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 …

Spent a great time away yesterday - over 10 hours - at Westwood Christian Centre - a wonderful place for a retreat that I can highly recommend, and just outside Huddersfield! I was able to gaze out regularly at the landscape here pictured, and to walk in it! It was not all quiet reflection though, but hard graft as I spent time praying about and planning for the next few …

..shine like stars in the universe as you hold out ther word of life…(Phil.2:15-16)

I’ve been inspired by reading some T.Austin-Sparks again. He writes of the need in the time of his writing (and it is still true today as ever) of there being three main influences in the world. There is firstly that which is essential anti-Christ, humanistic and man-centered (this is still an issue in our day though it often claims to be something spiritual in a vague, quasi-mystical sense but which still focuses on man, on the Self). Then there …

See this interesting article on the democratic power, potential and dangers of blogging from the BBC Website. I wonder if we have yet realised the potential of blogging for the advance of the Kingdom, rather than mainly as a source of mutual encouragement, teaching and sharing of thoughts/ideas? A totally valid use of them of course, but how else might we use them to reach the world?

Anyway, when considering the dangers as well as the delights …

For those who were following the mild debate on Law here just a couple of weeks ago, it may interest you to know that I have begun doing some fresh study on this subject - the results of which I hope to post before too long! But I thought any who objected to my use of the word ‘inadequate’ for the Law, may be interested in something I read from Fee and Stuart (in How to Read the Bible for All its Worth - a useful little book that I would …

Back at last. Having trouble with my PC, so glad to be back blogging. Had a great time with students last week, rejoicing that God has set us free from Religion (including a so-called Judeo-Christian, Law-based one!! - just a touch provocative!) and brought us into a relationship with himself by the Holy Spirit and that brings life!! I quoted from an interesting new book called The Bible and Other Faiths (by Ida Glaser, published by IVP). She comments on the call of Abraham out of his religious, polytheistic (believing …