The debate on homosexuality, and the Bible as the battleground
This debate continues to rage of course. Following my sermon on this topic 2 months ago, the Bible continues to be the 'political football' which each party kicks around for their own advantage. This summary shows the ways in which the homosexual lobby uses un-scholarly techniques to extract meaning from scripture. I hope my sermon made clear that the Bible (therefore God) clearly considers homosexuality a fallen corruption of the mutually sacrificial self-giving that sexuality was designed to be - a delightful and profound act between a man and a women celebrating a lifetime no-turning-back marriage commitment to one another. This is God's design for the expression of our sexuality. Anything else - heterosexual or homosexual - is less than God's design.
Should we love the sinner while sensitively declaring the sin? Emphatically Yes! That is how God, through Christ, has accepted each and every one of us who are born-again.
Also fascinating are the opinion of those who chose to comment on this article. Note carefully the various views of the worth of scripture. Which commentators do you think have met Jesus?
BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | What does the Bible actually say about being gay?
Friday, October 24, 2003
Sunday, October 19, 2003
Night thoughts
It's 4:00 AM and I'm awake - so what better time to reflect on the blog? I've been blogging an eclectic mix of web pages that tell me something about ourselves. Some amusing, some outrageous, some pitiful. In a way, this blog is an extended prayer to Father God, who alone is wise, good, knowledgeable and who alone really understands our frailties and our needs. I am a Christian, not because I became convinced of a set of ideas, but because a living Person - Christ - convicted me. Even me! Having come to life from the pages of human-kind's most extraodinary book - The Bible, He whispered sweet love into my mind, my heart, my body, my deepest being.
Over the years I have come to understand rather better how Lord Jesus Christ works with us. I now understand theological phrases like 'substitutionary atonement' which we use to help us talk about God. I also understand that I really don't understand at all. It's all so amazing - so far outside of our little frames of reference - how can we be expected to comprehend mercy, grace, justice and love? No matter. It's 4 in the morning and I don't want to understand God intellectually. I just want to know Him - and be known by Him. I just want to spend long moments at His feet, leaning against Him, listening to His voice speak to me (with and without words), and to sense His unconditional acceptance of me. Even me.
Thank You, my Father for loving me, for knowing me, for accepting me just as I am. Thank You Father for sending Jesus to live a unique life on planet earth so that we might see You, that we might live like this with You. Please Father - I would like so many others to know You this way - to be able to have You to speak to at 4 in the morning when the whole world seems crazy and out of control. Father, would You call to Yourself so many more people, please. Would You awaken those people that I love and who do not yet know You. Would you save those people that I don't yet care about but will one day, and for that matter, all those I should care about but don't. Will You call to You all those who will one day find themselves awake in the early hours of the morning wondering what on earth they are doing here. Will You call to you people like me, who read blogs when normal people are fast asleep. I ask these things of You, my Father, because You love me, and because You sent Jesus to save me. It's in His name - in His presence I pray.
Amen. So be it.
It's 4:00 AM and I'm awake - so what better time to reflect on the blog? I've been blogging an eclectic mix of web pages that tell me something about ourselves. Some amusing, some outrageous, some pitiful. In a way, this blog is an extended prayer to Father God, who alone is wise, good, knowledgeable and who alone really understands our frailties and our needs. I am a Christian, not because I became convinced of a set of ideas, but because a living Person - Christ - convicted me. Even me! Having come to life from the pages of human-kind's most extraodinary book - The Bible, He whispered sweet love into my mind, my heart, my body, my deepest being.
Over the years I have come to understand rather better how Lord Jesus Christ works with us. I now understand theological phrases like 'substitutionary atonement' which we use to help us talk about God. I also understand that I really don't understand at all. It's all so amazing - so far outside of our little frames of reference - how can we be expected to comprehend mercy, grace, justice and love? No matter. It's 4 in the morning and I don't want to understand God intellectually. I just want to know Him - and be known by Him. I just want to spend long moments at His feet, leaning against Him, listening to His voice speak to me (with and without words), and to sense His unconditional acceptance of me. Even me.
Thank You, my Father for loving me, for knowing me, for accepting me just as I am. Thank You Father for sending Jesus to live a unique life on planet earth so that we might see You, that we might live like this with You. Please Father - I would like so many others to know You this way - to be able to have You to speak to at 4 in the morning when the whole world seems crazy and out of control. Father, would You call to Yourself so many more people, please. Would You awaken those people that I love and who do not yet know You. Would you save those people that I don't yet care about but will one day, and for that matter, all those I should care about but don't. Will You call to You all those who will one day find themselves awake in the early hours of the morning wondering what on earth they are doing here. Will You call to you people like me, who read blogs when normal people are fast asleep. I ask these things of You, my Father, because You love me, and because You sent Jesus to save me. It's in His name - in His presence I pray.
