I love the lyrics to the carol “Mary did you know?” I particularly love this version by Pentatonix. The Carol sets up an imaginary conversation with Mary asking her questions in order to highlight the contrast between the seemingly ordinariness of a little, fully human baby and the wonder of his divinity and his role… Continue reading Mary did you know?
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The year we were given
2020 was not the year we asked for and not the year we expected. A lot of people had focused on the big number year and its association with vision as a significant milestone to aim for. We all had 2020 visions. Others also because of the symmetry of the year had planned big wedding… Continue reading The year we were given
Born to be king
The thing about the Christmas story is that because a lot of the detail lends colour to the narrative, it is in fact matter of fact and to some extent incidental. We have focused so much over the years on mangers, inns and stables that they have become central. Yet the one crucial detail in… Continue reading Born to be king
Nobody puts the baby in a corner
Luke 2:1-7 tells us of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. We meet up with Joseph and Mary again following her visit to see Elizabeth and the focus in chapter 1 turning to the birth of John. Now they must go to Bethlehem and register for tax purposes. Whilst there, Mary gives birth, the baby is… Continue reading Nobody puts the baby in a corner
If someone says they have depression, please take them seriously
I saw this tweet the other day and would like to respond to it. The background to the tweet is that the pastor concerned had a high celebrity profile due to Justin Bieber attending his church. Sadly, as with so many pastors over the years behind the public persona was something different and his marriage… Continue reading If someone says they have depression, please take them seriously
Pastors get depression too
I want to share with you the results of a little survey I did via twitter. It is important to emphasise that these twitter polls don’t count as scientific surveys with appropriate proportions of people and adjustments. Therefore, the percentages are a little meaningless. So, what I’d encourage you to do is to look past… Continue reading Pastors get depression too
A shepherd king for the whole world
In yesterday’s article, we saw how one of the Advent promises is that Jesus is the shepherd king from Bethlehem fulfilling Micah 5:1-5. One of the aims in Advent is not just to look forward to Christmas Day remembering Christ’s first coming (advent) but also to look forward to his Second Coming or Advent. How… Continue reading A shepherd king for the whole world
The Shepherd of God’s People (Micah 5:2)
When the wise men arrived in Jerusalem asking to see the new king, Herod’s spiritual advisors consulted Scripture and identified that the messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The basis for this was these words in Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,from you shall come… Continue reading The Shepherd of God’s People (Micah 5:2)
Godless?
In this video, I describe Christmas as part of the evidence that points to the reality of the God who is Love, who created us and who is actively involved, even stepping down into history. I also said that that when it comes to apologetics, some people prefer to separate out proof of God’s existence… Continue reading Godless?
Please support a church plant in Rochdale
The Christian world is a small one and so every so often you find that a friend from one context has made a connection with another friend leading to Gospel partnership. Here is one fantastic example leading to an urban church plant in Rochdale. I met Stephen Watkinson at Oak Hill Theological College. Stephen was… Continue reading Please support a church plant in Rochdale
Faithroots 