Genesis 33:4 But Esau ran up and embraced him, held him tight and kissed him. And they both wept. Remarkable! This is Esau’s reaction when he saw his brother for the first time again after all those years. It is remarkable that Esau hugged Jacob rather than picking up a stone and throwing it at […]
Read moreWe meet another one of Paul’s friends who helped to preach the gospel. His name is Onesimus. His story did not have a good start. Originally, he was Philemon’s worker, but somewhere along the way he absconded. He was just a lay about, but then he met Paul and the message of salvation turned Onesimus’ […]
Read moreMy son winds his mother around his little finger. I don’t always agree and often remind her that she shouldn’t deprive our son of a learning opportunity. But soon I see him twisting her arm ever so slightly. A mother’s heart can’t do otherwise. If it’s flesh and blood, it’s different. I saw it with […]
Read moreI remember some verses in the Bible word for word. Probably because I need them so much and because they constantly apply to me. I suspect the verse I’ve used the most in my life is this one: 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to […]
Read moreWhen a person or an animal is bleeding, you know that the person or animal will die if the bleeding is not stopped. It’s as if life is draining away. That’s why the Israelites regarded blood as life. Sin drains life from you. Sin kills. Sin brings destruction and to get rid of the punishment […]
Read moreThe altar was central to the Old Testament. The altar was the main channel of communication between the people and God. It was the place where the people brought sacrifices to God. It was the place where blood had to flow for the people’s sin. The altar and the animals sacrificed on it were people’s […]
Read moreA minister was criticised quite badly once for tearing a few pages from the Bible while preaching. The churchgoers were very upset, which is understandable. The minister said we read the Bible the way we want to, only reading the nice and pretty parts. We don’t read those parts that slam into us. We don’t […]
Read morePeople differ. I work with lots of noise. I put music on in the background to get me in the right frame of mind. My mom always begged me to play my music softer. Renata, my better half, is the complete opposite. She prefers quiet. Sometimes, I even have to switch off the miniscule waterfall […]
Read moreDuring lockdown we challenged everybody who were spinning at home to do a 100km within a set time. Someone offered to make a big donation to a local soup kitchen for everyone who managed to do this. I put my hand up and started spinning like mad! Somewhere along the way the meter rolled over […]
Read moreIt’s not easy being a parent. The main thing to remember is probably to have balance. You shouldn’t give you child everything, because then they’ll never learn that you have to work for things and they’ll think that the world owes them. On the other hand, you can’t just focus on their mistakes all the […]
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