AirThis is an article I wrote 15 years ago…some people are worth remembering…I still listen to Mr Cash! Death is a strange thing. When people are close to us and we witness their death it is understandably something which profoundly affects us. On the other hand sometimes we hear of a death of someone from a distance, who we never knew, and yet it can … Continue reading The Man in Black
There is a wonderful conference going on just now in Nashville – one that I would dearly love to be at! This could also be a revolutionary conference which may have a catalysing effect upon the whole American church. Keith Getty’s Sing will have 7,500 participants – mainly pastors and worship leaders. It will be addressed by people such as John MacArthur, Alistair Begg, John … Continue reading A Revolutionary Question for the Evangelical Church (and the Participants at the “Sing” Conference)
This is a short reflection recorded in 2015 at ELF in Poland – I think its subject matter is more important than ever. This was not a scripted or pre-prepared interview…I was asked the question live and this is the unedited response. What do you think? “Rather than being salt and light in the culture, we end up inventing our own culture, which itself … Continue reading What’s the Danger of a Christian Ghetto Mentality? The Christian Music Scene….
One of the great strengths of Australian Christianity is its creativity. The most famous are of course Hillsong – who, to be fair, have provided some great music. But there is a little known group called City Alight from St Pauls, Castlehill Anglican Church in North Sydney who have produced some stunning songs which are very suitable for congregational worship. None more so than my … Continue reading Better than Hillsong – some great Aussie Worship Songs
John Calvin argued that of all the gifts God has given us – music is the most powerful. Churches have spent a great deal of time discussing the role of music in public praise. However when we discuss the more general role of music in society, it is often in a condemnatory way. Is there such a thing as Christian music? What does secular music … Continue reading Persuasive Music
We have some wonderfully talented people in St Petes…one of whom is David Henderson – who every year produces a wee Christmas video….here Dave and various others equally talented people from the congregation sing a new song – one that he wrote for the occasion….love it…enjoy . I have also included some incredible quotes from CS Lewis and a couple of other songs sung by … Continue reading Christmas Cheer – Songs from St Petes and Readings from CS Lewis that will make your week!
Loving doing Ecclesiastes for Christian Today – it always amazes me how beautifully and directly relevant it is to today’s culture. My favourite Gospel book! Here is the latest one on ch.3:9-11. I had orginally entitled this ‘The Burden of Eternity and Beauty’ but I prefer their retitling! Ecclesiastes 3: There’s a reason why we’re born with a sense of eternity As we head towards Christmas … Continue reading Ecclesiastes 3:9-11- There’s a reason why we’re born with a sense of eternity
This weeks Ecclesiastes article on Christian Today In general in Western society we are money rich and time poor. That is as true for the church as it is for the rest of society – indeed it may be even truer. While the world has just work, family, friends and leisure to use up the fixed resource of time, we add church. It’s little wonder … Continue reading The Times They Are A’Changing – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Light Engaging Darkness no. 11 1) Las Vegas Shooting – As I write America is waking up to the horror of yet another mass killing by a gunman. A 64-year-old Nevada man, Stephen Paddock, killed at least 58 people attending a country music concert in Las Vegas. Unfortunately there were those who were quick to make judgments and pronouncements. ISIS claimed that Mr. Paddock … Continue reading LED 11 – Las Vegas Shooting – Catalonia – Teddy Taylor – Runrig – Transgender Sperm Frozen – Art for Dogs Sake – Lidl Leaves out the Cross – Africa’s Green Wall – Luther’s Quote
This is an album that is very bleak, if you listen to it against a backdrop of materialistic, atheistic secularism. There really is nothing. No hope, no hallelujah. But if you see this album in the light of the incarnation, life, teaching, death, resurrection and return of the Name above all names, then the darkness only serves to magnify the Light. Continue reading Light out of Darkness: A Review of Leonard Cohen’s ‘You Want It Darker’
