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faith

Don’t Allow Your Confinement To Hold You Back  

In scripture, a Prophet finds himself in captivity in ancient Babylon. In exile, the prophet sees angels and hears a voice of judgement that will immediately chastise and eventually restore his nation. By age 28, Beethoven began to lose his hearing, and by the time he was 44, he was completely deaf. But in the […]

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faith

Do Not Sin When You’re Angry  

This has been a frustrating week for me, as I had to contend with health issues. Lots of ‘why’ questions led to angry thoughts. We all get angry. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to handle our anger. The wrong way will lead to more wrong and destructive things. Moses handled his […]

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faith

It’s Time To Grow Up 

God’s intervention can feel poorly timed, perhaps even prickly, sharp, and uncomfortable. But convenience is not something we should expect from God.   God may not operate on our time frame, but He is always on time. Any attempt to schedule growth or to wait until life isn’t so busy, to wait until the children are […]

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faith

Building Your Faith Through Community

When I was young, I played with building blocks. You could stack them one on top of the other to build a big tower, or you could put them side by side to build a wall. You could use them to build anything you desire. They couldn’t do much on their own, but together they […]

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faith

Parenting For Eternity

If someone asked you what you wanted most for your children. Your automatic response would properly be, “Success!” As a follower of Christ, I’ve discovered things more important than success in and of itself. Our time on earth is short, and eternity is sure to follow. James 4:14 describes life on earth as, “a mist […]

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faith

How To Make Most Of The New Year

Many people give advice on how to make the most of the New Year. They may suggest a new diet, a new exercise routine, new learning programs, new money management, or new relationships, but there is something else we should consider. Something that includes all those areas of our lives and more. God’s word! Read […]

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faith

Nia / Purpose: Seeking God First

Principle 5 Nia / Purpose: Mathew 6:33. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Including our purpose. Mathew’s admonishment is relevant and instructive for a world, especially the “superpowers” and “economically developed” nations that are so consume by the profit and control. He suggests that the […]

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culture faith

Ujamaa / Cooperative Economics: Working Together

Principle 4 Ujamaa / Cooperative economics: Hebrew13:16. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  Christians are instructed to share their wealth and make sacrifices for others.  Economic wealth may not mean just money. It can mean anything that can make wealth or improve someone’s standing in […]

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faith

Ujima / Collective Work and Responsibility: Team Work

Principle 3 Ujima / Collective Work and Responsibility: 1 Corinthians 12:21-25. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less […]

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faith

Umoja (unity) Christ Prayed For Unity

Let’s be clear, Kwanzaa is a cultural and not religious holiday created by an African American. However, the principles of Kwanzaa (from Swahili) can be found in scripture and can build and enhance families and communities and elevate the political dialogue on issues of importance to all.  Hence, 7 days before the start of the year, […]

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faith

When Life is Not a Christmas Card

In homes around the world at this time of the year, we see lights aglow, stockings hung with care and turkey baking in the oven – our lives can look like a Christmas card. But sometimes it looks like something else. It can look harsher, colder, and even very lonely. Sometimes, Christmas can be hard. […]

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faith

The Message of The Advent is “Fear Not” 

In the story of the advent, again and again, we hear the phrase, “Fear not!”  “Fear not Mary” (Luke 1:30); “Fear not, Joseph” (Matthew 1:20-23); “fear not shepherds” (Luke 2:9-12). Like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, we are so prone to fear. We’re afraid because we feel alone and forsaken, when we encounter the unknown, […]

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faith

Struggling Through The Holidays 

While the rest of the world around us becomes excited and enamoured with our culture’s celebration of the Christmas holidays, some of us struggle through the holiday season – overcome with clouds of depression, and battles with fear and dread. Fractured relationships, divorce, dysfunction, compromised finances, loss of loved ones, isolation, loneliness, and any number […]

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faith

Giving: An Act Of Worship 

When I was younger at our school play, I was asked to play one of the wise men. Can you imagine how the wise men felt, as they first looked upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? As part of their worship, they wanted to give Him gifts. They gave valuable presents to symbolize the love, honour and appreciation in […]

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faith

Are You Hurting?

If you are hurting this holiday season, remember:  Christ is the hope for the broken-hearted. Pain is real. He felt it. Heartbreak is inevitable. He experienced it. Tears come. His did. Betrayal happens. He was betrayed.  He knows. He sees. He understands. He loves deeply, in ways we can’t even fathom. When your heart breaks […]

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faith

Overcome Life’s Problems With Godly Strength And Wisdom

It was Norman Vincent Peale who once said, “One of the great truths in life is that you are bigger than anything that can happen to you—as long as you know it and act accordingly.” Every challenge and crisis that comes your way provides the opportunity for you to ask God to release the creative ingenuity, wisdom and […]