Encouragement and wisdom
Some thoughts and reflections to encourage faith and understanding in all who read and consider them
The Song of our Syrian Guest
This classic piece on the 23rd Psalm, first published in 1904, was written by William Allen Knight. It is in the public domain. May it bless you as it has me. The Twenty-Third PsalmThe Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:He...
One of Us
From time to time, I encounter a pop song that makes me reflect upon matters of faith. I first started paying more attention to the lyrics of pop songs when I heard a former bishop in a podcast describe the song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen as being almost a modern day...
The call, the promise and the answer
The apostle Paul’s writing is characterised by reasoned argument. Let’s follow his reasoning in the first few verses of Colossians 3
A Sinless Life
Every person who sins is rightly called a sinner. The question of guilt is one of degree only, but our place in the category is fixed. A person without sin would be in an entirely different category. For such a person, one sin, one small failure of any kind, would...
Clarity and Clutter
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these...
He Spoke
He did not use sophisticated words;He spoke simple words that were profound. He did not have to persuade the disciples;He spoke, and they followed Him. He did not perform on a stage in front of a cheering crowd;He spoke, and the multitude gathered around Him. He did...
The Obedience of Faith
On Romans 1:5 What does it mean to be a Christian? Are we saved by faith or by obedience? What does the Bible mean when it says that we will be judged by our works at the end? The letter to the Romans opens with the following words: ‘Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,...
An Unquenchable Life
An Australian Prime Minister, frustrated perhaps with the expectations placed upon him, was once heard to say that “life wasn’t meant to be easy”. He was attacked and derided because people wanted, even demanded, ease, as if it were a fundamental right. Indeed, for...
Marriage, Law and Death
This year, our church family has been listening to God speak through the book of Romans, a letter by the apostle Paul, in the Bible. As a result, I've been attempting to commit the entire letter to memory and so far have gotten the first six chapters down pat. Last...
Worship and Authenticity
On the Chaconne from Bach's Partita No. 2 in D Minor. Concerning the Chaconne: “On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I...
This Dark Hour
I love musicals. I was delighted when the film, The Prince of Egypt, was adapted recently to a live musical in London's West End, though I doubt I will ever get to see it. The film tells the story of Moses and the deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt. I am...
My light and my salvation
(Encouragement from Psalm 27) The LORD is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear?The LORD is the strength of my life;Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) We have light in order to see, not the light itself, but everything else in that light. The Lord banishes...