Jesus’s word for frustrated workers can be found in the fifth chapter of Luke’s gospel. Peter, Andrew, James, and John made their living catching and selling fish. Like other fishermen, they worked the night shift, when cool water brought the game to the surface. And, like other fishermen, they knew […]
Work Can Be Worship Read More »
Near the city of Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, is a remarkable facility. Twenty years ago the Brazilian government turned a prison over to two Christians. The institution was renamed Humaita, and the plan was to run it on Christian principles. With the exception of two full-time staff, all the work is done by inmates. Families outside the prison adopt an inmate to work with during and after his term. Chuck Colson visited the prison and made this report:
‘When I visited Humaita I found the inmates smiling- particularly the murderer who held the keys, opened the gates and let me in. Wherever I walked I saw men at peace. I saw clean living areas, people working industriously. The walls were decorated with Biblical sayings from Psalms and Proverbs…My guide escorted me to the notorious prison cell once used for torture.
Today, he told me, that block houses only a single inmate. As we reached the end of a long concrete corridor and he put the key in the lock, he paused and asked, “Are you sure you want to go in?”
“Of course,” I replied impatiently, “I’ve been in isolation cells all over the world.” Slowly he swung open the massive door, and I saw the prisoner in that punishment cell: a crucifix beautifully carved by the Humaita inmates-the prisoner Jesus, hanging on a cross.
Max Lucado
A Christian Prison Read More »
Skape is nie slim diere nie. Hulle kan nie deur vinnig vloeiende water beweeg of hulleself beskerm nie. Daarom het hulle ‘n herder nodig, ‘n goeie een. Wel, met ons is dit nie anders nie. Ons is nie so slim soos wat ons dink nie. Ook nie so sterk of
Nie so slim nie, maar wel kosbaar Read More »
“as julle geloof die toets deurstaan het, stel dit julle in staat om te volhard,” Jakobus 1:3.
Uithouvermoë beteken om “koers te hou.” Uithouvermoë is maar net nog ’n woord, totdat jy ’n huwelik vol twis moet hanteer, die lang pad ná ’n bankrotskap, egskeiding of siekte moet aandurf, jou lewe moet bymekaarskraap, of jouself moet voorberei om sukses op enige gebied te behaal. Dit verg toewyding om aan te hou wanneer jou vriende jou in die steek laat, wanneer Ontmoediging “Gee boedel oor!” in jou oor fluister en wanneer Twyfel sê: “Dit is onmoontlik!” In hierdie tye kry volharding nuwe betekenis. Dit word jou anker in ’n storm, jou kompas in tye van wanorde, en die ekstra uithouvermoë wat jou help om oor die volgende heuwel te kom.
