What do you do with the past? The ways you’ve been broken? The things that you broke? What do you do with the voices? The accusations? The lies? Jesus died. But not for me. Jesus died. But not for this. No. There is no sin that the cross does not cover. There is no pain that Christ cannot heal. Listen to this. A letter that a dear friend has written to her younger self. A letter that shows what it means …Read More
You don’t need to be Irish to believe in confession. But you do, if you’re Christian. I don’t mean incense and chanting. Just this – talking to God (and others). Saying, “I did something wrong and I’m sorry.” I say ‘just.’ But it’s a choking word, ‘sorry.’ Spiky and tickly. Burns in the stomach. Sticks in the throat. But nonetheless, essential. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength …Read More
There are times when I feel more forgiven than others. Days when my selfishness plunks itself dead centre in my eyeline and relationships. Days when little lies trip off my tongue, lies about things that don’t even matter, lies I tell to cover myself, to make me look and feel better . Days when I fret about things I’m too embarrassed to write. Days when I’m tired and grouchy and mean and don’t care about anything but me and can’t be bothered with life. I really dislike …Read More
I’ve got a gift for guilt. For one thing, I was born with what mum calls a ‘guilty face’. It looks like I did something bad, even when I didn’t. But the more I’m quizzed, the more I start to think I did it. Like at primary school when someone blocked the toilets and the headmaster said we weren’t leaving until the guilty person owned up and I had to sit on my hands to stop myself confessing even though …Read More
Yesterday I was thinking about how to move past the past. I mentioned a post by a friend who struggles with porn addiction – and his remorse, especially towards his wife. It’s one thing being sorry for your own mistakes. But how does knowing the gospel help those who’ve been hurt to step forward too? His wife writes this: I can also be very disorganized, selfish, tardy and tend to put myself first. I also consider myself an “addict” as well as …Read More
You’ve done it again. You said you wouldn’t but you have. I’ll never go back. But you did. I swear I’ll change. But you didn’t – and you never do. Too much water under the bridge to ever return? Too much mess to ever undo? No. What shall separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord? Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor …Read More
Jesus tells us to forgive those who hurt and betray us – not just once, but over and over. Even in theory this strikes me as an act of madness. We’re no longer in the playground Lord. Some things can be forgiven. But this? The cheating. The porn addiction, every click a statement: You are not enough. The dark-eyed gambler, laughing and tossing away our future with his dice. The drinker who never stops… “but sweetheart, this one is the …Read More
I read this today and it was like taking a long cold drink on a boiling hot day. It’s Paul, writing to the Corinthian church and telling them how to treat those who have really messed-up. ‘When people sin you should… … … denounce them from the pulpit? talk about them in whispers, ‘just for prayer?’ ignore them give them Meaningful Looks. IKNOWWHATYOUDIDYOURAT. think about what they did until you get really really angry and then go for a run. …Read More
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 …Read More
The lie of addiction is this: I can stop any time I like. One day – not today of course – but soon, I’ll stop drinking. I’ll start eating. I’ll stop binging. I’ll forsake those websites and delete those images. I’ll cut up the credit cards and walk past the bookies. When this happens, you tell yourself, everything will return to “normal.” You’ll leave behind your old shameful self and begin afresh. Quick and painless. A new start, with no …Read More
