Considering answers to those faith-questions we all ask…
Within the spectrum of expression in the Christian Church the Charismatic movement provides many great and commendable blessings. It appeals to those whose character traits and preferences demand freedom and vitality. However, at and near its fringe there's something dark and destructive at work.
What is the mark of a good Christian? What is the evidence that he or she is living life they should live as a professing Christian? I've heard people say that the fruit of the Spirit is not enough to make you effective and legitimate: you need the gifts of the Spirit. You need to have a second blessing and to speak in tongues to be an effective Christian. Once again, the self-proclaimed spiritual giant has missed the most important fact which is what God has said on the matter through His word, the Bible.
In the seventeenth chapter of Revelation John is shocked to his core at the sight of a woman riding a dragon or "beast". She is named, "Mystery Babylon, mother of Harlots", and the horror of her appearance easily matches her title. The beast has seven heads and ten horns. As I've noted in previous parts of this series, the beast's seven heads represent kingdoms or empires in chronological order, and as a rule in Scripture they're epitomised by specific kings who defined those kingdoms or are icons of them.
Here's a new piece of music by myself and my son which you can find on any good streaming platform. I've included a few links below: "HEAD OVER HEELS" by Sherbet ImageSOME LINKS TO "HEAD OVER HEELS", thanks to Jason at "SUBMIT HUB": SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/track/6FPdfOYpr243QVPaAPzISw APPLE/ iTUNES: https://geo.music.apple.com/us/album/_/1849469792... PANDORA: https://www.pandora.com/TR:178213680 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpMHAuWyrSY...
Jesus and his apostles (the real ones) gave a clear picture of societal and cultural conditions which believers would experience in the times before Jesus' return. Some like to point out that New Testament references of the "last days" or "the day of the Lord" are referring to the entire time period from the resurrection of Christ, or from Pentecost onwards. We've always been in the "last days" they say. In a way that's true, but there's more to come. Go to any passage of Scripture where someone is speaking of end times things and you'll find they're speaking of the future, not their own time.
I like to make sure a seeker can easily find the gospel message on my blog, while I still have the freedom to do it, and while the seeker is still free enough to seek. The most important truth to share with anyone at anytime, anywhere, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some people spend all their time on trivial things and ignore the most profound, consequential matters in all time and space. Of all those profound things, the gospel message is at the top of the list.
Reading through Paul's letters I'm struck by how little he talks about the Holy Spirit, in comparison to the regularity with which the Spirit is spoken of and to in our present time in some circles, as though the object of our worship should be the Spirit above all else. To those of us who pay attention to the New Testament over "what God is saying to us today" there's a clear picture and a clear message in it for us all.
In his "Olivet Discourse" Jesus spoke of things to come both in the near future of the disciples' lives and in the far future. When they asked him, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3b) his first words were, “See to it that no one misleads you" (verse 4b NASB).
I had planned that this part of my series would discuss deception. Instead, this is an interjection, written because it seems to me that an equally large problem to deception is apathy within the Church, and among professing Christians.
Atheists mock Christians for worshiping a God who can’t be seen. He isn’t peeping out from behind the clouds, he isn’t sitting on the church roof, he’s never been to a good university and he doesn’t stop people stealing from little old ladies.
The world gets smaller at the same time as the sign of all signs - anti-Semitism against a newly regathered nation of Israel - increases. I wouldn't say I believe that the Biblical end times are almost upon us with one hundred percent certainty, but there are just too many giant "coincidences" in play at the same time to ignore, and the world is surely heading in the direction described in the book of Revelation. I think prudence is on the side of those who have their eyes open, and as I quoted in part one, Jesus Christ repeatedly told his disciples to do just that: What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ (Mark 13:37).
Considering current political discussion and sparks flying over the subject of Israel and its legitimacy, I decided I needed to contribute my "two cents" to it all, because knowing what I know, I believe my God expects it of me. Up front I want to state that I no longer have any respect I might have once had for Candace Owens or Tucker Carlson as commentators or "investigators". If you are believing their viewpoints and their so-called "evidence" against Israel you are in opposition to the will of God.
The question of whether abstract art has a place in the Christian world came up in a discussion I had recently. Art is near to my heart (and rhymes with it) so I decided to gather a few initial thoughts here. This is not intended to be a detailed or refined article - it's a precis: an abstraction of my thoughts in no particular order, and a little disorganized.
As I shared in part two of this series, the book of Daniel foretells a succession of world empires. That is, empires as God sees them, and empires which directly affect the nation of Israel - central to Bible prophecy. The last empire before the coming of the Messiah will be (and now is) an amalgamation of nations and people groups which will never actually succeed in blending.
People who go off the spiritual rails and who get led astray, and who even lose their faith are very possibly doing so because they have a completely inverted view of this world and a totally contrary view of God's intentions and purposes in our lives. I've seen it happen. I've felt its lure myself: haven't you?
