So, it was supposed to be the end of the world today. Was I nervous? Yes, I was a little. I know that the Bible says that nobody knows the time or the date of the return of Christ but I have to admit I was a little nervous. The reason is simple. I know that I am not right with Christ. He and I still have some issues to sort out. Well, I do, he doesn't. This scares me because I want to be right with him but I simply cannot seem to be. There are lots of people trying to help me with this and I thank God for them all. There are people praying and people giving me some great advice but I cannot seem to sort it out. Simple thing is, I seem pathologically unable to calm my mind down enough to sit, read the Bible and pray about it. I try all sort of things to organise myself but I have never been able to manage it. I have something else to do now so I will have to stop writing this post. I will try and edit it later ...

It has been a while since I posted and I wonder why? This is traditional for me. I get involved in something and then I lose interest. I have also been very busy and that shouldn't be an excuse. I feel a little far from God at the minute. Even thinking of the question 'who moved?' makes me cringe given that it once came from someone whom I no longer count as a friend. Church is difficult to get to, Bible reading is non existent and I just cannot seem to hear God. I am very stressed about work and the whole moving thing. It seems that civil servants are not the best people in the world to keep me stress free. However, this morning, for the first time in a while I felt led to read the Bible. I am trying to use a one year Bible and this morning's readings included Psalm 34. Now this is a psalm which I don't know well apart from verse 8. Taste and See that the Lord is good. This is a verse that helped bring me back to God once before. At the height of my rebellion against Him, I tried Spring Harvest again but wasn't really in the mood. I thought I would read the Bible one last time and amazingly there was nothing. Not a jot of inspiration. Zip. Nada. Zilch. I went back into the camp and went to the loo. There I put my Bible on the side to wash my hands and dropped the Bible. Out fell a note with 'Taste and see that the Lord is good' on it and I knew that I should go back to the worship and let God work in His own time. What a wonderful thing that was. Never have I felt so close to God, never have I known His love and forgiveness so much as then. So I feel better this morning. I feel that trusting God may work and that housegroup tonight will be something special. I can even cope with hobbling around because I lost the heel from one of my shoes on the way to work this morning ...

Something that has been on my mind to write about for a while is Harry Potter. I realise that this is a childlike topic but bear with me.

I love the books, ever since I picked one up in the first school I was teaching at. I saw kids reading it and they were engrossed. For the last few, I did get them on the first day and I even queued at midnight for the very last one. Problem is, many people dislike them. Christians I know and love dislike them. I would dearly love to read them to my child but some people would be unhappy about that.

Are they unchristian? Ultimately they are a battle between good and evil and good wins out. The characters learn that the evil ways may sometimes prosper (quite realistic I think) but ultimately they are futile. Whilst there is no God figure in the books (no matter what some people say about Dumbledore, he is not a God) there is an ultimate victory.

Where we fall down though is that there is magic. Does the world of Harry Potter encourage people (young people of course) to dabble in the dark arts? Personally I don't think it does. How could it? The spells are not real. We cannot get wands, we cannot find the real platform 9 3/4 and we do not have a school like Hogwarts. Why then do some people get so stressed about it?

I don't know. I shall have to read them again to see if I missed anything ...

I am thinking of writing a short book on apologetics. I know there are lots out there and that the formula is easy - here is a difficult question, here is how to answer it but I am hoping that I can add a few stories and anecdotes. I'd also like to include some of the different ways in which the Bible helps with these points. Please pray that it goes well, some of my other projects really never seem to get off the ground.

Here is another tune that I enjoy listening to. It is not by a Christian artist (although I am sure the author of the piece the film is based on was), it still has a wonderful way of making me think about God.

Non nobis domine is a latin term taken from psalm 115:1. In Latin it reads Non nobis, Non nobis domino,Sed nomini tuo da gloriam. This translates (thank you Wikipedia!) into, not to us, not to us lord, but to your name give glory.

It makes me wonder about the times I have done things and been proud. I rarely give the glory to God. In fact I think I almost never do. I wish I was so willing to accept the 'glory' when things have gone wrong.

