Surprised by Grace (16): It’s sufficient
Would we expect prayers refused as grace? Of course not! Prayers answered might be. Prayers unanswered has a name: curse, or maybe punishment! Here lies the surprise …
Surprised by Grace (15): A tiny safe place
I denied him, three times! I never wanted to relive that moment. But he forced me to, asking me three times. I had no place to turn. I knew he knew my failures. Yet I knew he knew I loved him. This was the narrow gap I was standing at …
Surprised by Grace (14): There’s no regret
Why a tiny nation can survive in the Middle East surrounded by perennially antagonistic peoples? Why their people consistently emerge as leading and excellent success stories in various fields? Try one might to ascribe it to …
Surprised by Grace (13): Exception or rule
It is often puzzling. To the point of inequitable. The bandit who prayed to Jesus just before he died got a ticket to paradise. He hadn’t done anything to prove his confession was genuine. No penance. No good works …
Surprised by Grace (12): No qualification needed
It’s comforting to know that doing right will ultimately count for something. It is reassuring especially at low points in life. “Eventually justice is on my side,” righteous people tell themselves. At least the Bible says …
Surprised by Grace (11): A rest eternal
Anyone who has read about Jesus, or who has expectations of religion, will not have settled for rest from temporal difficulties. Let’s not debate the fact that Jesus said, “rest for your souls” …
Surprised by Grace (10): No Room for Vengeance
Jesus was giving hope to the oppressed. Jews in two different times. Different times. Same longing. Jesus’ message of hope and consolation was exactly what was needed … Even in 2021 …
Surprised by Grace (9): His Hands
The same hands that held me When I was born. The same hands that wrote My story of grace. The same hands that rolled The stone from the grave. Those hands are holding my world …
Surprised by Grace (8): A Cry of Despair
It’s human nature. There must be something we did wrong. So wrong that it is irreparable. So wrong that it has estranged us from Him. We are convinced as a rational conclusion, that God is just …
Surprised by Grace (7): A Second Chance for the 80-year-old Moses
Moses wasted at least 80 years of his life. More if his approval ratings during his final 40 were taken into account. So it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to use failure to summarise his entire life ...
Surprised by Grace (6): You have to forgive: Is it work? Or is it grace?
“What is the key difference between Catholicism and Protestantism?” The teacher started the class. “Catholics think they would need to do good to get to heavens. Protestants say they only need to believe.” ...
Surprised by Grace (5): Christmas
Christmas has become cliche, under woke attack. Those who can still investigate and think objectively (another taboo word), will decide for themselves. The story that came down to us, rightly and wrongly, has an obvious punch of surprise …
Surprised by Grace (4): Moses and Jesus condone divorce?
Let’s not extrapolate if Jesus encouraged divorce. Let’s not too question if Jesus upheld one man one woman marriage. Let’s not lose focus on these obviously settled issues …
Surprised by Grace (3): Hosea’s Complaint
I was infuriated. I was fuming. How could he ask me to marry an adulterous woman!? How could he ask me to bear children with her, an act of adultery?! …
Surprised by Grace (2): Seth
How could I tell my would-be parents that I am their unborn son who has knowledge of the future? I saw the flood, the Tower building at Babel, and the near tragedy of sacrificing Isaac, and the real tragedies and atrocities of …
Surprised by Grace (1): the adulterous woman and Simon Peter
I would love to believe that when on the day I am before God, it would be grace that surprises me. Two persons in the Gospel of John met with grace. Both have committed acts that are irreversible …