I wrote in the first part of this article that there would only be two parts, but that's no longer true. There will instead be several installments because I can't summarize to oblivion all the topics related to end times. Today's episode discusses Biblical predictions of political world empires, beginning with the time of the prophet Daniel and ending at the return of Jesus Christ. This interpretation is of necessity a little subjective and speculative. I don't claim to know all the answers or that "God told me": He didn't.
Jesus Christ said he would come again - the promise of his coming to reign as King of Kings is woven throughout the Bible. However, much of the Christian world has grown tired of any talk of end times, partly because too many Christian leaders and "experts" have made poor attempts at matching current events with signs predicted in the Bible. Do their failures nullify the promise of Christ's coming? Not at all! The problem is not the promise but the interpretation and even the manufacture of signs.
Especially for those who may be seeking, or who wonder what makes a professing Christian tick, here is the personal reasoning and motivation which augments my faith. I haven't always been a Christian. I had no particular beliefs, and no particular convictions. That all changed one fine day, many years ago.
During Trump's first run for office Hillary Clinton described him and his supporters as “a basket of deplorables”. They are “deplorable” because (she was determined to make you to think) they are “racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, you name it”. Mrs Clinton was, of course, hoping to divide and conquer: to gather up the support of as many minorities as she could identify or create. These accusations prompted me to write a rebuttal, knowing that she would never read it or if she did, care what I had to say.
One BBC science documentary can tell you a lot about the fragility and weakness of the theory of evolution, even if you aren't a scientist. However, you have to be willing to look and listen between the lines. Here I’m re-publishing my review of one "In Our Time" episode on the subject of fungi.
Do we need to have a feeling before we believe God is there? Do we have to see strange things happening which are unexplainable in ordinary everyday terms? Does something mystical have to happen before we can believe that there's a world just out of our sight? Is God hiding so that we need to hunt for Him?
As a professing Christian I should have my Creator at the forefront of my heart and mind. Second in importance is my family, then everyone else I come in contact with during the day. Last on the list of priorities comes self. Though being the lowest on the list, taking care of myself is a vitally important thing to do.
From my earliest days as a Christian I've seen and heard confusing and conflicting things being preached on the subject of the Holy Spirit's work and ministry. I've witnessed others being in similar confusion and doubt. I found myself being discriminated against and looked down upon in the Church because I didn't have this and I couldn't do that. I was a second-class Christian at best in the eyes of the enlightened, super-spiritual ones, especially the ones who had decided that they were apostles.
On September 23rd 2025 President Trump addressed the United Nations. Since I watched a video of the speech hours ago, I've seen that certain news organizations have misrepresented him, as is their habit.
How old is the world? It pains me to hear Christian ministers explaining away the word of God, when the motivation can be nothing other than having a greater respect for the word of man. This comes into play in a sharp and stark fashion when the creation and the age of the earth are mentioned. Suddenly ministers claiming to be fully on board with the inspired word of God are reciting explanations and excuses for what the Scripture "really says".
Accusations have been thrown around for the past several years with the intention of frightening the West away from conservatism and into a progressive form of Marxism. What about it: Are all those on the political right inherently racist? Is Christianity white? Is it wrong to stop anyone who wants to come flooding over the borders? Are borders ethical or are they hateful? Are white people evil? Are nations a relic of imperial domination, or are they simply a line of protection for citizens within?
According to mainstream science fish evolved into tetrapods, and eventually, humans. The Darwinian story of evolution involves the rise of all the forms of life we see on earth today from non-life, and via an original single ancestor-the first living cell on earth. The alleged transition of life from fish to tetrapod-a walking animal-was the … Continue reading A Very Fishy Tale: The Fish-Tetrapod Transition
You may have heard people - even apparently well-educated people - insist that Jesus Christ never existed. His life and his teachings are just mythical they say, invented and then augmented over several centuries for various reasons. Most commonly the suggested motivation was to use "religion" as a tool for the subjugation of masses of gullible people. You may even have this view yourself.
Greetings readers. My son and I are musicians and from time to time we publish some new original music. Most recently an instrumental of ours was made available on all major streaming platforms and seems to be doing quite well. You can find it on a number of Spotify playlists, or alternatively I've provided some links below to the music.
Throughout history great and mighty civilizations have fallen, not primarily because of outside pressure, but because of internal rot. Unless Christ returns first, it looks like the once Christian West is the next to go.
How many of us look in the bathroom mirror with honesty? I must confess that I use it less and less as I get older: I don't need the added stress. No amount of makeup or facelift work will hide what's taking place over time on the outside! However, the reflection I do need every day of my life; the one we all need; the one which would actually improve over time were we to apply ourselves to its betterment; the one we almost all fail to seek, is the kind in which we examine our hearts and compare it to the word of our God. What are we really like inside?
Has anyone not been asked the following rhetorical question: "How do you know your God is the right one?" In my experience this question - posed more as an accusation - is directed at Christians and never Muslims or Hindus or people of other faiths. They are considered to be sincerely seeking while we followers of Christ are not.