Here is the section from Henry V with Sir Kenneth Brannagh. Enjoy

Forbidden Fruit

Had a really good Bible Study yesterday with the Monday Group. We looked at the issue of suffering and where it came from.

What struck me was the verse in genesis where God forbids Adam and Eve from eating the fruit. You know, where he is cruel and puts a dangerous fruit in the Garden. The thing is, this is not true. He does not forbid it. They are told they can eat from any tree. He does warn them that if they eat from the tree in the middle of the Garden, they will die.

So it would seem that original sin is the sin of not following God’s plan. He knew what was best for the two of them and they ignored that, preferring instead to choose their own way.

We got to thinking about how most of the laws are never ones that say you cannot, they are almost all about you should not. Consequences are set out and we can choose to do what we want.

I wish I chose the right thing more often

Here is another song that I simply adore listening to. The lyrics are amazing and I think that they really do speak to me out of the ages. The simplicity of their message is wonderful but as you can see with this version from Robin Mark, there is a modern place for it

I shall start to publish a list of songs that I am enjoying listening to at the minute. Here is one by Chris Tomlin called God of this City





I enjoy the song a lot. It makes me think about how God is indeed Lord but it gives me a sense that there is more to do. It is something that makes me think about the ways in which we need to be more missional.

I have been praying a little more lately, not as often as I should but more than I had done for a while. DW (Darling Wife) and I are praying again together but it seems to be when we need things. I wonder if god truly does mind.

The shopping list thing is difficult at times for me as I find the urge to pray when I need something or someone is ill. Dad was ill yesterday as was DW who needed some urgent attention to her foot. A friend of ours is very ill and we are praying for him. In fact I shall break for a moment. Just prayed for him again.

I have yet to find a satisfactory way of praying. A way that is satisfactory to me that is.

I've tried ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication, for those who've never done the Alpha Course) and I've tried teaspoon (TSP - Thank You, Sorry, Please). I have even tried what Jesus suggested (how innovative) when he talks about prayer in the gospels. I cannot seem to get into a regular pattern.

I wonder how people would view me if I were to try the rosary. I mentioned this the other day to a wonderfully ardent Christian young lady who practically threw the bible at me for suggesting such a thing. Yet, I do not know. My worship of God is sadly lacking in terms of experiences that could be described as Catholic. I have never worshipped in a Catholic service and I think perhaps I should.

Would that prayer was as easy as it appears with other faiths. Are Muslims more ardent or is organised corporate prayer the way to go?

I guess I shall have to pray on it!

Malachi 3:6 was helpful today when I was praying for my sick friend. The God who loved him yesterday will do so tomorrow and does so today. Wonderfully enough, I was listening to Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicky Beeching when I finished that prayer.

I suppose the time has come to address this issue. It is very much in the news today and the internet has basically exploded in Britain. The Church of England has set out its response to the government's 'consultation' (the inverted commas will be explained in a minute). Predictably they have said that marriage should be between one man and one woman and this is flying in the face of all intelligent opinion (source BBC, Guardian, Independent et al)and they are being bigoted and homophobic.

Now, I do not have a massive opinion on this and quite frankly, I don't think it is that important. The gospels don't cover it and I genuinely think that homosexuality is no more an important issue to the church than any other social issue. However, I do think that marriage is important. I do think that it should be between one man and one woman. Aware, as I am, of the hypocrisy of this coming from me, I know that this is the ideal that God has set out and we should try to live up to it.

I honestly have no problem with gay men and women being in a committed relationship and I wish them well. It is not something that I would do but who am I to judge? What really makes me think though is that they already have all the legal rights of marriage so why change the law. Moreover the government is calling this a consultation but they are not asking for opinions about if we should change the law. Rather it is about how to change the law. This I suppose is the crux of my opposition. If they were asking people whether to change the law or not I might be happier.

I think the church is missing a trick here. We need to show love to all people. We need to show people that we are no better than them and this is an issue that needs to be dealt with kindly and gently.

Nothing has hurt me more as a Christian than someone saying 'I can't become a Christian because you hate gay people and I have gay friends'. What witness had she had? I think it is atrocious that people who are gay feel that we hate them. I don't. I have an ideal that I think we should live up to but that is something I might be wrong on.

