Advent In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 In the authentic spirit of Christmas, it would be highly remiss of me not to remind you…
Why are we so fixated on simply being pretty? Why is having other strengths and being endowed with fine character not as esteemed these days? Yet, we are obsessed, as the surge in the number of beauty-related surgeries indicates. I dig into what might be driving this obsession – mentioning an interesting plastic surgery hub and hotspot. The perils of plastic surgery and those who have succumbed. The complications that could arise. I also mention biblical heroes and heroines of old and the role beauty played in their lives.
It is hard to forgive from the heart, today we unpack: First, forgiving yourself, secondly and oddly, we sometimes are so mad at God, we find ourselves at odds with Him and
lastly, there is forgiving others who have trampled our trust or broken our hearts. And then we need forgiveness from others – all very challenging, isn’t it?
In the context of being a Christian, I share lessons learnt about the nuances of forgiveness and specifically the misconceptions that bedevil the process of forgiveness and could hinder it taking place altogether. Perhaps, in some small way, it can be of use to you.
King Charles III was officially and regally crowned king in all his glory and power this past Saturday. In the light of all things balance, I will tread a fine line between the loyal royalists on the one hand versus the detractors and anti-monarchists on the other to give you my middling take on this. Who cares and why you may ask? Well, I found myself pondering on the life and reign of another great king …
Yes, we can regulate external behaviour, but what about the heart – what goes on inside man’s mind and soul. Powerful deterrents help society to function effectively, but what does one do with the proclivity to find refuge in the dark instead of the light?
There are times when you need to make a choice and stick to it – no grabbing elements in equal proportions. No, it is a black-or-white choice; it is one or the other, not a little of both. It is not cutting back a little here or doing more there. It is not tweaking a mind-set, rather it is a wholesale rejection of an idea, ideology, or whatever you have in mind. You are either in or out, not in and out.
Have you ever had the misfortune of running into someone who was not at all what they seemed to be at first? Initially, they came across as virtuous but it soon dawned on you that the individual displayed serpentine traits, often while others were unable to see through the façade. What does one do if such a situation arises? What has it to do with balance, boundaries and discernment and why is deceitfulness so dangerous? Well, Danielle’s predicament can provide some insight.
Crossroads, forks in the road, stop signs, glaring lights; whatever it may be, it sure has a way of telling us to alter our course. Something that seemed so simple has been thrown off-centre and one finds oneself still trying to pick up the pieces. In just such a way, calamity knocked on Chloe’s door one day… And she needs a miracle, redemption and resurrection of sorts. What does the Bible say about resurrection and redemption? How does a miracle involving Jesus, Lazarus, Mary and Martha shed light on this?
In her effort to gain instant gratification, Maxie ended up paying a hefty price for it and we benefit from her pain by paying attention to her story. It mirrors someone else’s as graphically depicted in only three chapters of the Bible, yet this biblical story has reverberated through the ages and affected each of our lives, whether we like it or not. Who is she?