Fit to be led. [Acts 16]

When I read the quotes out to Robyn this morning she said that this reminded her of her old church. There is a certain sense that the leader is the Man of God and all others are to fall into line, and if they do not their dirty laundry will be shown in public. This … Continue reading Fit to be led. [Acts 16]

Where the opposition is greatest is our duty, and the Spirit of God.

Sometimes I do not know why i pull my cellphone out and shoot this image or that. I took this photo in the glare of a storefront restaurant, feeding my boys Japanese food. One had just sat the hardest exam, the one he feared most, this semester, and we had been just told by our … Continue reading Where the opposition is greatest is our duty, and the Spirit of God.

Predestination and apostasy.

We have models of theology, or maps. But as the map is not the territory, neither is our model of God complete. As the map is carefully checked and revised to ensure that it is true and accurate (you do not want to go into the NZ forests without a topographic map and a compass … Continue reading Predestination and apostasy.

Game, wrath, grace.

Well, this part of scripture -- around our salvation -- continues today, and the text flows from yesterday and the day before. As oart of that I am going to try to expand on the issue of grace and salvation, and how the theologians have differed. The first common position is that of the Calvinist. … Continue reading Game, wrath, grace.

Jesus did not play the guru game.

If anyone ever thinks Jesus did not speak difficult things, or cause offense, I suggest they read this passage. John 7:14-36 14About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15The Jews were astonished at it, saying, "How does this man have such learning, when he has never … Continue reading Jesus did not play the guru game.

The dangers in tradition.

As I write this I am aware that one can easily fall into the same trap. The entire Christian structure is based on one thing: Jesus has already saved us and will make us who he wants us to be. It is not going to be us, it is going to be him. If we … Continue reading The dangers in tradition.

Our God is a God of Love, and therefore a God of Laws.

Over the last week or so I have been reading Spengler, who argues that one of the reasons that people have children is that they have hope. But one of his lines, in his most recent book, which resonated is his assertion that God is a God of love and therefore he is a God … Continue reading Our God is a God of Love, and therefore a God of Laws.