MWR : Articles : Amy Dueckman

Articles : Amy Dueckman

Abundant life

From Genesis to Revelation: this week’s lesson not only concludes the quarter, but the entire Bible. We come full circle from the beginning of the Bible’s narrative.

Back in Genesis 3 we read of the tree of life in the center of the Garden of Eden. Disobeying God caused the fall of humankind, and after Adam and Eve’s sin, humans were not allowed access to it. Now in the Bible’s final chapter, the tree of life is again mentioned, growing on both sides of the river. Life has been returned to humankind because of the redemptive work of Christ, the second Adam.

All things new

As we turn to the last two chapters of Revelation, John reveals his vision for the new heaven and new Earth.

Lamb’s throne

This passage from Revelation paints a beautiful picture of unity, fellowship, blessing and praise in God’s kingdom to come. John describes a great multitude of people from “every nation, race, people and tongue.” Can you imagine such a scene?

Vision of symbols

We encounter symbols every day. Most are instantly recognizable. A heart. A “swoosh” on an athletic shoe. The Golden Arches. A pink ribbon. A red octagon.

Unity in humility

On the television show Undercover Boss, CEOs of companies disguise themselves and leave their comfortable corporate offices to spend a week working at entry-level jobs in their own businesses. It is an eye-opening experience. Accustomed to boardrooms and executive luxuries, the bosses find themselves on the front lines of blue-collar work. They make coffee in all-night corner stores, mop floors, muck out portable toilets.

Death turns to life

In April 2006, a vanload of students from Taylor University in Indiana were involved a van accident with multiple fatalities. The story made headlines when it was discovered that a case of mistaken identity had life-changing consequences for two families.

Strange parade

In February last year, with the Winter Olympics about to begin in Vancouver, B.C., all of Canada was caught up in Olympic fever. Many eagerly traced the journey of the Olympic torch across the country.

Warning of error

False teaching is the topic of the Book of Jude, just 25 verses long. Unlike other epistles directed to a specific church, Jude’s epistle is addressed “to those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and called by Jesus Christ” — that is, all Christians of all ages. In the early verses of this book, Jude states that he would prefer to be writing about the church’s common belief of salvation in Jesus Christ. But the need to warn about apostasy compels him to address the matter.

Enduring witness

Sitting in chains in prison under the emperor Nero, Paul has lots of time to think and reflect. He is longing for the company of his friend Timothy. He cannot be with the church in Ephesus that he helped establish, but he can send a letter of encouragement to Timothy ministering there. Realizing he is nearing the end of his life (2 Tim. 4:6), is Paul wondering about the effectiveness of his life and ministry?

Caring for family

A deplorable case of elder abuse made headlines in Canada in February when it was discovered that a 68-year-old Ontario woman had been kept in her son’s uninsulated garage all winter. She was relegated to sleeping on a plywood slab, had no bathroom facilities, stove or refrigerator, and was found with only a piece of bread for food. In subfreezing temperatures in an unheated garage, the elderly woman suffered from frostbite and bruises.