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
bread for the bride
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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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
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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
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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
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So It’s Really Not About Me? Really??
Our Father has one holy, consuming passion, a passion that we find difficult to perceive. It is the revealing of His Son. It pleases God immensely to reveal His Son. From the beginning, the ongoing revelation of His Son has been, and continues to be, God’s chief delight and primary objective (John 5:39). It fills … Continue reading So It’s Really Not About Me? Really??
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The First Day of the Rest of Our Lives
We spoke little as we hurried through the streets of Jerusalem. Slivers of warm sunlight were already piercing the dying darkness as the long night fled away. I pulled my cloak tightly around my face as if to protect myself against the harsh realities coming daylight would bring. Between us we carried the oil and … Continue reading The First Day of the Rest of Our Lives
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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
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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
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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
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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
Bread for the Bride 