The Business of Church

by Charl Dreyer on August 18, 2009 · 0 comments

in Lifestyle, Local, Markets

Many times over the last few years my attention has been drawn to Luke and The Parable of the Shrewd Manager, as the New International Version calls it. Other versions refer to this passage as The Parable of the Unjust Steward.

“Man is surely stark raving mad,” Michel de Montaigne said. “He can’t make a worm, but he makes gods by the dozen.” I imagine that we’re all aware of the subtlety and insidiousness of idolatry, yet how many times, in how many ways, do we set idols before God?

Business can sometimes be that to me. Not that business is wrong, irredeemable. No – simply, it needs always to be kept in its place, always and fully consecrated to God.

I believe for the time being it is my calling to be ‘in business’. I love it. At the same time it’s exciting and repetitive, challenging and easy, there are successes and there are bitter disappointments, people exceed expectations, people fail dismally. [click to continue…]

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Matthias

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by Charl Dreyer on July 17, 2009 · 0 comments

in Martyrs

From Fox’s Book of Martyrs: History of Christian Martyrs to the First General Persecutions under Nero

One of the least known disciples, Matthias was chosen in place of Judas. It was in Jerusalem that he was first stoned and then beheaded.

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James the Great

by Charl DreyerJuly 12, 2009 Martyrs
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An account of James’ death by Clemens Alexandrinus, an important writer at the time, gives us more details. As James was led away to his death he displayed such great courage that one of his accusers was moved to repentance. Falling down at James’ feet he requested his pardon and, professing himself a Christian, decided that James should not receive the martyr’s crown alone.

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Stephen

by Charl DreyerJuly 10, 2009 Martyrs
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Anger towards Stephen was so intense that the rioting mob threw him out of the city and stoned him to death. This set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and believers were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. All, that is, but the apostles.

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