Blog – Peniel | Face To Face With God

Adopted to Sonship: Understanding Huiothesia in Paul

by Ramesh Naraine | Dec 11, 2025 | Pastor's Desk

Introduction: More Than Rescue When we hear the word “adoption” in modern Western contexts, we instinctively think of the noble act of taking in a vulnerable child who needs a home, don’t we? It’s beautiful, it’s compassionate, and it’s life-transforming. But here’s the thing: this modern understanding can obscure what the Apostle Paul actually meant […]

Adopted to Sonship: What Paul Really Meant (and Why It Matters to You)

by Ramesh Naraine | Dec 3, 2025 | Pastor's Desk

Introduction: Not What You Think When you hear “adoption,” you probably picture a Hallmark moment—a family welcoming a chosen child. That’s nice, but that’s not what Paul meant when he wrote about huiothesia (Greek for “adoption to sonship”). Here’s the reality: the Roman Empire wasn’t known for kindness to vulnerable people. When a wealthy Roman […]

Don’t let your love grow cold!

by Ramesh Naraine | Nov 7, 2025 | Pastor's Desk

Western Culture in Upheaval To say that Western society is in upheaval would be the understatement of the decade. Identity politics, wars threatening global stability, economic uncertainty, institutional distrust, rising violence, and the massive upending of cultural norms regarding sexual identity—it’s enough to make anyone despair. Fear, anxiety, confusion, disillusionment, and hopelessness seem to rule […]

The Two End Time Loves

by Ramesh Naraine | Apr 21, 2023 | Pastor's Desk

To say that Western society is in upheaval would be the understatement of the decade. Whether it is identity politics, invasions threatening global stability, economic uncertainty, mistrust of leaders and institutions, an upsurge in violence on our streets and in our schools, or the massive upending of cultural norms with regard to sexual identity, it […]

Make Us One

by Ramesh Naraine | May 27, 2022 | Pastor's Desk

You know how sometimes you read a passage of Scripture and unexpectedly something in that passage jumps out at you? Maybe you’ve read that passage several times, but this time Holy Spirit highlights an idea and it goes deep into you and if you act on it your life can change in a real way. […]

A kiss from my father in heaven

by Ramesh Naraine | May 27, 2022 | Pastor's Desk

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] I’ve always liked horses. I haven’t had much contact with them mind you. I have ridden a few in various places along the way. I love to rub under their neck where their heart is. A horse trainer once told me they like that. I’ve done so a […]

The Kingdom’s impact on culture

by Ramesh Naraine | May 27, 2022 | Pastor's Desk

Ramesh Naraine’s review of a talk by Mike Frank Original posted on the Catch The Fire Blog Feb 16th, 2022. A pastor’s confession As a follower of Jesus are you provoked by the way you see our society spiralling away from God-centred values? Here’s a bit of frank honesty from a local church pastor […]

The Fruit of Hope (Part 3 of 3)

by Jeremy Blum | May 14, 2020 | Guest Writer

By Jeremy Blum As much as I am writing this blog series on the subject of hope, I am by no means an expert in it. Fruit tends to be the long-term result of something, and being still relatively young, I am discovering the long-term impact of hope in me experientially. Likewise, I’m learning […]

The Power of Hope (Part 2 of 3)

by Jeremy Blum | May 14, 2020 | Guest Writer

By Jeremy Blum In the first part of this blog series, “Reason for Hope”, I talked about why, no matter the circumstance, we can have hope. Now in the last two parts of this series I would like to share why we should have hope. My hope in writing this is that you’ll be inspired […]

Reason for Hope (Part 1 of 3)

by Jeremy Blum | May 14, 2020 | Guest Writer

By Jeremy Blum World wars, natural disasters, global pandemics, family challenges, personal struggles and tragedies – you name it. There are so many things that present the opportunity to lose hope. Hopelessness renders us a victim, and actually colours our perspective of life, turning our rose-tinted glasses into sunglasses. It makes it hard to […]

