Dr Paul Allen

 At the end of Genesis, Joseph dies. His last request is a testament to his unwavering faith and his awareness of a storyline that is larger than one lifetime: “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph makes the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here” (Gen. 50:24–25).  Like Joseph, we can consider our death and go to our graves in the certainty that God will do exactly as he has promised. The worker of God goes into the dust, and the work of God continues without faltering.1 Knowing this with perfect clarity, our Saviour laid down his life willingly. Will we do the same? When we know our days are short, will we be grateful for what we’ve been given or greedy for what we have not?  Yes, you may say, but Jesus knew he would be raised. He knew he could go into the grave and come back out again. Friend, so d...

In Namibia, near the border of Angola, is a village cemetery where the grave of a famous missionary is buried. Two men kneel before another grave, bent over in humility, lips moving silently in prayer. After some minutes, they move to the next grave marker, then the next, and the next. They say later that they are praying to their ancestors.  Defining Ancestor Worship This is not uncommon in Africa. Veneration of ancestral spirits permeates traditional African culture as commonly as drumming and dancing. In the traditional African religion (ATR), the ancestors demand respect and remembrance. Honouring them will lead to blessing. Neglecting them will cause misfortune.  Variations of ancestor worship exist throughout Africa, but the main idea remains the same. Every person at death becomes an ancestor. The word 'xikwembu' in the Xitsonga language (lowercase x) is the same word for God (capital X). These 'swikwembu' (gods) are sometimes called 'vakokwan'i (grandpar...

English: My mother took this picture after my car accident (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) I think we would accuse God of being insane if we heard him respond to our cries for greater intimacy with our spouse, greater fruit in our ministries, or greater intimacy with him, by saying, “You want more life? I’ll tell you what will give it: a medical emergency . Or losing your job. Or a car accident .” We would think he’s out of his mind. But search your past and tell me if it isn’t true: Often the introduction of something difficult, and even dangerous, into our lives by the hand of God results in unanticipated, yet undeniable growth. Difficulty brings blessing. Hardship brings joy.  This does not mean we should court danger. What it does mean, however, is that we should pause before we accuse God of injustice or indifference when he allows hardship to enter our lives. It just might be the best thing for us. In fact, for those who love him, and are called according to his purpose...