This November the Prophets of the Old Testament will speak through the pages. Come join us and listen to what they say, what God said to them, straight to us.
Prophetic voices, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
2nd of November (Monday) is the Poya, come join us.
“Let those who have Ears Hear”
Update: The handout of the session is available for download here.
October 28th, 2009
Have a look at the latest additions in the library, available from this month onwards. These and many more titles were added in the past month. Over 300 new titles this year.
Biblical Ethics: The changing continuity of Christian Ethics Vol. 1 – White R.E.O.
“Certainly we must avoid imposing on the biblical material uniformity that it does not possess; equally, we must avoid if we can interpreting ancient documents by modern pre-suppositions: but these are tasks to be accomplished not excuses for abandoning the attempt… yet Christian ethics must begin with the Bible, because – for good and sometimes for evil – biblical examples and precepts, laws and ideals, promises and warnings, revelations of judgment and assurances of grace, have been, and for most Christians still are, the foundations of morality, upon which all subsequent discussion and adaptation are mere commentary,”
We Become What we worship – Beale G.K.The heart of the biblical understanding of idolatry, argues G.K. Beale, is that we take on the characteristics of what we worship. Employing Isaiah 6 as his interpretive lens, Beale demonstrates that the understanding of idolatry permeates the whole canon, from Genesis to Revelation. Beale concludes his study with an application of the biblical notion of idolatry to the challenges of contemporary life.
Becoming the Answer to our Prayers: Prayer for ordinary radicals - Claiborne S., Hartgrove J.W.
Activists Shane Clairborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove show how prayer and action must go together. Their exposition of key biblical passages provides concrete examples of how a life of prayer fuels social engagement and a life of justice. Phrases like “give us this day our daily bread” and “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” take on new meaning when applied to feeding the hungry or advocating for international debt relief. If we hope to see God change society, we must be ordinary radicals who pray- and then are ready to become the answers to our own prayers.
Living gently in a violent world: The prophetic witness of weakness – Hauerwas S., Vanier J.“Church takes time, patience, gentleness, vulnerability, friendship, hospitality, mutuality and peaceableness. In other words, church takes practice-this is the prophetic witness of the L’Arche communities not to the world, but to the church! And this prophetic witness is carried in this book by the gentle voice of Jean Vanier, the polemical one of Stanely Hauerwas, and the wise introduction and conclusion from John Swinton. Here is the prophetic edge that is even at the vanguard of the emerging church!”
The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God’s call to Justice – Labberton M., Foreword by Ortberg J.
Worship is the dangerous act of waking up to God and God’s purposes in the world. But something has gone wrong with our worship. Too often worship has become a place of safety and complacency, a narrowly private experience in which solitary individuals only express their personal adoration. Even when we gather corporately, we often close our eyes to those around us, focusing on God but ignoring our neighbor. But true biblical worship does not merely point us upward – it should turn us outward as well.
Carrots, Sticks, and Ethnic Conflict: Rethinking Development Assistance – Esman M.J., Herring R.J.“A superb collection on a neglected but crucial topic: the ethnic consequences, intended and otherwise, of foreign aid. An invaluable volume for decision makers and scholars.” – Donald L. Horowitz, Duke Law School
The Political Economy of Internal Conflict: A comparative analysis of Angola, Colombia, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka – Douma P.S.
The study of “Political Economies of Internal Conflict” on which this book is based forms part of an international research programme entitled ‘Coping with Internal Conflict’, executed by the Conflict Research Unit of Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ and its counterparts in South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South America. This analysis is based on the empirical case studies of four major protracted internal conflicts: Angola, Sierra Leone, Colombia and Sri Lanka.
Add comment October 27th, 2009
The recent islandwide power failure was awful wasn’t it? Getting up in the middle of the night in a bath of sweat I couldn’t help muttering about the decline in the state of the power and energy industry. Was it a strike or sabotage? Couldn’t they have planned their ‘action’ at a more convenient time? [...]
Continue Reading October 26th, 2009
My wife and I realized a common dream recently – a long awaited visit to Jaffna. We went by plane as the bus service was functional only for Jaffna residents who travel to Colombo. What was actually a 1 hour flight became a 9 hour journey with the checking and being packed into buses at [...]
Continue Reading October 13th, 2009
The recent teaching program on the poya day saw us discussing some important aspects of success & failure. The following is an outline of the talk done by Dr. Rajan Rajasingham.
Check out the speaking notes of ‘Success & Failure’
If you would like to meet other university students and discuss issues such as these join us every poya day at the FOCUS office (25A, Waidya Road, Dehiwela). We look forward to your presence.
Add comment October 12th, 2009
The Christian university students in the Colombo region will be having a prayer evening on 10th of October starting from 6 p.m. It will be held at 20A, Jubilee Road, Laxapathiya, Moratuwa. We hope to pray for our country, the ministry of FOCUS and our personal needs.
The recent camp that was held in Jaffna after many years is something that we need to thank God for very much. One of the staff members who attended the camp will share some of his experiences as well as a reflection on what God is calling us to be as Christian university students in Sri Lanka. There will also be a presentation of how God is working in different universities around the world through the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) movements in those countries.
Please join us this Friday as we thank the Lord of the universe for his unfailing love and faithfulness. Parents of university students as well as those who are awaiting university entrance are welcome to join us.
Add comment October 6th, 2009
As university students we are used to passing all our exams with flying colours and sometimes we do not even know what it feels like to fail at an exam. It is very noticeable to see that in such an environment the fear of failing drives most of us. This extends beyond our studies to our career, our relationships and even the way we view the church.
This month’s poya day program addressed this issue through the life of Jesus, who in many eyes was probably the greatest failure of all time. His life and his eventual glorification stands as a powerful motivating factor in a shame based culture such as ours. It is only through his humbling of himself and taking up the cross that he was able to overcome one of our greatest fears. We also discussed whether failure is a sign that we are out of God’s plan for our lives. The speaker, Dr. Rajan Rajasingham, also encouraged us to be aware of our friends who struggle with failure in their own lives. He guided us as to how we can practically respond to them in God’s love.
We do not need to fear failure any more, for in Christ we are already winners.
If you would like to meet other university students and discuss issues such as these join us every poya day at the FOCUS office (25A, Waidya Road, Dehiwela). We look forward to your presence.
Add comment October 6th, 2009
RSS feed