Blog – Page 3 – Peniel | Face To Face With God

A Tale of Two Deaths: Part 1

by Ramesh Naraine | Sep 27, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] As a local church pastor one of my least favourite tasks is conducting funerals. There are strong emotions expressed ranging from sadness to anger. There are sometimes, depending on how death occurred, those pain-filled “Why?!” questions. Since I avoid pat […]

How to Respond to Jesus

by Ramesh Naraine | Sep 20, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] I am fond of the letter to the Hebrews. It is written to Jews who have become followers of Jesus as Messiah. Consequently, they are under intense persecution for their new faith. The writer compares the old religious system to […]

On Christian Freedom

by Ramesh Naraine | Sep 12, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] Giving interviews to journalists was one of the “joys” I had when I was serving on the Advance Team of the “World’s Largest Floating Bookstore”, MV LOGOS II. We would go ahead of the ship into an upcoming port in […]

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

by Ramesh Naraine | Sep 5, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

Blind Bartimaeus is a beggar on the outskirts of Jericho. He hears that Jesus is passing by and begins to cry out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” He understands from the stories he had heard that Jesus is able to heal him. So even though the crowd tries to […]

The end is near!

by Ramesh Naraine | Aug 30, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful […]

Are you thirsty for God?

by Ramesh Naraine | Aug 23, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed […]

Loving Up, In and Out

by Ramesh Naraine | Aug 16, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

A religious leader came to Jesus and asked him what the greatest commandment was. Jesus essentially said, love God with everything within you and love your neighbour as yourself. (See Matt 22:36-40 NIV) Our theme at Catch The Fire Scarborough for 2018 is: Loving Up, In and Out! And we are basing this on the […]

2 Guiding Principles

by Ramesh Naraine | Aug 8, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

When we planted the church, our leaders commissioned us into our new phase of life and ministry. While they were praying over us two phrases rushed into my mind. The first phrase was, “I will build my church”. The second was, “Make disciples of all peoples.” Every red-blooded believer knows, even vaguely, what those phrases […]

GREAT BIG GOD… little bitty devil

by Ramesh Naraine | Aug 2, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

I’ve been cautious about addressing the topic of spiritual warfare. There are two main reasons: The first is that, in my experience, there has been a gross preoccupation with the devil and his works. For some, there is a demon in every teacup. My estimation is that this focus on spiritual warfare and what the […]

Suit Up for Battle: At War With the Devil

by Ramesh Naraine | Jul 25, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

(The third in a three-part series on the disciple and the battle) The New Testament tells us that we are at war! It is clear that every follower of Jesus is engaged in a battle that is on three fronts: the world, the flesh and the devil. This blog focuses on the battle against the […]

Suit Up For Battle: At War with the Flesh

by Ramesh Naraine | Jul 19, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] (The second in a three-part series on the disciple and the battle) The New Testament tells us that we are at war! It is clear that every follower of Jesus is engaged in a battle that is on three fronts: […]

Suit Up for Battle: At War With The World

by Ramesh Naraine | Jul 12, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

(A three-part series on the disciple and the battle) The New Testament tells us that we are at war! It is clear that every follower of Jesus is engaged in a battle and that battle is on three fronts: the world, the flesh and the devil. This blog will focus on the battle against “the […]

The Great (Commission) Promise

by Ramesh Naraine | Jul 5, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me … And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) True to form, when Jesus gave us The Great Commission he also gave us The Great Promise. […]

Making Disciples – The Great Omission!

by Ramesh Naraine | Jun 28, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

Jesus gave us The Great Commission but we have made the Great Omission! Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt 28:19-20 NIV) My NT […]

Father’s Day Message

by Ramesh Naraine | Jun 21, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

With Father’s Day here again, it’s good to think about this topic of Fathering. Here are some of my thoughts: Fatherhood is at a low premium in the culture today. Everywhere you look the concept of “father” has been diminished. Look at the most popular TV shows, if there is a father figure in the […]

At the (second) tomb of Lazarus …

by Ramesh Naraine | Jun 14, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

The last notable thing that we did before returning home from our sabbatical was to visit the Church of St Lazarus in Larnaka, Cyprus. It is a church erected in honour of Lazarus of Bethany who was raised from the dead by Jesus. (This event is recorded in John 11). This church is only significant […]

Jerusalem, If I Forget You…

by Ramesh Naraine | Jun 6, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

Jerusalem, if I forget you … If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy. – Psalm 137:5-6 (NIV) Elsie and I went to Jerusalem in […]

The BIG GIVE

by Ramesh Naraine | May 28, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

When we give in the name of Jesus it’s never just a humanitarian action. There is a heavenly dimension to it and who knows what could happen when the Spirit is involved!

Praying the “Our Father” – Part 3

by Ramesh Naraine | May 24, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

Now, I must make some pastoral comments about what the blessed life is. The blessed life is first and foremost an internal life. What do I mean by that? I simply mean that we can live in the blessing of God’s goodness even in those seasons when our circumstances might be screaming the opposite!

Praying the Our Father – part 2

by Ramesh Naraine | May 17, 2018 | Pastor's Desk

Praying the "Lord's Prayer"... the "Our Father" This power-packed prayer has much to teach us: What is the significance of God being KING? What does it mean to Hallow God's name?

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