A shed in Yatala in SE Queensland seems like an unlikely place from which greatness can grow. And yet it has. 3 women Aussie boxers are now world title contenders. The shed in Yatala and the seed in the Kingdom of Heaven have a lot in common.
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Taylor Sheridan of Yellowstone fame is carving up our screens. I recently devoured the blood soaked Western 1883. Here's my reflections on it. This reflection is 100% spoiler because of the story telling arc of 1883 and the message behind it: freedom.
The world seems more dangerous than ever. One thing we can do is pray. This is a short and simple prayer.
There are two different ways of thinking about God (primarily). One of them is 100% wrong. That’s the bad news. But the good news is that the other is 100% correct. Understand these two different ways and you have the key to understanding God, the great news of Jesus and the Bible.
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If you’re a Christian believer or a mission organisation, how do you evaluate risk? Or put another way, do you have a theology of risk?
With thanks to Sammie Chaffin on Unsplash (edited)
In anxious times we look for help. Our true help is not the government, nor our own strength and power. Our true help is our creator, God. He is our protection and the one who can protect us even in death. Is God the one you look to in anxious times?
The fear of death has mastery over us, and we are captive to it. It does more than influence us. It controls us. This is why we stockpile toilet paper, sanitiser and rice. It is the reason some of us might pull a knife and it is the reason those in the past abandoned their loved ones. The fear of death is greater than we realise.
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This world is not enough. Yes, it’s the name of a not great 1990’s Bond film with Pierce Brosnan, but it also how we are all living now. We live like this world is not enough. And you’re right. This world is not enough.
Read Mark’s Gospel in just 21 days, taking 10-15 minutes a day. You could read most of these in 5-6 minutes giving you 10 minutes to think about what you’ve read.
BTW - Ignore the headings in most printed Bibles. They are a distraction from the flow and connections!
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Does Jesus have the right to rule?
I recently watched the new movie about Henry 5th – The King. He is a young King who wants to unite England under his rule. One of the key questions threaded through the movie is – does he have what it takes to rule? Can be bring the people of England together under his rule and what will it take?
Jesus says he is bringing the Kingdom of God. Does he have the right to rule? Mark’s Gospel answers this question.
What is it about Brooklyn 99? I’ve got so many friends who love the show. It could be the comedy, which is awesome, but I think it is more than the comedy. There is something deeper on going that speaks to our hearts during the laughs.
Over one summer in Sydney, Jesus thundered into my mind. Before that summer, Jesus was insipid in my mind. He was a slight, white figure with no power, no majesty and no strength. Yes, I knew he went to the cross for me, but it seemed a passive path, with a sad inevitability about it. But as I met Jesus in Mark’s gospel I was stunned by the strength of his character and deliberate desire to offer himself on the Cross.
The next few blog posts are written to help you read Mark’s Gospel.
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A friend sent me a meme on Leviticus 19:19. The meme was confrontational and deliberately offensive. Since Christians wear polyester and cotton socks which are a blend of two materials – they break Leviticus 19:19. ‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.’ So, how can Christians say anything about sexual ethics or anything else that might spring from Leviticus as a standard since they break the rules themselves?
This is a reading guide for Luke’s gospel. Its goal is to help you get the most gold as you read Luke. Luke is a beautiful piece of writing. It reveals Jesus as the suffering servant king who comes to fulfill God’s promises. We, humanity, are revealed to be lost and far from God, oppressed by spiritual forces of evil and captive to our own sinfulness. Jesus comes to free us - to bring forgiveness. It’s great news worth reading for yourself.
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A dear friend wrote an email to me saying they are not sure if they can believe in God. Here is how I responded: you can’t trust someone if you don’t know them.
There is a lot of gold on the internet. And there is a lot of dross! Slowly but surely I’ve kept a list of some of the gold. As they say - just click on the links.
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A friend invited me to watch Ricky Gervais’ Religion vs Atheism Youtube video. I enjoyed it. Ricky is a brilliant communicator. And then I wrote a response. Each heading below aims to capture the heart of his idea and then I aim to show you why it shouldn’t persuade you.
‘This is Water’ by David Foster Wallace is one of the most read speeches on the internet of all time. And it is deep. But he fails to understand that we are shaped and driven by love rather than thinking. Love is the solution.
With thanks to Jong Marshes from unsplash.com
Everything has changed… That’s a big claim. It’s the kind of claim that gets you into trouble because it so big. As they say in sales, ‘under promise and over deliver’. This claim seems to make the opposite mistake. It seems to over promise and have no hope of delivery. Until you consider the resurrection of Jesus.
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It was a Buddha’s head that started the thought. The head was in Bunnings ready to receive your newly purchased soil and spring bulbs. Jesus was thoroughly domesticated.
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