Skip to content

Month: December 2014

9

Published on 9 Comments on Denominations? Let it go

I was just sent this via email. I've tried to track down the source but with no joy so far. Comment if you know...

UPDATE: It's by Paul Kerry. Great going Paul!

Here's the Frozen song “Let it go” as a summary of the various strands of the church...

Don’t let them in, don’t let them see. Brethren

Be the good girl you always have to be. Catholic

Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know. Conservative

I don’t care what they’re going to say. Independent

It’s time to see what I can do, to test the limits and break through. Charismatic

No right, no wrong, no rules for me. Liberal

Here I’ll stand, and here I’ll stay. Lutheran

My power flurries through the air into the ground. Pentecostal

I’m never going back, the past is in the past. Progressive

The cold never bothered me anyway. Anglican

1

Published on 1 Comment on Top Ten Posts 2014
You Last
Girl praying in orphanage. New York, 1947

This is my 2669th post at Christ the Truth. Admittedly I used to blog a lot more (pretty much daily for the first 5 years). But I reckon I did enough in 2014 to rustle up this "best of".

 

1. I choose not to be straight - The most popular post of this year and the one I most hope Christians will take to heart.

It prompted these follow-ups. Again, I think these are issues we need to be crystal clear on if we're going to speak about sexuality.

Why I go after straight Christians

Focus on the Family?

Being heterosexual is WEIRD

 

2. You last - A response to some atheists complaining about the image above.

Some more engagement with atheists:

Twitter discussion with atheist pro-choicer which totally went fine!

Gullible Sceptics

Who has the burden of proof

The nature of nature

Faith, good and evil

Why the world exists

The People's Republic of #1PUN

 

3. HeForShe and the Spectre of Spectrums - Comment on Emma Watson's popular speech.

 

4. Grace aint a carrot, sanctification aint a stick - Some thoughts as Tullian Tchividjian was ousted from The Gospel Coalition.

We do NOT balance license and legalism

 

5. Thimgamy Jiggery Pokery - Here's what's killing your Christian life: thingification.

 

6. How to handle questions in evangelism.

And some more on evangelism:

Evangelism is not in our hands

Is that the Luke book?

Apologetics according to Peter

On preaching and not getting in the way

 

7. Corporate Prayer Performs Poorly Claims New Study - A parody. This is a PARODY. It's actually about preaching.

 

8. Church is heavenly. Church is where it's at.

So then, is there a place for other professionals in pastoral care...?

Counselling and the Church

 

9. Everyone knows, it's the cross or hell - That's not just a maxim of conservative theologians, it's just a fact of life

 

10. Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be9_cxJfAEI

 

Published on Leave a comment on Comfort, Comfort My People

Isaiah40Our comforts never work.

In fact those with the greatest "creature comforts" often have anxiety, stress, depression and dissatisfaction through the roof.

What gives true and lasting comfort?

Isaiah takes us to the depths, then raises us to the heights. In Chapter 40:1-8, God gives three messages to be proclaimed by a human voice. And here's the essence of these messages: Take heart... Judgement is coming... You're all perishing.

That's a shocking way to comfort a people but if we follow Isaiah down, he'll raise us up to true and everlasting comfort...

READ

DOWNLOAD

 

 

2

Published on 2 Comments on O Christmas Tree

They look fresh, bright and lively, surrounded by family, fun and festivities - Christmas trees are a great picture of our human condition. We too may dress ourselves up in achievements and surround ourselves with great experiences, but we're perishing - cut off from our true Life-source in God. Thankfully, Christmas gives us the answer. Real life has been born into our world. In connection with Jesus we "may not perish but have eternal life."

Please share the video and offer true hope this Christmas.

See our previous Christmas videos here.

Published on Leave a comment on Tweet Mouth Strikes Again

"And, like, Jesus fully committed to radical cruciformity and non-coercive relationality while investing in life-sharing mutuality. Man"

Feel you don't have it in you to be a Christian? You don't. But don't worry, it's all in Jesus (1Cor1:30) - and so are you #EnjoyYourDay

I get that some explanations of "law and gospel" can sound contrived. But if it's a restatement of "Adam and Christ", who can object?

The LORD's unfailing love&cleansing are not 4 the Ideal You. They're 4 the you that's been a sinner from birth (Psalm 51:1-9) #EnjoyYourDay

A Decent Shepherd mends fences. What kind of Shepherd DIES 4 sheep? Jesus. And He rises 2 know you & give you life 2 the full #EnjoyYourDay

Temptation is not a siren song. It's the cry of your "old man" drowning (Romans 6:1-14)

If you think you need to "preach the text" on one hand *and* "get to Christ" *on the other* - you have a Nestorian doctrine of Scripture.

