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Gratis Pro Deo: Free for the Sake of God

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Commodification, branding and monetising are the forces that drive the modern world, especially entrepreneurship. Commodification transforms goods, services, ideas, or even human experiences into commodities that can be bought, sold, or traded in a market. Commodification often involves assigning economic value to things that were previously not considered commercial products. For example, entertainment is commodified as music and video channels that must be subscribed. Education is commodified and sold at competitive prices (fees) depending on the institution’s quality and reputation. Health care is another commodity whose cost shoots past ordinary people’s purchasing ability. Once commodified, services and goods that were once free must be branded to stand out among competitors. Branding is the process of creating a distinct identity for a business, product, or individual in the minds of consumers. It involves shaping how a brand is perceived through its name, logo, design, messaging...
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Living to Impact

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The intensity of loss we feel when dear ones depart is directly proportionate to their impact on our lives. Recently, a beloved member of my community bid farewell to his granddad, who had lived a long, fulfilling life. He had the joy of seeing his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren thrive, and his presence was a constant throughout their journeys. His passing was deeply felt despite having fulfilled his role in their lives and there was nothing more he could do. This man, who departed from a hospice at a ripe old age, was more than just a family member-he was a pillar of strength and love. But he has left behind a treasure trove of memories. He was a shining example of love and a life centred on Christ, not just to his immediate family but to the entire community.  The tributes posted by his family members are a testament to how he touched the lives of everyone around him. He would even cut the hair of his grandchildren, despite having no experience in hairdressing, ...
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The Transformative Power of Living in God’s Kingdom

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 Christianity is not just another religion with different beliefs and rituals. It is a way of life as disciples of Jesus Christ. This is the powerful message that Dallas Willard has for us in his book DIVINE CONSPIRACY. Though written in 1998, its message is even more relevant now as the Christian faith struggles to stand up to alternative truth claims.   Dallas Willard was a renowned philosopher, theologian, and author whose work significantly impacted Christian thought and spiritual formation. Born in 1935, he served as a professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California for nearly four decades. Willard was best known for his writings on discipleship and the nature of the Kingdom of God, offering profound insights into Christian living. Willard’s work often bridged the gap between academic theology and practical spirituality, making his ideas accessible to scholars and laypeople. He argued that Christian life should be marked by transformation, not merely...
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The Royal Prophets

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Many of us may not know that two of the sixteen classical prophets in the Old Testament were from royal families. By the way, classical prophets is a technical term for the prophets whose names we have books, like Isaiah, Amos, Jeremiah, etc. At the same time, despite their antiquity and prominence, Elijah, Elisha, Gad, or Nathan do not fall in this category since we do not have books in their names. The classical prophets came from a variety of backgrounds. Biographical information on most of the prophets is scanty. Still, we know Amos was a farmer and a sheep breeder, while Jeremiah and Ezekiel were priests. The two prophets with royal connections are Zephaniah and Isaiah. The Book of Zephaniah introduces the prophet as a descendant of King Hezekiah. "The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah" (Zeph 1:1). But there is nothing in the rest of the Book to ...
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What Does Delivering to Satan Mean?

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What does delivering a person to Satan in 1 Corinthians 5:5 mean? Paul said this regarding the person who lives with his father’s wife or stepmother, a sin considered particularly grave in the Christian context. This sin is not found among those who have not known Christ. Paul says such a thing is “not tolerated even among pagans” (1 Cor 5:1). When he heard about this, Paul wrote to the Corinthian church “to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.” This is not the only place where Paul used this expression. Later, while writing to Timothy, he said he had “handed over to Satan” Hymenaeus and Alexander so they may learn not to blaspheme (1 Tim 1:20). Some think that Paul intends the death of the sinner so that he may not continue in his sinful flesh to sin more and lose his eternity. Does Paul suggest that this man should die now “so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord?” But it is unreasonable to think that the community of believers have the right...
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Detours in Life are in God’s Will

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  God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt” -Exod 13:17 God considers our strengths and weaknesses when he maps our journey with him to eternity. There will be hurdles on the way, but he will not let them happen at random. He carefully plans it, considering our spiritual stamina at every stage of our Christian growth. The shortest route to Canaan is through the ancient trade route called Via Mari (Way of the Sea), which starts from Egypt and runs through the coastal plain along the Mediterranean Sea to the North of the Levant. It runs through the land mass called Negeb between Canaan and Egypt. Abraham passed through this area when he visited the northern part of Egypt. Jacob and his family also went to Egypt this way. However, the southern part of this coastal route is now populate...
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While Waiting for Home

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 “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Heb 13:14—15). Living as a foreigner is a strange experience. Nothing belongs to them in the country where they live. If the foreigner is a newcomer, he needs help to make sense of things happening around him. Homesickness is high in the first few weeks, though it may wear out as time goes on.  Christ-followers are sojourners on earth. Saint Peter calls them "sojourners and exiles" (1 Pet 2:11). The writer of Hebrews depicts them as people waiting in a foreign country for their permanent residence or a city that is to come. Paul reminded the church in Philippi, though they are Roman citizens that their real citizenship is in heaven, where Jesus is. "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…" (Phil 3:20). Christ...
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