1. if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then He’s dangerous as well as deluded.  He’s not a nice bloke who got a bit confused.  He’s a megalomaniac and a perpetrator of lies. His followers are to be pitied as well as despised. 2. if he didn’t rise from the dead, then He’s not the Son of God.  He’s not a Saviour. And the gospel may be a ‘good’ way to live – but it’s completely ineffectual against death.  And suffering.  And despair. And most of all, sin. 3. if Jesus ... Read More

Forget the pumpkins and Halloween Haribo.  Today in 1517, Martin Luther, wrote an (offline) post that changed the world. One of his most accessible works came 14 years later: Luther’s Galatians commentary.  It’s a total beaut – chock-ful of  gospel wisdom for those struggling with suffering and sin.   So,  in honour of Reformation day, here’s a few nuggets from Pastor Luther to steady our souls.. “.. We are not to look upon our sins as insignificant trifles. On the other hand, we are not to regard them as ... Read More

An Addiction Seminar for Teens Powerpoint Slides Here What does an addict look like? A drug addled rock star?  A pill-popping housewife?  A heroin-chic model? Look in the mirror!  Anything can be an addictive substance and everyone has an addictive personality. . What makes it something we should worry about? In 1 Corinthians Paul talks about the incredible freedom we have as believers.  Three times he says: “Everything is permissible.” “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is ... Read More

How much of our ‘godly’ behaviour is actually  self-interest with a lick of paint? Frugality for example. At the local discount store I pick up 12 loo rolls for the price of six.  I think I’m rejecting consumerism but I’ve bought into the same lies – only  for slightly less money.   I feel wonderfully smug at poking one in the eye to foul Mammon .  But er –  I’m still buying Andrex. I feel like a radical, but  I’m still a slave. Despite the hope of the gospel, too often my life is no different to that of the ... Read More

Life is never straightforward, is it? The papers have been filled recently with gruesome headlines about Georgina Allen, who is alleged to have bludgeoned her husband to death with a hammer. It was a monstrous and completely inexcusable act.  But is Georgina a monster? As more details filter through, the black and white newspaper images start to take on shades of grey.  Georgina left her husband in 2009 after suspecting him of infidelity with prostitutes. That’s got to hurt.  Years of marriage, only to discover  the man (or woman) who ... Read More

Glen here.  How much thought do you give to the Priesthood of Jesus?  It seems to me to be a much neglected teaching.  But it’s absolutely crucial, especially when thinking about mental illness. What’s it all about?  Well here’s Job, Paul and the writer to the Hebrews… “Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.”  (Job 16:18-20) “Christ Jesus… is ... Read More

‘Raising’ children is primarily a matter of teaching them what games to play’. So argues Eric Berne, in his fascinating book, ‘Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships’.  And, as  you’ve probably guessed, he’s not talking about Scrabble. Berne defines a game as a repeated series of social actions with a hidden agenda.  Every game, he claims,  is fundamentally dishonest.  This is because its object is not an honest request but a way of manipulating the other player or players. As an example, he cites the most ... Read More

So you’ve got a really good mate.  She’s had it tough for years now – alcoholism, depression and now anorexia.  Recently things have come to a head and they’ve taken her to the Mater to stop her dying.  They’re keeping her alive, but the future looks bleak.  You don’t know where to turn – but at this stage, you’ll try anything. Then you hear about this guy.  He’s a preacher of some kind – but more to the point, word is that he’s also got healing powers, magic fingers.  Now, you’re no mug.  If it was for ... Read More

Popped into my local coffee shop today and was greeted by the guy behind the counter (I refuse to say ‘barista’, just like I refuse to order a venti or grande. This is Eastbourne for Pete’s sake, not Venice). Anyway, he was asking me about the holidays and said, ‘You look great! Haircut…no, don’t tell me, you’ve lost weight!’ Au contraire, my friend, I’ve gained, but I’ll take the compliment in the spirit in which it was intended. It’s funny isn’t it, that losing weight ... Read More

Yesterday we thought about whether or not it’s right to refeed someone against their will.  Current guidelines suggest this should be allowed if the person is classed as disturbed or unstable. The trouble is, the world isn’t divided into crazy people and sane people.  There’s just different degrees of crazy.  All sin is insanity. And here’s what complicates things even further.  The closer you get towards an anorexic weight the more you feel compelled to starve yourself.  The dynamics of starvation mean that as ... Read More