THANKSGIVING EPISODE
A good life is not necessarily one without upheavals, heartaches and disappointments. The way that each of us came into the BeInReach community at different junctures of our lives largely hinted at God’s Hand in the process. Once again, He meddled, He interfered and He made sure we were not left alone to figure out if He cared or not.
I AM BECAUSE HE IS
The ancient African word ‘ubuntu’ means I am because we are, suggesting that the community around us influences our humanity. This means that our capacity for compassion and kindness is largely influenced by the people around us.
REPENT + RETURN TO GOD
All humans hold some kind of beliefs. We believe that we will be alive tomorrow and so we plan ahead the things that we will do. We believe that our hearts are healthy enough to sustain us in a cycling marathon so we sign up. We believe that our jobs will be secure, so we take an extended vacation at ease. Of course, we are really talking about the level of confidence we have in something or someone. However, many people today struggle to believe in God.
LURKERS & TASERS
IT WAS AN EPIC DUEL that took place over forty days, away from the public eye. On the one side was Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit - lacking nothing in terms of His spiritual authority as the Son of God. On the other side was one who was uninvited and a master impersonator - the devil himself.
BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD
Toshikazu Kawaguchi wrote the book titled, ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’ to draw readers’ attention to the regrets and missed opportunities in their lives, and focus on the importance of living in the moment. The very notion of regret implies that we have the human agency to choose and decide what we want to do in our lives. Without agency, we can only respond to negative life outcomes with a sense of helpless resignation rather than regret over what we could have done.
VICTORIOUS LIVING – THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS
IN CONVERSATION, we often ask people about outcomes. When someone makes a career change, we enquire about the new job situation. When someone is charged in court, we are curious about the sentencing. After a medical procedure, we ask about the new prognosis. Following a divorce, we are curious about the settlement. We show far more interest in what comes out of any situation than we have concern about how someone is going through their personal ordeals.
C’EST LA VIE (THAT’S LIFE)
When we say ‘c’est la vie’, it means ‘such is life’. It often implies a fatalistic resignation and the feeling that one can do little to change life’s outcomes. We hope and pray that we will survive and emerge stronger on the other side of adversity. But if we are serious about doing life with God (and with each other), it will be anything but predictable.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO?
Wherever your starting point – whether you are busy raising a young family or are in a later life stage - seeking the fulfillment that comes from God alone begins with this question: do you know where you are going to?
CHRISTIAN OR CHAMELEON?
Nature reserves and parks are replete with insects and animals that use camouflage tactics such as mimicry and background matching to conceal their identity, presence and movement. Interestingly, Christians do the same thing in their communities.
THE POWER OF WORDS
Words matter - whether they come from us or someone else. They have the power to hurt or heal, woo or wound, build or break relationships, deepen connection or confusion, inspire or insult. Some people just shoot from the hips, while others move through life holding their emotions close to their chests. Our speech is the barometer of our hearts, and even the lack of words can reveal much more than we care to admit. Words can do a lot of damage, as well as uplift the downtrodden. They can express joy or jealousy.
BUILD TO STAND STRONG
For years, experts have warned us of more frequent natural disasters as a result of climate change. There would be more hurricanes, wildfires and floods in many parts of the world. Today, we are seeing these predictions realized. Recently, Greece experienced massive wildfire followed by torrential rains and devasting flooding.
WHAT KIND OF FRUIT AM I?
WHEN ASKED WHAT FRUIT BEST REFLECT our individual temperament and character, a variety of fruits will come to mind including durian, banana, grapes, cherries, coconut, jackfruit or pineapple. But it is not as easy to name a tree that represents us even though the goodness of a fruit depends on the type of tree it grows on.
FAITH TRIALED AND TESTED
When was the last time you heard someone share about a setback in life when God also revealed to them a perception or character flaw. Did it seem as though God was merciless to ‘rub it in’, or did you sense that the person had experienced God’s truth and grace in a powerful way?
EMBRACE OUR SPIRITUAL POSITION
God is big on gifting. In God’s economy, there are no return policies for the gifts that He gives us. When we acknowledge that what we have are gifts from God, and because we know Who God is, we know that we have to keep His gifts even when we don’t know how to open it, what to do with it, and even when we often find it hard to hold on to.
PRISON OF UNFORGIVENESS
We often think that self-care is about how well we guard ourselves against hurt, but it is really about how well we guard our hearts against unforgiveness. Because let’s face it, people hurt people. The world is full of dysfunctional people in families and organisations whose action or lack of action cause injury and injustice to others.
GOD CALLS HE PROMISES
This week, missionary couple Bounsoeuth and Syna Lao, joined us as our guest speakers from Cambodia.
PRAY & WATCH
As Christians, we try our best to avoid doing or saying the wrong thing to others, yet we do not see Jesus obsessing over the same thing in his relationships and interactions with people. The Lord appeared to be more concerned about doing what was important to God that was in alignment with the Word.
THREE STRIKES
Many of us automatically subscribe to societal ideas of how people should live, and how realities should play out in their lives according to their biology, personalities and choices. With very little prompting, we say people are too this or that for them to experience anything new.
GOD IN OUR FAMILY
How would you describe a spectacular firework to someone who has never seen it before? You may show a photo of it, tell them how you felt when you were watching the vivid explosion of light and colour, their perfect synchronization, and the memories it evoked.
