Reflections on the loving kindness of the Triune God
The Christian community needs better—stronger—leadership. By that I mean spiritual leadership—the sort of thing Paul had in mind in Ephesians 4 where he wrote of leaders who could bring others “to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. Such leadership doesn’t look to basic management theory: Jesus wasn’t promoting …
Read More Strong LeadershipOne of my special moments in life came in Israel when I watched a young boy run after a man, calling out “Abba, Abba!” For the first time I had a tangible sense of what God offers us in Christ: an invitation to call him “Daddy!” The confidence and energy of that Israeli youngster spoke …
Read More Abba! Father!The 18th century American preacher and teacher Jonathan Edwards had a nose for nonsense: when he sniffed out misguided theology he was quick to challenge it. One example was his dismissal of the idea that self-love can ever be called “love” even when it’s applied to God (Works, 6.337). Let me cite a discussion of …
Read More Edwards on Triune LoveJesus was a popular figure in his day, especially among the hungry, the lame, the blind, the unclean, and the despairing. Enough so that among the privileged classes it was both a jealousy for their own standing and a fear of the unruly crowds that led them to crucify Jesus. Yet at one point—as reported …
Read More A Proper DietMy current airplane book is not my normal fare. The Big Short by Michael Lewis is an exposé of the American bond and mortgage industry of the last few years. The language of the book is coarse and some issues are opaque to someone like me who lives outside Manhattan, yet the story is compelling. …
Read More Morality & the MindI call them God’s theological sheriffs—believers who are alert to any hint of heresy in others. They seem to be self-appointed, but maybe it’s their special gifting. What I’m not sure about is where their gift comes from—whether it’s from God or elsewhere. For the balance of this entry please go to http://www.cordeo.org.uk/gods-posse
Read More God’s PosseThere are times when friendships that were very important to me suddenly evaporated without explanation. Ask as I might, or try as I would, no reasons were offered or voicemails or emails returned. Just silence. So painful! It’s something common to every age, of course. Think, for instance, of young school children who announce to …
Read More Disappointment and JoyIn many Christian circles we hear lots about the theme of glory as God’s ultimate goal for the creation. But by giving such prominence to glory, glory may be getting more glory than God. Every other week my blogs are posted on the Cor Deo website, so to see the rest of this entry please …
Read More Glorifying GloryNobility and corruption are two hard hitting words. They both carry significant emotive weight. One is positive and attractive. Who among us would mind being considered a person of noble character. Or if we do something kind, to be told, “That was very noble of you.” To be called corrupt, on the other hand, is …
Read More The Noble LifeWhat about the Spirit? What should we make of his place in the Trinity, and in our lives? Our response to that question, whatever it is, will say much about how we live out our faith. With that in mind let me mention, very briefly, some common points of view, then offer my own. And …
Read More Enjoying the Spirit