by Soo-Inn Tan | Dec 29, 2023 | 2023, Hope, Jesus' Birth, Loving Others
This Christmas I felt very conflicted. On the one hand there were the usual encouragements to “ho-ho-ho”; to rejoice because Jesus had come. I preached a number of Christmas sermons, including one on John 1:1–18 and reminded one and all that...
by Soo-Inn Tan | Dec 22, 2023 | 2023, Articles, Evangelism, Jesus' Birth, Jesus' Second Coming, Soo-Inn Tan
Last Sunday I preached on Luke 2:8–20 and the shepherds’ encounter with the angel who brought the news of the coming of the promised Messiah. As I reflected further on the passage I thought of how ordinary, how quiet, the evening must have been before the appearance...
by Soo-Inn Tan | Dec 15, 2023 | 2023, Articles, Christian Living, Soo-Inn Tan
Does Jesus have to photobomb His own birth celebration? As we approach Christmas, preparations for all sorts of Christmas celebrations are in full swing. The irony is that we usually end up doing a lot of stuff in Jesus’s name but not really spending any time with...
by Soo-Inn Tan | Dec 8, 2023 | 2023, Loneliness, Loving Others, Relationships, Spiritual Friendship
A time of rapid and many changes brings many opportunities and many dangers. Scott and Gratton write: As we live longer lives with more transitions we now have an opportunity to rethink how we form and sustain relationships. The adaptability and flexibility of...
by Soo-Inn Tan | Dec 1, 2023 | 2023, Discipleship, God's Will, Obedience & Faithfulness, Prayer, Rest & Busyness
The past four mornings I have had the joy and privilege of sharing the morning devotion for the Compassion International Asia leadership gathering. Yesterday morning was my last one and I shared about the Mary and Martha story (Luke 10:38–42 ). Rereading...
by Hobart Lee | Nov 28, 2023 | 2023, Blog, Christian Living, Discernment, Money
Can Christians gamble? That is, is it permissible for followers of Christ to place a financial stake in games of chance for financial gain? The question is a moral one, and we ought to distinguish it, subtly but crucially, from issues of policy. Policy includes a...