Category Archives: Bible

A lamp to my feet

Posted on March 17, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Back in the dark days of the Cold War, Anatoli Shcharansky said goodbye to his wife as she left Russia for Israel. His parting words were: ‘I’ll see you soon in Jerusalem.’ But soon after he was detained and sent … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Faith, Guidance, Hope, Spiritual blessing, Spiritual comfort | Leave a comment

The story may start with prejudice … but

Posted on September 21, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s a tendency to discount the Bible because of odd verses in the Old Testament that don’t fit modern ideas. But one of the basic rules of understanding is that you have to look at the whole story, not just … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Bible, Bigotry, Bitterness, Goodness, Gospel, Grace, Jesus | Leave a comment

A text without a context is a pretext.

Posted on March 16, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

People trying to make a case against Christian faith often quote Bible texts that say things that are repulsive to modern ears. However, we should not quote the Bible indiscriminately. A barrister, hoping to make an impression on a jury, … Continue reading →

Posted in Believing, Bible, understanding | Leave a comment

A lousy read?

Posted on April 28, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Writing to the Sydney Morning Herald, someone said the reason fewer people read the Bible now is because it’s ‘a lousy read’ and in its present form is very different from the original. The writer obviously doesn’t know that our … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Evidence, Indifference, Literary Criticism, Manuscripts, Spiritual discernment, Spiritual Insight | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A fortune within its pages

Posted on April 2, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Years ago a man living in New Jersey became the sole heir of his aunt’s estate. Her will read: ‘To my beloved Steven Marsh I bequeath my family Bible and all it contains, along with the residue of my estate.’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Scriptures, Spiritual blessing, Spiritual discernment, Spiritual Insight, Treasure, wealth | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

Posted on March 20, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A little boy once told me that the word ‘Bible’ stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth – B.I.B.L.E. I thought that was a pretty good insight coming from a child. In fact it’s not all that different from something … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Enrichment, Scriptures, Spiritual comfort, Spiritual growth, Spiritual Insight | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sharper than a sword

Posted on May 23, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The London Missionary Society recorded the story of one of its missionaries, who got captured by a bandit in a forest in Sicily. The bandit was disgusted to discover the missionary’s only possession was a box of books; so he … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Transformation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

And it came to pass

Posted on February 4, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

A group of people was once asked to name the passage of the Bible that most helped them when they were going through difficult times. Most came up with old favourites, except for one elderly man who said: ‘Mine is: … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Awareness, Bible, Encouragement, Faith, God, Hope, Life's journey, old age, Trials and testings, Trust in God, Uncertainty of Life, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Never cry over anything that can’t cry over you

Posted on December 5, 2013 by vincentsmithauthor

When Sophia Loren, broken hearted, sobbed to movie director Vittorio De Sica over the theft of her jewelry, he gave her this advice: “Listen to me, Sophia. I am much older than you and if there is one great truth … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Bible, inner peace, Inspirational, Life's journey, Living Life, Personal Growth, Riches, satisfaction, Spiritual Insight, Sympathy and Support, Trials and testings, wealth, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Promise

Posted on November 29, 2013 by vincentsmithauthor

In John Bunyan’s great parable of life, the Pilgrim’s Progress, there’s a point where Christian and Hopeful are captured by the Giant Despair, locked in the dungeons of Doubting Castle and beaten unmercifully. But at dawn on Sunday, after days … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Encouragement, Faith, God, Hope, inner peace, Inspirational, Peaceful Sleep, Promise, Religion, Spiritual Insight, Spirituality, Trials and testings, tribulation and trouble, Trust in God, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment