What’s the difference? There is something about growing up from a cultural heritage different to the one that is the majority of the area. There is something about that which marks one out as not belonging and so engaging in what it is that makes them different. Exploring the family heritage and noticing how that […]
Read More Something About Being DifferentThey told me I was living in a fantasy. They told me I needed to wake up from my dreaming and face reality. What was that reality? Who defined that reality? What made it so real? Perhaps it was explained by science, maybe that had all the answers. But appeared to operate on theories and […]
Read More Accept RealityDo not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2) My experience of that period of my life was not so much about being a rebel to my parents. I […]
Read More Acceptable To Who?Jesus says some really interesting things. Come to me, I will give you rest, take my yolk, learn of me, my yolk is easy and my burden is light. Whoever comes to me, I will never cast out. These and other sayings and experiences in the ministry of Jesus makes it clear that He is […]
Read More Acceptance: A ChallengeBelonging. There’s a World Cup going on, apparently. England are doing well, so I’ve heard. People have spoken and written about how the success of a country in a sporting event brings the nation together. The team does well, especially when they weren’t expected to do as well, and the sense of pride and belonging […]
Read More Acceptance and DisagreementAs Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:35-38) It’s one of the highlights of my week […]
Read More The Only One To SeeTax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! (Luke 15:1-2) Aren’t we making our way home? The setting sees certain religious observers critiquing Jesus for the people that He hung […]
Read More Are All Sons Lost?
