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The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it” – Brother Lawrence You can feel God in the kitchen. You can sense the Lord at work. You can know the presence of Jesus in menial chores. This was the message of Brother Lawrence, a peasant soldier who became a monk in seventeenth century France. Through patience, Lawrence learnt to still his mind and focus on God’s presence in all his dealings. He struggled at first with tedious chores in the monastery; travelling into the village for goods,…
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There’s No Condemnation In Christ Jesus
Satan uses condemnation to keep you afraid. He reminds you of the past – your mistakes, sins and mishaps. He accuses you of being foolish, spiritually immature, sinful and stupid. He wants to shame you into inaction, to lock you into yourself, afraid to act. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit – Romans 8:1 As Satan is the father of lies, you can flip everything he’s saying to you. When he says, “I can’t believe you did that, you wicked sinner,” you can flip the lie into the truth. “I thank God…
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Biblical Archaeology – Has Jesus’ Tomb Been Identified?
Twenty years have passed since I entered the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. It’s a remarkable place and I recommend all to visit it, if in Jerusalem. Only the Garden Tomb provides believers with the experience and vistas, familiar to the disciples. But is it the actual place of Christ’s resurrection? Extensive research found the tomb dates to several centuries before Jesus’ life, along with other Iron Age tombs in the area. Sadly, this excludes the Garden Tomb as Jesus’ tomb, because the Bible says they placed Jesus’ body inside a newly cut tomb (Matthew 27:60). Also, the cistern in the garden bears the marks of crusader technology, nullifying hope of…
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Can we Trust Scientists? Is Pseudoscience the New Science? Theories Masquerading as Facts: Who do you Believe?
In some quarters faith in science has become a religion. Christianity is not anti-science; it’s self-evident many of the Founding Fathers of modern science were practising Christians or ministers. They sought God’s handiwork in discovery. The coronavirus vaccines today prove science still has much to offer humanity, as we use the abilities given to us by God. Professor John Lennox once said, “Either human intelligence ultimately owes its origin to mindless matter; or there is a Creator. It is strange that some people claim that it is their intelligence that leads them to prefer the first to the second.” He adds, “I submit that, far from science having buried God,…
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Peace of Mind – Think About What You Think About
When was the last time you thought about, what your mind thinks about? Thoughts drop into our mind at all times and we must learn the habit of choosing what we think about. The person who controls your thoughts will ultimately control you. If you wake up and allow any concept to dominate your mind, someone else is taking charge of your destiny. We can allow the world, the flesh or the devil to control our thought life. Alternatively, we can allow the Holy Spirit, the Word of God or our will to channel what our mind dwells on. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from…
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Christianity & Architecture: Big Ben, the Bible & the Elizabeth Tower
Big Ben is the most recognised timepiece in the world. The Clock Tower known throughout the nations by its crowd-pleasing name Big Ben derides from the Great Bell. It resides at the north end of the Palace of Westminster and at its heart are some intriguing Christian themes. My journey to Big Ben begins at Portcullis House. Once through the security checks, I walk into the majestic light-filled atrium of Portcullis House, looking for a glimpse of the prime minister. I head down to the tunnel which connects the new building with the Victorian Houses of Parliament. Walking underneath Bridge Street, I turn left and enter a small doorway to…
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Comparison Kills Your Joy
You will never do as well, as your imagination tells you others are doing. In our mind, we create an invented world of perfection for others. They have the best relationships, income and position of influence. We compare the full reality of our lives to the imagined perfection of another. It disappoints us. Your real life can never match to the dream world you believe others are living. You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s – Exodus 20:17 Comparison is a mistake. Comparison kills joy. When…
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Christianity and Art: The Royal Collection & the Faith of Queen Elizabeth II
Before the printing press and education made the Bible available to all, believers used their eyes and imagination to attempt to understand God. There was a danger of idolatry, which the Reformation sought to address, yet some paintings read like the pages of a book. On the 13 September 1940, a German bombing raid hit the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace, London. From the charred remains, the Duke of Edinburgh decided to convert the Chapel into an art gallery and display elements of the Royal Collection. I have been privileged to view the Queen’s masterpieces in several exhibitions in the Queen’s Gallery, and at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and at…
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Father Christmas and Saint Nicholas: Discover the Gift Giver who Inspired the Legend of Santa Claus
Before he was called a Saint, Nicholas was an orphan who inherited great wealth from his family. Born in modern-day Turkey in AD c.280, he was raised as a Christian during times of persecution and believed he could use his wealth to help the needy. Cautious of the Lord Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6 to give with a pure heart, he gained a reputation for secret giving. What precisely took place is unknown, but legend states he once heard of a poor man whose daughters could be sold into prostitution. To save them from destitution, he put money into a bag and threw it into their home at night and…
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The Revelation TV Story: Hey Howie, Howard Conder & Gordon Pettie
The sixties changed everything. The Beatles burst into a world gasping for breath, from an age of post-war bleak austerity. It was all just a laugh to begin with. Partying replaced serious life choices. Promiscuity shunned commitment and responsibility. Consumerism hypnotised the soul. “God is,” they said, “a myth.” Into this world a young Howard Conder made his mark, playing the drums for big bands and taking home a packet of money. Soon he drove a Rolls Royce, hung out with his mate David Bowie and Eric Clapton greeted him by name. Howard played gigs with the revered celebrities of this ‘golden age’ of the sixties revolution and he passed…
