RadioAfrica.fm Podcast Network

Have you ever spent years following a rule, only to discover it was never actually a rule?

We spend our lives trying to avoid suffering – running from it, praying it away, pretending it doesn't belong in our story. But in God's kingdom, suffering and glory aren't opposites. They're two sides of the same cross. In 1889, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh checked himself into an asylum after years of emotional torment. Isolated and misunderstood, he painted in bursts of anguish and brilliance...

What's Providence? Well, it's when God goes ahead of us and prepares the way. Pretty cool. But what if – I mean, just think about this – what if you and I could do that for other people? What if you and I could be God's providence for them? I was looking up in the dictionary the other day the word "providence" because I wanted to know exactly what the word meant. Like most people, I'd always thoug...

Every couple disagrees. It’s what happens after the disagreement that tells you about the health of the relationship.

Do you ever wonder why some people seem to be flourishing in their faith while others dried up just as quickly as they began? They heard the same message, sang the same songs – but the results couldn't be more different. So why is it that some people seem to grow so deep in faith – peaceful, fruitful, steady – while others sprout quickly and then fade away? The difference isn't the seed. It's the...

Other people can frankly drive us nuts. But they are who they are – and here's a thought, when we let them be, God sets us free. Great theory – but how does it actually work? Over the last three weeks or so we've been talking about living the life God always intended. We have one chance at this life, that's it. It's not a dress rehearsal. And what's so incredibly sad for me is to run into people,...

You both believe in God—but do your priorities point toward the same life? Before marriage, look beyond what you believe to how you actually live.

We live in a world that tells us,  "Enjoy it now. You deserve it." Don't believe me? Listen to the advertising messages that inundate you day in and day out, and tell me I'm wrong. But here's the question – what if what you consume today is stealing the harvest that God intends for your tomorrow? In the early 1900s, farmers across America's Great Plains faced drought and hardship. Many, desperate...

There's nothing worse than going to a coffee shop for a good cuppa and getting bad service. And it turns out that we're all in the service business one way or another. How we serve others, makes a difference. There's nothing worse than going somewhere, a shop or a cafe or a restaurant, even a ride in a taxi and you get bad service. There's this little cafe close to home where my wife, Jacqui and I...

You can start with passion, talent, and fire – but what matters most is how you finish, because in the race of faith, plenty begin well … few cross the line still faithful. In the early 1900s, Scottish Olympic sprinter Eric Liddell stunned the world by refusing to run his best event – the 100 metres – because it was scheduled on a Sunday, the day he reserved for worship. The press mocked him. Poli...

When opposition, criticism and hardship make you want to quit, God's gifts can grow cold. Bernie Diamond explores Paul's encouragement to Timothy: rekindle your God-given ability, stand firm in adversity, follow wise mentors and let God's Word keep you on course. Support the show: https://christianityworks.com/channels/cw/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There comes a point in everyone's life when strength runs out, when the prayers don't seem to work, the waiting feels endless, and quitting sounds eminently reasonable. That's the moment when real courage begins – the courage to endure. In the 1600s, a young Quaker woman named Mary Dyer refused to deny her faith in Jesus. At the time, the Massachusetts Bay Colony had banned Quakers – imprisoning,...

This week we talk about the possibility that the Africa Cup of Nations could continue to be held every two years, with discussions under way to reverse its proposed switch to a four-year cycle. Also, more money for national associations, as CAF has announced a 33% increase in the annual grants to the 54 CAF Member Associations , up to $700 000 per year. We take a look at the ongoing CAF Futsal Afc...

When you feel forgotten, remember this: God has never lost sight of you.

You've been there – standing in a room where everyone disagrees with you. The pressure's thick, the voices loud, and suddenly, courage feels like a luxury you simply can't afford. Being outnumbered isn't just difficult … it's terrifying. Back in 1989, an unknown young man – now remembered simply as 'Tank Man' – stepped onto Tiananmen Square in Beijing. A column of tanks rumbled toward him. He had...

No man is an island … actually, it's true of women too. But sometimes, it seems like the rest of the world is pretty much ready to desert us. And when we feel all alone, we wonder if we still have anything useful that we can do. So … do we give up, or do we keep going? You know there are parts of the Bible that I'm prone to skimming over. For instance the genealogies. They're so long and boring an...

Discover why fear makes us forget what we already know is true, and how remembering God’s faithfulness pushes it back.

Everyone says they have principles – until those principles threaten to cost them something. That's the moment the truth comes out: do I really believe what I say I believe, or am I just going along while it's safe? Whistleblower Katharine Gunner was known for exposing unsafe practices in Britain's National Health Service. She wasn't famous, powerful, or protected. She simply saw wrongdoing that w...

For anyone who believes in this Jesus, one of the things that God wants us to do is to keep on shining His light into this world. Sometimes we look at our circumstances – the conditions around us and things seem far from favourable. So do we stop, or do we keep shining the light of Christ into this world? Over these last few weeks we've been chatting about rekindling the gift that God's put within...

Discover why God’s presence might be closer than you’ve ever realized, and how to start noticing it.

Fear has a quiet way of running our lives. It doesn't always shout – sometimes it just whispers,  "Stay safe, don't stand out, don't risk it."  And before we know it, courage fades and comfort becomes our master. In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary stood at the foot of Mount Everest, facing conditions that had killed every climber before him. Fear was real – but his determination was stronger. When he fin...

You know what I've noticed? It's awfully easy to lose our way in life. We each have this God–given gift or ability and we head off into life with our dream for using it. And then the cares of the world take over and we're off on the wrong track. How do we stay focussed? How do we get our lives back on track? One of the people with whom I have been greatly blessed in my life is my good friend and m...

Learn why not every thought needs to become a comment, and how to know when silence is the wiser choice.

What do you do when God simply doesn't make sense? When your prayers go unanswered, your sickness gets worse, your loss feels unbearable? Your head knows that God is good – but your heart whispers,  "Then why this?" 19 th -century English preacher Charles Spurgeon knew all about suffering firsthand. Despite being one of history's most powerful voices for the gospel, he battled chronic illness, dee...

We each have a God–given gift or ability – something that we're able to do better than just about anybody else that we know. But it's a funny thing – when we run into opposition and trials in life – the first thing we want to do sometimes is to stop using that gift. To stop living out who God made us to be. Why is that? Now I don't know if you've picked this up in your life but life ain't always e...