Living Today

Articles from Christian teachers and leaders. Designed to help you as you follow Jesus here in Solomon Islands

Where Are Today’s Disciples?

By Tony Davenport Just days after claiming millions of uncommitted Christians are causing a “catastrophic decline in a Biblical worldview” veteran Christian researcher George Barna says that’s also led to a critical shortage of disciples. In expanding on the theme of...

Accelerating Global Bible Translations

It’s estimated that around half of the 7,400 known languages in the world, have been translated into Scriptures. Six billion people can access a full Bible in one of 736 languages. Another 824 million have access to a New Testament in one of 1658 other languages. Half a billion more can read some Scriptures in another 1264 languages. That covers more than 7.4 billion people, even though the planet’s population now tops eight billion. (There is a lag in matching languages with...

4 Ways to Love Better

I was recently talking with someone about some relationship struggles they were experiencing. The need for patience was what we ended up with as a critical component to loving better. It’s very interesting, that in the love chapter in 1 Corinthians, it starts with “Love is patient…”. Love in our relationships (spouse, friends, family etc), is more than just the thought. God wants us to love, not just in word, but also in deed! The good part is that God will help us love. Here are 4 habits...

Seeing God’s Calling in our work

Here is a testimony from Lepani about seeing God's calling in his work and how God opened the right doors for him to be connected with a local Church in the Solomon Islands. Greetings in Jesus' Name from the Hapi (Happy) Isles, Solomon Islands. It is with great pleasure that I have been asked by National Leader for Christians for Israel Australia, Ian Worby to write this article. As a former National Leader for Christian For Israel Fiji, I have now been here in the Solomon Islands for the last...

Reflecting on God’s goodness

Here is a testimony from Lepani reflecting on God's goodness and faithfulness in the past... With Pentecost Sunday 2023 around the corner to be celebrated on 28 May, 2023, I wish to reflect on an event that took place on Pentecost Sunday here in the Solomon Islands two years ago. Two years ago, combined youths from inter-denominations marched through the capital city of Solomon Islands, Honiara right to the Parliament House, interceding on behalf of the nation of Solomon Islands and also for...

The Cross at Easter

The cross is an important symbol during Easter, reminding us of the incredible sacrifice Jesus made. Despite all of our struggles and pain, the cross reminds us we are not alone in this world. We can find strength and comfort knowing that Jesus has already saved us from our sins. It’s this hope for redemption through Christ’s death on the cross that makes Easter such an integral part of Christian tradition. Stu Millar from Train to Proclaim recently shared on Vision Chrisitan Media his...

When All Seems Lost

Now what? That’s something that all of us have said to ourselves at one time or another. In his new message, ‘When All Seems Lost’, Pastor Jeff Vines covers the topics of marriage and keeping relationships strong. Jeff offers encouragement for those of us who are struggling with chaos and feeling lost. God does not give His law arbitrarily. When God tells us He wants us to live in certain parameters and by certain precepts, He does it because He loves us. If He’s the creator and sustainer of...

Compassion and Action

The crewmembers on board Logos Hope all left their homes at one point to come on board the ship to live and work together with others from around the world. They exchanged their familiar environments for a very unique accommodation – a ship – which sooner or later they also call their home for a specific amount of time. They all do know though, that there are many people in the world, who are longing for a place to stay in which they can experience peace and safety. The refugees who leave...

Dad’s Toolkit

It’s a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the value of family, and in particular the role of dads. What are your strengths as a parent? Are there some areas you could grow in? How do you begin your journey of becoming the parent God has called you to be? Brett and Kate Ryan from Focus on the Family, have created a ‘Dad’s Toolkit’ that’s full of ideas on how dad’s can improve themselves. It contains things like conversation starters with your kids, and questions we can ask our dads. Healthy...

Truth, Lies and Financial Freedom

Many Christians divide their lives into categories. Some things they want Jesus to be a part of, but not others. Because we compartmentalise our Christian lives, according to Pastor Jeff Vines, we instantly assume that everything we don’t devote to God is neutral. God will still love us, but any area that we withhold from Him and think we can handle on our own is a false assumption. C.S. Lewis said, ‘There is no neutral ground in the universe.’ Every square inch, every split second is claimed...

God is always wanting to use us

Recently, I was clicking through folders and folders of early photos of our kids. From baby age to the present, I just got lost in it for hours. How good it was to recount the memories, the places we had visited and I just couldn’t hold back giving God the glory for the good things He had done in our family. Towards the end, a certain photo stopped me in my tracks. You see, over 2yrs ago, our eldest daughter moved to Perth to follow God’s plan for her life. While Cindy and I daily still miss...

« Older Entries

UCB Asia Pacific

Contrary winds (2)

by Bob Gass | Dec 10, 2025 | The Word for Today

‘This voyage will end with disaster and much loss.’ Acts 27:10 NKJV

Paul told everyone on board the ship bound for Rome, ‘Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.’ (Acts 27:10 NKJV)

One author writes: ‘Paul didn’t talk about a little skirmish… a little loss… This voyage would be beset with disasters, with much loss, even to their lives… To Paul this journey meant eventual martyrdom. However, Paul would not die until his mission was completed until he would strike a fatal blow at the heart of the Roman Empire, its political genius, military supremacy… pride and pomp. When Paul walked into Rome with the Gospel, hell shook, and all Heaven rejoiced. We are all beneficiaries because that little battle-scarred man with a chain around his ankle started to convert many in Rome and gave us the books of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon while he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ… These phrases from Acts 27 bring this journey more to life: The winds were contrary… we sailed slowly… passing with difficulty… sailing was now dangerous… tempestuous winds arose… we secured the skiff with difficulty… we used cables to undergird the ship… exceedingly tempest tossed… we threw the ship’s tackle overboard… neither sun nor stars appeared for many days… all hope that we would get saved was given up… the stern was broken up.’ The destination is within reach—but not without ‘much loss’. Thank God that’s not the end of the story. The centurion, ‘wishing to save Paul… commanded those who could swim to throw themselves overboard… and make for the shore… the rest on… pieces of the vessel… escaped safely to land.’ (Acts 27:43–44 AMPC) When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will make it in spite of the storm. Guaranteed!

SoulFood: Gen 44–46, Jn 19:1–24, Ps 148:7–14, Ecc 5:4–6