Planted by Water

Skimming through some old notes today, I came across a quote that my friend Andrew Cursham gave me last time I was down at our College in Cardiff. It is from Dresden James and is so relevant to the times we live in:

When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic.

Ironically, it reminded me of one I had read some years ago, from George Orwell:

We have now sunk to a depth at which …

Both on my blog and others in recent months, there has been some debate about the role of the Law, Reconstruction and how the Old Testament Law may apply, or not, to society. I think that this is a really crucial issue as it affects how we should (and shouldn’t) go about seeking to affect society - something that, as citizens and ambassadors of the Kingdom, we are certainly called to do. I chose not to …

I kind of like ‘How To’ books - those simple, step by step, line upon line, practical guides on aspects of the Christian life. They demystify the spiritual life and show how God’s ways work! But they also have the potential to reduce the Christian life to a kind of ‘3-easy steps’, programmed, simplistic, self-help approach rather than the wonderful richness, fullness (and actually, even the creative messiness) of life in Christ. An overly pragmatic approach can also push out the Holy …

It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good,  (Gal.4:18)

I blogged yesterday about Saul and his mad, angry passion against the enemies of God - a passion that was ‘in the Spirit.’ I believe in the need for leaders to be passionate about the Kingdom, the Church, God’s glory, God’s purpose etc. But just a little warning. Not long after posting, I was reading a number of things where Christian ‘leaders’ and writers were displaying passion and zeal, but in what I felt were mis-directed ways. They …

When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger…….The the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they turned out as one man.            (1 Samuel 11:6,7)

Recently I was reading the story of one of the few times when King Saul got it right; when the Ammonites were threatening the men of Jabesh Gilead, God’s people, with forcing their surrender, and gouging out their right eyes. …