Category: grace
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from minor to major
Tonight I am speaking at Essex University Christian Union. They have asked me to speak about Hosea, one of the so-called ‘Minor Prophets’ from the Old Testament. I think that the label ‘Minor’ is very unfair to these people. Just because their recorded words and actions are fewer than the biggies like Isaiah and Jeremiah,…
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inspired by toads
This evening I will be making Toad in the Hole for our tea. That is not a particularly ambitious meal, I admit, but I will be making it from scratch, not just getting a pre-made one out of the freezer and reheating it. Even so, I realise that this is perhaps not the sort of earth-shattering…
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regraced
If we can be disgraced (and I know I can), yesterday I was regraced. And being God, he regraced me abundantly, with baskets-full left over afterwards. I pray that this will be your experience too. Just when I think I have experienced all there is to experience of God’s grace he outdoes himself once again…
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will, will, will
A few years ago I had a different existence. I worked in the Mission Department at the Baptist Union of Great Britain. I worked with some brilliant colleagues and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. If I had not been convinced that God had called me to Colchester Baptist Church I would have been delighted to…
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ouch
Last night I woke up with a desire to visit another room in our house. (I am trying to be delicate here!). I walked barefoot into that room and on my way back to bed felt a small jab in the sole of my foot, like I had stood on a pin or a sharp…
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if you need to eat humble pie, you may need to take your foot out of your mouth first…
mmmphlugh hhmmugh grimngtpgh That is the sound of me eating some humble pie while talking with my mouth full (of foot). Yesterday I acted less than graciously towards somebody. It took my wife Sally to point this out to me. I did not notice. And therein lies the problem. I had become so caught up…
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adaptability
Don’t you just hate it when you think of something important or significant but can’t make a note of it, and when you need to remember that thought all you can remember is that it was important or significant? I have that sensation about this morning’s blog entry. I am sure I had a good…
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friend of sinners
I am about to launch into preparation for Sunday evening’s sermon, which is on the term of abuse that was levelled at Jesus: ‘friend of sinners’. As I was thinking about it earlier I had decided what we would use to close the service: the hymn ‘Man of sorrows’ as I was convinced that it…
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the most powerful word
What do you think is the most powerful word in the English language? Successful? Awesome? Magnificent? Omnipotence? Determination? Billionaire? I have been pondering this recently. Our culture is one in which we are encouraged to assert our rights, be noticed and make sure we are number one (at any cost). I have seen adverts on…
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intro-speck-tion
My eye is irritated at the moment. I usually wear contact lenses and it feels like there is a tiny bit of grit or something else under the lens. The contact lens-wearers out there will be empathising with me right now. Those of you who don’t wear them can’t really understand. It was quite funny, therefore,…
nukelearfishing 