An entire industry has been built around hospitality; we call it the ‘hospitality industry.’ But an industry is a strange way to designate a social function of such personal and community significance. Have we commodified hospitality, making it a transactional matter, instead of it being a gracious, freely given, means of connection between peoples? This was certainly the way it worked in Roman society; shame was experienced if you got it wrong. 

Paul writing to the Galatians is at pains to help them reacclimatize to the grace of God found in Christ. The were shaky and reverting to the safety, and bondage, of Judaism for salvation, because following Jesus could be costly, which, for them, included the possibility of being ostracized from the Jewish community…

The freedom of speech, essential in any democratic society, has morphed into the freedom to say whatever, whenever, and to whomever. This was never the intended use of the freedom of speech, much less the modus operandi of followers of Jesus.

When the gospel is preached in most Western churches, and an appeal is made to respond to the claims and Lordship of Christ, what it said is invariably along the lines of: our good works are insufficient for salvation…

I had only intended a brisk walk in the forest that summer day, when I tripped and fell. The fall seemed innocuous, but the way I landed wasn’t.  I sliced my inner thigh on a broken branch, gashing an artery…

Rousseau, the French Romantic philosopher, believed man is naturally good, and anything that is not natural has corrupted us from this natural state. In other words, it is our environment, our education, our upbringing, that corrupts our, otherwise, natural goodness. But who gets to decide what it natural or good?…

Dicken’s Oliver Twist is an orphaned child suffering the hunger of the poorest of the poor. For all its legitimacy his plea wasn’t taken too kindly, nor his bowl refilled...

We are told that suppression of feelings is deleterious to our wellbeing - it’s not good for us. This is largely correct, taking into account what isn't being  referred to are fleeting emotions or petty offences, which can easily be as much taken as they are given. Neither should we indulge in the habit of constantly rehearsing our bruised emotions -  especially to unrelated others - even though they (our emotions) may be genuinely troubled or hurt….

If you were given the choice, what would you choose - localized and seen notoriety or wide spread and unseen influence? Choice isn’t normally given to us so both may be true for some; it isn’t strictly either/or, but the question still stands. If it was only one, which would you choose?

Community is a hot topic. The word is used to describe everything from a gathering of people, to those who use the same App, follow the same team, or live in the same high rise/condominium. It is used, in other words, for almost anything that involves people, which is just about everything. Its use is truly ubiquitous, and therefore in danger of becoming virtually meaningless.

Jesus welcomed little children, arms wide open; he saw in them something that the disciples, and most of us, miss. It would not be pressing the issue to say he liked children, more, he loved children -  and children, him too. They would have felt loved and safe in his presence.  We can only wonder what became of the children he blessed? What were their futures? *2

History hasn’t always been kind to children. They have suffered in many ways as victims of war, they’ve been sidelined as a burden, treated less than human, trafficked and abused. It’s of value to note, lest this gets too bleak, they’ve also been loved, cared for, nurtured and celebrated…

Isaiah 40 comes on the heels of numerous prophetic denunciations of Israel, the surrounding nations, and a recap of the life of Hezekiah - Isaiah 36-39. He was one of the very few kings who sought to follow Yahweh. But even his reign, for all its religious reformation, couldn’t hold back forever the inevitable exile to Babylon of God’s people; a people who consistently and provocatively worshipped other gods, blaspheming God’s name among the nations.

There is little as magnificent as a sunrise – out of darkness emerges an ever-changing living palate of reds, oranges and yellows that paint the awakening horizon. The sunrise heralds a new day, a new beginning, if you wish.

Who would think to start the Christmas story with a genealogy? We wouldn’t but Matthew did. Why? Matthew wanted to establish the credentials of the Messiah before telling the story of the Messiah. He did this by

We marvel at the depth, the height, and the breadth of God’s amazing grace. By this expression of his nature God has brought salvation to us, through Jesus, when we were helpless to save ourselves, so that whatever we do for God is never reciprocated as like for like. There is no spiritual or moral equivalency between God’s act and mankind’s response.

In this pivotal and defining Old Testament text God calls out to Moses, proclaiming his name. He, in other words, is revealing to Moses what he is like, what his nature is, what he intends and what mankind can expect of this God.

The art of plain-speak and its concomitant, truthfulness, is all but a lost art if the present electoral cycle in the US is any indication. Plain questions, leading questions, good questions, just – questions, are blatantly avoided whilst the candidates focus on the failings of their equally evasive opponents.

Solomon’s reign brought unrivalled peace and prosperity to Israel. His father, David, would have marvelled at Solomon’s accomplishments. But much of it came at a high cost to God’s people. The works projects for the temple and his own house/palace took twenty years of intensive building...

May I give you some advice? Only give advice when it is actively sought, or a relation exists in which advice is a necessity and/or at...