DECORATING A DEAD TREE When you stop and think about it, The Christmas Tree is such a strange custom isn’t it? We cut down a perfectly healthy tree, drag it into our living room and then proceed to beautify it with lights, ornaments, and tinsel. Ah, there it is, our...

We do well to pay attention when God repeats Himself. “Love One another” the scriptures say, again and again. …and yet the irony is that this is something that we cannot do. Not in the way it is asked of us. Try as we might, we discover again and again...

In a recent Q & A, I was asked what advice I would give if I could address my younger self in my 20s; 30s; 40s and 50s.  Here is what I said, with an anticipatory comment about the 60s and 70s, recognising that I may change my mind when I reach them! 20’s Remember 1 Corinthians...

Charles Spurgeon preached a plethora of New Year’s sermons during his pastorate at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. For Spurgeon, the arrival of a new year was a time that brought forth thinking on the Lord’s faithfulness and the Christian’s right response to the Lord in the new year. Five sermons preached...

THE CHRISTMAS TREE We love preparing for Christmas. The kids were so excited as we set up a big tree which now sits beautifully decorated in our living room (until the cat got to it!). But when you and think about it, The Christmas Tree is such a strange custom,...

It means a lot when someone cares enough and would make the sacrifice, to bless us by giving us a gift, doesn’t it? There is no doubt, we all love receiving presents. At this time of year, so many people are thinking about the present they might like to receive...

A personal Journey – The full title of this article is “True Servant leadership: Evaluating Competing Versions of Church Leadership in View of a More Biblical Model”. The reason this is such a long article, and perhaps a little “collegy” for some, is because it is a final paper for...

Recently I was reading Robert Greenleaf’s book on Servant Leadership. In that book, he speaks about the narrowing influence of bureaucracy and our responsibility to ensure that we, with a concern for self, remain free (Greenleaf, 2002, p.306). He masterfully uses the illustration, from one of Thurber’s fables, of a...

UNCERTAIN DAYS As we walk through this present world, with the troubles, changes, challenges, and uncertainties all around us, we are all in need of a solid foundation. It has been said that when you are in a severe earthquake, the strange thing is that the ground itself is moving,...

Matthew 9:6 The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins. Behold one of the great Physician’s mightiest arts: He has power to forgive sin! While here He lived below, before the ransom had been paid, before the blood had been literally sprinkled on the mercy-seat, He had...