Our series at the end of 2015, “God Is…” ended with the wonderful news that God is Here – as Jesus Christ. So, this new series for 2016 picks right up on that theme!
We’ll be learning about Jesus from some key stories in the Bible.
Loading Content...
Share a Link to this Message
The link has been copied to your clipboard; paste it anywhere you would like to share it.
CloseRyan Sim - September 23, 2013
Monday - A New Idea - Neighbours to Acquaintances
When people ask you how you’re doing – have you every included the word “busy” in your answer? One NY Times article called “The Busy Trap” that went viral commented, “It’s become the default response when you ask anyone how they’re doing: “Busy!” “So busy.” “Crazy busy.”” Notice it isn’t generally people pulling back-to-back shifts in the I.C.U. or commuting by bus to three minimum-wage jobs who tell you how busy they are; what those people are is not busy but tired. Exhausted. Dead on their feet. It’s almost always people whose lamented busyness is purely self-imposed: work and obligations they’ve taken on voluntarily, classes and activities they’ve “encouraged” their kids to participate in. They’re busy because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety, because they’re addicted to busyness and dread what they might have to face in its absence. Yes, for most of us, busyness is a choice, and we kind of like it! But what are its consequences? One psychiatrist listed a few: It is so easy with cellphones and BlackBerrys a touch away. It is a kind of high. It is a status symbol. We’re afraid we’ll be left out if we slow down. We avoid dealing with life’s really big issues — death, global warming, AIDS, terrorism — by running from task to task. We do not know how not to be busy. There are many, but we’ll focus today on the consequence for our neighbours, since Jesus said this was so important. When I first moved to Ajax, it naturally took a little time to meet all our neighbours. Most memorably, two distinct families said the same thing when they met us. One said, “I’m really sorry we’re just meeting you, I had made cakepops for you guys, but then got too busy to bring them over.” Another said the same thing, “my wife was going to bake a pie to welcome you, but we got too busy.” It’s heartbreaking – firstly because I could have had some excellent desserts, but also because it’s obvious how hectic our lifestyles can be, and how it inhibits forming lifegiving relationships. Question: On a scale from 1 to 10 how busy is your life right now?
Related Topics: Busy, Distractions, Neighbours | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Won't You Be My Neighbour?"
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Introduction to Daily Challenges | November 2, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - New Idea - Poor in Spirit | November 12, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Poor in Spirit | November 13, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Poor in Spirit | November 14, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Poor in Spirit | November 15, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Poor in Spirit | November 16, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Those who Mourn | November 19, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Those Who Mourn | November 20, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Those Who Mourn | November 21, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act - Those Who Mourn | November 22, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Those Who Mourn | November 23, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Meek | November 26, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Meek | November 27, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Meek | November 28, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act - Meek | November 29, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Meek | November 30, 2012 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Poor in Spirit | December 3, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Righteousness | December 4, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Righteousness | December 5, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Righteousness | December 6, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Righteousness | December 7, 2012 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Merciful | December 10, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Merciful | December 11, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Merciful | December 12, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Merciful | December 13, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Merciful | December 14, 2012 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Pure in Heart | December 17, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pure in Heart | December 18, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pure in Heart | December 19, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pure in Heart | December 20, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pure in Heart | December 21, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Christmas Eve | December 24, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Christmas Day | December 25, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Boxing Day | December 26, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - December 27 | December 27, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - December 28 | December 28, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
New Years Eve - Growth | December 31, 2012 | Watch | Listen | ||
New Years Day - Groups | January 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - January 2 - Grace | January 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - January 3 - Generosity | January 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - January 4 - God | January 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Peacemakers | January 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Peacemakers | January 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Peacemakers | January 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act - Peacemakers | January 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Peacemakers | January 11, 2013 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Persecuted | January 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Persecuted | January 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Persecution | January 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act - Persecuted | January 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Persecuted | January 18, 2013 | Music | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - New Idea - Living Backwards | January 21, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Living Backwards | January 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Living Backwards | January 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act on It - Living Backwards | January 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Living Backwards | January 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Salt | January 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Salt | January 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Salt | January 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Salt | January 31, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Salt | February 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Light | February 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Light | February 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Light | February 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Light | February 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Light | February 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Law | February 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Law | February 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Law | February 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Law | February 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Law | February 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Anger | February 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Anger | February 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Anger | February 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Anger | February 21, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Anger | February 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Look | February 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Look | February 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Study It - The Look | February 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Look | February 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Look | March 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Truth | March 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Truth | March 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Truth | March 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Truth | March 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Truth | March 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Retaliation | March 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Retaliation | March 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Retaliation | March 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Retaliation | March 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Retaliation | March 15, 2013 | Listen | |||
Monday - A New Idea - Neighbours | April 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Neighbours | April 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Neighbours | April 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Neighbours | April 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Neighbours | April 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Perfection | April 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Perfection | April 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Perfection | April 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Perfection | April 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Perfection | April 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Generosity | April 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Generosity | April 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Generosity | April 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Generosity | April 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pompous Prayer | April 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pompous Prayer | April 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pompous Prayer | May 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pompous Prayer | May 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pompous Prayer | May 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Self Denial | May 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Self Denial | May 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Self Denial | May 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Self Denial | May 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Self Denial | May 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Forgiveness | May 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Forgiveness | May 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Forgiveness | May 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Forgiveness | May 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Forgiveness | May 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen |