Come’ You said. That was it, just: ‘Come’. So here I am, in this place of no return. Looking back I can see the boat: familiar, safe, beckoning. There are faces I know within that boat, that’s the hard thing. People I’ve called friends. But they’re in the boat, and I’m….well, I’m outside the boat … Continue reading Deep, Deep Love
Author: Cheryl McGrath
Love. Uncomplicated.
The doctor’s manner was courteous as we entered his consulting room, even if somewhat abrupt. Mr. P and I are no strangers to medical waiting rooms with their clinical atmospheres, hushed tones and oh so efficient receptionists. This day we had sat for an hour and a quarter past our appointment time, but the building … Continue reading Love. Uncomplicated.
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The Old Man and The Train
Imagine yourself in this scenario. You are on a train travelling at high speed, a speed that grows faster with each passing moment. You are in a crowded carriage where every other passenger is seated. But you are standing in the aisle, trying very hard to stay on your feet as the train’s … Continue reading The Old Man and The Train
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From the Archives: The Courts of the King
And Enoch walked with God, and he was not for God took him.’ For much of my Christian life, I have found that simple Old Testament statement profoundly intriguing. What did it mean that Enoch walked with God to the extent that God found it irresistible to remove him from this earthly life into His … Continue reading From the Archives: The Courts of the King
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An Un-Christmas Carol
The night was not so silent: In the bustling streets Crowds pushed and poked With shoving elbows and trampling feet Men cursed Dust choked Indifferent to a woman heavy with child In desperate need of a place to sleep The little town was not so still: It’s streets and houses overflowing With one … Continue reading An Un-Christmas Carol
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Crucified!
The mood among them was sombre to say the least. Passover was meant to be a celebration of Israel’s exodus from Egypt, but all this talk of Him going away without them was hitting them like a bucket of cold water. Now His conversation had turned again to the Father and the One He called … Continue reading Crucified!
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Of His Flesh and Of His Bones: A Mystery
One of the things I like about some more historic versions of the Bible is their poetic language. I know not everyone will agree and some struggle to understand the older translations, so this is purely an individual observation. Modern language translations and paraphrases also have an important place and personally I enjoy consulting a … Continue reading Of His Flesh and Of His Bones: A Mystery
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Feasting on the Tree of Life
Bread for the Bride will be inactive for a couple of weeks while I take a short break away from home, but here is one from the archives I hope will bless you in the meantime! Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with … Continue reading Feasting on the Tree of Life
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So You Want To Be A Lover
Rumour has it I’m pretty much a failure when it comes to loving the brethren. If you like your dollops of Christian love handed over with bear hugs, chatty phone calls and affectionate enquiries about every tiny corner of your life, I may as well warn you now I’m not the one you’re looking for. Pass me by … Continue reading So You Want To Be A Lover
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When Jesus Isn’t Enough
The young pastor peered intensely at me through searching brown eyes, trying hard to articulate his dilemma. “Tell me, please tell me, how can I move my ministry into these wonderful things that have been promised to me and that I so desire? I believe you can instruct me in this.” Sitting across the table … Continue reading When Jesus Isn’t Enough
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From The Archives: Where Do You Live?
Ladies, gentlemen, young people, please fasten your seat belts as we make our final ascent to our destination. As you disembark please take a few moments for your eyesight to adjust to the brightness, which is due to the total lack of darkness in your new host country. To assist you in settling comfortably into … Continue reading From The Archives: Where Do You Live?
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Endless Life
Eternal life is so much more than a vague never ending timeline of Heavenly ‘happy ever after’ waiting for us after this life finishes. This thing we commonly call ‘eternity’ cannot be adequately measured within the framework of any human definition. Eternal life is essentially the supernatural, abundant, endless, pure life of Christ into which … Continue reading Endless Life
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For Black Sheep and Misfits
My favourite childhood uncle died last week. The combination of age (he was in his eighties), dementia and Parkinson’s disease finally became too much. I had seen him only once in the last ten years, but my strongest memories of him will always be childhood ones. I remember him as a kind and trustworthy man. … Continue reading For Black Sheep and Misfits
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When Jesus Wept
When Jesus wept at Bethany What sorrow did His heart conceive? Was it unbelief in all its masks That caused His overflowing grief? That human eyes that day conveyed While human tongues unknown betrayed? When Jesus wept at Bethany Did He weep for you and me? When Jesus wept at Bethany What aching filled His gentle … Continue reading When Jesus Wept
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Exploring Community Part Three: Hierarchy and Leadership
Where does hierarchy fit in with authentic Christian community? What role, if any, does leadership have to play? These are questions many of us are struggling with as God continues to lead us out of ‘playing church’ into the day to day reality of Kingdom life. I offer the following two suggestions for consideration in … Continue reading Exploring Community Part Three: Hierarchy and Leadership
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Exploring Community Part Two: True and False Community
We have seen how the very essence of authentic community lies within the mystery of Three in One Elohyim: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwelling eternally as vibrant, living, loving community among Themselves. We have seen how humanity is incapable of creating community, for it is not created, it is imparted. Apart from ongoing … Continue reading Exploring Community Part Two: True and False Community
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Exploring Community Part One: In the Beginning
In the beginning Elohyim¹, the One God who is True and who Lives, the God who is Three in One, the God besides whom there is no other god². And this true, living God who is perfect Oneness is also a community of three divine personalities: the Father, divine Lifegiver; the Son, divine Utterance; and … Continue reading Exploring Community Part One: In the Beginning
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Featured Poem for July: Creation
Creation Creation is groaning Laden with weariness Like a prisoner confined to shadows Aching with indefinable loss Haunted by elusive memories Of a distant day of brightness When nothing hungered And Adam’s touch Was free of fear Creation is listening Straining to hear again The laughter of innocence Echoing like a melodic song … Continue reading Featured Poem for July: Creation
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The Longsuffering of the Lamb
Some years ago I had a powerful dream in which, wearied after a long climb, I arrived at a hilltop house. Entering through the front door I found, to my amazement, Jesus was waiting for me inside. On seeing one another we started running toward the other until we met in a spontaneous embrace, somewhat … Continue reading The Longsuffering of the Lamb
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Coming to Moriah
When Abraham laid his son Isaac on a sacrificial altar no witness was present but God. The Bible is silent on whether Abraham wept as he bound the boy to the firewood. The scriptures do not tell us whether he averted his eyes from Isaac’s frightened gaze. If we have ever loved someone dearly, however, … Continue reading Coming to Moriah
Bread for the Bride 