How should we serve God with our money? How can we be good stewards of the money God has given us? The Bible has ample answers to these questions. Let’s look at some reasons for giving, some guidance on how to give and budget our money and then deal with some common objections to giving (over the next couple of posts). I say “some” because there will undoubtedly be more than this post permits and this simple mind understands!

Read more »

Money is a sensitive subject. It is a taboo topic. Like talking to strangers on a packed London Underground tube, it just makes people uncomfortable. But Jesus had a lot to say about money. Depending who you read, somewhere between 10-30% of His teaching addressed the subject! Driscoll says, and I’m not about to argue with him, that “Jesus devoted roughly 25 percent of his words in the Gospels to the resources God has entrusted to our stewardship.” (Doctrine)

Read more »

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph. 1:1-2)

The Church of Jesus Christ is beyond question God’s greatest idea. The entrance of sin into the world disordered everything. It warped humanity, strained relationships, fragmented community, and robbed mankind of hope. The Gospel is the remedy. The Church is God’s shop-front window display of what he offers freely to all. His ultimate vision is ‘…to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, Jesus Christ.’ (Eph. 1:10) Everything will eventually be under Christ’s benevolent rule again.

Most of mankind believes salvation is a human achievement, or at least a joint effort with God in which we play the major part. Actually, we contribute nothing to our salvation but the sin we need to be saved from. Paul credits our rescue entirely to God – the Triune God of the Bible. Jesus is central to this recovery so we make much of him. Deliverance was achieved in full by his faithful life and saving death on the cross, vindicated by his resurrection and exaltation. One who owed nothing settled debts we could not pay. The result is a new humanity, intimately related and reconciled to God and one another then empowered by his Holy Spirit.

Read more »

BBC 1′s Breakfast News on 14th June 2011 discussed Sir Terry Pratchett’s controversial documentary Choosing to Die broadcast the previous night, with its strong promotion of assisted suicide/euthanasia. It featured businessman Peter Smedley, a sufferer with Motor Neurone Disease who died before cameras in the Dignitas clinic, Switzerland. Pratchett, an Alzheimer’s sufferer, eagerly promotes the legalisation of the sufferer’s right to choose when and how they should die. I found his conversation and selected scenes from the program disturbing and sickening. Death holds many fears – What will happen? Who will be there? Will I suffer? Will it involve pain or distress? What lies beyond it? Smedley chose to die prematurely, and others assisted him to do this.

Human life needs care and protection, not premature disposal in what appeared to be callous cold-blooded killing with a cocktail of barbiturates. The conversation included reports of the patient’s request for water near his final end. It was calmly reported that this request could not be granted as the poison administered to him orally might be diluted, with the risk of survival or lasting brain damage should he live. This sinister agenda deeply offended me. The Bible says, “Even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (Prov. 12:10)

Read more »

This is not so much a review, as a recommendation.

I recently ordered a copy of a brand new album by Chris Haines, entitled But God. From the moment I started listening I was repeatedly surprised by just how good this album is. The music is outstanding, the lyrics deeply scriptural, the overall impact uplifting and edifying.

This was all the more surprising because Chris is a friend, and I had no idea he was this good. We went to school together, and I recall the days of chastising him for his language (now thoroughly sanctified). I also remember this slightly chubby child strumming away at his electric guitar in music classes, little knowing his skills would develop to this extent.

Read more »