Have you ever seen anyone in a lot of pain? It is worse if it is someone you know and love. It can be difficult to know what to do. Love should motivate us to want to do something for that person. Men often find it really difficult watching their
There is a saying that “No person is an island.” As human beings we don’t cope well when isolated from others. We need to be part of a community in order to thrive. Our lives are interconnected with those around us. While it is occasionally wise to take some time
Have you ever been given a nickname? Nicknames can be given due to something you have done, the way you look, your surname, or to distinguish you from others with the same name. John is often referred to as John the Baptist. This helps us to distinguish him from other
Forgiveness is really hard. As fallen humans, it is not our natural response when we are hurt by others. But without forgiveness, bitterness, hatred, and a desire for revenge can arise within us, and they are heavy burdens to carry. While forgiving others is difficult, we can also struggle with
In recent years, there has been a rise in the popularity of random acts of kindness. It may be an act of kindness for a stranger, such as paying for the person behind you in a queue or paying for coffees in advance so those who are homeless can have
When we go on holiday, we usually go to church wherever we are visiting. I love meeting with God’s people in various places because it helps me feel more connected to the global church. One of my earliest experiences of meeting believers from all over the world was when I
I recently asked a group of teenagers whether they thought the life of a Christian was easier and more trouble-free. Without hesitation, one of them answered, “Yes!” Unfortunately, this is not the case. I took the opportunity to share the truth that we all face difficult days, giving examples from
“Why do we call it Good Friday? Jesus died, dying isn’t good?” I was asked this by a 7-year-old a couple of Easters ago. How would you have answered? So much of today’s reading is difficult, it’s cruel, unfair, gruesome, it doesn’t seem good at all. However, we have the
If I was asked to guess the most famous verse in the Bible, I would say John 3:16. It is the only verse that a work colleague has ever asked me to quote over lunch. He’d been watching a sports game over the weekend, saw a sign with John 3:16
This time of year can bring out the best in people as we think of others, give gifts, and seek to help people who are lonely or less fortunate. But it can also be a time of year when the worst side can be visible too, as parents fight over