Welcome to my blog...whatever image springs to mind, be it a hippopotamus, Tigger, red-haired Highland cattle, or a simple kitchen table, 'Unless a Seed' is a four-legged creature. My hope is that having read a Book Review, a Poem, or a What is a Christian? or some random post in Everything Else, you will be kind enough to leave a comment or a short reply. And I hope you enjoy reading its contents
What is a Christian?
Book, Podcast, Film, and Blog Reviews
Poetry
For Writers, Writing and Everything Else
When the Rabbis Cry
Failing to follow the general rule of thumb, ‘start small and build from there I decided for my first attempt to write a Christian paperback, to choose one of the most contentious subjects – Israel.
Things are not what they seem…Part II
When Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth, he opened his letter with these words: ‘To the church, which is at Corinth, to those having been (hagiazo) sanctified in Christ Jesus, called (hagiois) saints…grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’
Things are not as they seem
This post is copied from my FB page and really is an introduction to re-thinking sanctification (holiness and sainthood). A fuller version to come.
What is a Prophet?
If you’re going biblical you might think Jeremiah, or Elijah, or Samuel…If more secular perhaps Bob Dylan – at least he licked his finger and poked it the wind! These days some might say Jordan Petersen or even Russel Brand.
Romans 7 – why, Paul did you write Romans 7?
We – that is evangelicals who believe the bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God – have a problem. We know we can’t say it because it’s daft and contradictory, but, secretly, we have a problem. There are some scriptures we don’t really believe.
Triple Jump Christianity Part II – Romans
Welcome to Triple Jump Christianity Part II. The triple jump has three phases – hop, skip, jump. Paul’s letter to the Romans can be viewed in the same manner. If Martin Luther’s protestant preaching restored to the church Romans chapters 1-5 to the church, much of the church, even today, has yet to understand chapters 6 and 7. It prefers to jump straight to chapter 8 and on. In athletics this would get a red flag…also in the church?
Triple Jump Christianity
The triple jump has three phases – hop, skip, jump. Paul’s letter to the Romans can be viewed in the same manner. If Martin Luther’s protestant preaching was restored to the church Romans chapters 1-5 to the church, much of the church, even today, has yet to understand chapters 6 and 7. It prefers to jump straight to chapter 8 and on. In athletics, this would get a red flag…also in the church?
Funny Place England!
Question 1: What does the word ‘gospel’ mean?
Question 2: What is a Christian?
40 days that changed the world
Some things, they say, stick out like a sore thumb. There’s a short paragraph in Yancey’s book that is so wide of the mark that I feel sure he would like to review it. Why he wrote it baffles me. The rest of the book runs smoothly; it is informative, evocative, and does what it says on the cover and I enjoyed reading it.
Welcome to the launch!
Am I mourning the passing of my allotment or covertly seeking horticultural advice in advance of warmer weather? No, as you’ve probably realised, one way or another, the posts will be related to Jesus’ parable of seed falling into the ground.
Three Crowds
If I had been there watching what was happening – where would I have been standing: Jesus enters Jerusalem; ‘Crucify! Crucify!’ or the Pentecost?