Tag Archives: faith

Paradise: Why Remona Aly’s Heaven is Nowhere Near Good Enough 

Before reading, CLICK HERE & listen to Remona’s 2 minute feature on Chris Evan’s Radio 2 Pause for Thought from earlier this week. Start at 2:50 hours.  This week’s blog is indebted to a good friend who wrote to me requesting that I have a listen to Remona’s view of spirituality in the radio show,Continue reading “Paradise: Why Remona Aly’s Heaven is Nowhere Near Good Enough “

How We Have Fallen

What would dear Horatius have written had he lived in 2017? We’ll chat one day. ______________________________________ “Man is now thinking out a Bible for himself; framing a religion in harmony with the development of liberal thought; constructing a worship on the principles of taste and culture; shaping a god to suit the expanding aspirations ofContinue reading “How We Have Fallen”

The Miracle of Soft-Heartedness: Escaping Our Hate

There isn’t a greater healing possible than that of the human heart. Not a healing from angina, leaky valve problems, left ventricular hypertrophy or some other kind of disease, but healing from the unbelieving, human spirit condition of hard-heartedness, common to us all.

Exercising an Exorcising Faith 

I love thinking about Jesus. Because  His name is inextricably linked with infinite, creative power, even my thoughts about Him hold potential to change my heart. Indeed, the epic hymn Be Thy My Vision exclaims, Thou my best Thought, by day or by night… So, settling down with the Bible in hand and regularly spending timeContinue reading “Exercising an Exorcising Faith “

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 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”

The Apprentice: I Genuinely Believe

I’m sure a lot of us are looking forward to this coming Sunday and the final of the twelfth series of Lord Sugar’s The Apprentice. I for one am going to be genuinely nervous for young Courtney as he attempts to string four or five words together before his buffering kicks in like a pre-broadbandContinue reading “The Apprentice: I Genuinely Believe”