For those thinking about violence in the Old Testament - you might like to check out:
http://vimeo.com/13815923

Photo: purplemattfish

Somebody else (not just us here at St Alban's) has been thinking about Numbers and the problem of grumbling, check it out at:
http://dead-flies-and-perfume.blogspot.com/2010/08/grumblers-go-to-hell.html

In His Image: A Created Person

Aim: To understand that all people are made to worship the one true God

"I viewed my fellow man not as a fallen angel, but as a risen ape"
Desmond Morris
Zoologist

Q: What is the chief end of man?
A: To glorify God and enjoy him forever
The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)

Opening Question:
What is something that you have made that you were especially proud of?
What did you do with it? …

1Timothy 2:15But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

I was listening to a most learned English preacher on this passage and he said "I do not know what it means!". I thought to myself "what mealy-mouthed British uncertainty". So let me say unequivocally "I am just not sure what it means". …

For those who are interested - as the original websites are down I have posted here the two blogs I quoted on Sunday:

Percival Proud's Pontifications:

Above is a copy of the church posterwhich has caused something of a stir in NZ.

In this article Mary and Joseph post-sex poster upsets Catholics objections to it are raised by a Catholic spokesman.
I couldn't help but be struck by how they - for my mind - have grasped the wrong end of the stick when it comes to what is "offensive" about the poster. …

As promised on Sunday night in church - here is a more detailed respsonse and commentary on the Vision 2010 plans and survey feedback:

Key Feedback

• The majority of people - whatever their personal feelings - can see the logic and the necessity behind the change.
• A large number of people are excited and enthused about the possibilities for 2010.
• A significant number of people - are concerned about the notion of a "split" in the congregation, …

Here is an interesting pair of articles from the UK Times - on being a "good wife" and being a "good husband".
Not Christian nor non-Christian - so would best fit into a "wisdom" category - that is worth pondering and weighing what good can be taken from them.

"the good wife charter and how to be a good husband"

This is the first of two posts that relate to a conversation I'm having with someone over the struggles they've had in regards to evangelism and apologetics.

The first issue is:
Evangelism (proactively speaking to people about Jesus) and apologetics (answering people's objections to Jesus) is always tough. Its hard to think on your feet, people always come up with tough questions you've never heard/thought of before, …

If you ever podcast any sermons (or are a regular attendee at Christian conferences) it would be well worth your while checking out this excellent blog article on having the right approach/attitude to listening to "the great ones" (whoever they might be for you).
I've never been mistaken for Brad Pitt

(photy by: morrisey)

This blog is written by special guest the most excellent Vanessa Khlentzos (African Enterprise missionary in Malawi Africa). This is well worth reading - given her first-hand perspective on the issue of poverty and how to best respond as Christians. Enjoy and be challenged!

The question "how can we help the people of Africa in a significant and eternal way?" has always perplexed me.
Whilst living in Malawi and travelling through Africa, …

Its been a while since I've been labeled a "heretic" (actually the person I was speaking to said my views were heretical - but it amounts to the same thing) - but that's what happened on Sunday night after I had said in my sermon (click here to hear the comments in context) that I didn't think that evolution and the bible were necessarily in conflict. …

Here's a clip that has now been sent to me twice (both by muso's I might add) that I thought it would be well worth sharing with you and discussing.
I have a few thoughts - which I might leave until a few others have (bravely) waded in with their opinions first.

In a few posts on work (this one in particular) - I have (not unfairly) been accused of being "negative" about work. Having looked at the negative side of work, I want now to turn to the positive.
Definitions are important here - and so I will share my ethics lecturer's working definition (pun intended):

*Work: a sharing of God's good gifts in order to promote communities where people care for each other. …

I wanted to show this clip as the end to one of my last two sermons on "Promoting Jesus" - but technical dramas meant that couldn't happen. I picked it up from youtube (but the original link no longer works).

Its by Penn Jillette is a US performer (magician, comedy) and a thoughtful atheist - who here recounts his experience of being evangelised (which he refers to as proselytized) by being given a bible after one of his shows. …