I shall think some more and maybe blog about it later.

An excellent study last night. We looked at whether or not you can trust the NT. It was nice to be able to talk about such things and see the people I was studying with start to get a better understanding. I even produced an iBook for the study, I think I may use that format a bit more as well. Next week, suffering...

I have my topic to teach for the interview next week. Crickey is it boring. So boring, I haven't taught it in years I think that I need to pray about this interview and try to trust God this time. He will guide me I think. I hope he does give me the words. Rather I hope I am able to hear those words. I don't have a great track record though. Perhaps I should start praying now …

Finally have the internet at home now so I hope to be doing more posting in the next few weeks. I shall have a think and a pray about the next series of posts.

I wonder what God wants for me sometimes. I joke with myself that as a teacher I ran away from the ministry. I think I did seriously consider that whilst at university but was it really an option for me? I don't know. What I do know is that, despite my protestations, I am a very good teacher (not in terms of marking etc, never been my cup of tea that) who can deliver outstanding lessons and inspire kids. I hate being a teacher. I want to do something else but what? I have asked God about it and all I get is either silence or a feeling that teaching is for me. Well, I have a job interview next week, trying to get some career development going. Please pray that it goes well. It would be great for the family to move into a more rural area and I think there are some wonderful churches there too. that alone would be a great reason to go as I do need a spiritual kick up the backside. Please Lord?

This is an interesting sentiment. I am currently working on a piece of writing about this. I hope I get it finished soon.

Here is something I found today on christiantoday.com. I thought it was interesting to see it. Having looked online since, it seems as if Carey is being attacked. Particularly the national Secular Society who constantly belittle any Christian who dares complain. They have their right to pass on their world view whilst totally condemning any who dare have a religious world view. Sadly our mainstream media (particularly the BBC) are so dominated by the secularists. Maybe Carey does go too far but perhaps it really is the tip of the iceberg …

The former Archbishop of Canterbury has hit out at what he sees as the vilification of Christians in Britain.

In a submission to the European Court of Human Rights, Lord Carey said that Christians are being "vilified" by the state and face being sacked for their faith.

His appeal was made in connection to the cases of four British Christians who have experienced disciplinary action in the workplace for expressing their faith.

Two of the cases relate to wearing the cross at work.

In the submission seen by the Daily Telegraph, Lord Carey said there was a "drive to remove Judaeo-Christian values from the public square" and that some believers were being treated as "bigots".

"In a country where Christians can be sacked for manifesting their faith, are vilified by State bodies, are in fear of reprisal or even arrest for expressing their views on sexual ethics, something is very wrong," he said.

"It affects the moral and ethical compass of the United Kingdom. Christians are excluded from many sectors of employment simply because of their beliefs; beliefs which are not contrary to the public good."

He goes on to argue that the rulings in recent court cases involving Christians who tried to manifest their faith have left religious freedom without "any substantive effect" in Britain.

"It is now Christians who are persecuted; often sought out and framed by homosexual activists," he said.

"Christians are driven underground. There appears to be a clear animus to the Christian faith and to Judaeo-Christian values. Clearly the courts of the United Kingdom require guidance."

This is something that I have had worries about for a long time. I am the only Christian in my family. Or at least I think I am. My family aren't heathens but they are definitely not Christians.

There are several problems that I have. Firstly I have family members who are constantly going 'Jesus' this and 'Christ' that. Really bugs me and Mrs. Christianman. Secondly when I am with them I find it harder to act in a Christian manner. Thirdly I'm scared about doing it, you know, sharing the gospel.

Found a post online which gave some advice which I will précis here.

Start with prayer. Pray before and pray after. Sometimes I forget to do this and it's like I'm deliberately leaving God out of it. Only He can ever convince someone. I need to remember this.

Of course it helps to have a good sound knowledge of the Gospel. This is difficult for some people. I'd say that it comes down to this: Christ died for our sins and he rose again from the dead to show us the way to heaven. This is summed up in 1 Corinthians 15 1-4

Thing is though, this doesn't make much sense sometimes. The concept of sin is a strange one. They've lived ok lives after all. Perhaps it's better to go with the four points. God loves us, we have all made mistakes, Christ died to pay the price for those mistakes so what are we gonna do about that? I tend to tell why I believe rather than anything else. Not very successful though.

