Episodes

Aspects of Christianity can seem far-fetched to our 21st century minds. The miraculous elements make it seem like the story of Santa Claus or fairies at the bottom of the garden. But before we dismiss such events as pure fiction, it’s worth remembering GK Chesterton’s words about truth and fiction: ‘Truth must necessarily be stranger than fiction, for fiction is the creation of the human mind and therefore congenial to it.’ Authenticity. The Bible doesn’t permit us to dismiss the difficult bits...

‘We have only one life to live! We need to live it well.’ How many of us really believe this? Most people have a sneaking suspicion that there is more to life – that death is not the end of our existence. C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity commented, If I find in myself desires which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. Come with me to a significant question that Jesus put to his close followers. We read it in Mark 8:28: “Who...

No-one likes a hypocrite – someone who says one thing and does another. A hypocrite is basically an actor – consciously or unconsciously. In fact, the original Greek word translated by our English word hypocrite, means actor. In Matthew 6:1 Jesus warns: “Beware of practising your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Earlier in his Sermon on the Mount Jesus said: “…Let your light shine before others, s...

The resentment, bitterness and pain that many have experienced through the pandemic have tended to drive people further away from any sense of belief in God. ‘If God is there,’ I hear people say, ‘he certainly is not kind and compassionate. He can’t be good.’ Where can we find answers to comments like these? Let me suggest we need something more than our own testimony and wisdom. Come with me to one of the great chapters of the Bible – Isaiah chapter 40. Isaiah tells us that when we are confro...

It’s said that patience is a virtue. It’s a very old saying from the 14th C and is attributed to William Langland. It reflects a Latin proverb, patience is the greatest virtue. But is patience a virtue? Let me suggest that it is the context that helps us understand why it is a virtue. Consider what we learn about Jesus in Mark chapter 1 verses 29-39. Jesus commanded extraordinary authority. With a word he could heal people of all kinds of sickness – Peter’s mother-in-law who was sick with a f...

Words, words, words. We are constantly bombarded by them — from Social Media, email and text messages, our phones, TV and movies. And now you’re reading words from me! Have you ever wondered why words are so powerful? Words on the tongue of the comedian can make us laugh; but words on the lips of the cynic can cut down and demolish. The words, ‘I love you,’ bring the thrill of joy and hope to couples in love. But the words, ‘We’ve done all we can,’ from the medical specialist in times of sickne...

Everyone loves a good story. Millions have enjoyed J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and millions more, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. The Bible has been described as ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’. Many would agree, but rarely read it or think about it. Deep down we long for a better experience of life and a certainty about the future. The question is, ‘Where can we find it?’ This was a key issue that confronted C.S. Lewis. Holding a triple first from Oxford in classics and philosophy and lit...