During this advent season we often think about the Magi who came to worship Jesus. We don’t know if they were astrologers but we do know about the dark astrological faith of the emperor Tiberius (42 BC – 37 AD) who reigned during the final years of our Lord and Read more
I remember going to the doctor twenty years ago. I was suffering from panic attacks. I told the doctor that my breathing was a bit of a nightmare. I was very distressed. I couldn’t sleep. I was even watching obscure Argentinian football games on the gogglebox at 3 in the Read more
Hollywood films are great to enjoy over a carton of popcorn. Enjoy but be discerning. They often promote a popular and pervasive form of secular faith. Don’t be mugged by the Enlightenment thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778). Let me explain. At the beginning of the 2001 movie Legally Blond Elle Woods Read more
In the past many believed in the Bible and God’s Word. A few still do. Then secularism destroyed this faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Some replaced God with the Nation. Nietzsche proclaimed that God was dead and the elite Supermen (Übermenschen) would take his place. Communists preferred the ‘Working Read more
Tokusan (780 – 865) was a tough and cantankerous Chinese Zen master. He wielded a menacing bamboo stick. His Zen pedagogy was known as ‘Tokusan’s thirty blows’. Tokusan would say to his disciples: “If you speak rightly I will give you thirty blows. If you speak wrongly, I will also Read more
You might have heard of the expression ‘touch wood’. It is a popular saying in the UK. It is a relic of tree worship that ruled the roost in pagan times. By touching wood we invoke the protection of a tree spirit. It is a pagan ritual. Often unnoticed. This Read more
I’ve been thinking a lot about trees recently. I love them. We have some great trees where we live in Horsforth in Leeds. My favourite tree is the Great Boab tree (Oz). What’s yours? We are all aware of how trees are being chopped down all over the world. We Read more
Story August Francke (1663 – 1727) was a German preacher and social reformer who established an orphanage and inspired George Muller. One day he had to pay the construction workers but he did not have any money and so he prayed to God for provision. At the end of that Read more
A Chat about Jimmy Savile Consider two conversations about Jimmy Savile on the streets of Leeds. Less Fruitful Conversation “My name is Don. I believe that my good deeds will allow me to go to heaven after I die.” “You cannot earn your salvation. Just believe in Jesus.” “I am Read more
Chat about Lucky Charms Less Fruitful Conversation “My name is Debby and I have two lucky charms. What do you think about that?” “I can see no problem with lucky charms. Whatever works for you.” “Thanks for that. I feel reassured because the charms protect me.” More Fruitful Conversation “My Read more