My
victory over the enemy of my soul is in the victory of the lover of my soul over the enemy
of my soul.
Thieves often get it right to steal from us because we don't
think like a thief. Too bad. But, on the other hand, do you mind not thinking like a
thief?
To turn your back on God is to curse your front.
It's a great pity if the new Pharaoh doesn't know Joseph, but it's a
terrible tragedy if the new generation of the Israelites doesn't know the God of
Joseph.
26 August
"I'm sorry" - brief miraculous words that have melted and healed millions of
hearts.
Imagine how different individual, family and community life would be if we did indeed
empty our hearts of anger before the sun went down.
25 August
2010
A simple test of a team's efficiency is to mark the frequency of 'I' and 'We.' 27 July 2010
There are enough excuses for being ill-tempered in old age, but there is more than
enough grace for being gracious in old age.
A serious lesson that has been underscored during the World Cup is that the
greatest threat to a team's success is, in the first place, not opposition from outside,
but divisions from inside.
Getting rid of bitterness gets rid of its poison from your system.
Bitterness feeds on soured relationships. 8 July 2010
Our world doesn't need yes-men and yes-women, but men and women who can say,
"Yes" when it's yes and, "No" when it's no.
Polygamy fails because no one has 'poly' hearts. 'One person, one heart' applies to
all.
25 June 2010
Does anyone know of children who have the capacity to understand why their parents are
divorcing?
Outside of a perfect God, there can't be a perfect match between two imperfect
individuals.
On this Father's Day, my heart goes out to those sons and daughters who have
prodigal fathers.
Dirt-poor? Are poverty and dirt inseparable?
23 June 2010
Human rights become human wrongs when they
violate the rights of the Creator of humans.
When a democracy deteriorates into
a 'mobocracy' chaos reigns.17 June
2010
The 2010 World Cup has kicked off and FIFA Fever is running high.
Brace yourself for a month of international drama. Some will laugh and some will cry.
Laugh with those who laugh and cry with those who cry
.
Some people say that our
efforts to reach out to the World Cup crowds with the gospel are a drop in the ocean. All
I can say is, "Oh, blessed drop."
15 June 2010
It's tragic that
many strive to be leaders but few strive to be role models.
Trustworthy people outweigh their weight in gold by far.
Are men and women
of integrity an endangered species nowadays?
One of the most tragic pictures I see is that of billions of horses dying of
thirst, not because of a lack of water, but because they have obstinately opted for a
thirst strike.
The fact that God calls us to perfection shows us how much of
Himself He wants to pour into us.
It's humbling to think that many misunderstandings could be
cleared just by one question and one response.
Samson will tell you that one of the most dangerous positions in
this world Is that of being Delilah’s laptop.
The best advertisement for
the Christian faith is a faithful Christian. 29 May 2010
The fact that God calls us to
perfection shows us how much of Himself He wants to pour into us. 28 May 2010
Ask a mother about all the sacrifices she makes for the
sake of her family; she will look at you and ask
honestly, "What sacrifices?"
Bitterness is a speculator for unburied hatchets.
If we are at peace with God we'll smile when the sun rises, and smile when
the sun sets.
God is indeed the Creator of all things. He allows even the most
majestic of His flowers to wither and die - and
He brings up new ones.
Two faces for one person are one face too much.
I believe
that many women would have more wonderful attributes if they didn't talk some
away. 19 May 2010
When will our stubborn nature learn that a tug of
war with God is both futile and fatal? When God pulls the rope, hold tight and follow
the rope. 7 May 2010
The tit for tat tug of war has no winners, only losers.
How many of us have had to forgive our brother once? Seven times? Seventy
times? Seventy times seven?
6 May 2010
When I slumber and sleep that should remind me that I'm not in control.
He that neither slumbers nor sleeps is in control.
A lie has high maintenance costs because you've got to
keep patching it up with more lies.
Have you noticed how difficult it can be to bow when you are wrong, and even
more so when you are right?
Anger has the dangerous habit of nibbling at the brains of its host.
