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Jouw toekomst, wat zegt God er over?
“Jij wordt volgende week miljonair!” Goed nieuws toch? Maar wat dacht je van: “Je zal niet ouder worden dan 35 jaar.” Dat is dan toch even wat meer schrikken. Maar deze boodschap krijg je niet in het ziekenhuis maar bij een waarzegster. En wat doe je dan met deze toekomstvoorspelling? Toekomst voorspellen is iets wat al eeuwen gedaan wordt. Van een waarzegster met haar glazen bol op de kermis, tot een paragnost die online tarot kaarten leest. De manieren waarop men de toekomst voorspelt lijken eindeloos. Culturen verschillen onderling ook in hun manieren. Zo lezen Roemeense heksen over de toekomst in tarwe korrels of je hand palm. In Rusland voorspelt men de toekomst door het druppelen van gesmolten lood, tin of bijenwas in water. Allemaal denken ze je een accurate voorspelling over ...
How Homeless Aliens Change the World (Ephesians 2:18-22)
Ephesians 2:18-22 is the final section in Ephesians 2 which shows us how God brings peace and unity to this world through the church. If we want peace and unity in this world, then it begins by living in peace and unity with other members of the family of God. Ephesians 2:18-22 shows us how this happens. Before we study this text, we consider a question from a reader about why he no longer senses God’s work in his life. Question from a Reader I’m 63 and I grew up in church. I used to do small things in the church. I would give out tracts and talk to people. I believe Jesus is the son of the living God and became human. I used to read my Bible all the time. But recently, I don’t get any spiritual understanding when I read the Bible. The Holy Spirit does not witness to me. I cry out to God t...
Vaccination Discrimination and Ephesians 2:13-17
Vaccinated or unvaccinated? Surprisingly, Ephesians 2:13-17 speaks to the issue. Sort of. In this study of Ephesians 2:13-17, we begin with a question from a reader about COVID vaccinations, and then turn to our ongoing study of Ephesians, where we discover that Jesus actually revealed to us what to do with people who have different views than we do, whether they are religious, political, social, or cultural differences, or even whether they are views about vaccination status. It’s going to be quite the study, so let’s dive in! We begin with a question from a reader about vaccination. Question from a Reader My pastor says that wearing a mask and getting a vaccine is a way to follow the command of Jesus to love my neighbor. I have some serious misgivings about the vaccine, but I want to fol...
Mindfulness | an invitation for rest
I hear a strange sound coming from my phone. Different from what I’m used to. I grab my phone out of curiosity. “Your average screen time last week was 2 hours and 38 minutes a day.” Wow. That much?! I let the numbers sink in. Of the 16 hours that I am awake on an average day, I apparently spent 15% on my phone. That’s so much! It’s also just bizar. In my head I’m pretty busy. I get overwhelmed by the tasks that I still have to do. My thoughts are everywhere except for where they should be. And I actually lost the overview. So how does that work with my phone? Apparently I do have time to spend about 18 hours a week on my phone. I did not realize that at all! It is time for some change. Time to be more aware of how I spend my time. But where do I start? Mindfulness I grab...
What does Jesus say about prayer?
“I don’t want to be afraid anymore.” “Life will bring you down, but you can choose to rise again.” Have you heard this quote before? No, this is not a statement from the Bible. It is from the blockbuster Karate Kid. A young guy moves to China and is bullied there. When he meets an old kung fu master, this man teaches him all the tricks of the martial art. He gives him confidence. By watching the master, by practicing a lot himself, he gets better and better. The most important lesson he learns: focus & always keep going! And strangely enough, that is exactly what we hear from Jesus about prayer. Let’s look at the “master of prayer” and find out how you can learn to pray. [embedded content] ‘Master’ Jesus about prayer; If you want to learn something well, you look to the master. T...
