by Alexander F. Venter | Sep 23, 2021 | Writings |
I am currently just over half way through writing Praying the Psalms Volume Two – Praying our Challenges and Choices. Working on Psalm 41, where David prays his weakness and sickness, made me think of the old rabbinical story of the Wounded Healer. I thought I...
by Alexander F. Venter | Jul 16, 2021 | Writings |
“When the foundations are being destroyed,What can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3 My wife and I are part of Freedom House Church in Salt Rock, South Africa. It’s in the province that was hardest hit by the violence this past week. I drafted the following...
by Alexander F. Venter | Jun 20, 2021 | Writings |
You can listen to the talk/watch the video of the teaching based on these notes. In South Africa we celebrated Youth Day on Wednesday 16 June. Today, Sunday 20 June, we celebrate, internationally, Father’s Day. It is appropriate that they are a few days apart because...
by Alexander F. Venter | Mar 18, 2021 | Writings |
I did these teaching notes for the video presentation to the South African Vineyard pastors and leaders retreat, March 2021. “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle…” ...
by Alexander F. Venter | Mar 13, 2021 | Writings |
Watch my video presentation of these teaching notes. Paul to Timothy, lead-pastor in the church at Ephesus, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable...
by Alexander F. Venter | Mar 12, 2021 | Writings |
Watch my video presentation based on these notes. “They made me keeper of the vineyards, BUT my own vineyard I have not kept…Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyard which is trying to bloom” (Song of Songs 1:6, 2:15) WHAT is “Soul Care”? A...
by Alexander F. Venter | Feb 23, 2021 | Writings |
INTRODUCTION Let me clear some things right up front. This paper is because of the responses to my FaceBook post about the painful revelations of Ravi Zacharias’ double life. And requests for a fuller treatment. Some said, “I’m so devastated and disillusioned by all...
by Alexander F. Venter | Feb 13, 2021 | Writings |
Alexander’s comment: my quest today, Ramon Mayo, wrote this article to highlight the African-ness of the church fathers and mother. Ramon is an author, speaker, and Vineyard youth pastor in Chicago, IL. He has recently published Reclaiming Diversity: Destroying the...
by Alexander F. Venter | Nov 16, 2020 | Writings |
Reflecting on 1 Samuel 4 and following, I was struck by Israel’s presuming on God and what resulted. This story relates to what is going on in our world, and the response and role of God’s people, Jesus’ church. When Israel lost the battle against...
by Alexander F. Venter | May 29, 2020 | Writings |
The South African government’s allowance of church gatherings (of up to 50 people) to resume at level 3, next week Monday 1 June 2020, is exposing a divided church and society… once again! As usual, socio-ethical issues and considerations become divisive,...
by Alexander F. Venter | May 18, 2020 | Writings |
This is the second part to my teaching on The Risen Lord Renews Our Calling: Fishing & Feasting (see my notes). A continuation of the same post-resurrection appearance of Jesus, now focused on loving and leading (see the video teaching). John shifts the attention...
by Alexander F. Venter | Apr 17, 2020 | Writings |
This paper assumes and continues the content of Part One. John tells the story of Jesus’ resurrection in a way that shows the new creation – new heaven & new earth – began in Jesus. As the sun begins to set on that Friday, after Jesus had died, his young broken...
by Alexander F. Venter | Apr 14, 2020 | Writings |
Jesus’ death on the Friday was an enactment in his own body of the Passover meal that he celebrated with his disciples the night before – “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, all biblical quotes are NIV). Jesus is the New Exodus out of the...
by Alexander F. Venter | Mar 26, 2020 | Writings |
A full solar eclipse I was asked this week to share thoughts on giving leadership in response to the corona pandemic. Pastors and spiritual leaders carry a particular responsibility before God to guide churches, and society in general, with a godly response. How do we...
by Alexander F. Venter | Mar 3, 2020 | Writings |
What intimate companionship with God while driving home yesterday. Four hours of solitude and silence. This ‘Creedal Meditation’ poem is an echo of that silence. Echoing Silence: God’s One Word From Eternity to EternityInfinite SilenceImpenetrable...
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