New Year’s Greetings – 2020

by Ramesh Naraine | Jan 9, 2020 | Pastor's Desk

Happy New Year everyone! May 2020 be a glorious year for each of you as you have many and diverse encounters with the transforming presence of our Trinitarian God! Our CTF Scarborough board met last night and we had a great meeting celebrating Jesus and his goodness! We looked back with deep gratitude to God […]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

by Ramesh Naraine | Dec 12, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

There was a period in my life when the Christmas / Yearend season was a time to dread, or at best, endure. Life wasn’t unfolding as I had imagined. I was lonely, dissatisfied … and mad at God as a result. I only saw what was missing and I concluded that he was a withholding […]

Marriage, Struggle, Shame

by Ramesh Naraine | Nov 28, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

Joy Locke and Ramesh Naraine Hidden, assumed or unstated expectations can cause significant rifts in relationships. We all have unspoken expectations of each other whether they be in the workplace, in social circles, or in the marriage relationship. They can, for instance, be behavioural, financial, or parenting expectations. When those expectations are not met we […]

Meditations on Communion – Part 4 of 4 – Examine Yourself

by Ramesh Naraine | Nov 14, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. – 1 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NLT) There are three things that I want to say […]

Meditations on Holy Communion – Part 3 of 4 – Remember Me

by Ramesh Naraine | Nov 7, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my […]

Meditations on Holy Communion -Part 2 of 4 – Discerning the body

by Ramesh Naraine | Oct 31, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. – 1 Corinthians 11:29 (NIV) This verse tells us that there are dire consequences to not properly discerning the body of Christ as we partake in Holy Communion. It is therefore important for us to understand what […]

Meditations on Holy Communion – Part 1 of 4 – Whenever you eat

by Ramesh Naraine | Oct 24, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. – 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV) In our congregation, we take Holy Communion every Sunday. We do this primarily because we deliberately want to keep the centrality of the Cross at the forefront of our gatherings. We only […]

Presence. Encounter. Transformation. Part 3 of 3

by Ramesh Naraine | Sep 18, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

As we have begun a new cycle of life, with summer holidays in the rearview mirror and a new year unfolding before us, it is time to revisit the theme of “Encountering God’s Transforming Presence.” Today we speak about the last in our three-part series – Transformation … When we decide to become followers of […]

Presence. Encounter. Transformation. Part 2 of 3

by Ramesh Naraine | Sep 12, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

As we begin a new cycle of life, with summer holidays behind us and a new school year ahead of us, it is time to revisit the theme of “Encountering God’s Transforming Presence.” This week we speak about Encounter … The chief goal for my life, and for those who choose to be under my […]

Presence. Encounter. Transformation. Part 1 of 3

by Ramesh Naraine | Sep 5, 2019 | Pastor's Desk

As we begin a new season of life, with summer holidays behind us and a new school year ahead of us, it is time to revisit the theme of, “Encountering God’s Transforming Presence.” This week we speak about Presence … In the Old Testament, the same word that is translated “presence” is translated “face”; it’s […]

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Adopted to Sonship: Understanding Huiothesia in Paul

Adopted to Sonship: What Paul Really Meant (and Why It Matters to You)

Don’t let your love grow cold!

The Two End Time Loves

Make Us One

A kiss from my father in heaven

The Kingdom’s impact on culture

The Fruit of Hope (Part 3 of 3)

The Power of Hope (Part 2 of 3)

Reason for Hope (Part 1 of 3)

New Year’s Greetings – 2020

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Marriage, Struggle, Shame

Meditations on Communion – Part 4 of 4 – Examine Yourself

Meditations on Holy Communion – Part 3 of 4 – Remember Me

Meditations on Holy Communion -Part 2 of 4 – Discerning the body

Meditations on Holy Communion – Part 1 of 4 – Whenever you eat

Presence. Encounter. Transformation. Part 3 of 3

Presence. Encounter. Transformation. Part 2 of 3

Presence. Encounter. Transformation. Part 1 of 3

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