Our sorrows are not senseless. They are seeds. (Ps126:5) A jubilant harvest is coming, far exceeding the tears that we sow. #EnjoyYourDay

There are no hidden catches, no secret levels. God is completely given 2u in Jesus (John3:35f). If u have Jesus u have it all #EnjoyYourDay

To those worried about making The Right Decision.... Remember, even if you choose perfectly, you're still forgiven. #EnjoyYourDay

No need to atone for the past. Nothing to prove in the future. #EnjoyYourDay

He is completely open to you (Jn15:15). He is completely given to you (Jn15:13). What a Friend we have in Jesus. #EnjoyYourDay

How patronising to sing "Do they know it's Christmas" to Africans when 20% of UK kids think Jesus is a footballer

God is not hidden behind Jesus. In Jesus - with arms outstretched to the world - He is revealed in radiant glory. #EnjoyYourDay

O ye of little faith (Matt16-17) - Be ye like little children (Matt18).
It's not so much that our faith has to increase. WE must decrease

Hilarious blindness from #BBCNews on what caused the truce on CHRISTMAS DAY. Maybe it was the power of football ON CHRISTMAS DAY. Who knows?

Crossword clue: "Spring-like (6)". Simultaneously Emma and I answered with utter certainty. She said "vernal", I said "bouncy".

As lost as ur in Adam is as saved as ur in Christ. The wretchedness u feel is more than matched by the righteousness He gives #EnjoyYourDay

In Christ, ur not just loved with the love that belongs to Him. Ur also liked with the like that He deserves #EnjoyYourDay

When a fool is chosen for a role it's explained as "a political appointment." This explains little about the choice but much about politics.

Your home is where His heart is. #Ex28 #Heb7 #EnjoyYourDay

"The law says, "do this" and it is never done. Grace says "believe in this" and everything is already done." Luther, Heidelberg Disputation

"God is committed to His name" = "The Father is committed to His Son" = "The triune God is determined to be the Gospel God of Exodus 34:6-7"

For the outcast & weak the LORD upholds, feeds, frees, gives sight, lifts, loves, watches over & sustains #Ps146 #EnjoyYourDay

- I've been demoted from donkey in this year's nativity play. Now I'm just one of the wise men's gifts
- You must be fuming.
- Incensed!

There are still spaces between the hub and the rim if you want to join our tailor made human wheel. DM me for our be spoke service

If you're just after a staple diet I recommend a fastener food restaurant.

Contract killing is pre-mediated murder

- “You are charged with breaking, entering then eating Ms Owen’s food. How do you plead?”
- “I’m her secret Santa”

- Those Japanese poems are genius.
- Meh, I’d call them High IQ.

Carlos won't say hello till Pedro shakes hands but he's shy after Fernando blanked him. I guess that's the problem of Mexicans standoff-ish

Every time I ask my wife for specifics she says "Wocka, Wocka, Wocka." She's fozzie on the details

Ton or tonne? I could go either weigh

Published on Leave a comment on Christmas: The Fairytale Come True

Tolkein quoteThe final Hobbit movie is now out: The Battle of the Five Armies. The whole series of Hobbit films takes 9 hours to watch but the book, written by JRR Tolkein, takes about 5 hours to read. I’d still put money on more people going to the movies to see it. But the Hobbit is a Fairy Story – a tale about Middle Earth – about Hobbits and Dwarves and Elves and Orcs. It’s make believe right? There’s no truth to stories like these, is there? They’re just fantasies – they’re about Dragons and magic rings, there’s nothing real about these stories, is there? It’s all just escapist entertainment, right?

That’s what CS Lewis thought, at one point. CS Lewis went on to write the Narnia books but to begin with, Lewis was not a believer in God nor was he a believer in fairy tales. He loved fairytales. But he thought they were “Lies breathed through silver.” He said this to Tolkein while they were walking along the Cherwell River in Oxford – they were both Oxford dons. CS Lewis was then very shocked by Tolkein’s response.  Tolkein, who was a Christian – a very devout Catholic – said to Lewis “No. They are NOT LIES.” Fairytales are NOT LIES. What on earth could Tolkein mean?

Well he spells it all out in an essay called “On Fairy-Stories.” And he says, there’s something in fairy stories that appeals to our deepest intuitions about the way life ought to be. And in all fairy stories you’ll find some combination of the following:

Love without parting.

Life triumphing over death

Good triumphing over evil.

Heroes winning through sacrifice...

 

READ THE WHOLE THING

DOWNLOAD

LISTEN:

 

Published on Leave a comment on Christmas Carols Radio

ChristmasCarolsRadio (@CarolsRadio)Tune in to Christmas Carols Radio for festive tunes and Christmas thoughts 24/7.

