Quite a lot of things died in 2020, not the least being the traditional Christmas Card. We sent none and received five, which both surprised me and shouldn’t have surprised me.
I am not sure whether to mourn the loss or think – about time, inevitable, or something else altogether?
Read More“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Never was this truer than right now, when most of us are unable to gather, to assemble, as God’s church…
Read MoreThe maxim that most easily encapsulates evolutionary theory is – survival of the fittest. In other words, only the fit survive, and those that survive are the fit…
Read MoreGlobally we are facing a very troubling and confusing season…
Read MoreThe West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand has the biggest dragonflies I have ever seen, and the angriest bees…
Read MoreSummer holidays were wonderful, especially where we spent many of them - at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand at a place called Pelorus Bridge. It was called that because a bridge crossed a river, a deep green river.
Read MoreForgiveness for sin figures as primary in the reason for Christ’s death, and, consequentially, in the message preached. There is no gospel without reference to sin and forgiveness, no good news for the human condition.
Read MoreThe appellative ‘Kingdom Culture’ is called on regularly - we talk about it a lot. But it is most clearly defined for us in the New Testament.
Read MoreDaniel, of Jewish royalty, was exiled to and raised in Babylon, and chosen to be schooled in its language and literature. In other words, Daniel was steeped in Babylonian culture: he was adept at their cultural, moral and philosophical structures, which, at points were anathema to his monotheistic heritage.
Read MoreIn the UK, ‘I’m sorry’ is used so commonly it is virtually meaningless, although everyone knows what it means. If I inadvertently bump into you – easy in a city as dense as London – I am quick to say sorry, but then so is the person I bumped into.
Read MoreHebrews 12, in particular verses 1 through 4, isn’t always included in our thoughts/messages on faith, as it is a new chapter.
Read MorePeople by faith did mighty deeds, wrought justice, miraculously escaped death, and some were resurrected. People by faith also suffered tremendously, dying for their faith; they were chased, afflicted and mistreated because of their faith.
Read MoreThe faith examples of Hebrews 11 all responded to God’s word in a particular manner, because it was a particular word. Faith, in other words, is particularised. What God said to one he didn’t to the other.
Read MoreThese all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar. Their faith was real, what they saw was real, but they died before it was realised.
Read MoreThe great story of faith in the Old Testament is the story of Abraham. It is this story that Paul appeals to in the New Testament on numerous occasions, because Abraham exemplifies faith.
Read MoreFaith, the kind that pleases (not appeases) God, believes simultaneously that God is and that he rewards those who seek him.
Read MoreFaith is the way, the means, by which we please God. Pleasing someone you love, and respect is normal and healthy.
Read MoreAre there lessons that lockdown could teach us, because every new situation has the potential to speak to us.
Read MoreThe writer of Hebrews immediately links faith and the unseen by stating it is faith that comprehends that what we see was “not made out of things that are visible.”
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