Believing God to be who He says He is, is the key to
knowing who we are. If God isn't, we aren't. 2 May 2010
Young people, one of the most precious and profound secrets in life is to find tne
Finger that will point to you the right direction as you navigate through life. Find that
Finger early in life. Cling to that Finger for life. 28 April 2010
With the vast knowledge there is today on the devastating effects
of smoking, why are a trillion cigarettes still smoked in a year? Indeed, knowledge
doesn't save; it's for the Saviour to save.
Drinkers and smokers should be advised not to put their money where their mouth is.
Nations can do without the television, but without a vision nations perish.
Do you have peace of mind after giving someone a piece of your mind? 22 April 2010
God is my life, now and forever. I can't live without Him. I can't die without Him.
Volcanic ash from Iceland sweeps across Europe and grounds thousands of flights - maybe
just to remind us to look up, and bow and worship.
Talking big makes you small. 21 April 2010
Christmas and Easter
The Cradle and the Cross
The Cradle points to the Cross
The Cross sheds light on the Cradle
It is with sadness that I note that a family that trades in liquor has to sacrifice at
least one of its members to the Moloch of alcoholism.
The call of God goes beyond the call of duty.
Smart strategists are those that make smart assumptions and draw smart conclusions. God
doesn't have to make assumptions because everything is laid bare before Him. That's why
those who walked with God and heard from Him outwitted the smartest strategists of their
time. 31 March 2010
Looking back to my happy childhood, I realise that
our happiness had little to do with how much we had but had much to do with how much we
enjoyed the little we had.
A thought that warms my heart about heaven is the presence of God and the absence
of sin. 30 March 2010
The Bible is indeed the bestseller but its message sells best if the believers live it
out.
Sometimes I wonder if false humility does less harm than pride.
Thousands upon thousands sing John Newton's 'Amazing grace' but how many 'wretches'
like him were saved like him? 25 March 2010
Twisting people's arms is a counterproductive exercise. How do you get
a straight answer from a twisted arm? 6 March 2010
Counting your blessings one by one should be the most exciting stocktaking session
ever.
Refusing to respond to arrogance with arrogance is a step towards victory.
Its a cruel irony that drug users keep speaking of 'getting high' even as they sink
lower and lower into the abyss of addiction.
It's been said that money is a wonderful servant but a terrible
master.
I believe that, in a way, the streets of gold in heaven show us where gold should belong
in our lives - under our feet.
We are living in a world where it's increasingly becoming a sin to call sin
sin. 4 March 2010
Why did Pilate become philosophical about truth? It was because the Truth was too close
for comfort.
The crude fact that when you go to bed with someone you are effectively going to bed
with everyone they have gone to bed with before should leave all of us, young and
old, with one option only - Abstinence outside of marriage and fidelity within marriage. 25 February 2010
Being a 'fool' for God is profound wisdom that confounds the wise of this world.
If you do your best and someone does better you did, the fact remains that you
did your best.
God's Book will remain a closed book to many people if God's people don't become an
open book for God. 20 February 2010
The leper who was touched and healed by Jesus testifies to the fact that there are no
'untouchables' for Jesus.
Citizens are sometimes told to look away from the private lives of their leaders.
But aren't there times when someone should alert the nation to the naked truth that the
emperor is naked?
The noisiest inner city can't rob you of your inner peace.
Remove the profit motive from Valentine and the bottom line is how much true love there
is in-between the Valentines. 6 February
What's festive about the festive season if the core reason for the season, the feast of
Christ, is undermined?
Many young people would be spared much heartache if
they saw through the diabolic propaganda that tells them that messing up is part of the
process of growing up.
Young person, you don't have to mess up to grow up.
If as political correctness tells us there's no difference between a
man and a woman what's the brouhaha about Caster Semenya?
Disasters like the recent earthquake in Haiti bring out the best and the worst in
people. There are those who sacrifice a lot and risk their lives to bring help to
victims. Then there are those who loot and fight off victims,
away from points of help because they want to get maximum supplies for themselves. 18 January 2010
If you want the oil of blessings to keep flowing you must keep
pouring.12 January 2010
We hold Moody in high esteem, but not the moody.
Don't bankrupt yourself by paying Revenge. After all, you owe Revenge absolutely
nothing.
