Reflection James 4:15 When well-meaning friends have recently asked us the friendly question, “Where will you be in the next several months?” my response has been, “I don’t know.” One spiritual-sounding American put the question like this — “What’s your sense from the Lord?” I smilingly responded over the phone, “James 4.” I then mentioned several factors involved in making decisions (when will airports reopen? How far into Amy’s pregnancy will we be when things re-open?, etc.). These factors are outside my control. The Coronavirus crisis is forcing me to say, “I don’t know.” That’s a good thing. It’s actually […]
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What Does the Bible Say About Disease? Part 4: Contemplating in Crises
The other day I read an article on CBC stating that “Mental illness will be (the) ‘next wave’ of (the) COVID-19 pandemic, according to epidemiologists, because of people being in prolonged isolation. Consequently, I am staying on the topic of mental illness. It can be such a taboo topic to many, even Christians, but it is nevertheless important that we speak and be open about it. “We very speedily care for bodily diseases; they are too painful to let us slumber in silence; and they soon urge us to seek a physician or a surgeon for our healing. Oh, if […]
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A Call to Endure (Part 1)
Romans 5:1-5 Like me and I am sure you will agree, it has been an extremely challenging & difficult time, since our State President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, announced the nationwide lock-down three weeks ago. Today would have marked the end of the lock-down & have no doubt, many of us were looking forward in eager anticipation to this day, when our lives would have returned to some sort of normality. However, that was not meant to be until last Thursday when our State President addressed the nation by giving an update on the coronavirus and announced a further two week […]
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Sufficient for Today
You don’t need anyone to tell you that being ‘locked down’ is difficult – emotionally, mentally and relationally. If we knew we’d be locked down for just one day or even one week (or even two weeks) it wouldn’t be nearly as hard. If we see the light at the end of the tunnel, enduring the dark tunnel is much easier. Unfortunately, we don’t know how long we’ll face this crisis. That especially makes us anxious. I’ve noticed, over the past few weeks, that it’s especially when I start thinking about the future, that I get anxious. One verse that […]
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What Does The Bible Say About Disease? Part 3 : David in Darkness
“Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” Psalm 69:1-3 ESV There is another condition that may be affecting the human body amidst these times, besides the globally-feared COVID-19. Incredible sadness. Sorrow. Desolation. Extreme loneliness. Perhaps even depression. It is quite normal to feel this way. In Zack Eswine’s highly-recommended book, Spurgeon’s Sorrows […]
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