Just finished reading it… I really enjoyed it and found it a really interesting book. The title is provocative (probably deliberately) and the book doesn’t go where you’d expect all the time. It covers singleness (better than most other books on sex and relationships that I’ve read), marriage, lust (great chapter called “Leather, whips and fruit”), the importance of parents teaching their children about sex, growing up etc, as well as other bits and pieces. It’s not all amazing – the chapter called Johnny and June is a bit obvious – old people with good marriages are happy, but overall this is definitely a book that I would recommend. However, some have taken umbrage with some inaccuracies about bits - Jesus Creed for one – but there are some real gems here.
Unibond league to Scottish Premier League. Only joined the bottom division in Scotland in 2002. Some might say it shows the quality (or lack of) that the Scottish Leagues have… but that would be mean. C
Read this on Jessica Lynch, the US Army private that became the Pentagon’s sweetheart… until she told the real story.
This paragraph is especially damning. Why again did we invade?
“Ms Lynch was injured badly when her convoy was ambushed in Iraq on March 23, 2003, the third day of the war. The Pentagon said initially that she was shot after emerging from her vehicle, guns blazing, before being abducted. It later emerged that she was injured in the ambush and was incapable of fighting. She was taken to an Iraqi hospital by Iraqi troops and owes her life to Iraqi doctors, who even tried to return her to American troops.”
I have the privilege of preaching this Sunday at my church on one of the best passages in the Bible – Jesus’ conversation with Peter after the resurrection – read it here. Here are some of the things that have really struck me today as I’ve prepared a bit:
Jesus goes for the painful bits in our lives because until we are real with Him about them we are stuck in a rut… perhaps why many of us avoid deep relationships with Him and others - we just don’t want to deal with the pain
Forgiveness is “the wonder of being trusted again by God in the place that I’ve disgraced Him”
Will post a link to the MP3 of it if you want to listen to it after Sunday
Saw this on David Gate’s blog and thought it needed posting. Makes you worry it really does. Particularly as he could be the next president. Hmm. It might be worth thinking about it this way… if the next president really does embrace a foreign policy that is full of real justice and mercy, giving grace to the poor and serious about things like AIDS in Africa then IMAGINE what our world could be like. That’s something worth praying for. In fact, that’s something we’re commanded to pray for. C
Reading this at the moment… inspiring and challenging particularly about discipleship. One story that I read yesterday was about a guy really feeling condemned about his prayer life – felt that he should be praying more for those he led. His small group were all trying to encourage him, “don’t beat yourself up” etc. It didn’t seemed to be helping. Pete (author) just said, do you think that this actually might be God bringing some conviction – perhaps you SHOULD pray more and be more disciplined? Challenge extended. How often we (including me) try to make people FEEL better when a bit of discomfort and challenge is exactly what we need.
I need to take up my cross, walk the narrow path and be willing to accept the rebukes from my God because the Christian faith is SO MUCH MORE than feeling OK. Thank God for that. C
Once again English sports teams think they are the best and will get it right at a tournament… before completely bombing out. At least Wolves will make the playoffs…
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
This is definitely better than admin… a website where rabbits act out famous movie scenes. Don’t click on films you haven’t seen as they’ll wreck the plot for you. C
Finally Dawkins has been willing to meet with Alistair McGrath. Listen to the podcasts here. I have never been able to reconcile the fact that Dawkins claims “good science” yet refuses to allow his claims and theories to be challenged as a good scientist would. Michael Ruse, well known atheistic scientific philosopher (good job title) writes very interestingly about Dawkins (read about it here). I just want to end with a couple of his quotes…
“I would like to see Dawkins take Christianity as seriously as he undoubtedly expects Christianity to take Darwinism. I would also like to see him spell out fully the arguments as to the incompatibility of science (Darwinism especially) and religion (Christianity especially). The God Delusion makes me embarrassed to be an atheist, and the McGraths show why.”
Reading this at the moment… inspiring and challenging particularly about discipleship. One story that I read yesterday was about a guy really feeling condemned about his prayer life – felt that he should be praying more for those he led. His small group were all trying to encourage him, “don’t beat yourself up” etc. It didn’t seemed to be helping. Pete (author) just said, do you think that this actually might be God bringing some conviction – perhaps you SHOULD pray more and be more disciplined? Challenge extended. How often we (including me) try to make people FEEL better when a bit of discomfort and challenge is exactly what we need.
Once again English sports teams think they are the best and will get it right at a tournament… before completely bombing out. At least Wolves will make the playoffs…
PLUS 
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