The Passionate Believer

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” [Hebrews 12:1, ESV]  Every country esteems people who have exhibited various feats of courage and exceptional behavior as well as people who have taken selfless risks to help or save others.  They call them heroes and many like Nelson Mandela became like world heroes. Some are national and political heroes and others are sports heroes and obviously everyone knows that there are many unsung heroes like fathers and mothers who have shaped the lives of many people. Hebrews 11 however introduces us to some people who we generally call the heroes of faith where we see the likes of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all the way to Moses, David, Samuel, and the prophets among others [Hebrews 11:32].  That list also includes women like Sarah who I suppose was a housewife [He

This devotional is quite unique in it's make-up. Trevor Hudson uses the Serenity Prayer as the backdrop for this particular devotional. Quite amazingly, to be honest, I knew only the first four lines of this prayer as it brings back many memories(It was stuck on my bedroom wall and iI would say this prayer before my matric exams). Shockingly, most people either only heard of the prayer or only knew the first four lines. ( I did check by undertaking a small survey in my neighbourhood). In that light I'm grateful for Trevor Hudson along with SCM(The publisher), for putting this devotional out there.  The author uses this prayer along with scripture and in reading you find he speaks from much experience. By using this prayer he tackles issues that most people face almost everyday. He talks about physical issues concerning health as well as mental issues which could lead to depression. He talks about finances and relationships too which are all important. Th

“… And why did He make them one? He was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and don't be unfaithful to the wife of your youth” [Malachi 2:15] There are some things and verses that seem clear when we read about them in the Old Testament but when we dive deeper and wider, we find that the Bible progressively reveals the true meaning in other books. We however see the true meaning of all things ultimately in Christ. Most of us grew up thinking that God’s will in procreation was simply for the earth to be full of people; for them to be fruitful and multiply [Genesis 1:28] and when all is done then well and good; God’s purpose is fulfilled and we give ourselves a pat on the back because we think we have done a great job. But procreation is not all and it is far from God’s purposes on its own. The Lord was not looking for the world to be full of wicked people; remember He destroyed the world at one point because He saw “… that human evil was growing

This book by Dr. Derek Grier is quite simple and yet sophisticated in nature. The book is divided into eight chapters, of which he takes eight New Testament people from Scripture and shows how Jesus dealt with them. At the end there is a summary of each chapter explained in a few points. Thereafter a few questions follow that makes all that was read in the preceding chapter very personal to the reader. The author asks questions that hits to the  core of a person's inner being. His teaching is quite expository as he deals with texts from scripture line by line. He makes it easy for the ordinary reader to latch onto some important biblical truths that would have been otherwise difficult to understand. He has the ability to provoke the readers' thought patterns by making it personal. At the end of each chapter he mentions his own story of how God worked in his life and brought him to the place that he is in right now. I admire his blunt honesty as he shares exp

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother” [this is the first commandment with a promise], “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. [Ephesians 6:1-4] A newly born child does not quickly begin to walk or to run as many wildlife animals do but he takes time to learn many things and to develop the skills needed for successful living. Ephesians 6:1-4 show us the strong and long-term relationship which exists between children and their parents. These verses contain a commandment, warning, instruction and promise which I would like us to look at in a two or three part series starting with verse four today. Where many families in Southern Africa, and indeed many fathers are not directly involved in the training and instruction of their children, relegating that function to their wives or some

The book was amazing. It was a page turner for me. The book is divided into 16 chapters and makes for a brilliant read. A young man travels the world with only 50 bucks in his back pocket without a plan as to where he's heading except for wherever the wind takes him. Travelling across 45 countries within a 4 year period, full of adventure with lots of fun in the sun and a few laughs along the way (frowns included). Christopher Schacht gives a beautiful description of his travels and the experiences he's had that have shaped him. This book will be the perfect gift for a young person, from a teenager through to a young adult. The book is quite full of adventure and with all the dangers that come along for the ride as well. It seems almost surreal, as if reading from a fictional novel. The different kinds of people he's met and the diversity of cultures experienced has changed and shaped his character. The new relationships he has developed through his

"Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people w

This is a marvelous resource by Dave Willis not only for married couples or the single parent, but also for the single individual who is yet to be married. The book is divided into nine chapters and is quite easy to read and grabs the reader's attention easily as the author applies his humour in getting the point across. This book strikes at the heart personally because I myself am a husband and father of a handsome three year old. I appreciate this book not only because the author speaks from a christian perspective but that he is brutally honest about past personal experiences and struggles that has given him the courage to speak about 'authentic manhood.' He speaks about raising sons in our post modern culture and the way they should be taught in treating women of all ages with respect. He shares some very practical ways of communicating with boys and is blunt but yet respectful and approachable in the way he talks about sex, pornography and the obje

Knowledge has been increasing with each successive generation and we are now in the Information Age where we can have world libraries at the tip of our fingers while in the deep forests of Binga in Zimbabwe or the high-rise buildings of Dubai. This was an unfathomable feat just a few decades ago and people in each age think they are much wiser than the previous because of the exponential increase of information but what remains the same are the human challenges. With all the information filling the airwaves man still has the question, "Who am I". He is still looking for meaning and wants to know who he is. Now isn't that amazing that man is still trying to “find himself” with the myriad of information found anywhere and everywhere?  It is because there is a lostness and a void that mankind sees in itself and it is not like man does not know the solution, he does but he is unwilling to accept the true and trusted answer [Romans 1:21-23]. I remember the time whe