This Week With Jesus

Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage". There is a very strange phenomenon that occurs in a place called Jatinga in Assam, India, wherein migratory birds commit mass suicide.  During the specified months, when the air is foggy, misty, or cloudy, various species of birds see light through windows and in an effort to reach the light they ram into the windows and get killed. The question arises: why do these birds, like a ritual, arrive at the same time every year only to meet their demise? Can they not change their route? This reminds me of us humans. Even though our spirit has been made free in Christ, yet we tend to get entangled in the yoke and bondage of sin frequently. Like those birds we have a tendency to 'commit suicide' by frequently sliding back into sin, sometimes deliberately, sometimes without realizing it. but unlike them, we have a way out in Jesus Christ w...

Every time I read the Bible or a verse from, it creates an imagery which conjures up questions. For example, I have read the story of David and Goliath dozens of times. But when I did the last time, it suddenly struck me that how did David become an expert slings man? On researching it, turns out that most shepherds of that time were excellent with the sling shot, kept practicing all the time, basically to be able to drive wild animals to protect the herd. Most armies of the day had a contingent of slings men as well.  The sling shot was an ancient version of today's guns, and the stone or ball was as deadly as the modern-day bullet. In the hands of an expert (like a herdsman) the shot could pierce the Armour or helmet of the opponent. Flying close to about 200 kilometers per hour, making them comparable in power to a modern .44 Magnum handgun in the right hands. As a herdsman, David had plenty of time for target practice, to polish this survival skill. This fact made me realize th...

Have you ever wondered what kind of a man could be on Gods leadership team? Not in terms of riches or power or might but in terms of righteousness, because unreasonably and unconsciously, we expect that of God's leaders. For the answer we looked at the great leaders in the Bible, and found shortcomings in many many of them. Some Bible figures who had shortcomings include: Moses : Moses had a tendency to get angry, and once killed an Egyptian David : David was an adulterer and a murderer Peter: Peter denied Christ on the night of his arrest Abraham: Abraham lied about his wife, Sarah, and had a child with Hagar, instead of not trusting Gods promise. Jacob: Jacob tricked his father into giving him Esau's birthright Aaron: Aaron made an idol for Israel to worship Paul: not only persecuted early Christians to the extant of death but his attitude to women in the church (among other things) was somewhat questionable. For example, the First letter to the Corinthians says, "W...

In a small, quiet village nestled among rolling hills, lived a young shepherd named Elias. His days were filled with the gentle rhythm of tending his flock, the warmth of the sun on his face, and the comforting sound of sheep bells. Yet, beneath his simple life, Elias carried a deep longing for something more. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the fields, Elias sat on a hilltop, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of the sky. A gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers, and as he listened to the distant bleating of his sheep, a sense of peace washed over him. In that moment, Elias heard a voice, soft and clear, like the whisper of a summer rain. "I am the Good Shepherd," the voice said. "I know my own and my own know me." Startled, Elias looked around, but there was no one there. Yet, the voice continued, filling him with a sense of warmth and belonging. "I lay down my life for my sheep." As Elias liste...

The Little Foxes Did you know foxes love grapes (among other fruits). In fact, the term  "sour grapes"  comes from the story of the fox who tried to eat the grapes on a branch but couldn't reach them so after several failed attempts he gave up muttering - "they would have been sour anyway" Learn what the Bible has to say about these sweet little creatures. Click Here   Repurposing Failure How many times in life we take a decision or done or not done something only to realize we have blown it? When failure stares us in the face we dread the result with that sinking feeling, with the knowledge of the outcome of our failure? But guess what? We know of at least 5 Biblical characters who went through failures and yet built on it for success. Click Here to read more   

Did you know there was a 4th Wise man who didn't make it?  Long ago in the late 1800s a man named Eric Van Dyke wrote a short story about a "fourth" wise man (accepting the tradition that the Magi numbered three), a priest of the Magi named Artaban, one of the Medes from Persia. Like the other Magi, he sees signs in the heavens proclaiming that a King has been born among the Jews. Like them, he sets out to see the newborn ruler, carrying treasures to give as gifts to the child - a sapphire, a ruby, and a "pearl of great price". However, he stops along the way to help a dying man, which makes him late to meet with the caravan of the other three wise men. Because he missed the caravan, and he can't cross the desert with only a horse, he is forced to sell one of his treasures in order to buy the camels and supplies necessary for the trip. He then commences his journey but arrives in Bethlehem too late to see the child, whose parents have fled to Egypt. He saves...

* the Free Dictionary How many times in life we take a decision or done or not done something only to realize we have blown it? When failure stares us in the face we dread the result with that sinking feeling, with the knowledge of the outcome of our failure? But guess what? We know of at least 5 Biblical characters who went through failures and yet built on it for success. You see it is not the failure itself that Hurts us but our reaction to that failure . And there are enough examples in the Bible. But God does not turn His face away when we fail. He loves a good come back ! Look at King David - he broke half the commandments! David coveted Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11:2-3), committed adultery with her (2 Sam. 11:4) effectively stealing her from Uriah (2 Sam. 12:9), lying to him (2 Sam. 11:12-13) , and eventually having him murdered (2 Sam. 12:9). The prophet Elijah had such a major burnout he ran and hid himself. And what about Paul's awful history, Peter's denial, ...

 "Not mine, but your will be done"