It feels like we all found a DeLorean time machine and traveled back in time ten years ago. In 2007, gas cost $3.38 per gallon, the first iPhone was released, and Nancy Pelosi was elected as the first female Speaker of the US Congress. But it doesn’t feel like 2007 because of any of those items. Rather, one other earth-shattering event that took place that year – at least earth-shattering for evangelical Christians – was the release of The Shack. Continue reading
Ok, the title of this article was a small attempt at humour to hopefully draw you in. I guess it worked if you are reading these words. Having said that, I have recently expressed how, over the past few years, I have moved away from a more reformed Calvinist theological perspective (see here). Yet, as with most Christians, I have still pondered what might be the most appropriate ways to communicate the sovereignty of God. And this article is one attempt at such.
God’s sovereignty is pretty clear in Scripture. He is God. He is Lord. He is sovereign over all. It’s right there in the good book.
But what does all that mean? What does it practically mean for God to be sovereign? Continue reading
Jesus made an all-important statement early on in his ministry. Already based in the Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament), Jesus was simply re-emphasising an essential characteristic of God’s people:
Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4)
We are not first and foremost task-managers and busy-bodies. We are first and foremost sons and daughters called to hear our Father.
Yet there are 2 major hindrances to such. There are more that could be considered, no doubt. But I believe these are the 2 major ones that become barriers to hearing the voice of our Father. Continue reading
Here is a nugget of wisdom I have realised today: Sometimes you just need to forgive God.
While every evangelical-theological bone in me says, ‘That statement needs to be explained,’ I will leave it be and let it speak itself.
I have shared recently how I have really been wrapped up in 1 John 4:14-18. I put some thoughts out in this article and this article. You can also listen to the 2 messages I shared with our church here and here.
In all of this, I have been closely drawn to the reality that God actually wants us to know, truly know, that He loves us. No if’s, and’s or but’s about it. Plenty of us, or all of us, go through times and seasons of doubt with all sorts of things. But I am convinced our Father wants us, as His dear children, to know that He actually loves us. This is one of the things John is trying to get across in these handful of verses in 1 John 4.
And John was persuaded that the Father wanted us to know this same life-changing love, this love that he himself both knew and believed (see vs16), knew and believed as he saw, listened to, and touched the word of life become flesh (see 1:1). Even more, this perfect love, actually gives confidence towards the Father and destroys fear (and a whole host of other things).
You see, I thought I would remain in 1 John 4 for quite some time, and while it is deeply embedded in me, I was taken into Song of Solomon last week. And that’s where I find myself frequently, not being able to get away from 2:10-15. Continue reading
The Prodigal Thought 