Jesus is described as both a Lion and Lamb, which seems fairly contradictory, but since we are called to be like Him, which should we emulate? This article is part of a series looking at the Oxymoronic names of God and how understanding them helps us to live as Christians in a fallen world.
Prince of Peace
We live in a world that tells us we should fight for our rights and that our freedoms need protecting. It’s easy to believe that life is one big competition and that there are many people who want to take advantage of us. Yet, that’s not how God describes our role in the world; in fact, his view is the opposite of this. He calls us to humility and when things get tough, we are to love our enemies.
America and the Coronavirus Crisis: Three ways that Europeans can pray for Americans
If you are anything like me, you will be watching with horror as the number of coronavirus cases in the…
The Oxymoronic God
The tagline for this website uses the phrase ‘in the world but not of the world’, a tension that many Christians are familiar with. There are also paradoxes and enigmas that exist within God and are captured in the oxymorons that describe Him. My hope is that by understanding more about God we can find encouragement for our double lives and the tensions we experience.
Are Americans Racist?
My experiences are just a small window into American culture and all I can offer are a few anecdotes to help answer this question.
Homophobia: there is an easy choice to make
As Christians, we should always oppose bullying and abuse.
Americanah
One book that has helped me understand racism in America is Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It is a novel…
Nothing like a rose trampled on the ground
The song Above All by Michael W. Smith (2000) describes Jesus, at his death, as ‘like a rose trampled on…
There’s good news, bad news and fake news
Which would you like first? The good news or the bad? Well, the good news is that there are teachings,…
Dear Reader, you matter to God
To all the readers of this blog. I pray for you and as I thought about you today I sensed…
How to pray for white supremacists
In the wake of recent killings in El Paso and Gilroy, white supremacy is now the number one cause of…
A method for praying for those you disagree with
Right now, it seems argument is everywhere. There appears to be no end of political vitriol and it’s spilling across…
Witnessing male chauvinism in church. What should I do about it?
Yesterday at a church meeting, the pastor invited two members of the church to the stage to share a lengthy…
If you’re a Christian and Alabama’s proposed abortion ban doesn’t seem quite right to you, then you’re not alone
I am a Christian, and I long to see a reduction in the number of abortions. However, banning abortion, even…
Is something missing from the US constitution?
In 1790 the phrase ‘liberte, egalite, fraternite’ (liberty, equality, fraternity) began to be spoken and used among French people. It…
When an American sends you hate speech about Muslims (there’s no training for this)
Received on Tuesday: Anna, I saw this on facebook and thought of our previous conversation. **** Yesterday at 1:13 AM…
A song of songs for the brokenhearted
I know we’ve met before, but now I just see glimpses of you. Peeking in at the window, hiding in…
Can we recognise the truth?
Have you ever seen the world pictured from space? It’s beautiful but unrecognisable. Countries are the wrong way up, coastlines…
A letter home from Alabama
Alabama 8th October 2018 Dear Jenna, Thanks for your card, it’s taken me a while to write back because my…
Groups get ready
At long last the group study guide to accompany my book Destination: Transformation is available. I have been piloting it…