So what about sharing then?

Well don't cram it down their throats. We have to be sensitive and realise that even Jesus had difficulties persuading his family. They never believed him and I wonder if that hurt. It's important to be loving. Sharing the gospel needs more than words sometimes and being rude just isn't good enough.

We also have to be prepared for failure. God may not have us in mind for evangelising our family. We need to trust Him and let Him lead. Remember that ultimately it's up to them how they respond to the gospel.

Finally we just have to relax and not worry. God is wonderful and He will give everyone an opportunity and even if we are that opportunity and we mess it up, God is bigger than us and He won't mess up.

One final word, here is something that tells us how we can be saved -

Romans 10:9-11
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. "

I try to stay away from controversial topics as I know how hard it is to be a Christian and loving when one wants to shout at our leaders.

However, I am becoming increasingly disillusioned with our leaders. David Cameron professes that Britain is a Christian country and that we should be proud of our faith. Yet his government is telling the courts that there is no right to wear the cross. Apparently it is not a general requirement of the faith. Neither is a burka or a niqab. I think that he really needs to think about this more.

Moreover, there is his relentless drive to push through marriage reform. I'm not commenting here about this but there is a total disregard for over 400,000 people who have signed a petition against it.

What really rankled was his weak speech about Easter.

Here it is

As you know, we have receptions here for Diwali, for Eid, for Jewish New Year, and I think it is right and it is proper in a Christian country to celebrate this – the most important of the Christian festivals, Easter – right here in Downing Street. So I’m very proud to have brought together such a prominent group of Christians in so many different walks of life, so many different charities, so many different churches. I think it’s a great event that we have it and I’m proud to hold it again. And it is, as I said, we obviously spend a lot of time celebrating Christmas and thinking about Christmas, but actually, really, Easter in many ways is the one that counts. Even those of us who sometimes struggle with some parts of the message – the idea of resurrection, of a living God, of someone who’s still with us – is fantastically important even if you sometimes, as I do, struggle over some of the details. It’s a very important message. It’s a message of hope.

What I wanted to say to you today, really, I think I’ve got three points, one plea and two challenges, if that’s all right. The three points are these: the first thing is: I think there is something of a Christian fight-back going on in Britain and I think that’s a thoroughly good thing. I think you could see it in the enormous reception of the Pope’s visit; I think you could see it with the successful return visit that Sayeeda Warsi led. I think you can see it, actually, in the reception to Sayeeda’s superb speeches about standing up for faith and celebrating faith and, as she so famously put it, actually doing God in Britain. So I think you can see it in those things. I think you could also see it in the very happy celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. I think that was another event that helped in this Christian fight-back, and I think there have been one or two good examples of the Christian fight-back as a thoroughly good thing: the fact that we’ve had that argument and won that argument over Bideford Council and the fact that if councils want to say prayers before council meetings they should. We do in the House of Commons, why on earth shouldn’t local councils do that as well? I think we see the fight-back in this very strong stance that I’ve taken and others have taken in terms of the right to wear a crucifix. I think this is important. People should be able to express their faith, and so I think there’s something of a fight-back going on and I think we should welcome that.

The second point I want to make is: I hope that the fight-back will be based around values more than anything else. I think that we have lots of things going for us as a country, all sorts of difficulties and challenges, but the greatest need we have in our country is to have strong values and to teach our children and to bring people up with strong values. The values of the Bible, the values of Christianity are the values that we need – values of compassion, of respect, of responsibility, of tolerance. Now, I’ve made this argument many times that you don’t have to be a Christian or you don’t have to adhere to another religion to have strong values, to believe in strong values or to pass those values on to your children, but the point I always make is that it helps. We’re always trying to tell our children not to be selfish, but is there a better way of putting it than ‘love thy neighbour’? We’re always telling our children to be tolerant – I know I am, and often a fat lot of good it does me – but is there a better way of explaining tolerance than saying, ‘do to others as you would be done by’? It’s the simplest encapsulation of an absolutely vital value and the Christian church and the teaching of the Bible has put it so clearly. We’re always telling our children that they must make the most of what they have; they must not waste what they have been given, and is there a better way of putting that than ‘don’t hide your light under a bushel, make the most of your talents’? So I think that Christian teaching can help us to have the strong values that we need as a country and we should be celebrating that and shouting about that.

