The Spurious Gospel of 'ME'

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Tim 4:1-5).


I'm pretty sure if there was an actual affiliated religion called 'Me', then it will have the biggest cult following ever seen in the history of the human race.

In fact, there's one out there already...and its' acquired pseudonym is called "Christianity". 

In Remembrance...My Heart Is Broken, Too

Like everybody else in the world, I turned on the TV on the morning of 9/11/01, and watched in unbelief at the horrific scenes before me.

I wrote this poem the following week, and posted it on a Christian Poetry forum (re-posting date Sep 2002 if you're looking for it). Some of my other poems are there also.

This is dedicated to those whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy.

The Day I DIDN'T Witness To The New Zealand Prime Minister

Auckland City.

One day last month my wife phoned me at work out of the blue. The previous day she had entered a radio competition on Facebook to win an all-expenses paid trip for a weekend in Auckland for 2. She just entered her details, clicked on the 'enter' button, believing it would never happen to us...

Why Is That?...Why Is It Now Right To Be Wrong?

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!" (Is 5:20-21).

There's a song I used to love from one of my favourite Christian artists, Randy Stonehill, called "Stop The World" (wow, showing my age, here!).

It is a satirical picture of how the morals and ideals of the world are so upside-down and hypocritical, and he was right on the money.

Unfortunately, this sad reality has crept into some churches as well, and it is now considered right to be wrong.

why is that?...

My Son Is A Filthy Clean Sinner

God has perfect timing!

When I arrived home from church last week, my son was in a dilemma...

Good Samaritans & Nested Subroutines

"So which of these three do you think was neighbour to him who fell among the thieves?"

And he said "He who showed mercy on him"

Then Jesus said "Go and do likewise". (Luke 10:36-37). 

Sometimes when we hear a story, we get so engrossed, so drawn in, that we forget the context in which it was written. The Parable of the Good Samaritan is like that. We read this powerful tale in the context of 'it's just a story', and forget the true meaning behind it. And when we do that, we lose its' real context, and its' importance.

Thought For The Season

 

This Wretched Man

Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and ask why I bother...

The person looking back is overflowing with pride, and yet empty of humility
The person looking back is a self-professed leader, with no one following him
The person looking back talks of good, yet constantly wanders off into evil
The person looking back is full of great intentions and criticisms, while sitting on his hands
The person looking back talks of how wonderful God is, while constantly turning his back on Him.

Whom Shall I Fear? Pt 2

Hi Everyone

Last Sunday the Pastor was unavailable, so asked me if I could do the teaching that morning.
I was a bit hesitant to say yes, as I hadn't taught for over 10 years!

He said I could teach on whatever I wanted (brave man!). So I decided to expand on the post Whom Shall I Fear? I wrote last year.

If you want to listen, you can find the message here.

Please note that I was extremely nervous! I have not listened to the recording, as I don't like the sound of my own recorded voice.

Enjoy!

Blessings.

Scenes of Kolkata - Hope Amid The Havoc

In 2002 my wife and I were blessed to travel through Kolkata while on a Mission Trip.

After seeing the poverty, smelling the horrible stench, and feeling claustrophobic with the overcrowding, I became angry and bitter towards God.

But rather than God changing Kolkata, He changed my heart instead...

Gospel Nuggets - God is an Abomination!!! - ??? (Prov 17:15)

Prov 17:15:

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just; both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

God's Beautiful Tapestry Of Life

I used to love watching those performers on television that could juggle plates. It was like they had 10 pairs of eyes that could dart between each plate, determining which ones were OK, and which ones needed a bit more of a spin.
I imagined God being like that - The Great Magician In The Sky, with all creation dancing to His tune like some great cosmic Pied Piper...