Christian living - Gentle Reformation

The Devil's Playbook

March 19, 2021

Just imagine the Devil had a playbook – that he had written down all his tactics and strategies for tempting Christians. And imagine you had the chance to get hold of it. Wouldn’t that be very useful?

The Tyranny of Merit

March 06, 2021

What happens when you build a society on the idea that if you work hard enough you will be successful? I mean it sounds a good idea, doesn’t it? It seems to

What would Jesus think of the Rainbow?

April 19, 2020

First, His eye would admire the radiant beauty and glory of the refracted spectral colors of light made by the Creator. Second, His face would redden with righteous indignation at seeing the way

Christian living

Stepping out of the Shadows

December 07, 2019

It would be easy to bemoan the state of the world in which we live. 2019 was a year of momentous change with the introduction of abortion in Ireland and in Northern Ireland,

Christian living

YouTube Heaven?

October 12, 2019

We live in the world of viral videos—at least those of us connected to the internet. The latest video becomes the topic of conversation—have you seen the one where…? Together, we

Christian living

Distinguishing Marks of an Unteachable Person

August 03, 2019

Kevin DeYoung wrote a great piece on the “Distinguishing marks of a Quarrelsome Person”. I found it convicting and helpful. It was the sort of piece that should cause you to take a

Cultivating Thankfulness

April 27, 2019

We are commanded in the Scriptures to be grateful in all circumstances... I've just returned from a walk, after a fairly chilled-out day, after a prolonged, exhausting period, that made me start to

Christian living

Marriage proportions

March 09, 2019

What proportion is marriage? 50-50 seems like an ideal place to start. A fair input from both parties. Maybe some read this and think “50-50?! That’s a pipe-dream! If you knew my

Christian living

Mis_ _ _ g

January 19, 2019

Something has gone missing from our collective psyche. It used to form an essential part of our understanding of life. It helped us navigate a world where bad things happened and prompted us

Christian witness

Boldness for Jesus

January 12, 2019

Introduction I've just been working through the Gospel of Matthew in my devotions recently, and I came this morning, 15th of December, the Year of our Lord, 2018 (some four weeks ago now!

Christian living

Designed for smiling

January 05, 2019

3000 years ago King Solomon wrote: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the

Christian living

Is a long face more Christian?

December 08, 2018

Life is hard. Difficult things happen to us. Serious matters—Heaven, Hell, eternity, sin—weigh on us. Yet in some places I see a long-faced Christianity—the long face worn almost as a

Christian living

On Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

October 25, 2018

DTC genetic testing has been a great boon to ancestry work, but it comes with many potential pitfalls.

Book of Numbers

Making Sense of Statistics?

October 20, 2018

I've been preparing to give two lectures on Numbers out in Africa next month - I've been delighted at some discoveries I've made in the, I have to confess hitherto, rather confusing Book

Disillusioned with Jesus

September 27, 2018

Jesus has a word for you and me when we look at the slow progress of the gospel in the world, the seeming ineffectiveness of the church, or the lack of progress in our own spiritual growth. He says, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of me” (Matthew 11:6, NKJ).

Christian living

Christian Calling Means Mixing Metaphors

May 30, 2018

Only when we meld the Bible’s metaphors—being sojourners and soldiers—can we perform our work rightly in this world, neither idolizing it nor evading it.

A Kindness Repaid

May 22, 2018

In my last post I wrote of David's kindness to Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan: the King's best friend's boy feasted at the palace table for the duration of his days. He

Will you remember to be kind?

May 12, 2018

From a human point of view it would have been understandable if David had felt that there were more pressing matters to attend to - he had to run a kingdom and propagate

Handling Sinners the Gospel Way - Part I

May 05, 2018

When Christians stray or lapse the response of fellow-believers may vary from merciless gossip to public humiliation. The press and the world will come down on them like a ton of bricks. False

Christian living

The Limits of 1 Timothy 2:11-12

April 26, 2018

Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:

Christian living

Show up. Do something. See what God does.

April 25, 2018

“Show up. Do something. See what God does.” Those were the words of counsel shared recently by a missions leader who has spent much time in closed countries. Of course, he couched these

Christian living

Deliverance is Near!

April 21, 2018

Introduction Have you woken up this morning in fear, alarmed or anxious? Have dire straits hemmed you in or do you wonder if you're safe? Are the pressures so enormous that you struggle

Christian living

Is there more going on than you think?

March 24, 2018

Just a quick blog today to cheer up and encourage a few dear, tired brothers and friends. Perhaps you're approaching the Sabbath and wondering what's the point of worship, instruction or teaching. You've

Christian living

God is holding on to you

March 16, 2018

Over and over again God reassures his people that he is holding on to us by his right hand. In Isaiah 41.10, for example: ‘…fear not, for I am with you; be

Christian living

The Better Offer

March 16, 2018

I've been forced in recent days to reflect on the false theology that undergirds the act of taking up the better offer when we have made a prior commitment. I was always brought