The Last Night of the Proms and missing the point

The controversy about the Last Night of the Proms rumbles on.  Apparently, Jerusalem, the National Anthem and a version of You’ll Never Walk Alone will be sung by choirs. Meanwhile, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory will feature as orchestral pieces without singing.  That doesn’t sound too bad does it? The music is… Continue reading The Last Night of the Proms and missing the point

The Good of the City (Proverbs 11)

Why does it matter how our politicians, celebrities and business leaders behave? Why the tabloid obsession with their misdemeanours? Partly it’s just gossip. But a big part of it links to a sense of justice – that good people should do well and when they do, we all do well. It’s why we get behind… Continue reading The Good of the City (Proverbs 11)

Can I be a faithful follower of Jesus without attending church? (5 Reasons why the answer is “No”)

It is actually the wrong question to start with. Church is not a venue or an event that you attend. Church is the people of God. You don’t attend a church, you are part of the church. If you belong to Jesus then you belong to his family meaning that you are a member of… Continue reading Can I be a faithful follower of Jesus without attending church? (5 Reasons why the answer is “No”)

Righteousness (Proverbs 10)

The Proverbs offer meditation on God’s law. Wisdom is therefore about how we live in God’s world under his rule and reign in relationship with him. Wisdom is practical righteousness. So, here in Proverbs 10, we see a set of contrasts that compare wisdom and foolishness, righteousness and unrighteousness. Here are some of the examples… Continue reading Righteousness (Proverbs 10)

Was Billy Graham right? Is it just my job to love?

This is one of those quotes that sounds brilliant at first but after a little bit of reflection leaves one feeling uneasy. I guess that when Billy Graham said it, he had Matthew 7:1-6 in mind. In that sense the quote should warn us against the harsh judgementalism that we too often see -especially on… Continue reading Was Billy Graham right? Is it just my job to love?

How should we talk about the Father and the Son (concluding thoughts 2)

In yesterday’s post I said that I believed that it is possible to make application from our Doctrine of the Trinity to life now.  We should do it cautiously and carefully. However, it is possible to do so all the same. If we see that the incarnation reveals the Son relating to his Father in… Continue reading How should we talk about the Father and the Son (concluding thoughts 2)

What kind of gift?

When we were younger, my sister wanted a Wendy house for her birthday. My dad kept insisting that she was getting a tin of baked beans, much to her annoyance and his amusement.  Well, the day of her birthday came and she went downstairs. To her joy, there was the Wendy House ready assembled …… Continue reading What kind of gift?

What should we look for in missions presentations?

This post is prompted a little by Steve Kneale’s article where he describes sitting through a missions’ sermon.  It got me thinking a little about what we expect in and from a missions talk. So often the aim of a such a presentation (aside from sharing specific prayer points) tends to be about persuading me… Continue reading What should we look for in missions presentations?