Category: grace-rich environment
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twenty-first century jubilee
Warning: this bloggage contains idealism, optimism and challenge. I grew up in an era when the threat of nuclear attack was real. The peace of the world existed in a tension that was known as MAD – mutually assured destruction. In other words, we would not blow up another country because we knew that they…
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stone-faced
I was just innocently browsing my news feed on Facebook (other social media sites are available, apparently) and was struck by something someone had posted: they said that they were no longer welcome in a particular church. Now, I do not know the person in question. I do not know any of the context. So…
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fingerpoints
This cartoon is both funny and disturbing at the the same time. It’s funny in the same way that it was funny when Jesus gave the original teaching in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you…
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in finite resources
We are constantly reminded that this planet’s resources are finite. There is only a limited amount of oil and gas in the ground. There is only so much ore to be mined. There are only so many things that can be made. Even the Sun will run out eventually (although not for a loooong time!).…
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Mull of inspire
(Please excuse the corny title, I couldn’t resist.) A long time ago in a church far, far away I received a letter in the post. It was a rather critical letter. My friend and colleague in the church, David, had been sent a copy of the letter and as soon as he got his he…
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dis-graceful
Context makes a big difference doesn’t it? This morning I looked at a famous passage in one of Paul’s letters, written to a bunch of Christians in a church in Philippi, Greece: Final exhortations 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do…
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amazing grace
Being the pastor of a church is an incredible privilege. I am able to share in the joys and sorrows of people’s lives and offer support, encouragement, prayer, and seek to point people in God’s direction. I have often been asked (usually by young people) what my favourite Bible passage or verse is. I used…
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witnessing
This morning I gladly witnessed some signatures for some friends in our church. It’s something I do on a regular basis. I was chatting with my friends as I signed to verify their signatures and recalled that I have verified peoples’ identity for their passport applications, countersigned visa and residency applications, signed wedding certificates, witnessed wills,…
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cliché time once again
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: change is inevitable… except from a vending machine. I know that’s not very original, but it still makes me chuckle. None of us like change, but it is a fact of life: we are all getting older and that brings about change (male pattern baldness for…
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unwelcome guests
We have recently had a lodger with us. They have not been paying anything for the privilege, and indeed made a bit of a mess. So we had to evict them. That was easier said than done. The lodger was a mouse. Most of the time the only evidence of his/her stay with us was…
nukelearfishing 