Kenneth Bailey on Luke 15

Resolutions

I'm not a big fan of New Year's Resolutions. 

But this cartoon reminds me of one very positive aspect about them. Humility. 

And this is just plain funny.

Well, I think so.
Happy New Year!

exiled for us

Jesus touches the leper and then, as a result of the cleansed leper's disobedience to His command, ends up suffering the fate of a leper. Jesus must now remain in unpopulated areas and never publicly enter cities.Though He is clean He suffers as if unclean because He touched one who was unclean and made him clean. It is hard to imagine a more vivid picture of Jesus suffering under the curse that those who deserved the curse might experience a blessing. (p47)

The Victory According to Mark

The Dudlai Lama

The Dudley Llama (Showcase Cinema in background)

Dudley Zoo. Yow cor beat it. We had a smashing time there today.  

Good mourning?

At a funeral later today I will be reading these words: 

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting

why? how could that possibly be the case?

because death is the destiny of every man;  

and the living should take this to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:2)

And I notice that the BBC have put together a slideshow of some of the famous people for whom 2011 was the year they met this destiny. They are now before the judge of all. 
And we, the living, should take this to heart. 

Questions for a Godly Wife

Ignoring the lurid pink background, which is actually impossible to do given the nature of that colour, this (below) is a helpful resource for wives wishing to be godly ones. It is a document that Jane has found useful (I am not sure how she found it ... but suspect it was femina) and then has humbly passed it onto me. So I am slowly working through it in prayer: 

Questions for a Godly Wife

The love of God in the Classroom

One of the incidental highlights of this Christmas reading were the quotes below (frustratingly not referenced - sorry!):

I would advise no-one to send his child where the holy Scriptures are not supreme. Every institution which does not unceasingly pursue the study of God's word becomes corrupt. (Martin Luther) p43 

I am much afraid that schools will prove to be the great gates of hell unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy Scripture, engraving them on the hearts of youth. (Martin Luther) p59 

True religion affords government its surest support. the future of this nation depends on the Christian training of the youth. it is impossible to govern without the Bible. (George Washington) p65 

I will kill or cure: I will have one or the other, a Christian school, or none at all. (from John Wesley's Journal, 12 March 1766) p91 

I preached on the education of children, wherein we are so shamefully wanting. Many were now deeply convoked of this. I hope they will not stifle all that conviction. (from John Wesley's Journal, 30 November 1766) p95  

Pay the utmost attention to the schools.I consider schools as one of the most effectual means of spreading the light of the gospel through the world. (William Carey in a letter to Jabez Carey 1815) p103  

The philosophy of the classroom is the philosophy of the Government of the next generation. (Abraham Lincoln) p105 

Your ministry embraces two things. The establishment of schools and the spread of the gospel. The first of these if it can be secured will I trust be an effectual introduction to the other. (William Carey in a letter to Jabez Carey, 1819) p117 

Surely the importance of Kingswood School is apparent, even from the difficulties that attend it. I have spent more money, and time, and care on this, than almost any design I ever had .... But it is worth all the labour. (from John Wesley's Journal, 24 August 1753) p129 

The church will never flourish without Christian schools. (John Calvin) p143 

The Love of God in the Classroom

The Queen's Speech (2011)

Jesus was born into a world full of fear. The angels came to frightened shepherds with hope in their voices: 'Fear not', they urged, 'we bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

'For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.'

Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves - from our recklessness or our greed.

God sent into the world a unique person - neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.

Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God's love.

In the last verse of this beautiful carol, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, there's a prayer:

O Holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us we pray.

Cast out our sin

And enter in.

Be born in us today.

It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas."

Happy 18th Susie!

Mean Big Man in the Sky

from Christ the Truth

Sin & psychopathology

Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011)

Doug Wilson on the death of Christopher Hitchens from Canon Wired on Vimeo.

Obituary here.

Having your cake

Simeon's 3rd Birthday Cake

A truly magnificent effort and a triumph of fondant icing over sponge! Jane managed all this at a very busy time of year and despite my 'help'. Top job! 

Sadly for Jonathan Bell his tractor soon ran into difficulty - first the wheels, then the cab and now most of the engine have been consumed. Yum yum. 

open up

open up