Graham Nicholls writes for Affinity about the dilemma that many Christians face when approaching Halloween. I suspect that the dilemma arises because the event itself is messy. You are encountering not just one festival or “holiday” but several and they have all got muddled up together. First (though not chronologically) there’s the festival from which… Continue reading What should we do about Halloween?
Tag: death
Further reflections on right to life campaigning
In my articles looking at the controversy concerning the Keswick Convention and CBR-UK/Brephos, I wanted to primarily deal with why it is absolutely fine for Christian organisations to differ from and not want to be associated with the actions of other Christian organisations. This should not be taken as an act of disunity, nor, even… Continue reading Further reflections on right to life campaigning
Can’t you just say “they died”?
I recently saw someone complain on social media about Christians using euphemisms for death such as: passed away, gone home to be with the Lord and promoted to glory. “why can’t we just say that they have died?” They asked. Well having both pastored people through bereavement and experienced it myself, I thought I would… Continue reading Can’t you just say “they died”?
Grieving Together
We have experienced a significant amount of bereavement as a church family recently. A few of us have said goodbye to precious family members. In some cases it was something we were preparing for but in others it came as a total shock. Last week, we were hit with the news that someone who has… Continue reading Grieving Together
Summer is still to come
Autumn is nearly upon us and the school holidays are almost over. Teachers will be returning for training days shortly followed by pupils. Students will be returning or heading off to university for the same time. For some, the sense that the nights are drawing in and the loss of day light will hit particularly… Continue reading Summer is still to come
Going Home: death, grieving and life in between
It’s something we all have to face at some point. This last year we were hit with the double whammy of seeing my father in law and then my mum die within a few weeks if each other. But we do not grieve as those without hope. Here is some teaching on John 14 from… Continue reading Going Home: death, grieving and life in between
The Redemption of Moses
AS Moses stood facing the Red Sea and God told him to stretch out his staff over the water, how did he know that he could trust God at that point? I want to suggest that it was in part because he’d sort of been there already before. He was about to take the people… Continue reading The Redemption of Moses
In sure and certain hope of the resurrection
I’ve led or taken part in quite a few funerals. Recently we said goodbye to my mum and laid to rest her mortal remains. At the graveside, as the coffin is lowered, it is normal to read out these words or similar. “In that the Lord has chosen to take [name] to himself, we now… Continue reading In sure and certain hope of the resurrection
Biblcal Theology and Isaiah
Biblical Theology helps us to see God’s big story of redemption unfolding on the pages of Scripture. There are a couple of aspects to this. First of all, authors such as Graeme Goldsworthy and Christopher Wright have identified three themes running through Scripture. We can talk about The story that the Bible tells us the… Continue reading Biblcal Theology and Isaiah
Cheating death
When we get difficult or bad news, we often try to negotiate with the bad news, to find a way around it. This kind of denial is a common part of the grieving process. One of the greatest human temptations is to believe that somehow, given enough knowledge, resources and time we’ll be able to… Continue reading Cheating death
Faithroots 