Jesus is referred to in Scripture as “a man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3) and at times that can shape how we think of him. After all, many of the most precious and important moments in his life involved his mourning
Joy in trials
Every philosophy of life out there – from the ancient Greeks to TikTok influencers – is ultimately looking for the answer to the question “How can I be happy?” And one of the biggest obstacles any view of life faces
Serve who?
The Ballard of Our Time. That’s what my friend called him, and I can’t think of anyone better. Rolling Stone magazine has him at #1 in their 100 Greatest Songwriters list. I can’t say I’m a particular fan, but he
Joy
There’s a somewhat dated acronym for how to live the Christian life. Put Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. It’s easy to remember because it’s given as a recipe for JOY. Do things in this way, and you will
A Persecuted Prophet
During Lent this year, as we were studying the Sermon on the Mount, we heard Jesus’ words “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and
UnFailing
“You’re fired.” Familiar words, to which the reply always seems to be “Thank you, Lord Sugar.” Why is anyone thanking Lord Sugar for telling them that they are a failure? Maybe they aren’t. Thanking him, yes, but not agreeing that
What do you have to boast about?
Boasting is not a habit many people find attractive. And yet most of us, if we’re honest, will have things about us that we’re proud of, that we think mark us out from other people, and that we secretly (or
5 Words
With over 700,000 words, the Bible is quite a long read (it’s 1189 chapters, so if you read one chapter a day, it will take you more than 3 years). Some of it is stories you can really get into,
My heart’s desire
What do you want? You could answer ‘a cup of tea’ or ‘Glastonbury Twanger pithivier’ (and perhaps add ‘please’ because you’re polite). The context affects the answer. But suppose there isn’t a context, no kettle, no waiter, suppose you were
Pray for the Harvest
What are you harvesting this year? Strawberries, Raspberries? Do you have an apple tree or two? Some beans or carrots? Salad leaves ready to pick? I was talking to someone who grows things in her raised beds that she can’t