The third point I want to make, and I think this is part of the Christian fight-back, is we should be very proud of the institutions that the churches in Britain support. I think, particularly in an age where we’re really making some progress on improving levels of attainment in school, we should celebrate the link there is between churches and schools, and indeed between mosques and schools and synagogues and schools. Faith has a huge amount to bring not just to our national life in terms of values; it has a huge amount to bring in terms of strengthening our institutions and I think it’s a good time to celebrate that.

Now my plea: my plea is that I hope that in spite of the disagreements and the arguments we will undoubtedly have, the plea is that I hope we don’t all fall out too much over the issue of gay marriage. Let me just make this point. What the government is consulting over is a change to civil marriage, to what happens at the registry office. It’s not consulting over what happens in the church. I’ll just make this point, which is that inevitably there’s a consultation, inevitably there will at some stage be a vote and inevitably there’ll be some quite strong arguments between now and then, and there’ll be some strong words used. But I hope we can keep the strength of the language at a reasonable level and that goes for both the proponents of gay marriage and indeed the opponents of gay marriage.

The point I’d make is this: if this does go ahead it will change what happens in a registry office; it will not change what happens in a church. If this doesn’t go ahead, to those of us who’d like it to go ahead, there will still be civil partnerships, so gay people will be able to form a partnership that gives them many of the advantages of marriage. So I hope we can just keep the debate at a rational and sensible level, but on the basis that we’re not always going to agree. That was my plea.

Now let me go to my two challenges. The two challenges are these. The first one is overseas and the second one is at home. The one overseas is this: I think there’s huge potential for what I call and what others call the Arab Spring and the growth of democracy in the Middle East, but there’s also an enormous danger in terms of the persecution of minorities and particularly the persecution of Christians. Now, Britain is fully engaged in the world; we have the second largest aid budget of any country in the world. We’re one of the few countries keeping our promise to spend 0.7% of GDP on aid, and we do have real influence, real heft in these countries. I think there’s a really important moment, and this is the challenge, is for the churches and Christians to work together with government on agendas to persuade these newly democratising countries not to persecute minorities and to respect Christians the world over and the right to practise your religion.

The domestic challenge is, and you’d be surprised if I didn’t bring it up, the issue of the Big Society. I think there is enormous potential in churches and faith-based organisations to tackle some of the deepest problems we have in our society, whether it is educational and under-attainment, whether it is homelessness, whether it is mental health. Just wandering around the room chatting to some of you, I was talking to a lady who runs very important residential clinics for young people who have been self-harming or indeed have eating disorders – a classic example of someone of faith who has a great belief in wanting to do good, in wanting to change the world and we should be encourage those faith-based organisations into the solving of social problems.

Tomorrow I am going to be going to the City of London, not to make a speech about the importance of the City raising finance for business, but on the importance of the City raising finance for society. Big Society capital in effect with the Big Society Bank is going to make money available so that organisations, that social entrepreneurs in this room can take that money and expand their social enterprise to cover different parts of the country or to make it bigger to solve bigger problems, to take on bigger challenges. This is an agenda that I think is vital for the future of our country; it’s one that I’m passionate about, but I think it gives the biggest possible opportunity for churches up and down the country to have a real social mission as well as having a moral, religious and a spiritual mission. I think it’s a great opportunity for faith to show its power to move mankind, to move mountains, to get things done.

Several points here: firstly Easter (in a Christian Country) is apparently equal to Eid and Diwali etc, secondly there is a problem with the Resurrection and thirdly there will absolutely be nothing changing with marriage in a church.

My responses to these are:

No it is not the same. Easter is not a festival. It is a time of remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus, it is the central part of our faith. How dare the government treat it like it is an off the shelf festival. It is right and proper? Of course it is.