Great to have on in the background while you work, wrap presents, put up the tree etc. And great to share with friends - the carols are interspersed with Christmas messages.

Follow on Twitter

 

 

 

 

Listen to Christmas Carols

Published on Leave a comment on Tworgasboard

Jesus said "You must be born again." He didn't say "You must know when it happened."

The week does not begin today with u & yr work. It started y'day w Christ & His grace. B4 u take a step ur on top of the world #EnjoyYourDay

The bad news: You don't have what it takes. The good news: You have everything He gives. #EnjoyYourDay

#ChristmasMeans God didn't send a manual, He sent Immanuel

Other religious figures "comment on your status." #ChristmasMeans Jesus shared your status.

Whatever distance we've put between ourselves & God, Jesus bridges it. If we belong to Christ, we're in the Father's embrace. #EnjoyYourDay

"I am among u as one who serves" "He emptied Himself" "For yr sake He became poor" "The Son of God loved me&gave Himself 4me" #EnjoyYourDay

God does not grant you a tentative pardon. In Jesus He gives you Himself, for free and forever. #EnjoyYourDay

So much "teaching" on the Trinity assumes that it's a separate and difficult subject rather than the basic structure of Christian faith.

A lot of Christians - while "teaching" the Trinity - talk believers *out* of their confidence in knowing God. It's desperately sad.

NB: If ur explaining Trinity, ur just giving believers a vocabulary 4what they already know. They know the Father thru the Son by the Spirit

It should be: "U KNOW the Fatherhood of God, the mediation of Jesus, the filling of the Spirit. UR already profoundly shaped by this truth"

There are 2 kinds of death: A) sleep, B) torment. If ur in Christ, u will never taste the latter (Rev2:8-11) #EnjoyYourDay

Feeling your baby in the womb is a wonderful experience of 1Peter 1:8

Your true identity is the name *Jesus* has for you. One day all will be revealed (Rev2:12-17) #EnjoyYourDay

We exhaust ourselves making (or hiding) our reputation on earth. One day we’ll be acknowledged b4 all heaven (Rev3:1-6) #EnjoyYourDay

"The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all those who are bowed down." Psalm 145:15

Why not #trychurch in the run-up to Christmas? Like an advent calendar with people for chocolates. Message me for suggestions in your area

We wonder where we belong, one day Jesus and His Father will put their name on us forever (Rev3:7-13) #EnjoyYourDay

God does not keep His power/presence/privilege to Himself. He invites us to sit with Christ at His right hand. (Rev3:14-22) #EnjoyYourDay

Evangelism is pastoring the unconverted. Pastoral care is evangelising the converted.

What's your 'special possession': the thing u'd run into a burning building to rescue? For the Lord, it's YOU (1Pet2:9;3:18) #EnjoyYourDay

The Pharisee says "I am better than the unbeliever but their lot on earth is better than mine." The Christian says the exact opposite.

I see Pharisaical evangelism everywhere: Christians making out that they are superior but the Christian life they're offering is inferior.

He turned away any who came to Him full, but to all who came empty Jesus gave grace upon grace. He hasn't changed. #EnjoyYourDay

Burning the candle at both ends means no rest for the wick’d

I can confirm now that I’m a bishop

Scene: Wild West Saloon. Man in black stetson enters. All gasp.
- "Who IS that man? Everyone speaks of him in hushed tones."
- "His name is Sheesha Shooshar"

I was hunting high and low when I found 'Headlines and Deadlines'. It was a real A-Ha moment.

[Act 5, scene 8. Meeting of Dept. for Culture, Media & Sport]
-Shall we have a bank holiday in August?
-May as well
[Standing ovation]

"Hit the brakes you fool!" <-- career advice I spent the 90s working as a Damon Albarn tribute act - all a bit of a blur Australia's opposition leader, Bill Shorten, was born "William Longer" Extreme pig farmers put out all the slops Trojan Horse: one trick pony France's greatest prosecutor was Jack Hughes Italy's worst lawyer was Mia Culpa Israel's greatest legal expert was the Jewess Prudence Russian children wait expectantly for their Advent Calendars, housed within the final window of their mammoth November Calendars, etc, etc No one had thought to put windows in a calendar before. Suddenly I thought: add vent! Advent Calendars: Wait Watches I'm not saying John Williams is a drug addict, just that he's always making arrangements to score. I should have guessed that my documentary on English fast bowlers of the 80s would come a cropper. I've always had trouble making Small talk The calmest lizard was the camemileon The first salvaging contract for the Titanic has been awarded. Well done guys, take a bow.

Twitter widget by Rimon Habib - BuddyPress Expert Developer