How on earth did the devil think that he could lure the Son of God
with vain earthly glories? He must have thought that the Son of God was most vulnerable as
the Son of man, clad in weak human flesh. Indeed, the Son of man acknowledged the weakness
of the flesh, that's why He always sought to fortify His spirit so that the spirit
would prevail over the flesh.
That's the path of victory that the Son of man charted for those that would follow Him.
I'm moved by the thought that even the poorest of the poor can invest something of
value in other people's lives.
How do we ensure that we stay small in our own eyes? By keeping the
same set of eyes. 11 January 2010
Taking your life into your friends' hands is abdication.
Taking your life into your own hands is limitation.
Taking your life into God's hands is maximisation.
If you want the oil of blessings to keep flowing you must keep pouring.
When Christ appeared before Pilate, Pilate had the golden opportunity to gain a friend
for life, indeed, a friend forever. Unfortunately, he listened to his shallow heart that
told him that friendship with Caesar was worth more than friendship with Jesus.
29 December
If you look down on people, you look down and the
ground is the limit.
If you look up to people, you look up and the sky is the limit.
People have commercialised Christmas but they dare not commercialise
Christ. Remember Judas Iscariot.
It's surprising to see how many people that are found with a smoking gun in their hand
claim that someone else pushed the smoking gun into their hand.
15 December
Come to Jesus as
you are and let Him change you from what you are into what He wants you to be. 10 December
Should it surprise
us that a world that's obsessed with fleeting romance is being starved of lasting love? 10 December
The people of
Noah's time thought they were 'in' and Noah was 'out.' When the moment of truth, the
flood, came it became clear that Noah was 'in' and the people were 'out.' 5 December
Handel's 'Messiah'
might have become a tradition but the Messiah dare not become a tradition. The Messiah
lives.
3 December
Faith is going
into the plane, taking a seat, buckling up and getting ready to take off without having
seen the pilots.
1 December
It's
recommended that before you pray for power, pray for the power to contain power. 1 December
The
inn could have gone down in history as 'The Inn Where Jesus Was Born.' Instead it became
'The Inn Where Jesus Wasn't Born' because it had no room for Jesus. 25 November
People may take
over your possessions but they can't take over your blessing.
25 November
Peter's address at Pentecost wasn't followed by a standing ovation by thousands
but by a kneeling submission by thousands.
25 November
Giving people a piece of your mind is a dangerous practice; you might end up
without a mind.
24 November
Thinking twice before you speak might seem to consume time but much more time will be
consumed when you have to deal with the consequences of what you spoke without thinking
twice.
23 November
If you employ Pride as your doorkeeper you'll miss out on some of the
most precious things in life.
23 November
Giving
people a piece of your mind is a dangerous practice; you might end up without a
mind. 18 November
Thinking
twice before you speak might seem to consume time but much more time will be consumed when
you have to deal with the consequences of what you spoke without thinking twice. 18 November
If
you employ Pride as your doorkeeper you'll miss out on some of the most precious
things in life. 18 November
The
inn could have gone down in history as 'The Inn Where Jesus Was Born.' Instead it became
'The Inn Where Jesus Wasn't Born' because it had no room for Jesus. 18 November
People
may take over your possessions but they can't take over your blessing. 18 November
Peter's
address at Pentecost wasn't followed by a standing ovation by thousands but by a
kneeling submission by thousands. 18 November 2009
I believe that sometimes when we weep Christ takes out His handkerchief and weeps
with us, not because He couldn't do anything about the situation, but because - some
things have just got to be. 14 November
If we've got to keep reminding people who we are the problem might be that sometimes we
forget who we are. 14 November 2009
It's
more honourable to command rather than demand respect. 14
November
For
thousands of years God has been in the business of revealing to humankind His
existence, character, track record and latest activities.
