Aptiva

How often dear reader do you desire to be in a different place from that which you find yourself. The grass often does look greener on the other side. We can look at this viewpoint in many ways be it financially, emotionally, or spiritually. "If only", we have this that or the other, then of course we would be happy, fulfilled and content. The truth of course is a very different matter. While this can be painful in most parts of our life, when applied to our spiritual life it can play into the hands of the devil himself. If we are obedient to God, we must assume that where he has placed us is exactly where he wants us to be. We can look at other servants of God and perceive the difference they make to the kingdom, always wishing that we could be them and have their ministries. Yet this is not God's way, we need to learn contentment in the positions that God has called us to. If we truly believe that the kingdom is built not by man's hands but by God's, than ...

We live Dear Reader, with heroes who too often end up showing that their lives are corrupted. This sportsperson ends up drunk, this singer dies from a drug overdose. All around people find those they look up too falling short. Yet belief in Christ requires tenacity, the willingness to hang on, not because we are too scared to let go, but because we have an unswerving faith in Christ alone. We know that he will never be overcome, or prove himself false, in him we show tenacity.

The Bible records the first murder when Cain took the life of his brother Abel. When God challenges Cain to the whereabouts of his brother, he replies " am I my brother's keeper?". Cain in this one statement denies two things, firstly he is denying accountability of his action of murder. Added to this he is denying responsibility for the care of his brother that he should have shown. While many do not commit the sin of murder, most of us have denied something we should have been held accountable for. In fact it becomes clear that God calls us to be held accountable for the actions of our fellows. Christianity is about community in action, and we are accountable for our care and concern of those around us. "Am I my brother's keeper?", the answer is "yes I am". Yet this is a two-way street, not only must I be accountable for the actions of others, but I must be willing to be held accountable by others for my own actions. This is often the biggest pro...

There are Dear Reader, many things which make useful servants, but poor masters. Something, which has purpose and is used for this purpose only can be a useful tool, but when projected beyond itself can lead us to the trap of idolatry. A house is essential for living, yet when it becomes the purpose for existence, as happens in many western countries, it becomes the symbol of success and a way of boasting of status. Then it has crossed from useful tool, to all consuming entity. We worship at it's doorway in our continual improvements, our making perfection of it's gardens, our continuing maintenance of perfectly adequate structures. It stops just being a refuge, and becomes a fortress. Our ability to feel control of our property becomes dominating in our life, until subtly, we fail to realize, what we perceive as control has become obsession. The side effect is our removal of God. Man has finite time, and anything done without it's dedication to God, removes God. A man m...

We have , Dear Reader, become used to living in a service society. Sadly this means people serve us. We only serve them when we are also paid to do so. This was never the model that Jesus showed. He came as the servant King, freely giving, without demanding in return. Yet posing a question, which instigated response. Those who truly understand his gift of service via sacrifice, change their ways of living. The ties of sins which were upon their life are loosed and gone, and the lifestyles associated with these sins are shunned in favour of God's plans. Yet still the consumerism enters church life, people attend large church's to see what they can have for their family, instead of asking, how can they serve God in the community in where they live. We need as believers to stop being consumers and to start being free service providers, to start in fact being servants, like Jesus. Which are you in your faith?

The man who will not believe in hell must surrender his right to believe in heaven! Many people cannot understand why such a loving God would allow people to go to hell.Why they ask does the father allow his children to burn on the eternal fire, yet the the answer to this conundrum is that those who choose the option of hell have declared themselves not children of God at all. The word of God tells us that hell was created for Satan and his followers, thus any human who chooses to reject God, by default accepts the devil. Therefore the person who throws them on to the fires of hell is actually their father Satan, a being so described in the Bible who would gleefully take his children into pain and destruction along with him. To avoid the obvious conclusion, many deny that hell even exists. Yet the word of God is very clear, if one would acknowledge Heaven is a place which one can reside, by comparison the opposite must also be true. Heaven without Hell, would be a heaven devoid of just...

We do Injustice to the gospel when we claim that we understand perfectly the living God. To many so-called Bible teachers often claim infallibility when interpreted the Word of God. The Bible reveals to us in some small measure the truth about an eternal and ever living God.It cannot contain all there is to know about God, it can tell and explain to you, but truthfully only when we meet God himself can it be understood. Many at this point would think I am meaning about death, however I do not. The Bible explains to us that upon admission of our own guilt and acceptance of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross, the promised holy spirit will come to dwell within us physically. It is his presence which allows us to grasp the truth of who God really is, it is he who brings us into deep relationship with the Father and the Son. It is he also who teaches us with humility, that what is introduced in the Bible is merely the surface.it is also he who explains to us that many things revealed...