of festivities and relations

By beatrice ofwona

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy is when men are afraid of the light. PLATO

The Christmas text messages, whose originality and exaggeration would put any writer to shame, have replaced the melodious cards that we grew up with. They must however be sometimes received late due to the clogged up airwaves occasioned by the enthusiasm of the peculiar Kenyan consumer (more…)

strategic placement

strategic placement
By beatrice ofwona

Measure not the work until the days out and the labor done.

Elizabeth Barret Browning

The beautiful greenery that had started to dot the roundabout was felled down. Alarmed, I inquired about the unpleasant development and was informed that it was all part of the exercise of paving way for the new road. A few days later, in the morning rush of work schedules, I noted the presence of a beggar who was obviously not taking any chances and who had strategically placed himself at the centre of the crossing footpaths. I smiled as I thought of how positioning sometimes really meant the difference between making it or not. (more…)

A Little Jolt to Start the Morning

By Jeffrey Snell

The Holy Spirit zapped me this morning with the idea that perhaps much of my daily stress is rooted in times I don’t live, make decisions, or plan ahead to please God. Instead, many of my choices are made to please others, or myself. (more…)

NT Writers’ expectation

By Dan Smith

Expectation of the NT writers

and how it must control our hermeneutic

Students of scripture are often reminded that just as successful real estate dealings depend on location, location, location, a successful heremeneutic depends on context, context, context. Here is just one of many descriptions of what this means (emphesis mine DS): (more…)

Authentically Experienceing God

Authentically Experienceing God
By Peter Craft

Your spirit soars with the music and you hear your voice, rich with commitment, join the rest in Godly song. You just know that His Spirit has bought life into His church. The communion with God is palpable. He has touched you and everyone else. Yet, just a few rows back is another Christian who thinks that you really don’t know God, haven’t been touched by Him, because you are too reserved and don’t seem spirit filled enough! So have you had an authentic experience of God or not? (more…)

The Best Part of Waking Up is Jesus in Your Cup

By Tara Roper

So, I awoke this morning ready for some time with God. On the way down the stairs, I could smell the coffee brewing, Praise God for coffee timers!

As I sat, praying and working through a day in my bible study,I was just really enjoying myself. I reflected on how a friend of mine had mentioned her love of pairing her study time with coffee. We discussed how we almost felt guilty that we sometimes went for the coffee before the Word. But, I’ve re-thought it, and well, I think there is a happy medium. (more…)

When The Levees Break

By Debra Burgess

Been thinking about levees today and the devastation which can be created by the failure of such protective structures. Years back I flew over Missouri after a series of storms caused a flooding of the Mississippi river. From an aerial perspective this looked to be quite the mess, with water flowing in places man didn’t plan. Major news stories for months. (more…)

The Found Should Seek the Lost

By Fenny West

The found should seek the Lost
Reach out to them in love
God wants them to be just
Born again from above. (more…)

Noted Lutheran minister, poet, lyricist Herb Brokering passed away, an Obituary

By Peter Menkin

The Reverend Doctor Herbert F. Brokering, pastor, author, lyricist, speaker and hymn writer of the grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died Nov. 7 of congestive heart failure at his apartment in Bloomington, Minn., according to his son, Mark.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America news service says in its report, “Brokering, 83, was a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Bloomington. “Herb Brokering’s legacy includes carefully crafted words on the lips of believers gathered around the means of grace. He has helped us bring our faith to rich expression,” said the Rev. Michael L. Burk, bishop, ELCA Southeastern Iowa Synod, Iowa City. (more…)

The Hardest People to Love

By Jim Barringer

Do you love your neighbor?

When Jesus was asked about the most important commandment in the whole Bible, he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.” The first part, if I may be a bit glib, is easy. All you have to do is think for a while about how badly you messed up your life, and how miraculously God saved you, and you really can’t help but love him. You can love him by yourself in the desert, like the ancient saints used to. Loving people while living in a world surrounded by them, on the other hand, is much harder. (more…)

Earthly Legacy Lunacy

By Donald Mehl

We frequently hear of people who are planning an earthly legacy of their good works as a name remembrance for others. Some legacies might be in the form of accomplishments, contributions, recognitions, or generosities all proudly and visibly displayed so that others might admire them. Other legacies simply are a tribute to the person’s character, their compassion for others, their spirituality, or their selfless sacrifices for the benefit of others. (more…)

Children of God

By Fergus Davar

Hi people, today (15/11/09) we celebrated Children’s Day in our Church. Well Children’s Day in India is observed on 14th November but we celebrated it on the closest Sunday, since the whole Church gets together then. Most of you will know this but incase you don’t then the reason why Children’s day is celebrated on 14th November is because, our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was very fond of children & since his birthday fell on 14th November, we celebrate his birthday as Children’s Day in India. (more…)

Jesus the Good Teacher (Luke 18)

By Fergus Davar

Hi people I am writing again. I am always hungry to write on an article of my own & I did have one this time, I was going to write on Isaiah 64 because when I read it I felt as though I was spiritually in a cup & stirred with a spoon. I mean it was amazing. However I have an odd feeling to write on the Word I heard again in Church. The reason I feel more strongly to write on this is because there are people who site this piece of scripture so as to show that Jesus is not God. This situation seems to me as very dangerous, which can pollute a mind that knows little. (more…)

And they came to Elim.

By Jasti Victor

The Sun was at its scorching peak, beating relentlessly on the soft shimmering desert sand. Centuries of Sun and wind worked persistently turning the once fertile land to endlessly shifting stretching sand, forever changing landscapes.

Not a single insect or a creeping creature dared to risk come out of the shadows to peep out on the burning sand.

Silence so deafening that a cracking rock somewhere deep in the desert due to the intense heat, sends an echo through the length and breath, to and fro till it dies suddenly as it had started.

It’s only the soft crawling sound through the boulders on the treacherous terrain, scampering the snug scorpions and the snakes around, as a sturdy young man tries to seek water and rest, which broke the silence. The young man was crawling, as his feet were blistered and bleeding, the sandals having worn out long time back. (more…)

Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare
By Nellie Shani

I still remember the look of guilt on the face of a young girl who had come to my office for counseling when she asked me ?What is Satanism? Who is Satan? I mean?who created him?? I looked at her for a while, trying to figure out what she really wanted to know. I needed to know whether this was an ?I?m trying to trap you to see whether you know what I know? question of a fifteen year old, or whether she seriously wanted to know about Satanism. I prayed, asking God to give me wisdom. I was the school counselor and had given some talks on ?spiritual warfare? at the Wednesday night youth group meetings. (more…)