Comic: HOME
HOME (an original Christian manga*)
Art and story by Mave.
Francis is a nonchalant youth. He loves playing computer games but still manage to ace his exams somehow. His life is relatively peaceful until a transfer student Miranda joins his school. Miranda is a typical “wild girl”—one whom you should keep at an arm’s length. She smokes, drinks, parties, and dresses scantily. Nonetheless, Francis pursues a friendship with her. A journey of discovery on life, death, and hope thus ensued.
Key characters:
Updates every Monday and Thursday! Starting 15.05.09.
* A Japanese graphic novel. To be read from right to left.
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getting better
May 12, 2009
READ: Philippians 1:19-26
I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. —Philippians 1:23
A popular song from the 1960s was titled “Getting Better.” In it, the singer considers his young life and happily declares that he sees things “getting better all the time.” It is a song of optimism but, unfortunately, without any real basis for that hope.
By contrast, the Bible warns us that we live in a world that in many ways is actually getting worse (2 Tim. 3:13). Daily we’re faced with increasing evidence to support that contention. So how do we respond to the realities of life in such a badly marred world? With empty optimism? With hopeless discouragement? The apostle Paul shows us how.
While imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote to the church at Philippi to offer them genuine hope in a broken world. He encouraged his readers by telling them that though life in this world is often hard and painful, for the Christian things will get better. He wrote, “I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil. 1:23). It is a reminder to us that we can face the difficulties of living for Christ now because one day we will be with Him in an eternal home of splendor and fullness.
Life can be hard, but one day when we see Christ it will truly get better! — Bill Crowder
To be with Jesus forever is the sum of all happiness.
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We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them (v.28).
READ: Romans 8:26-32
Not long ago, I received a call asking me to go to the emergency room of a local hospital. A church member had been in a terrible accident. When I arrived at the hospital, I realized that the man had died. People were in tears. The man’s wife was sitting by the bed where her husband’s body lay, too distraught to speak. I tried to comfort her and read Romans 8:28 to her. Instead of being comforted, the wife cried even more. I later found out why. In her grief, the words of the verse I had read seemed to state that God was responsible for the accident—that He had taken her husband away from her.
Romans 8:28 contains one of the most loved and most misunderstood promises in the Bible. It’s part of a section of Scripture (8:26-32) in which Paul provides help and insight for those who suffer:
• Pray. Paul reminds us that we have the Holy Spirit, who “helps us in our weakness” (v.26). Jesus calls Him the Parakletos—the Advocate, Comforter, and Helper (John 14:16), who prays for us. The One who helps us to pray when we don’t feel like talking with God or when words can’t express how we feel (vv.26-27).
• Promise. Then comes the great promise that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God” (v.28). Paul is not saying all things are good, because in reality we know that life can be painful. But Paul is saying that all circumstances of life—good and bad, happy and sad—are for our good.
• Purpose. God’s work in our lives has a direction—toward Jesus. He wants us to become “like His Son” (v.29). God is more concerned with our character than our comfort.
God can use all of life’s experiences to make us more like Jesus. —K.T. Sim
How do you respond to suffering? How has God used it to make you more like Jesus?
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
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