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: From Theodicy to Theophany…
Today’s Refresh clearly wins the prize for “Most obscure blog title in 2022”. Sorry about that! But the journey it discusses is important, perhaps even liberating. I hope you find it helpful. This was first posted on 13 Feb 2022. Refresh: From Theodicy to Theophany Ok, I admit the title of this post is not exactly catchy! But you are still reading, so let me quickly say why I think it matters. You probably know people who have suffered greatly – perhaps you are one of them. All suffering is hard to watch, but it is especially devastating when it seems to be senseless...
Read MoreOur Many Coloured Days: On the Brown, Grey and Purple Ones…
I imagine that many of my readers are Dr Seuss fans. What’s not to like about him, green eggs and ham, the Grinch, and all the rest we are introduced to in Theodor Geisel’s wonderful world? Among my favourites are My Many Coloured Days, which attaches a colour to the different moods we encounter in life, with the liberating conclusion that whatever the colour of a particular day, “it turns out all right you see… and I go back to being ME.” In Dr Seuss’s world, some days are red, “On bright red days how good it feels, To be a horse and kick my...
Read MoreOn waiting for surgery at the end of the year…
If anyone asks for a wise word at the start of a year, here is one you might like to pass along. If you’re going to get sick, don’t do it between Christmas and New Year. I’ve made the mistake of doing so, and oh my, it has been frustrating. In my last blog I indicated that I was hurriedly finishing off the post before having surgery for a hernia repair, and here I am 3 and a half days later, still waiting, though ready to be wheeled through for surgery should an opening come up. Let me fill you in a little more. On Boxing Day I woke to notice a significant swelling that...
Read MoreStory or Plot: On Christmas and Purpose…
EM Foster wisely noted the difference between a story and a plot. “The king died and then the queen died” is a story. It’s a chronological sequence of events. However, it becomes a plot if you add two words, “The king died and then the queen died of grief.” Plot suggests cause and effect. A plot introduces a purpose, a because. It makes a story interesting and draws us in. “So what?” you ask – and fair enough. Too many of us are living stories without plots – lives that have no essential “because” or purpose. They are just a...
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