Brothers and Sisters, I started off calling these letters, Letters from Exile, but I’ve decided to change that – because it does sound as though I have been banished to a penal colony – the image that many Brits still have of Australia. We think of it as a far away place ‘down under’. It amazed me to read Augustine speaking of Australia! As early … Continue reading Madame Butterfly – (Letter from Australia 2)
BIBLE READING: Isaiah 40:21-31 TEXT: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom (Isaiah 40:28). This is one of the most frequent and one of the most misunderstood questions I am ever asked. It is also very difficult … Continue reading A.S.K 10 – The Uncreated God
It’s so simple isn’t it? If only God made himself clear then of course we would believe in him! Why wouldn’t we? So it must be his fault in hiding away from us. It’s like he’s playing mind games with us – expecting us to figure it all out. The words in our text are spoken by a friend of Job called Zophar. You know … Continue reading A.S.K 9 – Finding God
BIBLE READING: Genesis 1:1-23 TEXT: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:1-2). One of the big problems that many young people face is when they are told something is what ‘Christianity’ teaches – when it … Continue reading A.S.K 7 – The Big Bang
When in the Netherlands last week we visited the Helmantel museum in Westeremden and some of his paintings in the Havezate Mensinge museum in Roden. If you are ever in the Northern Netherlands then make sure you visit both of these. Henk Helmantel is a contemporary Dutch painter best known for his classically composed still-life paintings. They are simple and stunning in their colour and … Continue reading Helmantel – The Greatest Living Painter
This weeks article in Christian Today – you can read the original here – (Photo: Unsplash/Tim Schramm) The End is Nigh Did you hear the news? In 12 years time the world could come to an end. Rising sea levels, coastal flooding, crop failures, carbon in the atmosphere will cause the earths temperature to rise by up to 7 degrees with all the problems arising … Continue reading The End is Nigh! Extinction and Evangelism
Many moons ago I led a school strike. The cause was just – I thought – we were protesting against the raising of the school-leaving age to 16! I remember leading all 600 pupils in a walk out in front of the school. As the headteacher, Mr Smith, approached me, I noticed that the pupils behind me and my friend had gone strangely quiet. “What … Continue reading Suffer the Striking Children – A Tale of Activism, Indoctrination and Mob Rule
Last Sunday morning we looked at Philippians 2:5-11 “Adopt the Attitude of Christ”. We sang ; My Jesus (Shout to the Lord); King of Kings/Majesty; Ps119:1-8; Philippians 2:5-11 and When I Survey the Wonderous Cross Melito of Sardis (2nd Century) – “ He that hung up the earth in space was himself hanged up; he that fixed the heavens was fixed with nails; he that bore up the earth … Continue reading Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 87 – Sermons and Songs from St Peters (and David Henderson)
A New Years Message for the Church and Society… New Year is as good a time as any to think about new beginnings. As we reflect on the past year and look forward to 2019, whether at an individual, community or government level, many of us would love to start anew again. Renewal is a great idea. And so is re-formation. I would love to … Continue reading All Things New – A New Years Message for Church and Society (the January Record Editorial)
Last Sunday morning we had a harvest thanksgiving – it is important for a city congregation to do this – to remind ourselves of where our food ultimately comes from. We also had the baptism of Lois – who although a child was baptised on her own profession. Songs: Praise to the Lord, Psalm 139 (New Scottish); Ps 112; How Deep the Father’s Love; You … Continue reading Harvest Thanksgiving, a Baptism, Ps 139, Romans 8:35-39 and God Made Humanity, Male and Female.
