As I get older, I am starting to see a pattern emerging in my life. My attention is getting more focused—that’s a good thing. I don’t like my schedule to be disrupted too much—not so good. I am getting increasingly set in my ways—not good at all. It has become very clear to me in […]
Read MoreCategory Archives: Parenting
Reach for a Towel
The image of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples before the final Passover meal is powerful and poignant. In recent weeks, leading up to Easter, John 13 has in all likelihood been the basis for many a sermon on humility of service in the church, in mission outreach and in the wider fields of […]
Read MoreMy Life Is Not THE Story
Everybody views the world from a particular perspective. I have a friend who thinks of his life in terms of the clock. He sees every opportunity and every task in terms of how much time each will require of him. I know another who sees her life as a big symphony, with sweeping movements and […]
Read MoreMother’s Day
If there’s one attitude families are guilty of more than any other when it comes to mothers, it’s presumption . . . taking them for granted . . . being nearly blind on occasion to the load moms carry. This was reinforced in my mind last week as I was thumbing through a row of […]
Read MoreMiles That Matter
John Steinbeck’s delightful little volume Travels with Charley fascinates me each time I read it. It tells how the author and his dog took to the highways, traveling hundreds of miles, encountering all sorts of interesting people and intriguing situations. William Least Heat Moon, of American Indian stock, wrote a similar work many years later […]
Read MoreMay Your Children Rise Up and Call You Blessed!
Jesus loves children. And He wants to make sure that they are not hindered in coming to Him (Matthew 19:14). In other words, the way to Christ should be cleared for children. As an organisation that seeks to honour Christ, Insight for Living Ministries sees that importance of clearing the way to Christ for children […]
Read MoreInquiring Minds Want to Know
Some churches set aside a little time for children in their services. I have always found it to be a fine opportunity to set out clear, simple ideas about God. Over the years I have had to field some great off-the-cuff questions from curious little children. Jack wanted to know why God doesn’t just turn […]
Read MoreNever Underestimate a Mother’s Love
There’s a story at the beginning of the book of Exodus that speaks powerfully of a mother’s love… Moses was born into a time when the evil Pharoah had declared that every baby boy must be murdered. Imagine the angst and heartfelt turmoil that his mother, Jochebed, went through. What was she to do? Against […]
Read MoreMother’s Indelible Impression
Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you. Proverbs 23:25 There is no more influential or powerful role on earth than a mother?s. Significant as political, military, education, or religious public figures may be, none can compare to the impact made by mothers. Their words are […]
Read MoreMemories
My desk was top-heavy with research works on Paul the apostle and his century-one letter to the Philippians. Well-worn volumes, lexicon, dictionary, concordance, Greek New Testament, maps, charts, several versions of the Scriptures, pen, pencils, a couple of stacks of paper needed to be put away. I had just completed a manuscript and my heart […]
Read More