VIRTUE OF BEAUTY
Beauty, the most evident and attractive virtue of all, is about becoming. Adding outward adornments can make you beautiful but only by adding inner virtues can you become beautiful.
SWITZERLAND: THE FRUIT OF FREEDOM SOWN WITH THE SEED OF MARTYRDOM
Switzerland bears witness that Christians are not buried but planted, and that the fruit of freedom is often found on the tree of persecution. The martyrdom of St Maurice and his followers becomes a key event in searching for answers to questions which is yet unanswered in modern-day closed countries.
The imperfection of a perfect Christ
His perfect redemption is revealed through His imperfect body. Our perfect joy is received through His imperfect resurrection
UKRAINE – In the shadow of Easter.
In 2022, with a devastating war raging in Ukraine, Easter will be a time to not only call to remembrance the sacrificial redemption of a crucified Christ, but also a time to reflect on what we as Christians define to be the cornerstone of our faith. The pain and hardship endured by the people of Ukraine will remain senseless and meaningless unless we can view it from the shadow of the cross.
THE CHRISTMAS LESSON FOR A COVID VACCINE
Think about the Christmas story. Jesus was born into a community and into a generation. This is the context of all of Scripture. And, believe it or not, this provides two wonderful lessons in how we approach the COVID vaccine