The Urgent Call to “Go” “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for soContinue reading “Ready: Steady, Go”
Author Archives: firebrandnotes
Ready: Developing Affections in an Adulterous World
“Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.” He’s leaping and bounding towards us. He’s coming over the horizon. He’s walking up the road. He’ll be here any moment. What do you do? Tidy the house? Hide? Run out to meet him. And he says: Arise, come withContinue reading “Ready: Developing Affections in an Adulterous World”
Carried Along (5 minute study of 2 Peter 3)
I was reading 2 Peter earlier this morning in the ESV as I leaned in to God for a cuddle. A phrase struck me that I found immediately vivid and helpful: Right at the beginning of the letter in 1:21, Peter refers to the human writers of Scripture who were “carried along” by the HolyContinue reading “Carried Along (5 minute study of 2 Peter 3)”
Ready: The No. 1 Hallmark of a Healthy Christian
Your Spiritual Spring Clean “I will agree with something Godly, righteous and true, nod my head, allow my heart to rise, even say ‘amen!’ out loud and then…do nothing.” Last week I encouraged you to go away, get alone with God and begin a conversation with Him about how you might begin to convert thoughtsContinue reading “Ready: The No. 1 Hallmark of a Healthy Christian”
Ready: Living Prepared For The Coming Storm
Living urgently, alertly and appropriately replete in the 21st Century has been the focus of this blog series so far. Thomas, Andy and Joshua have kindly helped us to honestly consider our Christian lifestyles, provoked by Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and to what extent we’re living with urgency or lethargy, with alertness or sleepinessContinue reading “Ready: Living Prepared For The Coming Storm”
Ready: Living Full in a Bloated World
The Need For Learning The early church exploded from a small group of misfit disciples into the most dynamic and cohesive movement within the Roman empire in just three hundred years. They were the new kids on the block and they were taking over the place. One early critic was claiming that they had ‘turnedContinue reading “Ready: Living Full in a Bloated World”
Speak
Psalm 29 pictures the holy voice of Yahweh as being like a thundering force of such powerful glory that it breaks Cedars of Lebanon, strips vast forests back to their bone and provokes adoring worship in all the earth. His speaking voice is like a cloud of stone-softening exhale as Kings and Presidents plot, asContinue reading “Speak “
Ready: Living Alert in a Sleepy World
Are we asleep to this gospel? Am I really living as if this is true – that Jesus is coming back – maybe later today – to punish rebels and reward his waiting bride? Have we replaced the bracing realities of the gospel with “evenings without number obliterated by television, evenings neither of entertainment nor of education, but of narcotised defence against time” (Neuhaus, Freedom for Ministry, p. 227)?
Ready: Living Urgently in a Messed-Up World
Kissing a Lifestyle of Convenience Goodbye I’ll be up front – I am writing this at the worst possible time for my family and me. Rachel and I are in the throes of moving from Thailand to Vietnam. Not only are there the logistical challenges of visas, accommodation, flights, ‘yard sales’ (to borrow a termContinue reading “Ready: Living Urgently in a Messed-Up World”
Ready: Introduction
What’s This All About? Most of you who read Firebrand Notes on even a semi-regular basis will know that about eighteen months ago we produced a film/music project called Jesus Come. Not only were Mairi and I really pleased with the way the project turned out, we passionately believe in the message that it carries:Continue reading “Ready: Introduction”
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