Problem with the resurrection? What problem? He considers himself to be a Christian and he has a problem with the resurrection. He isn't a Christian then. It's in the Nicene Creed and it is crucial. As a seperate point, I heard Robert Pigott the BBC religion correspondent say on Easter Sunday (I will say it again, on EASTER SUNDAY!)that the resurrection is an awkward belief. Can you imagine him saying something about Shabbat or Hajj like that? I did complain to the BBC but I guarantee they will ignore it.

Only in a registry office? Ok, I shall wait and see. I bet that this is wrong. At best he is misguided and at worst he is lying. Will priests who refuse to carry out gay marriages be forced to go to prison when they don't pay their fines? That'll be something to see.

I wonder what I shall be helping our little daughter buy this year. She should have been born that day but instead came a couple of weeks early. I have to buy two mothers' day presents this year and I am so looking forward to it.

What do I get though? Flowers seem nice and the Mrs does like her flowers. Bit passe though. Same with chocolates. Maybe something for the wife to do with her spare time (not that she has much of that these days).

I shall have a think

I haven't done many of these lately. I do like them though. They quite effectively highlight the key messages of the passages. Here is Philippians. It is probably my favourite book I would say. I love chapter 1 verse 6 and I love the joy with which Paul conveys his message. What do you think?

I wonder what it is about this picture that makes me feel as it does. In and of itself it is a silly picture. It's nice. Christ didn't die in a nice way though. He died in agony on a cross that had been used before and was probably used after. It was hot and ugly and painful.

Yet here we have a picture that moves me beyond belief. Perhaps it is because I don't know where this cross is. It's unique and it's about me. I know what Jesus did and this allows me to focus on it. This cross says to me that Christ died for me. It also says that this cross is empty and that it should have been me.

That's not to say that it makes me unhappy, far from it. This picture makes me so happy because I know that I will never be there. Christ has done it once and for all. It's a wonderful feeling.

Saul's conversion is a strange phenomenon. He is converted once and yet it is in Acts three times. It is part of the pivotal point of the book of Acts, chapters 9, 10 and 11 are of paramount importance in the history of the church. Saul is converted, Peter falls asleep and has a dream and the Holy Spirit comes at the house of Cornelius.

Pentecost is the birth of the church according to tradition but I would argue that this is not the case. Up until the conversion of Saul and Cornelius I think that the believers thought of themselves as Jews and Jews only. There is nothing wrong with this, I think that being Jewish is wonderful and I wish I were Jewish. However, following on from this point in the story it is all about the growth of the number of gentile believers.

Another interesting part about the experience is that we see much more of Ananias' struggle with God about whether or not to go to Saul than we do the conversion. Life, as a Christian, is not about the conversion moment; it's about what happens after. That is something I think is rather scary.

Yes I know that the deathbed conversion is ok and there isn't much to be done after that but I was converted at University and I am beginning to wonder what it is that I should be doing. Or more accurately, what should I not be doing?

Well what an exciting week. It turns out that the baby growing in my wife’s belly was a girl. Exactly a week ago little Naomi Iris was born. It was a traumatic experience for the Mrs though. She was sent into hospital with pre-eclampsia. The first hospital (more on that later) saw her and admitted her for an induction. This was on Saturday. On Sunday they began the process and by Monday morning she was ready for her waters to be broken. We had to wait. And wait. And wait. 36 hours later we hadn’t moved so we asked to go to another hospital. We got there and the next morning they discovered that the baby was breech!

All those people who had been praying for swiftness were mercifully ignored by God. He knew we needed to be in the right hospital at the right time. Thank you Lord for helping bring Naomi to us.

I have, as is usual, been an idiot in so many ways. I got grumpy and annoying and so tired. Why does God (and Mrs Christianman) put up with me? I don’t think I will ever really understand that.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons[a]:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,[e] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Thanks for Their Gifts
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen

Some very interesting things to think about when it comes to the conversion of Saul, things I'd never noticed before.


(1) There is considerable emphasis given to Saul’s conversion in the Book of Acts. To put it differently, the account of Saul’s conversion in Acts 9 is but the first of three accounts, the other two coming from the lips of Paul himself.

