CONNECTED Adventist

Not only do Black lives matter, we also need to value Black lives. We need to respect Black lives. We need to protect Black lives. We need to change FOR Black lives.

Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another. The first experience of attachment occurs at birth, between a child and their mother. However, as humans, we create 'attachments' throughout our entire life. Some attachments are healthy and balanced, while others are dysfunctional and toxic. I discuss some ideas I have about why people remain in dysfunctional relationships and why we continually desire attachments until we take our last breath.

We all know someone who only ever calls when they need something. Communication and a relationship that is based on simply providing for 'needs', is very different to someone who calls us because they want to hear from us and spend time WITH us. So, why do you wan to go to heaven?

Brokenness is often portrayed as weak. It can be a period of weakness, however, during the healing process our fracture can create tremendous strength. Admitting our weaknesses and humbly seeking God's help, can fortify us for the future.

Full-time ministry, and specially the call to be a Pastor is a calling that comes with many challenges. So what happens when you realise 'the calling' wasn't for you? Or at least that's what our guest thought. From Pastor to missionary to starting a church plant, the 'calling' is always a calling, it just doesn't always look the same.

I really don't like the beach but I'm starting to enjoy the SURF! How can I enjoy and delight in something I actually don't like? Christianity may be a 'place' we 'go to' which did anything for us at one stage of our life yet in another season of life, it becomes something we enjoy and delight in! Why are you drawing close to Christianity? If Christianity and God are not fulfilling the purpose you intended them to, it may not be the the 'church' that needs to change- maybe its your motives.

Temptation comes in many forms. Triggers from the past can lead us to experience physical, social and mental temptation. Things we thought were in the past, or things we decided we no longer wanted in our life, sometimes reappear from no where, with the single purpose to discourage us and make us doubt our journey, our conviction and the transformational work that God has done in our hearts and our minds.

Easter and chocolate seem to be a societal norm. Some people couldn't imagine celebrating Easter without a truck load of chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies, and the reality is that our Christian journey is often attached to many traditions and 'norms' without really understanding 'why'.

The Holy Spirit presents Himself in our life in many ways. He will constantly prompt our conscience to remind us of the dangers of our sins and our rebellion. Everyday it is our choice if we heed to His warnings of protection and buckle up, or if we want to ride life with no protection until we have a head-on collision with the destruction of our sins. With enough rejection of His protection, the alarm that seemed so audible at one stage of our life, will one day become a silent alarm.