Last week-end I went out kayaking in the glorious October summer sun with a friend. It’s called the English Riviera down here for a reason – when the weather is like this it’s like being on the Continent: warmer temps, sparkling ocean, thousands of tourists, flip-flops galore and occasionally decent surf. I was thinking I’dContinue reading “Paignton Paparazzi”
Author Archives: firebrandnotes
X Factor – Cattle Market Crush #1
As a ‘creative type’ I normally love watching X-Factor – it’s often funny, entertaining and occasionally inspiring. But last week I was disgusted by it. I was disgusted by the lie of the devil to a generation of young people who are being treated like ‘talent meat’ while their hearts are puffed up or crushed.Continue reading “X Factor – Cattle Market Crush #1”
The Furious Longing of God
Once as kids, my brother and I were in deep trouble with Dad for throwing apples from the garden and breaking some panes of glass in a neighbour’s conservatory. We were naughty boys and Dad was furious. And there are probably occasions you can think of when someone has been furious with you too, maybeContinue reading “The Furious Longing of God”
John 21 – (Hoofing) Fish, Beach-Fires and Worship #2
I’m typing this post with fingers that still have the faint whiff of mackerel – despite several washings – reminding me that yesterday I was pulling fish out of the sea, left right and centre. The annual Forged in the Fire Fishing Trip was very cool and being at sea for 10 hours filled my mind withContinue reading “John 21 – (Hoofing) Fish, Beach-Fires and Worship #2”
John 21 – Fish, Beach-Fires and Worship
They were totally knackered and hungry, heart-broken and angry, confused and missing Jesus: The disciples had returned to their grass roots at sea to find the encouragement of a good night’s work…but they caught nothing. Not even one fish. Like all groups of blokes, there would have been a range of emotions (or at leastContinue reading “John 21 – Fish, Beach-Fires and Worship”
Riveted
Thunder, Fire, Smoke and Trumpets There is a staggering moment in Exodus 19 and 20 when God speaks to all of Israel and issues the frame-work of living for all of civilisation. It’s a moment in Scripture that would be amazing on screen as God reveals Himself to a company of weak people through theContinue reading “Riveted”
Mobile or ‘Mobill’?
Whoever said that men can’t multi-task was very wrong! I recently walked into a public toilet to witness perhaps the best example of multi-tasking I have ever seen: a bloke urinating at a urinal whilst holding his mobile phone with his other hand busy replying to a text, or a tweet, or whatever else thatContinue reading “Mobile or ‘Mobill’?”
We’re All Changing: ‘I want’ to ‘they need’
There are two kingdoms: the claustrophobic kingdom of self and the expansively glorious Kingdom of God. One is a kingdom riddled with small-minded selfishness and the other is one saturated with the transforming love and grace of Jesus. The mind-sets of ‘self’ and ‘others’ collide. As believers we are fundamentally subjects of only one Kingdom butContinue reading “We’re All Changing: ‘I want’ to ‘they need’”
Just As You Are
Hello Blogg (ers)! I have been having a rest from blogging over the last year – it has been a good break. One of the main themes of all my prayers is the on-going ask that Paul had that the Father would grant a Spirit of wisdom and revelation to the NT (Ephesians 1:17) churchContinue reading “Just As You Are”
Adopted! Romans 8:14-16
The Holy Spirit of adoption compared with the spirit of slavery. It’s like the difference between sitting on your Dad’s knee eating a Werthers Original compared to being trapped hopelessly in a child slavery camp: Loved unconditionally, understood, empowered, protected, believed-in, rescued, highly esteemed and cherished, pleasing. Compared to being over-worked, under-fed, beaten, abused, exposed,Continue reading “Adopted! Romans 8:14-16”
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