by Al Boyce
In those days there were three computers, endowed equally by their makers with processing power, memory and addressable storage.
Continue reading “The Parable of the PC”
Author: nelurs
The Mapquest to heaven
by John Urs
Every time I have to travel to a place where I?ve never been or I?ve not been there lately, my favorite place to find directions is mapquest. Everything looks so easy, you just key in your location and your destination and with one click you get the precious directions. You get the shortest way, the fastest way, the mileage and the time of traveling.
Sounds great no? Yes, it makes all so easy? But traveling isn?t that easy and when you start to travel you find out that there are certain unpredicted things like a traffic jam, an accident and sometimes?the wrong directions. Most of the times mapquest is giving you good directions, but sometimes you get some wrong directions too.
Music and theology
by Russel Cairns -M.Th.
How has song and music been used overtime to express Christian theology and faith?
Music and song are a God created means of expressing our deepest emotions, feelings, faith and praise before God. The people of God throughout all time, regardless of location, have always expressed their faith through music and song. As Gelineau writes, ?The Christian liturgy was born singing and it has never ceased to sing.?? Yet long before the birth of Christ song and music was regarded as one of the most fundamental constituents of worship and has continued through the history of the church. Song/music was seen as a rite in the same way as prayer and communion to the point that Augustine remarked, outside scriptural reading and bishop praying,
?..is there any time when the faithful assembled in church are not singing? Truly I see nothing better, more useful or more holy that they could do.? Continue reading “Music and theology”
Garbage In, Garbage Out
by Al Boyce
I’m just a garbage man.
There’s no other way to look at it. I pick up things destined for the dumpster and bring them to throw-away people.
It saves the homeless a trip to the dumpster, and postpones by a second or two the time when all landfills will run out of room. Continue reading “Garbage In, Garbage Out”
Sermon on the Mall
by Al Boyce
And in those days, there was a shopping mall where Jesus and His disciples paused to address the multitudes.
Jesus spokes in parables, so that even the lowliest shopper would understand. Continue reading “Sermon on the Mall”
An unforgettable Christmas
by Vladimir Dubchak
As a preacher?s son I had to travel with my dad to different parts of USSR were dad was preaching and encouraging local churches.
It was such pleasure to travel with my dad, see him preaching and people to be saved. Sometimes trips were marked with my worries about my dad. Several times, coming through airport security, special agents would check our baggage. They would take dad aside explaining that his Bible and other religious literature were printed in Finland and is not authorized in USSR, and should be confiscated. Dad knew he had just one option how to get his Bible and other books back. He would start talk loudly about USSR constitution that guarantees freedom of religion. Finally, the crowd waiting in line would get angry at the officers and security agents would have to back away. Continue reading “An unforgettable Christmas”
Google or Jesus
So many choices, so many opportunities. Which one is the best for me? What should I choose for my future Continue reading “Google or Jesus”
Shopping for the perfect…church
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles? doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42
We live a time of prosperity and freedom, especially in USA. We got so used with shopping options, that these become our second nature. When we want to buy something we have to make a lot of When decisions and relate our decision to price, quality, brand, etc. All these decisions have something in common: our benefit. Continue reading “Shopping for the perfect…church”
Reflection on Practice
by Florentin Clipa
Spiritual mentoring is essentially a reflective process. Discuss the benefits and dangers of this form of ministry in the contemporary church.
Reflection is at the core in the ministry of the church, and implicitly at the core of practical theology because everything that men do, especially the Christians in their activities, must do it with a sound thinking, more precisely a theological reflection. This work attempts to show the role of reflection on practice in the ministry, the way it eveloped and grew with special emphasis on spiritual mentoring which is essentially a reflective process. To understand it well, it?s necessary to look closely on the nature of spiritual mentoring and the benefits and dangers that come into discussion. Continue reading “Reflection on Practice”
Is music a religion?
An Honest Opinion about Music. Continue reading “Is music a religion?”
Why Are Teenagers Tired?
?Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator
of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.? Isaiah 40: 28-31
?And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.? Acts 20:9
We live very interesting times. Many times I look to the young people and they look so bored, so tired, so lifeless? when it?s about doing something for the Lord and for others. Continue reading “Why Are Teenagers Tired?”
Facing My Weaknesses
by John Urs
?Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab?s anger was aroused against David, and he said, ?Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.?
?And Saul said to David, ?You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.? (1 Sam 17:28,33)
You can?t do it! You?re not the right person! It?s impossible! You just can?t! Can?t you see the reality?
?
?Are these familiar words to you? Continue reading “Facing My Weaknesses”
