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What the deal with Old Testament slavery? (part 2)
SLAVERY – A HUMAN ‘INSTITUTION’ IN A HARD WORLD In my first post on slavery in the Old Testament I pointed out that slavery – particularly in the ancient Near East (ANE) – has been around for a very long time. It was essentially a human ‘institution’, predating written human records [13]. Africa and Mesopotamia… Continue reading
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What’s the deal with Old Testament slavery? (part 1)
I recently stuck my oversized nose into the comments section of a Facebook post by historian and social commentator Stephen Chavura. He had reposted an article about ‘wokeism’ from a Christian perspective, and it drew the following response from a chap named Marcus: According to Marcus, both “Wokeism” and Christianity are inconsistent, incoherent, and unfit… Continue reading
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Deliverance – a Puritan prayer
” O God of unsearchable greatness,Before thee I am nothing but vanity, iniquity, perishing;Sin has forfeited thy favour,stripped me of thy image,banished me from they presence,exposed me to the curse of thy law; I cannot deliver myself, and am in despair.But a resource is found in thee,for without my desert or desirethou didst devise an… Continue reading
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Christians make the news in Tasmania
A Christian group in Tasmania (that big island at the bottom of Australia) have made the news for ‘throwing their weight’ behind renewable energy. You can find the news story here. Basically, this Christian group has bought a large chunk of land (including an old virtually uninhabited town), and there’s a chance that someone might give… Continue reading
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O Come, All You UNFAITHFUL?
I recently attended a community carols night hosted by a local church. It was, in many ways, a wonderful night. It had everything – free food, activities for the kids, sparkly lights, well-rehearsed skits, children dressed as angels, Christ-focused carols, and a gospel message. It was very well done. There were many carols sung (all… Continue reading
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In Praise of Solid Folk – a poem by C. S. Lewis
Thank God that there are solid folk Who water flowers and roll the lawn, And sit and sew and talk and smoke, And snore all through the summer dawn. Who pass untroubled nights and days Full-fed and sleepily content, Rejoicing in each other’s praise, Respectable and innocent. Who feel the things that all men feel,… Continue reading
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De-creation language: it’s not the end of the world
There are a few parts of the New Testament which contain dramatic language about divine judgement resulting in what appears to be a cataclysmic end to the world, or even the solar system. Some of these passages include Matthew 24-25, 2 Peter 3, and lots of passages in the book of Revelation. If you’re not… Continue reading
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A Hymn – a poem by G. K. Chesterton
O God of earth and altar,Bow down and hear our cry,Our earthly rulers falter,Our people drift and die;The walls of gold entomb us,The swords of scorn divide,Take not thy thunder from us,But take away our pride. From all that terror teaches,From lies of tongue and pen,From all the easy speechesThat comfort cruel men,From sale and… Continue reading
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The four governments
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. (Psalm 24:1-2; NIV) Like it or not, the powerful, personal, triune Creator God of the Bible is in charge of his universe. This world and everything in it are his.… Continue reading
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The role of the children of believing families in Paul’s letters: the presumption of inclusion (pt. 3)
I’m finishing my little mini-series thinking about Paul’s view of the inclusion of children (of believers) in the New Covenant church. To wrap up these few, scattered thoughts, here’s a lengthy quote from Robert L. Reymond’s wonderful A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith. He talks about the vital importance of including children in… Continue reading
spes clara 