Amen. So be it.
Friday, October 17, 2003
Canine capers
BBC NEWS | Europe | Charges dropped in 'Nazi' dog case
What can I say about this news article? I think I'll include it in the funny but bizarre but actually tragically sad category. It's a strange world. What would Catholics do? Train their dogs to genuflect? How about neo-communist soviets training their dogs to goose-step? Perhaps Nazarenes would train there dogs to play Rook and do eat-overs?
BBC NEWS | Europe | Charges dropped in 'Nazi' dog case
What can I say about this news article? I think I'll include it in the funny but bizarre but actually tragically sad category. It's a strange world. What would Catholics do? Train their dogs to genuflect? How about neo-communist soviets training their dogs to goose-step? Perhaps Nazarenes would train there dogs to play Rook and do eat-overs?
Friday, October 10, 2003
Cockney Rhyming Slang
cockney rhyming slang dictionary
There are some things about Britain that I struggle to explain because they are simply inexplicable. One such phenomenon is cockney rhyming slang. Cockney people are those born in central London (strictly speaking - within the sound of the bells in Bow church). They have a rich history and a culture all their own - one aspect of which is a cheerful and amusing habit of swapping everyday words for a phrase which rhymes with it. My darling Linda will be able to demonstrate - being a cockney. Examples in common usage is 'whistle' for suit (abbreviating the phrase 'whistle and flute') or 'plates' for feet (abbreviating 'plates of meat'). The above link will take you to the best web translator/dictionary I've found.
I hope it'll help you to appreciate my trouble-and-strife.
cockney rhyming slang dictionary
There are some things about Britain that I struggle to explain because they are simply inexplicable. One such phenomenon is cockney rhyming slang. Cockney people are those born in central London (strictly speaking - within the sound of the bells in Bow church). They have a rich history and a culture all their own - one aspect of which is a cheerful and amusing habit of swapping everyday words for a phrase which rhymes with it. My darling Linda will be able to demonstrate - being a cockney. Examples in common usage is 'whistle' for suit (abbreviating the phrase 'whistle and flute') or 'plates' for feet (abbreviating 'plates of meat'). The above link will take you to the best web translator/dictionary I've found.
I hope it'll help you to appreciate my trouble-and-strife.
Forget kindergarten - man-garten is here!
I just couldn't resisty blogging this story - it's a "why didn't I think of this idea" idea: A place where shop-a-holic women can park their men-folk so they can shop in peace, and then collect them later - assuming they haven't lost their man-check-ticket. Meanwhile the guys get to watch sports on TV, play with boy-toys and even get a couple of beers (for non-Nazarene's of course). Genius! Wow - just think of it - this could be the key to making our first million!
BBC NEWS | Europe | German creche for male shopaphobics
I just couldn't resisty blogging this story - it's a "why didn't I think of this idea" idea: A place where shop-a-holic women can park their men-folk so they can shop in peace, and then collect them later - assuming they haven't lost their man-check-ticket. Meanwhile the guys get to watch sports on TV, play with boy-toys and even get a couple of beers (for non-Nazarene's of course). Genius! Wow - just think of it - this could be the key to making our first million!
BBC NEWS | Europe | German creche for male shopaphobics
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
Born again and brilliant!
If Soccer is a gentleman's game played by hooligans, then Rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen. It's a wonderful sport which I played throughout my school days. The World Cup is starting soon in Australia, and England are in with a chance! This link is to the personal profile of one of England's finest - brilliant in the game, and born again Christian, to boot.
BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Rugby World Cup | Team Pages | England | Players to Watch | Jason Robinson
If Soccer is a gentleman's game played by hooligans, then Rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen. It's a wonderful sport which I played throughout my school days. The World Cup is starting soon in Australia, and England are in with a chance! This link is to the personal profile of one of England's finest - brilliant in the game, and born again Christian, to boot.
BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Rugby World Cup | Team Pages | England | Players to Watch | Jason Robinson
Monday, October 06, 2003
Confluencing
Searching for a new way to pass a quiet Saturday afternoon?. Grab your digital camera and your GPS monitor and head for the hills!
BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | A unique picture of the world, in 16,146 frames
Searching for a new way to pass a quiet Saturday afternoon?. Grab your digital camera and your GPS monitor and head for the hills!
BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | A unique picture of the world, in 16,146 frames
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