For thousands of years Satan has been in the business
of concealing from humankind His existence, character, track record and
latest activities. 14 November
If people
resented hell as much as they resented a sermon on hell by now many would be on their
way to heaven. 14 November
Be realistic. If you overmarket yourself you might market yourself out of the market. 14
November
You
never know how generous some people are until you see them apportioning blame. 14
November 2009
One
of the local songs that captured my imagination as a small boy was, "Thula moya,
anginababa, ngiyintandane' (Quieten down o wind, I have no father. I'm an orphan.) 6
November 2009
The
song reminds me of the beautiful English saying, "God tempers the wind against the
shorn lamb." That, my friend, is God's compassion in action. 6 November
There can
be no rosy future without the Creator of the roses. 6 November
Selfishness'
Help Desk has only
got one question, "How can you help me?" 6 November
One
of the most beautiful pictures I've seen in life is that of greatness clothed in humility.
6 November
Resources
spent on nursing a grudge would be spent on nursing a forgiving heart. 29 October
It's
amazing to see how much gossip we can do without in any given day. 29 October 2009
Resources spent on
nursing a grudge would be spent on nursing a forgiving heart. 29 October 2009
After the prodigal son's life had gone to the dogs he went to the pigs. When he
came to himself he repented, rose from the pigsty and returned to his father's mansion. 26 October 2009
If you keep your eyes fixed on other
people's blessings you'll miss the hand that brings your blessings. 26 October 2009
Don't try to impress God because He sees through you. Don't try to
impress people because that will upstage the person they really want to see - the real
you. 26 October 2009
Before you accuse people of being judgmental do check your cupboard for skeletons. 21 October 2009
Sometimes when we find ourselves in impossible situations we say we hope against hope.
If our hope is the living hope in Christ then our peace is even more profound
because for Christ there's no impossible situation. 21
October 2009
When we are disappointed in people we might be tempted to agree with
the group that sings "Iqinis' alikh' emhlabeni" (There's no truth on earth). The
truth is that truth is there but how many are truly on the side of truth? 21 October 2009
The idea of a 'quick buck' has excited many an eye but a quick buck disappears
just as quickly as it appears. 21 October 2009
In your bitterness against others remember that it's your mouth, not theirs, that will
remain will remain with a bitter aftertaste. 16 November
2009
As earthlings we could never get to the bottom of the profound mystery of Christ being
fully Man and fully God. As Man He slumbered and slept in the ship. As God He
was wide awake and in total control. 16 November 2009
Don't
look to the sunshine to lighten up your face, rather seek God's face which will break
through space, darkness, clouds and sunshine to lighten up your face. 16 November 2009
The
debate on global warming is reaching boiling point. Cool heads are needed to assess the
cold facts of the matter. 16 November 2009
Christ
wants to be everything or nothing to you. Take Him alone or leave Him alone. 16 November 2009
After
staring death in the face for the past nine years, have I got used to its ugly face?
Not at all. That's why I keep looking beyond the ugly face of death to the glorious face
of eternal life. 7 October 2009
Sin
denied is sin multiplied. 7 October 2009
There
are many free and valuable lessons for us to learn from other people's mistakes but in our
foolishness and pride we'd rather repeat the mistakes and, like the prodigal son, pay
heavily for the lessons. 7 October 20009
The
worst thing that can happen to you isn't losing your life but losing your soul. 6 October 2009
There's more to
prostitution than the selling of the body; they that would sell their bodies must first
sell their souls. 6 October 2009
Why did Job have one woman in his life and Solomon one thousand? It's because Job made
a covenant with his eyes not to look at a woman lustfully but Solomon made a collection of
the women that he looked at lustfully. 6 October 2009
How
does God reconcile His love for the homosexual with His hatred of homosexuality? He loves
the homosexual out of homosexuality. 6 October 2009
Why does God call
a hypocrite a hypocrite? It's because He calls a spade a spade. 6 October 2009
For far too long alcohol has got away with a lot of serious mischief. If there is
sufficient proof that the drinker being tried committed the crimes in question whilst
under the influence of alcohol should the drinker or alcohol be put behind bars? Or
both? (Of course, not in one cell) 6 October 2009
Fairly
or unfairly, life doesn't grant us the luxury of being off our guard. What we decide in a
matter of minutes, or even seconds, may be scrutinised by others for years to
come. 24 September 2009
Samson,
when Delilah starts crying and tells you that you don't love her run for your life. 24 September 2009
