Month: September 2013

A Just War?

Posted on Sunday, 29 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

A Just War? Having struggled with this issue for decades, I still find Stott’s thoughts on a just war unconvincing. I don’t think my conscience will allow me to get away with killing someone in battle. No disrespect is intended to our military personnel. Good to tease out these imponderable

Busyness

Posted on Sunday, 29 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Busyness An interesting interview with Pastor DeYoung on busyness. His summary – “If we are busy in a hundred good things—even great things, gospel things, glorious things—but don’t sit at the feet of Jesus, we are busy in the wrong ways.” Read the interview here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/september-web-only/crazy-busy-kevin-deyoung-has-busyness-problem.html?paging=off

From Hitler’s Wolves to Christ’s Lambs

Posted on Sunday, 29 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

From Hitler’s Wolves to Christ’s Lambs They walked to the gallows together, pastor and penitent. Each step up took them closer to the fall—the abbreviated, fatal fall to come. As the criminal stood above the trapdoor that, moments later, would open to rope him into eternity, an officer asked him

Contentment in Christ

Posted on Sunday, 29 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Reflection: Philippians 4 Although Paul was writing from his incarceration, possibly in Rome, the Philippian Epistle reflects the joy and confidence of one whose imprisonment was farthest from mind and soul. This remarkable joy amidst suffering and contentment is worth exploring, especially in our fast-paced acquisitive society, where they are

Pride the Worst of Vice

Posted on Wednesday, 25 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Pride the Worst of Vice Reflection: 1 Samuel 15:23; Proverbs 21:4; James 4:16 Pride is the worst of all vices, because it attacks the soul through its virtues as well as through its evil habits. Pride is hateful to God and men. It is the first prompting in the committing

Dark Matter in the Universe

Posted on Tuesday, 24 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Dark Matter in the Universe In 1933, Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky discovered that the visible matter contained in the galaxies of the vast Coma cluster is barely 10% of the amount needed to keep the galaxies bound together. This is the first indication that the universe has vast quantities of

Whither Discipling?

Posted on Sunday, 22 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Reflection: Matthew 28:16 — 20; Ephesians 5:1 – 21; Philippians 3:15 – 21. Looking around at the Christian community today, I ask myself, why is discipling within the body of Christ not more widely practiced? Jesus’ only Commission to his fledging flock is to “make disciples” – by calling all

Top Ten Cities Threatened with Disaster

Posted on Saturday, 21 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Top Ten Cities Threatened with Disaster A new report by Swiss Re Ltd., the world’s second-biggest reinsurer, ranks 616 metro areas by the value of working days at risk from five natural perils, as well as by number of residents potentially affected as many of these metropolitan areas are threatened

God Will Not Be Shared with Other Things

Posted on Wednesday, 18 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

God Will Not Be Shared with Other Things Reflection: Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9; Nahum 1:2 Men of the world would fain increase their share of this world’s goods: some covet gold and silver, others houses and families, others a great name, influence, and glory. One is allured by

Seek First the Kingdom of God

Posted on Sunday, 15 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Reflection: Matthew 6:19 – 34; Luke 6:17 – 49. The Sermon on the Mount or a Discourse on Discipleship encompasses chapters 5 to 7 of the Gospel of Matthew (with its shorter parallel in Luke), is possibly a compilation of the teachings of Jesus. The section that interests us touches

What It Means to Be Killed by the Letter

Posted on Saturday, 14 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

What It Means to Be Killed by the Letter Reflection: Matthew 23:3; 2 Corinthians 3:6 They are killed by the letter who seek only to know the words that they may be esteemed more learned among others and that they may acquire great riches to leave to their relations and

Comfort, Comfort My People

Posted on Sunday, 8 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Reflection: Isaiah 40 I often wonder how God comforts the intense afflictions of his chosen people. When the horrific graphic details on the wanton destruction of Syrian lives and cities are depicted on the media these days, with its associated mushrooming two million refugees spilling across numerous national borders, I

Virtues Crowd Out Vices

Posted on Wednesday, 4 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Virtues Crowd Out Vices Reflection: 2 Peter 1:4–7 Where there is charity and wisdom there is neither fear nor ignorance. Where there is patience and humility there is neither anger nor worry. Where there is poverty and joy there is neither cupidity nor avarice. Where there is quiet and meditation

Blessed are Those Who Reprove You

Posted on Sunday, 1 September, 2013Sunday, 20 August, 2017 by Zheluo Cai

Reflection: Psalm 141:5; Proverbs 9:8-9; 22:6; Hebrews 12: 4-13; The religion of the Bible is explicit in its claims on the condition of man; that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, that our hearts are exceedingly deceitful, and we are guilty of not seeking after God. Given