Parables (9): Contract or Covenant?
A landowner hires five sets of workers at different times of the day. Those recruited at dawn are promised a day’s wage, and those hired subsequently are assured they will be paid ‘whatever is right’;...
View ArticleParables (10): Hearing and Doing
There are certain characters in Jesus’ parables in whom we immediately recognise someone we know – or even ourselves. Most of us, for instance, are likely to be more familiar with self-righteous elder...
View ArticleThe Power of Love (1): God’s Love
Summarising, somewhat cheekily, what this gifted Christian management consultant had just implied, I said: ‘So God is really rather lucky to have you on his team!’ My friend is not alone in his...
View ArticleThe Power of Love (2): The Cross
Which of us hasn’t wished, on occasion, for more power in a situation – to challenge a directive from the boss, to influence a team member, to reorder the organisational priorities, or simply to go...
View ArticleThe Power of Love (3): Loving God
Imagine one of those days when you fail to achieve anything, despite your best efforts. Then, in what can only be attributed to God’s provision, everything changes exactly as needed – the inspiration...
View ArticleThe Power of Love (4): Loving Others
Many of the people we come across on our various frontlines struggle with life. Behind the smiling masks are relationship breakdowns, bereavement, debt, addictions, worry and fear...
View ArticleDaniel (8): Daniel Prayed
I, Daniel, understood from the scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and...
View ArticleDaniel (9): Crying Out For Justice?
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion… our captors asked for songs of joy… How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? … Daughter Babylon, doomed to...
View ArticleParables (11): Midnight’s Friend
It’s midnight, and John and Mary are asleep in bed. A sudden knocking wakes them; John staggers over to the window, and sees his friend Joe battering at the door. ‘What do you want?’ he calls grumpily....
View ArticleTrusting God
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my...
View ArticlePray4Life: Connecting with God’s Mission
Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and...
View ArticlePray4Life – Connecting with God’s Heart
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke...
View ArticlePray4Life: Aligning with God’s Strategy
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit....
View ArticleA messenger has to start somewhere…
Evangelism. Sigh. We only have to hear the word and waves of guilt and dread begin to surge... But wait! Let’s stop them before they actually crash down on us and try something different today: let’s...
View ArticleA messenger doesn’t have to do the whole job
There were shepherds staying in the fields nearby [outside Bethlehem, where Jesus was born], guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of...
View ArticleA messenger doesn’t always have to travel far
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son...
View ArticleA messenger doesn’t have to know all the answers
There were shepherds staying in the fields nearby [outside Bethlehem, where Jesus was born], guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the...
View ArticleDaniel (9): Crying Out For Justice?
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion… our captors asked for songs of joy… How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? … Daughter Babylon, doomed to...
View ArticleParables (11): Midnight’s Friend
It’s midnight, and John and Mary are asleep in bed. A sudden knocking wakes them; John staggers over to the window, and sees his friend Joe battering at the door. ‘What do you want?’ he calls grumpily....
View ArticleTrusting God
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my...
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