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Continue reading →: An Introduction to Pure Land BuddismThe following extract is from “River of Fire, River of Water: An Introduction to the Pure Land Tradition of Shin Buddhism” by Taitetsu Unno. Pure Land Buddhism, though relatively unknown in the West, is the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan. It emphasises tariki or “other-power”, rather than jiriki (“self-power”), which comes through…
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Continue reading →: Prophet as Artist“Ezekial Scattering Hair” by Michael Buesking The work is based on Ezekial 5:1-12 when the prophet dramatically acts out his warning for Israel about the coming catastropy. Here’s a statement Michael makes regarding his work: The paintings in this section are examples from a recent series based on the symbolic…
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Continue reading →: Timothy Keller on Christ centered preachingI have become increasingly fond of Tim Keller’s writings over the last twelve months. For a Reformed pastor he has a remarkably Christ centred focus. Here are some comments of his from an article on evangelistic worship, specifically on the practice of preaching. Preach grace The one message that both…
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Continue reading →: Come I This Day: Celtic InvocationTHIGEAM AN DIUGH Come I This Day From the Carmina Gadelica COME I this day to the Father, Come I this day to the Son, Come I to the Holy Spirit powerful; Come I this day with God, Come I this day with Christ, Come I with the Spirit of…
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Continue reading →: What do Buddhist’s believe?Following is an extract from “The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path” by Sangharakshita. I find it helpful as an introduction to Buddhism as it highlights how the Buddhist understanding of “right vision” can be understood in terms of images as well as concepts. There are two principal ways a vision can…
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Continue reading →: What does Jesus mean when he says that we should be like children?People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such…
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Continue reading →: First Century Asylum SeekersWhen they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13) Fortunately…
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Continue reading →: Is my Christian community distinctively Christian?A question I challenge myself with is this: Is my Christian community distinctively Christian? Is it any different to, say, the local soccer club. When I have put this question to other Christians I have often received a reflexive, sometimes defensive, response of “Of Course!” So I ask, “How?” Now there’s a…
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Continue reading →: Out is In, In is OutWhat does it mean to belong? What does it mean to be invited in? What does it mean to be cast out? Jesus had a funny way of redefining community. He chose to associate with the “unclean” to the consternation of the “clean”, he welcomed the unwelcome, he befriended the friendless, he…
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