Atheism is popular right now. Being offended at Christianity, and in particular ‘born again’ Christians, is becoming topical among many authors, intellectuals, journalists and social commentators. Around us a chorus of disbelieving mockery grows increasingly influential as the offended voices of atheists grow louder and angrier by the day. The Western world is seemingly separating … Continue reading From The Archives: In The Company of Fools
The Bride of Christ
Christ is the answer!
I want to share with you a recent post by my friend Patrick Maina in Nairobi, Kenya. The word he shares here and the moving video need to be heard and seen by all who seek to follow Christ. We deal on a daily basis with our own set of circumstances, but this post and video spell out the reality of our deepest identity. The apostle Paul said we are a people who ‘as dying, yet behold we live’. There are those who call us the people of the Cross, and so we are. But we are also the people of the Resurrection. Whether our lives are personally threatened or not, let us live out the Love that is stronger than any hatred and let us carry the Light of that unrelenting Love into every dark and evil place. Death has been swallowed up in victory. In Him is Life, and the Life is the (only) Light of mankind.
Credit: Chrismons and Chrismon Patterns The attack in Garissa University earlier this month left many of us that are affected directly or indirectly with many unanswered questions. There was much pain and heartache at different levels and for this my prayer for peace and strength goes to God especially for the families and friends of the victims.
One brother from SA asked me what I felt and could only say sadness and helplessness, but deep inside I knew that even if it felt like that, we were actually not helpless. It may look like that, but the reality is different.
The creator of the universe, the omnipresent God was present as it was happening, and He was almighty to stop it, but He did not. The very present help in time of need was right there as those perpetrators opened fire on those unarmed people. To understand the whys and…
View original post 406 more words
Share this:
Jesus Was Cool About Breaking The Rules
So there I was, frantically squeezing my feet into my brown school shoes, eyeing the wall clock with alarm and breathlessly leaping onto the back of the school bus as it pulled away from the bus stop. My heart was pounding as I rehearsed suitable excuses for missing roll call. My throat tightened with a … Continue reading Jesus Was Cool About Breaking The Rules
Share this:
A Tale of Two Adams
The Garden ‘Stay here and watch with Me. My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.’ Matt. 26:38 It was not by coincidence that Jesus chose a garden as the setting for the greatest battle of His earthly life. Wasn’t it in a garden that His ancestor, First Adam, had rejected Life and condemned all … Continue reading A Tale of Two Adams
Share this:
Beholding The Glory
Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me….. Jn. 17:24 We who follow Christ have been invited to be with Him, where He is, that we may behold His glory. We are conditioned by religious … Continue reading Beholding The Glory
Share this:
Deep, Deep Love
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
Share this:
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.
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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!
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Share this:
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
Bread for the Bride 