The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defence before the people. But when they realised he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of ...  Read More

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.James 2:15-17One thing a lot of people are sick of these days are empty words. We’ve had enough of it from politicians ...  Read More

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.Romans 1:21Ever done something for someone and received no thanks? What if that happened every time? You work hard to show kindness to someone, giving and sacrificing but receive nothing in the way of gratitude. How would you feel?This captur...  Read More

Q. 4. What is God?A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.Westminster Shorter CatechismIt’s a question that sounds like it would be coming out of the lips of someone who may have smoked something they shouldn’t have. What is God? It’s a profound question.In Exodus, God introduces humanity to His name. Yahweh. It me...  Read More

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,but whoever hates correction is stupid.Proverbs 12:1I wasn’t disciplined much as a kid. It was the 80’s. Which came after the 60’s & 70’s (profound hey). But what that meant was my parents brought a hippy flavour into their parenting. The kid will find his own way. Well, I nearly didn’t.Because I suffered/suffer from a dangerous flaw. I thought I knew it al...  Read More

Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.Leviticus 19:10It’s really hard to convey how radical Leviticus 19:10 is. In the Ancient world poverty was an astronomical reality. Some historians suggest that up to 90% of people lived just above or below what we would call a subsistence level. That...  Read More

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.Ephesians 5:15-16To be a wise Christian is to see the reality of the time we live in. That is, the days are short. Death could come at any moment for the people around us. Jesus could return this year. So let’s make the most of every opportunity to engage others with the m...  Read More

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.Romans 12:6-8One of the mind-bog...  Read More

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to...  Read More

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.Daniel 6:10A bit of context. Darius, King of the Medes & Persians has just issued a decree stating that ‘that anyone who prays to any god or human being du...  Read More

Q.3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of manWestminster Shorter CatechismAcross the centuries people have turned to the Bible for a variety of reasons. Still today - the likes of Jordan Peterson engage with the Scriptures as an interesting sociological and psychological document. Snippets ...  Read More

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.Proverbs 12:18I just finished reading a long article about ‘cancel culture’. Did the proverbs writer foresee twitter, facebook or reddit when he prophetically spoke these words? No. But, he didn’t need to. Sin has always found words a particularly effective way of causing pain. Social media has just exponential...  Read More