by Shana Heslin
Many of us have already lost friends, jobs and other life opportunities because of our faith in God, and for our commitment to His law. Many have undertaken a commitment to God with a willingness to sacrifice everything, even ones life, to honour God. However, are we really so convicted that we would stand firm in life-and-death circumstances?
How can we be sure that Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith? He is the one who starts our path towards having a relationship with our Heavenly Father and He will also see us through to the finish.
For years a man sat in the way where people passed to the Temple. He was born crippled, and relied on the pity of those going to the temple to worship to offer him some token of kindness. It never occurred to him that he would receive a miracle of kindness. The Apostle Peter gave him all that he had.
Why did Peter choose to heal the man on that particular day? We all need not only physical healing but also spiritual.
Rain, in the Word of God is something God sends or withholds. 
by Bill Bradford
Our weather scientists are able to explain weather patterns that affect our great agricultural industry in Australia. They are able to predict the amount of moisture we will receive from year to year through measurement of ocean temperatures, among other data. Predicting life giving rain leaves out one great factor. Rain, in the Word of God is something God sends or withholds.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). by Bill Bradford
Do you have the mind of Christ? As a human, the mind of Christ is perhaps the greatest of all things we can acquire but it doesn't come easily.
The carrot, the egg and the coffee bean 
by Reg Wright
The carrot, the egg, and the coffee bean - which one are you?
by Roger Waite
The famous Irish writer Oscar Wilde once jokingly said, "I can resist everything but temptation." Most of us struggle with habits and even addictions that get the better of us over and over again. If we are trapped with such problems how do we break free?
When we fall victim to sin we do so because we believe certain lies that accompany those sins. In order to be freed from sin we need to recognize those lies and counter those lies with the truth. There are a whole host of different lies and different lines that Satan uses on us to lure us into sin. Let's look at two of the most common lies as examples of this point of countering the lies of sin with the truth.
Are you ready to have your prayers answered? by Bill Bradford
" ... many people pray without any sense of assurance that there is a living and powerful God who hears their prayers, or that they are praying to a God who has offered forgiveness for their sins ...." commented Barna from the George Barna research company.
by Reg Wright
The other day I saw a statue of a headless horse. I don't know the reason for it being headless. As it was displayed in a park in public view, I would think there was a legitimate reason for it being headless. It may be that those who commissioned the statue ran out of money. Perhaps it was vandalism? Whatever the reason, it was quite thought-provoking.
As we approach the time of year when Christians are reminded of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, His death and His resurrection to ascend to His Father in heaven, how much do you know about what lies behind these events? Who exactly was Jesus Christ and what was His mission and purpose? Why did He go through these things? And what will He do in the future? You need a clear biblical understanding of these important questions, and you’ll find answers in the pages of this issue of Beyond Today.
