I loved mum’s mum. She was a wonderful presence in my life.
She died a number of years ago at a ripe old age, untroubled by much sickness until she was finally and fatally troubled. It was her heart. It had seen enough, borne enough, loved enough. Enough was enough.
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence is storming its way across our technological and social landscape. There is no escaping it, so there is little point in hoping it will go away; it’s here to stay, in one form or another.
Read MoreIn our attempts to avoid being charged as offensive or appearing superior (separatists), we are prone to think, or even hope, all people are God’s children. It sounds inclusive and kind. But is it, if it isn’t true? I wish to show it is neither inclusive nor kind to say all humankind is God’s children, plus it leaves people complacent and potentially deceived.
Read MoreIt would be hard to find a word that attracts more opprobrium than the word obedience. It has all the baggage of institutional power gone awry, in that being told what to do or how to act is seen as a diminution of personal autonomy and rights. Commanded obedience is archaic and repressive. By it, people maintain power, often illegitimately; by it, questions cannot be asked, nor accountability demanded.
Read MoreOne of the uncomfortable yet essential dictums of mechanistic evolution is that only the fit survive; in other words, the unfit don’t. From simple cell (is there actually any such thing?) to complex humanity, only so-called survival-enhancing mutations make it. Weakness is discriminated against; weakness is biologically culled, as it doesn’t enhance survival.
Read MoreSolomon, before launching his collection of wise sayings from Proverbs 10 on, sets the tone by giving significant focus to the ‘tale of two women.’ Why does he, and who are these women, or, more pertinently, what do they represent? One is Lady Wisdom, the other, an adulteress.
Read MoreThis short blog will cast me as a polemicist, but it is hard to be anything less when it comes to confronting the cold comfort of cessationists – those who deny any ongoing ministry in the church age of the Holy Spirit, which includes healing, miracles, prophecy, and the like.
Read MoreI don’t have a ministry, and neither do you.
When we claim to have a ministry, which is common, we are, in essence, commodifying a gift of God, given by the grace of Christ, that has as its purpose the strengthening of his church. In other words, we have a tradeable asset, and trade we do. We ask, what church could employ me so that I can further my ministry? Unfortunately, this is closer to capitalism; it is not kingdom. And this, in turn, transforms a living function into a static role; a verb has been morphed into a noun, which is grammatically problematic.
Read MoreThere was a time when the penalty for crime was about its exemplary effect. An extreme and brutal version of this (punitive) justice was crucifixion. People were nailed to a cross so that others, passing by, would see and be less inclined to break Roman laws. The Romans were brutish as they spread their peace.
Read MoreHope and optimism are easily confused, but they are not the same thing. Part of the confusion is we don’t comprehend the meaning or nature of hope, in which case optimism looks more attractive. Hope is often understood as a wish that something either does or does not happen (I hope it doesn’t rain today, I hope she calls me), whereas optimism is more appealing, more … optimistic. People relying on this kind of hope are less positive because they are only thinking in terms of vague possibilities/wishes, whereas those given to optimism confess a brighter outlook, or so it would seem.
Read MoreSin is such a little word, with such big implications. Upon this one syllable three-letter word hangs the fate of our world; because of this word, the Son of God hung on a cross. Such is the staggering cost of our salvation.
Read MoreThe scripture referred to in the title is from Ephesians 4.1-6, which speaks of the unity of the body of Christ (the church), and the gifts of Christ to his body to assist in a growth process, to the end that the church, empowered by the five gifts of the ascended Christ and the gifted contribution of each member, grows in strength and love.
Read MoreA political commentator spoke recently of the global community. It was presented as if no one would question its validity, any more than we question whether the Earth is a sphere. They were criticizing the President of the United States for undermining the so-called global community with his threats and policies. He may well do, if not, already has done.
Read MoreThe Council of Nicaea (325 AD) established that Jesus Christ is fully divine, co-eternal with God the Father, and of one substance. The council condemned the, by then, widespread Arian heresy that Christ was a created being, therefore not by essence divine – only deviatory.
Read MoreWestern culture, particularly North American, has a significant influence on much of our preaching. This is hardly surprising, though not always helpful. An example: the essentially uncontested assumption that our dreams, aspirations, and desires are, if not inspired by God, at least approved by God.
Read MoreIt is nothing new to say that Christmas, particularly its Christian content, is being eroded by an increasing secularized West. A sure sign of this erosion is the gradual withdrawal of Nativity scenes from public places, in the name of not wanting religion to be given privilege, and not wanting to offend people. It might be easier if the offended just avoided the scenes, as I’m sure a stable has an un-stabilizing effect on those with such sensitivities.
Read MoreNew York City recently elected a new mayor, a new style of mayor by all accounts. He claims to be a democratic socialist, and billionaires are in his sights…
Read MoreIt is notoriously difficult to try to define who Jesus was. He just seems to defy description and expectation; he isn’t any one sort of person…
Read MoreThe author of Hebrews was encouraging the, predominately Jewish, believers in their life of faith, as they were facing various struggles - suffering, abuse and persecution. Whilst following Christ was their entrance into the Kingdom of God, it was no walk in the park.
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