On a recent holiday trip we stayed overnight in a small English village. The next morning, as walked around I came across an old Abbey, which I entered and explored with visitor’s eyes. It is an ancient building, large and cavernous, with a history going back over 1400 years and which currently also serves as … Continue reading Encountering Tragedy in the Abbey
2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, ‘If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be … Continue reading The Future is Not Behind Us
The Roman Empire was a religiously pluralistic society much like most of the western world today. This meant that people were free to worship the ‘god’ or ‘gods’ of their choice, it was up to each individual. There was one restriction however. This was that no matter what other ‘gods’ were worshipped, one that each … Continue reading Welcome to Rome – Again
A relevant re-post on the 75th anniversary of the end of the 2nd World War
So Easter has passed once more. The most important time in the Christian calendar as we rehearse what has been described as the ‘greatest story ever told, about the greatest offer ever made by the greatest person who ever lived’. The media reported thousands filling Easter services supported by pictures of crowded churches, as would … Continue reading The Easter Mirage and the Missional Malaise
For centuries the traditional Hot Cross Bun was limited in its production to Easter as a sign of the central meaning of that most important Christian festival. However, it is now greatly reduced in its symbolism because it is available everywhere throughout the year, starting the day after Christmas! My local baker told me it … Continue reading Hot Fish Buns – The Bun Strikes Back
'Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my Soul to keep, … Continue reading Will We Die Before We Wake?
“I chose you . . . . . that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should last.” ********** Probably like most people, now and again I get random thoughts come into my head. One of which recently floated into my mind when I … Continue reading Dead Horses, Opportunity Costs and the Un-harvest
‘Blessed is the man . . . . . . . . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. … Continue reading The Atheist’s Bible Delight
Again in the last few months a couple of people I know (one a close friend, another who I meet fairly regularly) have been diagnosed with terminal, or probably terminal cancer. This caused me to focus again on the issues in this previous post such that I thought it worth re-posting. Serious concerns re the church and its ever decreasing missional effectiveness to those who have the Damoclean Sword of being without Christ hanging over their heads.
