Seismic Elections in the UK – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

David Robertson offers some thoughts on the recent local election results that represent a significant shift in UK politics.

Whose name are you baptised in?

Dave Williams addresses a bit of a niche question. Whose name, exactly, are we baptised into?

So Many Dumb Ways To Die

I had never heard the Metro Trains of Melbourne infomercial ‘So Many Dumb Ways to Die’. It is incredibly catchy and worth checking this one out just to hear it. But Tim Challies uses it to point out the dumbest of all ways to die.

Planting problems?

‘My sense is that in the UK a disproportionate percentage of the church planting that happens, happens in university cities and towns.  It would be worth exploring why this is?  And what the impact of that is?’ This one goes on to (briefly) probe some of that.

The crucible of praise

‘When we encounter the praise of men, or when God withholds it from us, God is testing us. How do you respond to the praise of men (or the lack thereof)? How much do you value the praise of men? When you are praised, are you puffed up with pride? When other’s think highly of you, do you find more value in yourself? When the “like” count on that post is low, or when no one comments on that picture you posted, are you shattered? You are being tested by praise.’

Who do you say Jesus is?

‘The battle for human souls pivots on the issue of Christ’s identity. He’s the watershed, the dividing line between Hell and Heaven. Jesus made that clear when He asked his disciples about His divinity: “‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’” (Matthew 16:15).’

From the archive: The only sure way to avoid shame by association

‘We need to be realistic about the nature of sin. There is nothing wrong with looking at good examples, whether from the Bible, our history or around us today. But we always need to remember that nobody is perfect and the murky history that we all have because of our sin will exist even in those we tend to hold up as good examples. Even our brightest shining examples will be dulled by the presence of sin in their life. Only one person can really withstand that sort of scrutiny. Only one person has absolutely no murky past which will make us embarrassed by association.’