Who was, and who is, Jesus Christ? You can make him what you want him to be, or you can believe what the Bible says about him. Contrary to many dismissive claims, Scripture is clear about his nature and his personhood. Jesus told his disciples that what we now call the Old Testament speaks of him throughout - even before he had been born. I here outline some of that evidence for those of you who are truly interested.
What makes us struggle against the problems and the darkness of life? It's the fact that we were not initially created to live in a fallen, fractured, hostile world. However, here we are living in that very place, like it or not.
The works done by Jesus Christ during his life are enough evidence for the conviction that he was and is the Son of God. That is, God in flesh. No man has done or does legitimate and incredible miracles as he did in plain sight of all, and convincing enough to draw thousands without any advertising or television specials. No man spoke words such as he spoke or such profound truths, and for now we will ignore the empty claims of some in our time that Christianity "copied" words and claims from past spiritual giants.
I was reading this morning about a knife attack in Ireland in which the alleged perpetrator was yelling that now well-known phrase which claims that a certain god is great - so great it seems, that he wants to take the world by violence if necessary. Thankfully the police officer being attacked had a companion who managed to subdue the man.
If a man were to walk around the countryside shouting at the top of his voice: "I am God, I am God!", the chances are that most people, including me, would think he were crazy. True, there are plenty of people gullible enough to believe him and follow him. My dad used to say if you think you're somebody there will always be someone else who thinks you are.
How much is God involved in our daily lives? Does He direct all events, all outcomes and all decisions? Is every moment of our lives pre-planned? Does God get involved sometimes, or does He stand back completely and just wait for the end result?
The “unknowns” of evolution are too numerous to list, yet the whole package is pushed upon us as though the concept is beyond question. True science deals with observable, testable certainties: evolution cloaks itself in those certainties in order to appear respectable and equally true…
How did Lazarus feel as he laid at the rich man's gate suffering, day after day? No-one cared for his condition or for his broken heart. What was going through his mind? We can safely assume that he had thoughts such as these: "Nobody cares about my suffering". "Where is God? If He cared He would help me". "I'm alone. My life isn't worth living".
Tongues-speakers today are proudly disengaging their minds when they use the claimed gift: they have no idea what they are saying, if anything, and neither does anyone else. The practise of being "slain in the Spirit" similarly seeks to vacate the mind and "let the Spirit take over", causing people to apparently pass out on the floor and lay there - once they've adjusted their clothing - sometimes for hours, in what appears to be a comatose state.
One of the most powerful poisons to our faith and peace in the Lord is the way we perceive other people, or perhaps how they really are. I sometimes struggle with a deep and monstrous problem: the darkness of human nature all around me. How many claim that they don't go to church because of the hypocrisy there? And it's not just in the church but out of it, on our streets, in our workplaces, and unfortunately, even in our own homes.
Once again a nation so tiny that most people would not be able to find it on a map of the world or a globe is in the forefront of our news - daily. How can this be? This fact alone is of great significance which the wise will take note of.
Many millions of people around the world reject God or are disillusioned with Him, because He seems so far off. Where is He when you need Him? I have to confess to having that very thought myself from time to time, even though I normally consider myself to have a strong faith. If you claim that you never question God or doubt Him, I suspect you're being economical with the truth.
I don't mean to shake anyone's faith or confidence in experts. Many ministers are doing a fantastic job in a difficult world, and let's face it, we all get things wrong. We're all fallible and limited. That fact doesn't disprove the gospel or the central teachings of the Bible which are easily defined if we're reading it honestly. Christ died for our sins, he rose again on the third day and he's coming back to put the world right.
As a one-time left-leaning, socialist Labour Party voter in the United Kingdom, I regularly watched and listened to news reports from around the world, and sometimes sensed inconsistencies in the reporting. It didn't always ring true. However, as is common in fallen human nature, I accepted the things I wanted to accept and that which I was expected to accept from the "experts", without question.
One of the greatest stories of history is now largely ignored, not only in secular circles but in the Church. Shame on the Church! I for one will proudly and loudly stand up and defend the Biblical Flood - worldwide and catastrophic.
It's heart-warming to remember that I grew up in the land of tea-times and time lords, Big Ben, hot-cross-buns and Queen Elizabeth II. In that kinder, culturally richer world I knew a lovely English gentleman who, always anxious to be punctual, would spur people on by politely saying, "Time and tide, time and tide". This is an abstract of the pithy proverb, "Time and tide wait for no man", which apparently pre-dates not only Shakespeare but the modern English language.
Throughout the gospels Jesus Christ is seen to give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, raise the dead, walk on water and feed thousands. Today many Christians are determined to hold to the notion that they are doing miracles in their churches and on the streets, when in fact they are belittling the name of Christ, the glory of Christ and the true power of God.
In the "Great Commission" Jesus told his disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. What exactly did he mean by "power"? What kind of power would it be, and what would it be used for?
Fuel for Faith, Food for Thought 