Why ? ... Because Christ!

In the song, ‘Do-re-mi’, from ‘The Sound of Music’, Julie Andrews, as Maria, sings: “Let's start at the very beginning / A very good place to start”.  Now it is difficult to argue with that commonsense approach; but what does it mean?  For Maria it meant going back to basics when learning to read an

The Bible presents us with difficult pictures of God.  In chapter 2 of Luke’s Gospel we learn about the birth of Jesus.  God’s messengers, the angels, announce that Mary will have a son who is the Son of God. Then they announce his birth as the Saviour, the promised one, the Lord. However, this grea

There is a big problem with the way Christmas is presented. I don’t mean the Santa and reindeers nonsense.  That is just silliness beyond understanding; extraordinary escapism!  Of course, we only do it for the children: so that their enduring memory of Christmas is being told ‘porkers’ by the peopl

Why is the death of God’s people precious? First, we must remember that death is offensive to God. He didn’t want death in His wonderful world.  (When God finished His work of creating He saw that the world was very good. (Genesis 1.31))  That is why the Lord warned and commanded Adam not to eat fro

Broadly speaking there are two types of funeral: one for the person who knows Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and one for the person who doesn’t. Often the funeral of the person who doesn’t know Jesus is a heavy with sadness that a life has ended and there is nothing left but memories.  So, the [.

I am challenged each time I read or hear about what people are doing in different churches around the world. In comparison I feel as if I am lazy and not doing enough; or ignorant and not teaching enough; or unspiritual and not believing enough. When I get news of other churches growing [...]

In a world where everything comes at a price and where ownership and membership come at a price, buying into the Kingdom of God seems like a sensible option for people who struggle in the goodness stakes. However, when Jesus told his disciples not to stop the children from being brought to him, he s

How often have you heard, or even thought, about a person's goodness, making them fit or unfit to heaven?  At some time it's a problem for all of us.  We might be the person who thinks we're good enough. Or, we might be the person who despairs because we know our own faults so well [...]

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” John 6.60 Shortly after this, many of those who had been following Jesus, many of his disciples, turned back and left him. It was only the day before that 5000 people had shared a simple meal Jesus had provided

Before the end of the first week in January there were "Easter eggs" and ""Hot Cross Buns" in the local supermarket. So, the commercial frenzy associated with Christmas is barely over and the commercial rulers of our lives are already gearing up for the over-indulgence they crave at Easter. [.