Teapot Theology

How an iPhone app made a life-saving intervention in Haiti!

Wisdom from an older and wiser voice…..

If you could have real virtual church; is this what you’d want it to be?

Death within churches from the top down; Marcus’ great article and challenging questions,….. worth your time.

Incandescence: and God’s call in our lives!

How about sermon length…? What about it!

What church leaders might learn from the Apple genius: Steve Jobs?!

The Happiness Machine, c/o Coca Cola!

and what would pastoral care be like if Jack Baeur was your pastor!!

God is not absent.
Not distracted.
He sees.
He knows.
He cares.
And He’s doing something about it.

A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a person perfected without trials - Chinese Proverb

made me smile, at it’s accuracy and truth!

Today I had great fun, preaching from Nehemiah 2 v 1-10 and I didn’t even set the passage! Most of you know I’ve been brought back to this book, time-after-time….. I took a different tack to the passage, and resisted checking over previous preaches from this passage!

I contend that it’s often the hardest thing to  turn intention into action! Yetwithal making it happen is vital! My original thought is this:- Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace!

1. Be patient; Passionately pray and responsibly serve. v.1b

2. Be bold; Let your fears feed your faith! v. 2-3

3. Be dependent. v. 4

4. Be prepared. v. 5-8a

5. Be expectant. v. 8b

“I would rather walk in the dark with God than go alone in the light. I would rather walk with Him by faith than walk alone by sight.” Mary Gardner Brainard

* Guest blog from Julie!

Barbara Streisand said ‘The Mirror Has Two Faces’ is a film about transformation; transformation from the ugly duckling to the beautiful princess, transformation from the mindset that values the superficial without looking below the surface; transformation when an adult woman realises that her father thinks she’s beautiful; transformation of true friendship into deep, abiding and passionate love.

Watching the film with my beloved caused more than a few smiles and laughs but also some tears.  Tears as I know something of the wonder of recently discovering I am beautiful. Johnny tells me that I am beautiful on the inside and out; the first time anyone has ever said anything like that to me.  My Father in heaven also tells me that I am beautiful, loved unconditionally and forgiven. Forgiveness is transforming. Jesus death on the cross is transforming.  God’s unconditional love is transforming. God’s grace extended to such as me is transforming, it enables me to look up, confident that regardless of what circumstances or people may seek to message, God remains Sovereign and He (like my beloved), is planning for me in love.

How many faces do I have? There is the public face that presents confidence and competence but in reality just covers what is really going on underneath, the private face, the real me, is seen by few – the doubts, the fears, the struggles, the sadnesses, the uncertainties, the longings to be different – more holy, more kind, more gracious, more loving. I am so very glad that God invites us to come; to come to Him just as we are, burdened and heavy laden, anxious, worried, uncertain, empty, thirsty, hurt, rejected, abandoned, betrayed … far off.  He says ‘come and find rest … come home, where you belong’. This rest is a rest of letting go, relaxing in the everlasting arms, allowing myself to believe what my Heavenly Father believes about me.

So, …. if you want to laugh, cry, enjoy and dream watch the film with someone you love and be grateful …. grateful like me for the love of a man that consistently affirms and messages unconditional, unswerving love and grateful that my heavenly Father has always seen and known what I was/am and continues to love me just the same!

“Community is the place where the person you least want to live with, always lives.“ Henri Nouwen

Boy meets girl. They talk. They laugh. They fall in love. Little do they know what’s going inside their brains. Dr. Earl Henslin explains some of the latest findings in brain research and how brain imbalances can have a bad affect on your love life in his newest book, This Is Your Brain In Love. With stories from his clients as well as scientific research, Henslin pinpoints five common types of lovers and offers tips and solutions. This book seek to unravel the secrets of proactive passion and it’s helped me realise (already!) where I get it wrong and am unclear with Julie. It calls each to bring their healthiest, most balanced and joyful self to the relationship.
Dr. Henslin speaks to the vital connection between spirituality and sexuality. He identifies the five types of lovers. Filled with relatable stories and humour, this is not your boring brain book! Engaging and practical, Dr. Henslin provides an amazingly accurate, scientifically-based brain test to help spot typical brain imbalances. (And yes, most everyone has at least one!) There is a lot of sage advice within these pages with a potent conclusion majoring in kindness, patience and forgiveness.

As Goethe said, Love does not dominate: it cultivates!

possible one of my most favourite quotations of all time!

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing”
Helen Keller