Losing is a good reason to believe you’re a loser. Losing as a habit can set up a condition that expects it every time out. This is not always the case. There are opportunities for patterns of losing to be the prelude to victory. That requires a determination to approach the next game better equipped […]
Read More Defeat as a Prelude to VictoryPeter in his second letter to believers encouraged them to build on eight qualities to ensure they remained fruitful and productive in their knowledge of Jesus Christ. Faith, goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love. I was dwelling on those lately and was arrested by perseverance. That capacity to endure, to keep […]
Read More Keep On Keeping OnIt’s a five-a-side game, but we only had four players. The opposition were fresh, well prepared and fit, where we had just finished one fame, were exhausted and almost out on our feet. Yet there was something in our players that refused to completely buckle. They overran us and made the most of the one […]
Read More Keep Going To The EndToday is my wife’s birthday. It’s fitting that this should take place right at the end of a look at the book of Ruth, because just as the biblical episode highlights character, so celebrating the birthday of my wife gives an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable character. Authrine has been able to develop a […]
Read More The Character of the WomanThe women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord , who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has […]
Read More Reading Ruth 04 – Blessing for LegacyMay the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord , the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. (Ruth 2:12 NIV) Something that quickly becomes apparent about the book of Ruth is that it is a story of character and of […]
Read More Reading Ruth 02 – Blessing of BoazTalking verbally is something that I do fairly well, but I prefer writing. By writing I mean typing either on a laptop or on a mobile device like a tablet or phone. I believe people are more used to me for the verbal, but often my best manner of expression is through the written word. […]
Read More Writing and 1 KingsWhen all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice. (1 Kings 3:28 NIV) 1 Kings 3 is a fairly familiar chapter because of the two episodes that dominate it. The first is Solomon’s divine encounter in […]
Read More The Kings 03 – A Man’s Most Important ResourceHe must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:9 NIV) Paul’s letter to Titus has been referred to as a pastoral letter. What’s interesting in the opening chapter of this letter is how straight […]
Read More Titus Talk 01 – Titus the TroubleshooterSo the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord . “Far be it from me, Lord , to do this!” he said. “Is it […]
Read More Sam’s 2nd Epic 23 – David’s Crew
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