As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.Proverbs 26:11Are you a New Year’s Resolution person? Have you already failed? Hopefully you haven’t! No doubt you made some great commitments. Exercise more, spend more time with people you love, (hopefully) read the Bible/pray more.If you are anything like me, New Years Resolutions often take the form of starting something or doing more ...  Read More

3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.1 Peter 4:3I spent four hours talking to the phone company about my latest bill. Feels like such a waste. There are so many things I would have rather been doing in that time. Our language when it comes to time is instructive isn’t it. We sa...  Read More

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of ChristEphesians 3:17-18The start of a new year is always a good time to begin new habits (or is it!?). Either way. Why not commit to memorising a passage of Scripture each week? And no need to come up with which passage on ...  Read More

Greet one another with a holy kiss.2 Corinthians 13:12No. It’s ok. I’m not going to suggest we start doing this. I don’t think Paul is either (well, not exactly). In the Greek/Roman world of the early Church, similar to perhaps modern day France or Italy (before COVID), some form of kissing on the cheek was standard practice. It’s a physical gesture that indicates welcoming and closeness. It’s a c...  Read More

21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.1 Peter 3:21-22So here we have one of the dividing passages between Roman Catholicism and ...  Read More

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”Revelation 4:11Like most of us, I am in awe of God’s creation. As I write this blog, I look out to the mountains and the sky, the sun is just rising. The birds provide the soundtrack backed up with the faint sound of waves crashing. No human technolog...  Read More

Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein thy were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.Westminster Shorter CatechismWell they did love to break it down these Catechism writers. Ok, so Adam & Eve ate the forbidden fruit. But what was it about the forbidden fruit? The Ge...  Read More

“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:“‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance;we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors...  Read More

15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.1 Peter 3:15-16My friend’s wife doesn’t like Christianity. We had the...  Read More

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.Mark 1:17-18The process of memorisation is a critical part of a process of change. Changing us to be our new self in Christ. We have been called to a new identity and a new purpose.Like the disciples, we are all charged with the growing of the kingdom of God. For some, that wi...  Read More

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says,“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;...  Read More

7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.1 Peter 3:7I wonder if you find those last few words as confronting as I do. The thought of my prayers being hindered makes me picture maybe not a brick wall, but at least a hedge of so...  Read More