Things that have been on high playlist over the last month or so. 1. Hillsong. I will Rise. Michelle Shocked does not do videos and considers google and youtube steal her stuff. However, Psalm (From her album deep natural) has an audio file at her site. But the Old 100th is in the public domain. … Continue reading New Year’s eve sacred(ish) music.
Month: December 2013
We cannot micromanage our lives.
Yesterday I posted on the lies that men have, and today I want to start with the distaff gender, and a comment that SSM made, for it is true, and I think I need to expand a bit on why the church has bought into this and how it has affected men and women. For … Continue reading We cannot micromanage our lives.
Chumpdom.
This is another in my ongoing mining of other people's posts. Alte closed this blog, but it is still on the wayback machine, so let us consider a thesis. The Average Church Raised Man is a Chump. Including me in my first marriage. We are told or have it implied that we are depraved, without … Continue reading Chumpdom.
The courtship of the theological geek.
And by theological geek, I am referring to John Calvin. What of Calvin's own personal experience of courtship, engagement and marriage? While at one point he was able to write 'I have never married, and I do not know whether I ever will', Martin Bucer had different ideas, and during Calvin's stay in Strasbourg (1538-41) … Continue reading The courtship of the theological geek.
Faithfulness and cost.
We interrupt the usual lectionary with some joyous news: Alla & NSR are now married. The post up is around Biblical marriage and it is worth reading. Over the last few days I have been looking at where the church is going and the Bible: it is in part driven by some personal challenges, and … Continue reading Faithfulness and cost.
Flexibility is part of wisdom.
This is the one year challenge from David Platt at the end of Radical. Pray for the entire world. Read through the entire Bible in one year. Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose. Spend your time in another context. Commit your life to multiplying community. For those of us without children or spouses, this … Continue reading Flexibility is part of wisdom.
Invisible work.
I took this photo yesterday in the middle of Auckland: it is the one time of the year that the CBD is not busy so a roading crew are in there, the road is closed off, and they are re-surfacing the road. Now, this does not have much to do with the passage. Bot it … Continue reading Invisible work.
The gospel is simple, but all simple things are difficult.
Last night I grabbed a dog-eared and battered copy of Radical, a book that a friend had loaned my Dad. One of the things David Platt talks about is how the Church in the USA has become big business and how the techniques of professional public relations are used in that business -- from market … Continue reading The gospel is simple, but all simple things are difficult.
Legislating against righteousness.
I have to thank my Dad for this one. He notes that those liberal fascistic trolls, the SLPC, are going after JONAH. I am always suspicious of lawyers who invent new grounds for oppression. At this point I need to note that there has been legislation through basically every psychological and psychiatric society banning any … Continue reading Legislating against righteousness.
Post Christmas Lunch.
It is now after lunch, on a warm summer's day in Auckland. Mum is recounting the event with one of my sisters. Any year when three of my four siblings and children can sit with my father and my aunt is a good one. But Christmas is not about the lunch. Or the multiple emails … Continue reading Post Christmas Lunch.