Good morning! The Lord be with you today.
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(Yesterday on the blog: A Prayer About Brokenness)
A Royal Funeral with a Message for Everyone
Murray Campbell offers some reflections on this weekend’s royal funeral. “We are divided by death and united in death: Duke, accountant, teacher and boilermaker alike. Behind the awe inspiring grandeur of this yet simple royal funeral, probably overlooked by many and yet very present, a word of hope was offered. It is a wonderful hope and it is offered to those mourning in St George’s Chapel and to the 100s millions like Susan and I who were watching from our homes.”
Why Crucifixion?
You may have wondered this. “Why crucifixion? We know how vile it was. We hear how revolting, dehumanizing, and despicable crucifixion was—so why did Jesus die this way? Would Jesus dying at the hands of a mugger been enough? Why couldn’t Jesus have died of old age with friends and family praying at the foot of his bed, rather than some friends abandoning him as he’s stripped naked and nailed to a cross in front of his family and a few remaining friends?”
Skip the Movie, Read the Book
I am often asked for an opinion on The Chosen. I have not watched it for reasons Chris Hutchison delineates in this article. “If it takes a TV show to make us feel like we’ve really connected with Jesus, what does that say about how, and how often, we’ve been reading the Bible? Is God’s word, read in the power of the Holy Spirit, really enough for us?”
Surviving the Crackdown in Xinjiang
This is a very long but very interesting (and alarming) account of the crackdown in Xinjiang through the eyes of one woman.
Stop Catastrophising
There’s lots to consider here. “We need to prepare to live life in the margins. Jesus doesn’t call us to have access to the halls and levers of power. He calls his church to serve when opposed, to pray when persecuted, to keep on sharing the good news of the kingdom come even when arrested, put on trial, imprisoned and persecuted. What would it look like to prepare to live like that?”
Brokenness & Usefulness
Andrew Kerr has quite a long reflection on the connection between brokenness and usefulness.
5 Questions about Deacons
Here is a brief Q&A from Matt Smethurst about the task and calling of deacons.
Flashback: What Gave Him Such Confidence?
What gave Peter such confidence? What compelled him to run toward instead of run away? I can think of only one thing: He knew Jesus.
We can approach the throne of grace with confidence; can your children approach you with confidence, knowing they will be loved no matter what?
—Sarah Mae
