Apr 23
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petercarolane added a text contribution God's word sanctifiesI like that Jesus prayed for the disciples protection but did not ask God to take them out of the world. Also, this is a fresh reminder that God's word sanctifies us - makes us set apart and more like Jesus. Read more »
Apr 22
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petercarolane added a text contribution Embrace the HebelIn Hebrew the word for "Meaningless" is "Hebel". Hebel means: wind, vapour, mystery, intangible, dust etc... Solomon is saying everything is like the wind - random or impossible to control.... I once came up with a saying which I often use for personal encouragement "Embrace the Hebel". In other words, life is full of random stuff, sometimes there is not reason for what happens. Good people suffer, bad people prosper and there is no reason. The "Hebel"… Read more »
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petercarolane added a text contribution Iron-Smelting FurnaceI quite like this description of Egypt "the iron-smelting furnace". This could also be a good word painting for the former life of slavery to sin. It evokes thoughts of hardship, suffering and tiredness. Read more »
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petercarolane added a text contribution Good description of idolatryI like this discription of man-made Gods - "...which cannot see or hear or eat or smell". The repeated "or" emphasises how pathetic idols are. Read more »
Jan 7
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petercarolane added a text contribution The Lord HatesIt's important to remember God's capacity to hate people. "the wicked and those who love violence" Read more »
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petercarolane added a text contribution one languageAs the world becomes smaller through globalisation, more people are speaking English. I wonder how long this will last? Read more »
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petercarolane added a text contribution judgmentThis is an early clear reference to God's impending judgment of humans and their personal responsibility for their thoughts and actions. Read more »
Jan 5
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petercarolane added a text contribution Why is fasting out of fashion in the West?Fasting is one of those disciplines that western Christians mostly overlook. The only people I know who fast are either super hard core quiet prayer warriors, or kooky overly pious Christians. But I wonder if fasting is the very kind of spiritual discipline that we westerners need to be practising so as to deal with our idol of wealth and consumerism and also our general spiritual disengagement with God. Read more »
Jan 4
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petercarolane added a text contribution Human sin and God's graceThis verse is a good one to describe God's attitude to sin. Grace. Read more »
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petercarolane added a text contribution judgment and creationNot only must God have grieved "wiping out" humanity, but he must have also ached at the site of his creation being thrown in the rubbish. It evokes the image in my mind of an artist painting a picture and then ripping up the canvas to start again. Read more »