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In a context of confusion and flashy journalism, rigour becomes a precious value.
When we want everything to finish quickly, it's because we are afraid of losing our victory in the last moments.
The 1990 Football World Cup in Italy was one of the most boring sporting events in recent memory - anyone who watched it will remember it well.
A great part of the problem was the tactics used by some teams whose only goal was to "kill time", in other words to defend, contain, let the minutes pass, destroy the game... and to make sure they got to the end of each game without the opposing team scoring.
Then, at least there would be a chance of qualifying on penalties. Many teams follow a similar tactic. Especially towards the end of their games, where the winning team finds a thousand and one reasons to waste time.
Players injure themselves in the last minutes. It is a time to put the ball out of play. They all decide that the goalkeeper has not played much and they give him the ball in the last minutes...
It seems everything is allowed as long as you waste time. We forget that when we waste time it is only because of fear. When we go on the defensive, we make ourselves scared and become cowards.
When we want everything to finish quickly, it's because we are afraid of losing our victory in the last moments. It's the same in life! We haven't learned to make the most of our time for fear of what everybody may say, fear of being pointed out as different, fear that others will laugh at what we are doing...
God tells us in his word that we must make the most of time: above all when we are young and have all our strength. How many are sorry for the time they have wasted once they can no longer do anything!
How many say: "if only I could turn the clock back!" Unfortunately, being sorry about it doesn't help at all. The only thing that helps is to make the most of the time we have now! If we carry on feeling sorry for the past, or dreaming of the future... our present will also escape from us!
When we wait for time to pass, when we get bored and don't know what to do, when we are wasting time, we become scared and cowardly.
God says that we should make the most of the days we have; that we must dedicate our lives to serving him.
There is no better objective in life than to hope to hear God say, "I remember the devotion of your youth.”
The way we answer the question Who is Jesus?, will change the way we answer every other existential question.
Are there witches or people practising magic today, or is it all one big hoax or delusion?
Nominal Christianity, a mission field for the church
An interview with Lars Dahle, of the Steering Committee of the Lausanne Movement Global Consultation on Nominal Christianity held in Rome.
Ruth Valerio: A lifestyle that cares about creation
Are Christians called to make a difference in environmental care? What has creation care to do with "loving our neighbours"? An interview with the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director of Tearfund.
Kathy Bryan: Online sex trafficking in the USA
“Prostitution is nobody’s dream, it’s a very traumatic lifestyle”, says Kathy Bryan, director of the Elevate Academy. She mentors former victims.
Christians in politics?
What is the role of Christians serving in politics? An interview with Auke Minnema, the new General Director of the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM).
Photos: Reaching people with disabilities
Seminars, an arts exhibition, discussion and testimonies. The European Disability Network met in Tallinn.
Photos: Hope for Europe
Unity in Diversity is the theme of the conference. Representatives of Evangelical Alliances and many other church leaders gathered in Tallinn (Estonia).
Sharing Jesus with World Cup fans in Moscow
A team of Steiger mission is starting conversations about the gospel in the middst of the football celebration in Russia.
European “Bridges to Inclusion” gathering 2018, in Riga
The network of Christian ministries working for the inclusion of people with disabilities, celebrated its tenth continental meeting in Latvia with the participation of 12 countries.
Biotechnology: “There is a difference between restoration and enhancement”
“We have to understand the times in which we live, and have discernment”, says Doctor Peter J. Saunders.
The Manzanas case
A short documentary about how retired pastors and widows of an evangelical denomination in Spain fight a legal battle for their pensions after the favourable ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.
How does romantic love change over time?
Psychatrist Pablo Martínez uses a metaphor to explain how romantic love evolves.
‘Mediterráneo’
“Something will change if you have hunger and thirst for justice”, sings Spanish artist Eva Betoret in a song about the refugee crisis.
How the loss of universal values led to a loss of civility
Author Bruce Little: “We have moved from a sense of responsibility to ‘my personal rights’”.
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
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