Jesus has just fed a crowd of more than 5000 people using one child's lunch so how does He follow that up? By slowing things down and spending time with His Father, feeding His soul and replenishing His batteries... after which He is right back at it as He catches up with His crew by taking a stroll on the lake to meet them... Come and take a listen as we read Mark 6 verse [...]
When trying to feed a big gathering of people, it is normally essential that you plan way in advance and consider things like seating, table settings, courses of food, what time the function will start, who has been invited and the like... Jesus decides to skip all that by throwing an impromptu crowd feeding... did i mention that He attempts this without food? [Don't worry, He passes the buck to His disciples - "You feed [...]
Rule number 1 when trying to keep your head attached to your body - don't piss off the king. More importantly, do not piss him off directly to his face by telling him exactly how you think he is publically sinning. If you do happen to inadvertently do that, be sure to be interesting enough when talking about God and life and the kingdom that he will keep you around out of curiosity and actually [...]
this is a really short psalm and i don't have a lot to say about it... seems like another bad day in the office for David, starting with: 'The fool says in his heart, "There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.' [verse 1] i mean, come on now David, that seems a little overly dramatic... and are you including yourself in that or [...]
i feel like the previous few Easters have kind of passed me by with not too much impact - being the easily recognised dreadlock wearing Easter Bunny at the Simple Way is all i can remember and i'm not sure where i was the year before but in the middle of preparation to leave for the Simple Way and so life was a fair bit chaotic... the last Easter that comes to mind was when [...]
i think the first very interesting thing to note with this psalm is the intro: 'For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”' if you read the first seven verses you see David's response to basically 'being told on' and he is not amused. should we learn from that example of David and go to ourselves, 'ah cool, [...]
"Just part one ocean in front of me, once, God, and i will never doubt you again!" that's how i think sometimes. but a huge part of me knows it unlikely to be true. it wasn't enuff for the Israelites [a day later they were whining about water so God made it appear out of a rock, then it was food and God made bread appear six days a week, then it was about the [...]
one of the first things i want to do once i am settled in Americaland is buy a copy of this song 'You won't relent' by Jesus Culture - i find the lyrics and the singing of it so powerfully haunting and it just resonates s completely with my soul in terms of catching a glimpse of how God sees me. i am reminded of this passage from 2 Corinthians 2.14-15 which says, 'For Christ's [...]
So last night there was a game of football/soccer between Manchester United [soccer is one of my least supported sports but if i have ever supported a team it has been Manchester United... and then locally Kaizer Chiefs back in the day when Dr Khumalo played and i always back Bafana!] and Real Madrid in the Champion's League. Real Madrid won 2-1 but of course there was "that red card incident" with Nani getting sent [...]
there is a great principle of ministry that you can see glimpses of in the life of Jesus: Teacher does, pupils watch. Teacher does, pupils are involved and do it with Him. Pupils do and teacher watches. Pupils do by themselves and report back to teacher. Then later the pupils find their own pupils and the whole scenario begins again. In this passage in Mark 6.6-13 we see Jesus sending the disciples out to try [...]