We
are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. Thanks to Motor Neuron Disease I'm without the
sense of smell for years but the fragrance of my bride's perfume on our wedding day, about
thirty years ago, is still embeddd in my memory. I believe that fragrance will linger
on till death do us part. 24 September 2009
What do you
do in a world that has more tolerance for superstition than true faith? Let superstition
be superstition and be true to the true faith. 15 September
2009
It's been said
that top achievers like astronauts who've been to the Moon live with their highest dream
behind them. I believe that those whose highest dream is to be realised
this side of the sunset have aimed too low. 15 September
2009
It's been said
that top achievers like astronauts who've been to the Moon live with their highest dream
behind them. I believe that those whose highest dream is to be realised
this side of the sunset have aimed too low. 15 September
2009
Watch out for the
opportunistic "I know" which is always on the look out for opportunities to
pop out. 9 September 2009
Cain, sin is
waiting at the door; its desire is to feast on you. Jesus is knocking at the door; His
desire is to feast with you, and you with Him. To whom will you open the door? 9 September 2009
Orpah looked back and followed her eyes; Ruth looked ahead and followed her eyes. Orpah
was greeted by the setting sun; Ruth was greeted by the rising sun. 9
September 2009
Don't overtax your
finite mind by trying to understand how God performs His great works. Yours isn't the
'how' but the 'what.' Know what God did and be lost in wonder and praise to Him. 9 September 2009
Some people are
communists on the stage and capitalists in the audience. That, my friends, is the human
heart. 9 September 2009
Hands that grab
honour by force are too rough to handle it with care and respect. 27 August 2009
Why is it so
easy to slide into lukewarmness? It's because lukewarmness requires no effort; all you
have to do is nothing. 27 August 2009
So, a High Court in India has decriminalised homosexual sex. If
homosexual sex is no longer a crime in India is it no longer a sin? Can this High Court
'de-abominailse' what God calls an abomination?Is it out of ignorance, naivety or outright
rebellion that legislators and courts make or interpret laws in a way that's in direct
contradiction to God's Law? 25 August 2009
We are called upon to be the living salt of the earth demonstrating to people what they
should be, not a dead pillar of salt demonstrating to people what they shouldn't be. 25 August 2009
What induces
people into the folly of worshipping a god they've made with their own hands? Most
probably it's the prospect of having a god who has no claims on them, a god whose origin
they can explain, a god who represents their achievements, a god they can confine to a
specific location, a god whose eyes can't follow them wherever they go, a god to whom they
won't have to give an account and a god they could destroy if they wanted to. 25 August 2009
This is indeed an
imperfect world. In a perfect world you shouldn't get sick. Should you get sick you
shouldn't pay but be paid for getting sick. 25 August 2009
Why
are some people more gifted than what we are? Why are some people gifted in areas where we
aren't? Thank God, directly or indirectly, it's all to our benefit. 25 August 2009
Half-heartedness
produces an unpredictable character because how on earth do you divide the heart into two
exactly equal halves? 21 August 2009
The
only praise singer I need is myself; not to sing praises to myself but to sing praises to
my Redeemer, Lord and King. 21 August 2009
It's
a tragedy when young people burn their fingers because they know no better. The tragedy is
even greater when young people burn their fingers in spite of having been forewarned.
21 August 2009
The
devil's road construction team specialises in detours and dead-end-streets; God's road
construction team specialises in bridges and highways. 18
August 2009
I don't mean to be
vain but seriously, a smile does wonders for your looks. 18
August 2009
When God is in us His 'magnet' draws people to us; not because of us but because of
Him. If God goes, His 'magnet' goes and people go. When that happens we miss the
point if we try to draw people back to us. People or no people, God with us is what we
need at all costs. 18 August 2009
Forget
about putting your best foot forward; the heart of the matter isn't the feet but the
heart. 17 August 2009
The
life to which God calls us is so high that only He in us can attain it. 17 August 2009
Antiques
and Bygones - what a name for a business that was established in a former church building.
The enemy of the church would love to turn every church into an Antiques and Bygones
business. The only answer to death in the church is Life in the church. 15 August 2009
Frogs remind
us that if you wait for a nightingale's voice you'll go through life without singing a
single song. 8 August 2009
Striving to be what
we should be is the way up; pretending to be what we should be is the way down. 7 August 2009
