September – October 2023
Having spoken of the need to pray always and faint not, our Lord turns his attention to “those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9). The previous parable was specifically for the disciples and spoke of the manner by which God would vindicate His pe…
The Pharisee and The Publican Read More »
Dear Brother Carl
Proposed referendum for a “Voice to Parliament”
Later this year the Australian Government will hold a referendum seeking approval to amend the Constitution to provide for a “Voice to Parliament” for indigenous communities. The pros and cons of this initiative are bein…
Proposed referendum for a “Voice to Parliament” Read More »
In this present age, what is the most insidious threat to our spiritual lives—the spiritual life of each one of us? Physical torture and persecution are not a present threat in western countries, so is the most sinister threat the persecution of the mind? Or is it the tolerant spirit of society, t…
Stand Still and Consider Read More »
During the Lord’s ministry the disciples became increasingly aware of the nobility, grace and glory of their Master (John 1:14-16): “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth…And of his f…
The Fulness of Christ (4) – King of Kings, and Lord of Lords Read More »
Tisha B’Av
As the story has it, Napoleon was walking through a small village in France, when he heard weeping coming from inside a small ramshackle building nearby. The sound was enough to stop Napoleon in his tracks and compel him to investigate this commotion. As he entered the building, he h…
Lamentations (1) An Introduction: Mourning for Jerusalem Read More »
This discussion is intended to be an introduction to the subject of the cherubim, to lay out the essentials of the subject as they develop through Scripture. It is not exhaustive—it is just enough to start the reader on a journey of discovery. It is a beautiful subject, but a deep one, for it reve…
The Cherubim – A Developing Theme (1) Read More »
Blessed are they who have nothing to say and who cannot be persuaded to say it.
Abraham Lincoln has been quoted as saying, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”.
This saying is really a very loose translation of what Solomon sai…
The Art of Remaining Silent Read More »
Ebal Curse
Sometimes, otherwise insignificant objects discovered in archaeological excavations have a greater value when closely studied. Objects may also be laid aside because the technology to interpret them is lacking. Two inscriptions discovered in Israel illustrate this point.
A small lea…
Ancient Inscriptions Read More »
The second seal
“When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’ And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.” (Rev 6:3-4 ESV)
The br…
The Caesars in the Apocalypse (3) Read More »
Rumination has the following definitions: “the act of thinking carefully and for a long period about something” and “the act of bringing up food from the stomach and chewing it again”. Yet, are these definitions really that different? One is the ‘chewing over’ of an idea in the mind…
