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?

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

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

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

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

Sinnerwoman and The Bride, Reblogged from May 2012

The Bride of Christ can be likened to a woman, a known sinner, arriving unexpectedly at a banquet held by a respected religious leader.  Entering unannounced, her eyes quickly scan the room for one face,  the face of Jesus Christ.  At first few notice her uninvited intrusion, caught up as they are in conversation and … Continue reading Sinnerwoman and The Bride, Reblogged from May 2012

Unwashed Feet

      "Come right on in” said the usher at the door You’re so welcome today, please find a seat” Failing to notice as the crowd pressed in The stranger she welcomed had unwashed feet   The stranger sat down in the very front row An elder came up with a knowing smile “I’m … Continue reading Unwashed Feet

ALTAR, TEMPLE, KINGDOM Part Three

For a fuller understanding of this article please first read Altar, Temple, Kingdom Part One and Altar, Temple, Kingdom Part Two. As Jesus related parable after parable to demonstrate kingdom life He presented to His hearers a Kingdom not to be imagined in a distant future but freely available in the present, or ‘at hand’. … Continue reading ALTAR, TEMPLE, KINGDOM Part Three

ALTAR, TEMPLE, KINGDOM Part Two

The Kingdom For a much fuller understanding of this article please first read Altar, Temple, Kingdom Part One here. Word spread like wildfire through the inhabitants of Jerusalem that amazing day.  Jesus of Nazareth was approaching the city!  Many had already witnessed his signs and listened intently to His teachings, but this day was different.  … Continue reading ALTAR, TEMPLE, KINGDOM Part Two

ALTAR, TEMPLE, KINGDOM Part One

The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the … Continue reading ALTAR, TEMPLE, KINGDOM Part One

Wickedness in High Places

“Wicked” is a strong, some would say harsh, word.  It’s not a word most of us would want applied to us.  Yet it’s exactly the word Jesus used to describe a certain kind of servant who for all intents and purposes appeared outwardly loyal and dedicated.  In Luke 19:11-27 Jesus tells one of His frequent … Continue reading Wickedness in High Places

No You Can’t, Uh Uh, No Way!

So there was Jesus making His way along the road. And there was the usual crowd, pressing, squabbling, gawking, chattering.  Seems a familiar scenario - Jesus and crowds go together, right?  No, not this day.  This day Jesus turns, faces the crowd and presents them with something they didn’t come for. “You can’t follow Me” … Continue reading No You Can’t, Uh Uh, No Way!

Parable of the Man of God

There was a young man of God, and God said to Him  "Son, I want to show you some things that are on My heart.”  And so God took him and showed him the very house of God where God dwelt.  And God took him by the hand, for he was a son to Him, … Continue reading Parable of the Man of God

Lessons From the Wilderness: Part Four

In the wilderness nothing is man-made.  All that is needed for survival must be provided by God.  In His wilderness journey Jesus would have sheltered in caves or one of the many rocky recesses to be found in the cliff faces.  He would have refreshed Himself at the small springs of water that occasionally break … Continue reading Lessons From the Wilderness: Part Four

Lessons From the Wilderness: Part Three

When Jesus was led into the wilderness after His baptism at the Jordan, He was full of the Spirit of God (Lk 4:1).   Many days later He returned from the wilderness to Galilee, this time in the power of the Spirit (Lk 4:14). Something happened in the wilderness that empowered Jesus more deeply to hear, … Continue reading Lessons From the Wilderness: Part Three

Beyond Revival

I am seriously into fresh fruit.  Right now we are in the process of planting citrus trees on the plot of land next to our house, something we have been wanting to do since we moved here just over three years ago.  Growing up, fresh fruit was abundant in my home.  I guess the fact … Continue reading Beyond Revival

We Are for Signs and Wonders

Signs and wonders.  They certainly have been a subject of controversy over recent years.  On the one hand there are those who vehemently reject the notion that signs and wonders have any place in today’s church.  They seem to believe God doesn’t reveal Himself with signs and wonders today because we are so much more … Continue reading We Are for Signs and Wonders

Untouchable, Unclean, Unheard

Leprosy is a debilitating and contagious disease.  In ancient Israel lepers were the untouchables. It was not unusual for people to run in the opposite direction from any leper who came too close, or even to stone him.  A leper was subject to certain religious laws that meant he could not associate at all with … Continue reading Untouchable, Unclean, Unheard

And He Came to His Own

Chances are if you consider yourself a believing Christian at some time in your life you were invited to ‘receive Jesus’.  It’s the common evangelical catch cry for ushering unbelievers into the Kingdom of God.  Countless numbers of church goers believe they are going to Heaven because at some time they raised their hand, signed … Continue reading And He Came to His Own

The Real Coalition of the Willing

And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Mark 1:40-41 The willingness of God to meet us … Continue reading The Real Coalition of the Willing