Famous people who pray
This list of famous people who pray will no doubt surprise you. You’ll see names that make you think, really?! Do you feel like praying is something for dull, boring people? Not according to these worldwide famous artists and actors! Read here what place prayer occupies in their lives. Famous people who pray: 1. Matthew McConaughey A celebrity who certainly does not hide that he believes in Jesus is Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club, Interstellar, The Wolf in Wall Street). Even during his Oscar speech, he mostly thanked God. Prayer plays an important role in his life and helps him to remain standing in Hollywood. “What I love about prayer is that in that moment I am ‘just’ a child of God. Not that famous actor, not the husband of, not the father, but simply a man in conta...
Serenity Prayer
Do you recognize it? The feeling that it’s all a bit too much? The feeling that you are overwhelmed? That you just want to run and flee from a situation, cover yourself in blankets and forget everything? Pray this Serenity Prayer and let God help you. You are not alone! God is with you. He wants to give you his peace and rest. Do you want to pray but are you having a hard time coming up with words? Do you wonder how you should pray? Maybe this Serenity Prayer will help you. Serenity Prayer God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did...
Ways of prayer within different religions?
Praying is a worldwide phenomenon that is seen in all religions. Even people who claim to be non-religious, pray every now and then. A little prayer meant for a higher power or yourself. Ways of prayer can differ quite a bit within religions! To whom do they pray? Within one religion, ways of prayer can differ a lot. Some christians use their own words to pray, while others pray a prayer that has been formulated in the past by someone else. Between all the different religions, these differences are much bigger. Buddhists, for example, do not pray to a god but to ‘enlightened beings’. The three enlightened beings that they speak to in their prayer are Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. They also turn prayer wheels while praying. Inside these wheels are rolls of paper with prayers in the...
What does the bible say about prayer?
Is praying really that important? Why would I pray? As a matter of fact, everyone should pray. Why? Because God thinks it’s important! What is prayer? One of the definitions that Google’s search results give to prayer is “contacting higher powers.” If you assume this definition to be correct, you will read the first spoken prayer in the Bible in Genesis 2:23. The Bible says quite a bit about prayer! Read on! Hopefully these Bible verses about prayer will encourage you. Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:24 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jere...
Learn how to pray
Standing on hold for hours and then suddenly you hear that terrible sentence: ‘this caller can’t be connected’. And just when you needed help or a complaint. So frustrating that you want to throw your phone across the room. Recognizable? That’s how it can feel when praying. You need help or have a complaint and you can’t seem to get in touch with God. Or you are not used to praying at all and you are afraid that you have the wrong number. You may think: what am I doing wrong? Where can I follow a Learn how to Pray course? Learn how to pray step by step Even if you have no idea how prayer works, you have already taken the most important step. That’s nice, isn’t it? The very first step for you to learn how to pray is that you want to connect with God. If you’re reading this article, you prob...
What is worship?
Picture this. A father and daughter are sitting in their church pew on a sunday morning. Topic today: What is worship? The preacher talks about Psalm 23: ‘the Lord is my shepherd’. As an experiment he has asked several musicians to play that old Psalm from the Bible. In their own favorite worship style. First one up is a cantor, a singer who solemnly sings the song without any musical support. Next is the organ player. He gives a slow and steady performance of the psalm and the congregation joins in. Up comes the lady with the harp, who sings and plays the song. Last is the worship band: drums, guitars, the violin and a saxophone. The lead singers get everybody up on their feet and singing along. My question to you: what is the best way to worship God? Best way to worship? The ...
The Things that Divide Us (Ephesians 2:11-12)
There were six things that caused division and strife between Jews and Gentiles. Paul discusses these in Ephesians 2:11-12. These same six things are found in various ways today in our culture and country. As we learn how Paul wanted the Ephesian Christians to respond to these sources of division, we can learn to live at peace with others today as well. All of this is covered in this study of Ephesians 2:11-12. Before we look at that, however, we consider a question from a reader about the difference between a believer and a disciple. Question from a Reader I have read over your page on the difference between a believer and a disciple more than once. Recently I have started reading the Bible again after not reading it systematically for a long time-I tried being a disciple when I was about...
