[Pentecost 2023] Jerusalem was still buzzing with the strange and remarkable events of the Passover time that year. The story of the Resurrection of Jesus spread like a wildfire. The people talked, the authorities were confused, the church leaders exasperated that this preacher and his teaching just would not go away. For some, hope was rekindled and the…
241. Steady the Crown
England prepares for history. The headlines of the world shout it out. Over many years of outrage against royalty’s abuse of power and revolution against it, most of the left-over nobility live under the radar in order to escape the sly, mean and investigative journalism that feeds the populace. There is nobody even close to the British…
240. Miracle timing
I might hear a deep sigh right now. Yes, I am writing about time – again. I will always be fascinated by the numbers of time and all their special names – seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years with seasons and semesters, decades, centuries, eras and ages. They are written into our history books – Ancient history, the Middle…
239. Look out, look up… and see
It is Holy Week. For us urban dwellers in the New Jerusalem, citizens of the Kingdom of God, members of the Body of Christ it is the most holy time to reflect on the foundation of our faith; that which it is all about – the Cross of Jesus. As all of humankind we ARE because…
238. The fiery trial is not foreign
There are a few phrases and verses in the Bible that might get lost in the shallow understanding of familiarity. It is too easy to say the Our Father from memory and hastily ramble through the lines of Psalm 23 entirely missing the fullness of meaning. The Bible is not social media or the morning paper. The truth that sets…
237. Feet of faith
Let us linger a bit longer in the words of Habakkuk – words of gold for all times and ages. Habakkuk moves his thought-horizons from threatening political upheaval to a heavenly perspective with eternal applications. The effect of his “new” thinking is a joyful praise-song and an inspired spirit that stirs faith and builds trust in God for…
236. Wisdom that laughs
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. (Proverbs 31:25, NLT) I don’t think it is easy to laugh about the future. It might rather take a big effort not to cry about the future. The world is evil… and violent… and uncertain… and dirty. The list of wrongs could be very long,…
235. The Future – again
It is not very often during a year that we contemplate the piece of future ahead of us like around New Year every year. It is only natural. It is valuable to meditate on the year past. We meditate with God in mind, not emptying our thoughts like eastern meditation encourages. Christian meditation urges “fulness of thought” – full of…
234. It’s your Feast – a Christmas dance
Whatever you may think of the world with all the social and political turmoil, Christmas is a few days away. As every year we hear the songs, see the colours and decorations and live the challenges. It is one of the lovely Feasts on the Christian-calendar, with Easter (that I would like to call Passover), Pentecost and Thanksgiving. If…
233. Strategy for the Feast
It is the last days of November, and December with all the glitter and glam of Christmas is upon us. Our thoughts are filled with parties, events, family, friends, food and drink. We might even think of a few days away. All these things require planning, shopping and preparation. We will again, like every year, make the most of our…
Pebbles of Perpetuity 