​It is to be lamented the things that people sometimes believe about the Bible. I had a friend in seminary who worked with me in the library who, just for the fun of it, once subscribed to a typical, ranting, raving Word of Faith ministry. Every now and again my friend would receive a little package in the post that contained some item that was intended to bless him in some way or another. He would receive these as long as he paid his monthly subscription fee, of course. I remember how we would all stand around him in anticipation as he unboxed everything from “special anointing oil” to “healing holy water,”and then watch him as he comically read the instructions and put his latest “gift” to the test. On one occasion he even received a little cloth that the self-proclaimed prophet-healer prayed over. He was instructed to place this “special” cloth over his Bible on the floor and then literally stand on his Bible whenever he prayed, because it would of course render his prayers especially effective.

This is sad but true. There are unfortunately many false views of what constitutes as effective prayer. The same applies to those who swear by the “name of Jesus.” These are people who would for instance say that our prayers only become effective when we insert the magic words somewhere along the line, “in Jesus’ name,” or “in the name of Jesus.” You ask them why they say so, they’ll quickly retort by saying that it is because of these “special” words that our prayers become heard in the first place. Along this line of reasoning they honestly believe that God doesn’t hear us if we do not insert the actual words “in the name of Jesus” or whichever derivative thereof. I distinctly remember a school teacher, God bless her heart, who once taught us that if we do not say “in Jesus’ name” before we say amen, that our prayers won’t reach higher than the ceiling.

​Wrong views of the employment of the name of Jesus certainly do abound. Sadly, some have opted for an approach to God that is similar to that of Aladdin’s with his genie. Allegedly prayers are only heard or answered when we “say the magic words,” and then voila! God will hear us. But this approach betrays an underlying blunder in biblical interpretation...

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​Few things are as precious as a freshly cooked meal, straight out of the oven and steaming hot. As a family we get to appreciate such meals most every evening, as all of us eagerly await to devour the scrumptious meal momma prepared with the greatest of love and care. All the way from chutney chicken and roast potatoes to chicken enchiladas, not to mention lamb chops and mash, her cooking, not to exaggerate, is the thing that dreams are made of. But what is equally thrilling, to me at least, is the opportunity to have another go at some of them, around lunch the next day. This of course is all made possible because of the invention of Tupperware and fridges. A simple, plastic container kept at the right temperature can amazingly contain and preserve the tastiest and nutritious meals, serving after serving, day after day, joyful laughter after joyful laughter. 

​Until they break…

Yes, Mr. Tupper’s containers were indeed made to store away the food equivalent of gold and to withstand some pressure. Indeed, they can be handled with fatty hands, you can drop them, bend them, use their lids as Frisbees (kids do it all the time), sit on them (toddlers especially like that) and so on. But since they are made of only plastic, they will eventually break. 

The apostle Paul once taught the Corinthian church a valuable lesson as it involved containers and the precious contents within it... Read the full article here