Some blogging encouragement

I checked my spam the other day and found great encouragement: Well I think you are a genius and the post is marvelous. Brightened my day no end.  The fact that it came from a man calling himself “Penis Enlargement” is neither here nor there.  I have instructed my filter to allow all such positive [...]

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He saved my life and I don’t even know his name

Anyone else sick of the whole ‘Christ in the OT’ debate?  Man… some people just go on and on. I’m announcing a new hobby horse – Christ in the NT.  In fact I think this is where you really see a preacher’s Christ-centredness.  We’ve had the rule drummed into us by now – Thou shalt [...]

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Free to follow

Not sure it ever happened (happy to be contradicted), but what a good illustration as heard in this morning’s sermon by Neil Green (my vicar). Abraham Lincoln was once at a slave auction.  A young girl was being sold, naked but for her shackles.  Lincoln was so distressed by the thought of her being bought [...]

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Who the man?

So what are these parables about? Matthew 13:44-46: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine [...]

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Blog Gold Dust

He doesn’t blog as often as some, but when he does he’s up there with my absolute favourites.  Andy Mason is consistently thought-provoking, Christ-centred, biblical, pastoral and stuffed full of grace through and through.  He’s been blogging more than usual this month – check it out! On the subject – what golden nuggets am I [...]

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Barcode Gun or Magnum?

In this post I’ve been thinking about how we tend to pray before evangelistic efforts.  Often the prayers we say will sound something like: ‘Lord, open hearts in advance of your gospel. Prepare people now so that later we will come across those upon whom your Spirit has worked.’  If this is how we think [...]

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No worries

From this sermon on Luke 12:1-12… What is the most common command in the Scriptures?  Fear not.  Do not be afraid. Hundreds of times in the whole bible – the message is repeatedly given “Don’t worry.”  But we do.  All the time.  About everything. I bet if I asked you to make a list of [...]

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Blood, blood, we cry

Check out this poem by D. Gwenallt, translated by Rowan williams – h/t Ben Myers It’s called “Sin” Take off the business suit, the old-school tie, The gown, the cap, drop the reviews, awards, Certificates, stand naked in your sty, A little carnivore, clothed in dried turds. The snot that slowly fills our passages Seeps [...]

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The State of Israel

Bobby has moved to blogspot.  He describes himself as pre-mill but “a half-step away from being a committed amillenialist.”  He’s asked the question about how a-millers view the modern state of Israel.  I gave an ill-considered half answer.  What about others?  Dan Hames I’m looking in your direction?  Or post-mills?  I’d love to hear other views [...]

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Where is the power?

We’re in the middle of a mission at the moment (prayers always welcome!).  One of the things we’re doing is door-knocking our neighbourhood and we’ve seen people turn to the Lord even on the door-step.  Praise God! In our morning meetings there seems to be one kind of prayer that recurs more than any others [...]

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Seeing the Doctor 1

Do you ever wonder, like this blogger, if Jesus would actually like you?  Not whether some abstract principle of grace covers you.  But the question, How would the radical Jesus of the bible deal with you? I mean the Guy’s fierce.  Totally uncompromising, pure.  No double-standards, no tolerance for double-standards.  He sees you to the [...]

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Please Pray

UPDATE 15 October 2008: News from Barnabas Fund UPDATE:  A letter from Orissa UPDATE:  Go here for more news on the persecution of Indian Christians UPDATE: The latest from Gospel for Asia I got this by text on Thursday night: “Please pray for Pastor Paul Thangaia (I think it’s spelt Paul Thangiah – Pastor of Bangalore’s [...]

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Jesus is the same

The other night I was talking to someone about my latest hobby horse (personality types).  To my shame I found myself using the past tense about Jesus.  Now there are many appropriate ways of doing that: e.g. “Christ died for sins, once for all.”  But when we’re talking about Christ’s character, how horrible to find yourself describing Him [...]

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Personality, temperament, gifts, huh?

Codepoke made this comment on my last post on “personality types“ Still conflicted. :-) If the Spirit has gifted you as a pastor and you torture yourself trying to prophecy, you have not benefited anyone. Some are eyes and some are feet. When the eye tries to do its part in the body by being [...]

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Tearing down the idol of my personality

In talking about ‘personality types’ and how they play out in the day-to-day, I’ve been particularly interested in how aspirational these really are.  “Out-going, big-picture, laid-back, last-minute” is not simply how I’m hard-wired (although there is something to that).  But much more, it’s a fantasy construct that I’ve hit upon – an ideal persona in which [...]

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I am not…

Here’s an example of how we shape our own “personality types” which then shape us. I went to bible college saying very strongly both outwardly and inwardly “I’m not a linguist.” Why would I say such a thing? Well not on the basis of terrible school grades or any nightmare disputes with snooty French maitre [...]

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Faith is the opposite of self-regarding

From the ridiculous to the sublime. I’ve posted quite a few long-winded reflections on faith in the past.  (And how we shouldn’t reflect too much on it!)  Here, here, here and here.   But they’re all summed up and vastly surpassed by one paragraph of Stott’s Romans commentary: “Further it is vital to affirm that there is [...]

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Worship to honour the Lord

Perhaps most ironic of all is the worship leader’s opening prayer – a desire to honour the Lord. Suggestions please for the absolute worst aspect of these ten minutes.  There’ll be some competition I tell ya.   “Jack Black’s” hair-do The sock spinning “Everybody!  You’re not spinning anything!” The song! “Hands in the air like [...]

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