Writing in the late 1990s in his book “From Dawn to Decadence”, a survey of the last 500 years of Western cultural life, a society which he saw as sliding towards decadence, Jacques Barzun wrote – “It takes only a look at the numbers to see that the 20th century is coming to an … Continue reading An Easter Reflection to the Sound of Angels Weeping
In the Bible we are told that at the first Christmas a bunch of Angels cried out- “Peace on earth and good will to all people, On whom his favour rests” A great promise isn’t? I am sure we could all do with a bit more peace, because there doesn’t appear to be a whole … Continue reading A ‘Different Kind of Peace’
It was after dinner on a Hong Kong evening many years ago now, just before Christmas. I was sitting on the balcony of our apartment in the Mid-Levels of the main island, and looking down over the central business district of Hong Kong below me, known as Central, with the harbour beyond and further beyond … Continue reading The Atheist and the Sledgehammer
“Turning and turning in the widening gyre. The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world” W. Yeats ********************** In the University City of Oxford, England on October 16, 1555 the Anglican Bishops Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer were burned at the stake. Their … Continue reading The Light Flickers Lower, The Foundations Crumble and the Centre Will Not Hold
Recently I was on a ship sailing in the eastern Atlantic. Much of the time there was nothing to be seen but the apparently boundless, horizon-kissing ocean in all directions. Nothing that is but a seemingly timeless wind-driven surging of waves, an unlimited globe-circling highway to distant lands, a mind stretching enormous-ness emphasising our smallness. … Continue reading Nothingness to Love- An Ascent to Praise
I have been meditating lately on Jesus’ instruction to his followers "to go and make disciples" “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”. Matthew 28:19,20. In particular … Continue reading Discipleship – Beyond Conversion
I turn on the radio and tune in to a news channel, then another and another, but all of them, the TV channels too, are covering the same story- ANZAC Day, 25th April. This is the Australian and New Zealand equivalent of what in the United Kingdom is ‘Remembrance Day’ on November the 11th. It … Continue reading Winning The War But Losing the Peace
I entered the large shopping complex and there He was, front, centre and large, enthroned in his palace. There He was, ‘the reason for the season’. The One who is always encouraging the children to come to him, and woe betide anyone who want to stop them. They know (for they have been taught) that … Continue reading ‘He is stolen and it is not harmless!’
There is a scene in C. S. Lewis story of the ‘Horse and His Boy’ in the Narnia series, where the lost, friendless ‘boy’ Shasta journeying on a very unruly horse through deep darkness with tears rolling down his face, has a terrifying experience when he suddenly senses- “That someone or somebody was walking beside … Continue reading Kingdom Outbreaks
In his book ‘Mere Christianity’ the former atheist-turned-Christian C.S. Lewis writes: “One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked about a Dark Power in the universe—a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death, disease and sin...This universe is at … Continue reading Prayer and the Dark Power
unbounded church 