God, by His Spirit sustains that biological life. But on Easter Day it is not biological proof of life, that so stunned Christ’s followers. No, this was something else. Jesus was different. This was more than some biological life force – this was resurrection life, and it had never entered the world before Jesus.
“Easter Here …”
Easter is here once more. Take the slow pilgrimage with Jesus from the upper room to Skull Hill. So much happened in less than 24 hours. It changed everything. It still does. Marvel at the enormity of the sacrifice of the sinless Lamb of God and it’s tremendous power! Worship Him afresh as the Spirit reveals new things about the salvation God made for us through Christ – and why He paid such a price. And live it now. This is GOOD Friday.
“Easter Nearer …”
"Easter Approaches …”
I have often wondered how God could hold back His wrath as the sins of humanity just kept piling up … I can only conclude that His love for us is so great, His mercy and compassion is so far reaching, so deep and rich, that it constrained His wrath, until the Lamb of God was ready to appear on the earth.
“The list of last things …”
“God the unknowable?”
“Your brother’s blood …”
"Wesley and One Job …"
"One Job …"
"Opinions vs Facts …"
As I observe it, the biggest “fact” to which many believers feel entitled today is the “right” to pursue discipleship and faith on their own terms. Whether this is about contrary ideas to God’s Word concerning sexuality, gender, climate change, sin, the use of money and so on, doesn’t seem to bother these people. They create their own facts to justify preferred behaviour and values. This is the one big…
"Prophecy fulfilled..."
"Making Christmas out of the Gospels"
"Cultural Appropriation"
Well, Christmas is coming – and seems to be in a hurry this year. Christmas trees and decorations are popping up everywhere and the Christmas buy-up is happening as we look for gifts for loved ones and friends. Every year we see the same, of course, and we Christians see the crass commercialisation of Christmas, too – it is rampant and driven…
"The Light, …"
"The spirit is willing, but …"
The Gethsemane scenes are harrowing and filled with such intense, exhausting anguish that He sweats blood. The Lord shares with His friends His deep sorrow. They sense the approaching dread but are still struggling to understand it all. They have no idea how shocking and faith destroying the next hours will be for them. They fall asleep praying, leaving Jesus to battle on alone.
"Fissures, Fractures & Division …"
But social media platforms are not the cause of all this, they are just the means to that end. The causes have been fermenting for many decades. The power of social media has simply accelerated things. There have always been disagreements between people. But, on the whole, the nature of public discourse has been polite and respectful of differing points of view. Not anymore.
"End the Occupation!"
Many of us have heard the rowdy chant in the streets of our capital cities in the last few weeks – “End the occupation!” The chant has gone up almost like a war cry as has the other chant, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” Both chants have featured in what the media intentionally and falsely label “pro-Palestinian” demonstrations in our capitals. They are actually “anti-Israel” demonstrations when we understand what these chants actually mean.
"A Gentle Whisper, or …?"
I had that experience in 1988 when I had been fasting and praying for my son, Tristan, who was suffering chronic asthma – so very frightening I could not leave him for a moment. On the eighth night in the early morning hours, as I was praying over him, suddenly everything went quiet. Absolute, utter silence….
"Hamas"
This spirit is not new. It is beyond time and space and it is everywhere in the world – we saw it screaming obscenities at the Sydney Opera House last week. It has been seen all throughout human history in ancient and modern times. Hamas is but one of the major manifestations of this principality. It is demonic.
Why? That is THE question! Why is the prince of the kingdom of Persia so fanatically determined to kill Jews?
"End Times … Again"
Last week’s attack on Israel from the terrorist group, Hamas, has triggered a fresh outbreak of end times speculation. This seems to happen every time there is a serious clash in the Middle East involving Israel. That’s understandable, I guess, but this latest conflict is major and has triggered even more heightened speculation than usual. Some “commentators” reckon this could be “it”.