All Blog Posts (166)
Tennis and integrity
The well-known tennis player, Arthur Ashe, play a tough match in the 1970’s against an insulting opponent. After two hours of verbal abuse, Ashe suddenly walked off the court. When the chair umpire warned him that he would forfeit and lose the match if he does, Ashe answered: “I’m close to losing my temper. I’d rather forfeit the match than my dignity.” The next day the officials did award him the match. When I read this story somewhere,… Continue
Added by Echurch on August 29, 2011 at 1:01pm — No Comments
Will Christians help you when you become ill?
In a fascinating article: Does Religion Influence Epidemics? Elizabeth Pennisi refers to a paper read at at conference in Europe on 22 August by the American evolutionary biologist David Hughes. He and his colleagues claim that some of the major world religions emerged at the same time as widespread diseases, and that the two… Continue
Added by Echurch on August 25, 2011 at 2:23pm — No Comments
Safe disciples
"Christianity is illegal — is there enough evidence to convict you?" That is what Peter Rollins asks in The Orthodox Heretic, following a story that he tells. It floored me. Are all my talks about the Lord the big mark of my faith? Or maybe all my sermons? Or possibly the prayers and bible studies? Do I need to do more of it all? Do I need to preach, write, pray or talk more? I can so easily soothe my conscience — as if with… Continue
Added by Echurch on August 22, 2011 at 1:00pm — No Comments
Longing
Psalm 42 tells in imaginative language of a deer in the desert desperately longing for water. The psalm writer says that he’s also thirsting for God in the same way. Everything in him calls out to God. He wants to be in the house of God, there where he will be safe and sheltered. He wants to experience God’s approving gaze every day. He wants to constantly experience the comforting presence of the Lord.
Do you also know… Continue
Added by Echurch on August 19, 2011 at 5:34pm — No Comments
Little, less, least
Does humility matter? I mean is it important for people who follow Christ to not be concerned only about themselves all the time and to not try and advance themselves in selfish ways? I spent a couple of weeks with a group of people in the USA. Among others, we spent some time with George Barna. He told us that humility measures the lowest with spiritual leaders in the States. Barna tested a list of 20 character traits among leaders in one of his… Continue
Added by Echurch on August 17, 2011 at 5:38pm — No Comments
Dare to ask different questions
The questions you ask determine the answers you expect. Certain questions nearly always presuppose failure. I realized this when I recently came across a list of accountability questions of one particular ministry: "What sin plagued your walk with God this week? Is your thought life pure? Did you look at a woman in the wrong way? Are you walking in total obedience to God? Have you lied about any of the previous questions?" If you dare say… Continue
Added by Echurch on August 16, 2011 at 11:49am — No Comments
Say thanks in contemporary language
Back when we were students, a guy from our residence went home with his girlfriend to go and meet her parents. At the dinner table, the girl's father asked him: "Will you say thanks for us?" The guy then immediately thanked them for their generous hospitality. The father was taken aback by this. With thanks he meant that this unchurched fellow should do a table prayer and thank God for the food. I wonder how often our 'church language'… Continue
Offended!
Well-known physician and author, Ben Carson, says that some people choose to feel constantly offended and disadvantaged. In every audience, family, workplace or church you will find such offended ones. They are always "deeply hurt" or "deeply worried." They are the ones who walk out when the pastor is too innovative and renewing. They are the ones who will bad-mouth people behind their backs and write protesting letters about… Continue
Added by Echurch on August 5, 2011 at 4:00pm — No Comments
Beware of being wrong half-heartedly or weak surrender
The Dutch name for Cafe Latte translates directly as 'Coffee Wrong.' It sounds like someone in Holland thought that coffee shouldn't be made in this way. In any case, to recognize that you acted in the wrong way does not sit easily with too many folks. How many times have you heard someone simply and bravely admit: "What I did was wrong"? It is much more likely that you heard something like: "I was wrong,… Continue
Added by Echurch on August 4, 2011 at 5:20pm — No Comments
Would Jesus say whatever?
Is whatever part of the vocabulary of Jesus? Mmm, I think so. Time and time again he looked at the religious leaders of his day who were so busy obeying strict religious laws and rules that they didn't have any time left to serve others and love them all the way back to God. Then he sighed and said: whatever!
Jesus observed how the religious professionals harshly judged sinners,… Continue
Added by Echurch on August 2, 2011 at 6:43pm — No Comments
Jesus is not a supplement... He's the only Way!
