The other day my son came running in, looking very funny. He had my army helmet (which we called a bucket) on his head and the straps that hold the helmet firmly on your head were swinging loose. His head is far too small for the helmet and he had to swing his whole body […]
Read moreI watched a Facebook film on how the disciples died. Peter was crucified upside down. Andrew and Philips were also crucified. Thomas and Matthew were stabbed with a spear. Luke was hanged. Mark died after being dragged by horses through the streets. John was boiled in oil but survived. He was the only disciple who […]
Read moreSince I started writing about 1 Thessalonians, I’ve used the word ‘hardship’ quite a lot. Hardship and suffering was a reality in the lives of these new Christians. And we have said often: If you are serious about the things of God, there will be hard times ahead. Things don’t always go well. There will […]
Read moreLife happens all the time and not always with some light background music. When we look back over our lives, each of us has a story to tell. Sometimes about the hard times. Sometimes about times when we nearly or completely lost the way. Life happens. Often hard times strike because of a stupid decision […]
Read moreIn the period after Jesus, many, many people were saved. But it wasn’t easy. 14…Friends, do you realize that you followed in the exact footsteps of the churches of God in Judea, those who were the first to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ? Choosing Jesus was not the easy route. On the contrary. […]
Read moreWe know by now that Paul and the others suffered a lot while they were spreading the news about Jesus Christ for the first time. They didn’t have it easy at all, but they prayed to God for help. And God helped them by strengthening their faith: 2… We had just been given rough treatment […]
Read moreDo you struggle sometimes? Are things hard sometimes? Everything not going smoothly at work or in your business? Do you and your spouse sometimes argue about the stupidest thing? Do you feel that you’ve taken enough knocks from life now and just want to take a breather? Are you sometimes, or right now, up to […]
Read moreThe Colossians’ faith was something special, an example even for Paul: 5… I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of your faith in Christ. Even though things weren’t going that well for them, even though they were by far in the […]
Read moreThere is always a crisis lying in wait for all of us. Life out there is not easy. Sometimes stress is pressing so hard you can hardly breathe. And I must confess, the rulers of this country do not paint a role-coloured of the future. All these things make us really negative and I sometimes […]
Read moreWhen I look around me, I don’t see much of God’s power. Instead I see other, stronger powers overpowering people and I ask myself: Why don’t I see more of God’s power in the world? Why do I only see confused people, people who do not stick it out? Was this verse only meant for […]
Read more