In Matthew 9:20-22, Jesus who has just been asked to come with a synagogue ruler and heal his sick daughter is interrupted. A desperate woman reaches out to touch him and is healed. We are told that she has an issue, or haemorrhage of blood. It is possible that this was something along the lines… Continue reading The shaming of a precious woman
Tag: abuse
Demons
Last Sunday, I preached on Jesus casting out demons. I highlighted three points in reference to this. Demon possession is possible today though I suspect rarer than in Jesus’ day Christians cannot be demon possessed because we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit The demon exorcisms in the Gospel help us to understand the wider… Continue reading Demons
Forgiveness and reconciliation may not always mean a return to normal
A boyfriend completely forgets his girlfriend’s birthday and goes out with his mates for a drink instead. It’s not the first time he has let her down. She decides to break off with him. At the time he expresses sorrow, buys her flowers, chocolates and concert tickets but she sees through the remorse, this isn’t… Continue reading Forgiveness and reconciliation may not always mean a return to normal
“The process itself was the punishment”
Yesterday I wrote about the accusations against an unnamed Conservative MP. Steve Kneale has written an excellent article today helping us to take our thinking further for church life. I would encourage you to read both articles and if you are part of a church leadership (or leadership of a local or national network or… Continue reading “The process itself was the punishment”
An MP, a rape accusation and #churchtoo
In the news this weekend, an as yet unnamed Conservative MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape. There have been calls for him to have the Conservative whip suspended, for example, Jess Phillips, the shadow Domestic violence minister has expressed shock that this has not happened yet.[1]Her argument is that naming him is necessary… Continue reading An MP, a rape accusation and #churchtoo
Forgiveness, reconciliation, restored trust and domestic abuse
In my article yesterday, I talked about learning to trust again after forgiveness and reconciliation. I argued that this was possible by choosing to remember the good things about a person as well as God’s grace to them and us and to choose to not remember their weakness, sin and the pain caused. In a… Continue reading Forgiveness, reconciliation, restored trust and domestic abuse
Unasked and unanswered questions
A person asks the question on a forum “Is God telling me to divorce my husband?” They explain that they struggle with anxiety, that they had used pornography but that they had repented, their husband had forgiven them and their relationship was on the mend. However, they wondered if God was still telling them to… Continue reading Unasked and unanswered questions
Leaders set the tone – sometimes it is about us
In a previous article I said that we set the tone by recognising that things are not always about us. However, sometimes they are. One of the things that concerned me about early comments during coronavirus was the speed with which some church leaders and prominent speakers and writers were quick to suggest that the… Continue reading Leaders set the tone – sometimes it is about us
Leaders set the tone -sometimes it is about us
In a previous article I said that we set the tone by recognising that things are not always about us. However, sometimes they are. One of the things that concerned me about early comments during coronavirus was the speed with which some church leaders and prominent speakers and writers were quick to suggest that the… Continue reading Leaders set the tone -sometimes it is about us
The thing we don’t talk about (The truth about cats and dogs 1)
This is the first of three talks/studies. I will include a handout followed by a video talk The thing we don’t like to talk about – but probably should (Psalm 51) The difference between cats and dogs What is guilt? Often when we talk about guilt we really mean s……………. g….. and s………… Shame is… Continue reading The thing we don’t talk about (The truth about cats and dogs 1)
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