We might be executing our religious activities with great surrender, but there's still a good chance that we are deeply unhappy people. That's what Hannah Whitall Smith writes in The God of all Comfort. But then she adds: "Nothing can set our hearts at rest but a real acquaintance of God." Faith is not equal to service to God. To find rest at the Lord's feet is different to running from one religious duty to the next. To be busy… Continue
Added by Echurch on July 27, 2011 at 11:46am — No Comments
Earlier... and now!
- Earlier I thought I had to impress other people. No longer. As a follower of Jesus, I don't want to impress anybody, I only want to share impressive God-stories.
- Earlier I thought I had all the answers. No longer. As a follower of Jesus, I must admit I still have more questions than answers. But I know Jesus, who answers generously when people call out to him.
- Earlier I tried to have everything under control. No longer.…
Added by Echurch on July 27, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments
From the heart
John Woolman (1720-1772), a tailor, single-handedly caused the downfall of slavery in American Quaker communities, many years before the American Revolution. He achieved this by talking against slavery wherever he went. This man of God's quiet yet strong presence became known everywhere. He was convinced that God could not stand discrimination.
One day Woolman was speaking with a couple of Native Americans. There was no translator. Then… Continue
Added by Echurch on July 26, 2011 at 5:58pm — No Comments
Apologies for the Spam this weekend
We apologize for the spam that was added to our website this weekend, and might have landed up in your inbox.
Despite strict account creation control, we accidentally approved a false account this weekend, and that person added blog posts related to gaming, forex and other irrelevant topics to our blog.
We have taken the necessary steps to prevent future occurrences of this unfortunate violation. We have also changed our Feedburner settings… Continue
Added by Echurch on July 24, 2011 at 5:12pm — No Comments
Here's the reason why distrust among believers is rife
In the first verses of Matthew 7 Jesus offered a very stern warning to those who believe they possess the sole license to decide who is in and who is out in God's eyes on this side of the grave. He said that they would eventually be judged by the same judgment that they mete out. Still, numerous individuals today believe that they alone occupy the religious high ground. They possess the exclusive rights on being right, as well as the rights to… Continue
Added by Echurch on July 22, 2011 at 11:01am — No Comments
Not an admin assistant!
According to Genesis 2, when God made the woman it was not as an admin assistant or full-time maid for the man. To the contrary. God is on record earlier in Genesis 2, saying that his original intent was to create a helper for the man. And if I grasp the term helper correctly, it needs to be someone who can do the helping better than the person being helped! What's the point if the helper can't help? What's the use… Continue
Added by Echurch on July 18, 2011 at 5:00pm — No Comments
Zacchaeus
Do you still remember Zacchaeus that sat in the sycamore-fig tree when Jesus was walking through Capernaum (Luke 19)? When Jesus came to a standstill right underneath his tree, Zacchaeus fell straight into the kingdom of God. He told Jesus on the spot that 50% of his income would henceforth go to the poor. He also said he would repay fourfold all money that he took unjustly. Then Jesus pronounced salvation over Zacchaeus. "Today salvation has come… Continue
Added by Echurch on July 14, 2011 at 5:16pm — No Comments
Whatever! ...??
The United States of Whatever — do you still remember that song? Well, whatever is not just American lingo. It's international, actually. Everywhere is whatever territory nowadays. Even in church.
Whatever — when you hear the same old worship songs on Sunday mornings for the umpteenth time.
Whatever — when preachers, Bible teachers and believers worry about the same… Continue
Added by Echurch on July 13, 2011 at 7:46pm — No Comments
Faith is not your "get out of jail free" card
Fact: Faith does not happen on your conditions. Faith is a relationship with Christ that happens on his terms (Luke 17). We don't determine the rules of how, where and when we come after Jesus. We are servants, He is the Lord. His wish is our only command! And his direction pointers are clear — discipleship is about self-denial, sacrifice and service! Discipleship is carrying your cross. Discipleship is the… Continue
Added by Echurch on July 12, 2011 at 3:49pm — No Comments
Language one
Silence is God's first language. That's what John of the Cross said in the 16th century if I have my facts correctly. This silence is not equal to passivity, apathy or lounging around when it comes to God. Quite the contrary. Silence is to become empty of yourself in order to be filled with the Lord. Let me make it even clearer: emptiness is never a goal in and of itself. To become quiet is to empty yourself of arrogance and all the noise in and… Continue
Added by Echurch on July 8, 2011 at 3:40pm — No Comments
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