Towards a Theology of Personal Development (4): Because the Body is a Temple…
It’s interesting how some Bible verses get emphasised in one era, are then almost forgotten about in the next, before making a bit of a comeback. 1 Cor 6:19-20 fits into this category: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.” The immediate context is a discussion on sexual immorality, but shortly before Paul was working with a wider canvas that also included theft, greediness, drunkenness, cheating and gossip (v10)....
Read MoreRefresh: When Faith is a Quest…
I’ve met several people who have said words to the effect of: “I would really like to believe, it’s just that I don’t. And even with the best will in the world, that doesn’t seem likely to change. I have so many questions that seem to annoy those who believe. I find people of faith often lack curiosity. But that’s the catch for me. I’m very curious. And I love asking questions. And in the end it seems that I’m just irritating to believers, so I’ve backed away.” This refresh post from Dec 2022 looks at this question. Perhaps in some...
Read MoreTowards a Theology of Personal Development (3): 7 Pointers to Shaping Words as Gifts
As a child I often heard the ditty, “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never harm you.” Much as I loved my childhood, this was an untruth I have had to recognise. Far closer to reality is a sign I saw in military barracks where the Sergeant Major had above his desk, “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will kill you!” He also had a philosophy that you shouldn’t say something if you could shout it, and though not all were slaughtered by his words, many were deafened! The power of words is forcefully affirmed in the opening...
Read MoreRefresh: Unbusy, Subversive and Apocalyptic – Three Big Eugene Peterson Words…
I can never get enough of Eugene Peterson, so this post was always going to make it to the Refresh page. Perhaps you can shape some time to explore how subversive you could be by being unbusy enough to listen to and notice others… Refresh: Unbusy, Subversive, Apocalyptic – Three Big Eugene Peterson Words One of the joys of teaching theology is that I get to engage with many student projects. Some remind me of things I have forgotten, others introduce me to ideas I have not previously considered. At present I am supervising a project which highlights the importance of the work of...
Read MoreTowards a Theology of Personal Development (2): Watching our Thoughts
Ever been lost in thought and had someone ask, “A penny for your thoughts”? Ok, realistically anyone under 60 is not likely to express it this way, but they might well ask, “You look lost in thought. What’s on your mind?” It can be a confronting question. After all, our thoughts are private, and even if we answer the query, we’re likely to edit it a little. I remember once reading that someone was working on a gadget that would give you the ability to know exactly what others are thinking, and my response was “well that’s a fast way to ensure...
Read More