A Series of Fortunate Events
She has made a magic so that it is always winter in Narnia—always winter, but it never gets to Christmas. – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis Do you ever wonder what the world would be like if you had never been born? What would your family have been like? Your neighborhood and office, your spouse and friends? From 1939 to 1943, Philip Van Doren Stern worked diligently on a short story, The Greatest Gift, loosely based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas
This Thanksgiving—Give Thanks!
We want the holidays to be happy and merry, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, the Cleveland Clinic cited some of the below as factors that tend to make the holidays not very glad: • Connecting the holidays with family problems or painful memories • Expecting that you should feel happy • Dealing with the loss of a loved one, or spending the holidays away from friends and family • Developing unrealistic expectations, or thinking about negatives that have occurred during the
Despair: Bleached Bones in the Desert
O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long? 4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? 6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my
Bad Religion Leads to Bad Times
Toxic religion (or bad theology) leads to bad times! We need to get our theology back on track. In ministry, besides all the wonderful positive loving persons I've been privileged to call friends, I also have encountered about every form of negative emotions and habits, unhappiness, and utter joyless people present in the church and the world. Since the culture has a way of thoroughly penetrating the life of the church, the two are often too similar to each other even
Never Forget: God Is Trustworthy and Sovereign
We were running late that September day, so my wife Shirin and daughter Sarah missed their regular train at the Babylon station of the Long Island Rail Road. Just as I saw them disappear into the crowd rushing to get into Manhattan that bright, sunny morning, my daughter Stephanie and I heard on the car radio that a small plane had crashed into one of the Twin Towers. I thought little about it, assuming some minimal damage had been done
14 / 14 – Thankfulness. Food. Friends. Fun. Joy.
Sunday @ SF ~Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.~ -Hebrews 10:25 As our facility is not available for worship today, join us in the park! AMICI 089 Invites you to 14 / 14! 14 August 2022 14 / 14 Join us at the Chinesischer Turm in the Englischer Garten! @14:00 hrs Thankfulness. Food. Friends. Fun. Joy. Join us on Sunday, 14 August, at 14:00 hrs (14 /14) at the Chinesischer Turm to get together and talk over food, or take a stroll
A Revolution of the Mind: Finding God’s Plan for Your Life
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. -Psalm 119:103–106 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual
Sin: Discontinued
Sin is outdated, unloving, and irrelevant. Sin is what puritanical preachers use to control their lemming congregations. We no longer “sin” because there are no moral absolutes. We have preferences and need to be tolerant of each other’s choices. But here’s the challenge—For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). If we need God’s help and rescue from impossible situations, we must face our chief problem—sin. Sin is anything against God’s commands. Isn’t it interesting that God’s
Balaam—Good Guy or Bad Guy?
By Alastair Hayward, The Munich Bible Study, Co-Leader From a canter through the Book of Ecclesiastes to Elijah’s great showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, we now look at the enigmatic character of Balaam. Was he a good guy or a bad guy? Why? Who is Balaam? Balaam is a non-Israelite prophet whom we meet in the book of Numbers, chapters 22-24. He is a diviner who is importuned by Balak, king of Moab, to place a curse on
How Do We Face Normal Life Decisions with Faith?
As we go through life, we need to be sure faith touches us where and when it’s most needed—in our grief, battles, and disappointments. If it’s not proved steadfast there, it’s of no value to us. Faith must apply in any circumstances, both big and small. Not just when we’re facing gigantic mountains but also the tiny mounds—the very mundane, disturbing, and frustrating irritations or needs. You know, those things that seem inconsequential or frivolous to others but are seemingly insurmountable