(2) While there is considerable emphasis on the conversion of Saul, there is very little detail given as to the precise time or the details of Saul’s conversion. We do not know the exact time when Saul was saved. It would seem not to be there on the road to Damascus. Here, Saul was only told that it was Jesus whom he saw, who was speaking to him, and whom he was persecuting. The details of what was said and done when Ananias arrived are fuzzy. There is clearly no attempt to establish some kind of pattern or formula for evangelism here, at least as far as methodology is concerned.

(3) Saul’s conversion experience was quick and dramatic in one sense, but it also involved a process, a process of at least three days.135

(4) More space is devoted to the process of getting Ananias to Saul than is devoted to getting Saul to Damascus and to the home of Judas. It almost seems harder to convince Ananias that Saul is (or will be) a Christian than it is to convert Saul.

(5) There is a good deal of emphasis on the results of Saul’s conversion. In fact, more is written of what Saul said and did because he was saved than is written of what he said and did resulting in his salvation.

(6) Little emphasis is placed on Saul’s reception of the Holy Spirit, and nothing is said about what happened as Saul received the Spirit. In our text Ananias was instructed to go to Saul and to lay hands on him so that he might receive his sight (9:12). The words which Ananias spoke to Saul indicate he was also to lay hands on him so that he would receive the Holy Spirit (9:17). In spite of this, we are not told here that Saul did receive the Holy Spirit or what happened when he did. I do not question that he did receive the Spirit, but merely observe that this receiving of the Spirit (accompanied by the laying on of hands) was not something Luke wanted to emphasize. If Luke had any “ax to grind” on this issue, here would have been a great place to stress this matter, but he did not do so. This silence is instructive, in my opinion.

(7) Those who were saved by Saul’s ministry were convinced by the power of the gospel message he preached and not by miraculous signs and wonders. Elsewhere in Acts, such as with the apostles, Stephen and Philip, the message of the gospel was underscored by signs and wonders which accompanied the message. Nothing is said in our text about any miracles being performed by Saul, as yet. We are simply told that the message itself was proclaimed powerfully and that people were amazed at the message and its miraculous impact on Saul’s own conduct.

(8) Saul was saved independently of the apostles. Ananias was used as God’s instrument in the conversion of Saul, but even he had to be pushed to go to Saul. There is not so much as a hint that anyone prayed for Saul’s salvation or took the initiative to bring it about. It was God’s initiative all the way. The apostles had nothing to do with Saul’s conversion, and they were reluctant to believe it had happened or to welcome him into their fellowship. Paul would make much more of this point in the first chapter of Galatians.

(9) On the road to Damascus, Saul did far more than to see a bright light and to hear a voice from heaven. Saul saw and heard the resurrected Christ. When one looks at all the references to this event, it was, in fact, a personal appearance of the risen, glorified Jesus to Saul (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:4-11).

(10) Saul’s encounter with Christ was not only a conversion, but it was also a call to a very specific ministry. Saul was told at the time of his conversion that God had chosen him to bear witness to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the Jews (9:15).

(11) Saul’s conversion was a watershed event which greatly affected the history of the church. From the fact that three different accounts of Saul’s conversion are recorded in Acts, we know this event had to play a crucial role in the expansion of the church.

(12) The same Saul who played a role in Stephen’s execution was to become, in large measure, his replacement. Saul, like Stephen, was a Hellenistic Jew. Saul, like Stephen, spoke with such power and authority that his opponents could not refute him. Saul, like Stephen, had a ministry which focused on the Hellenistic Jews. Like Stephen, the enemies of the gospel attempted to kill Saul when they could not silence him by means of debate.

Matthew 7:6 tells us not to cast our pearls before swine. Yet the bible also tells us to share our faith. What should wedo when we are talking to those who will not listen.

On twitter lately people have really been having a go at me because I believe. They cannot accept that God is real and they never will. What should I do? I find it really difficult to ignore them and I sometimes go too far.

It doesn't make me worry about my faith and I do enjoy it but I do wonder about these people. Why must they be lost because they are stubborn. Should I give up?

It has been a while and I am trying to get back into the blogging aspect again.

I have been reading the Bible more, have been reading the Psalms and a New Testament chapter to the baby in my wonderful wife's womb. I'm loving that!