Where did Jesus come from? Who is Jesus? part 76 - John 7:25-32 I stepped onto the wrong train. Fortunately for me there was an I stepped onto the wrong train. Fortunately for me there was an announcement saying the train was going towards Newcastle, so I could get off before the train set off …
Moses vs. Jesus: The Law and Redemption Explained
Moses vs. Jesus Who is Jesus? part 75 - John 7:12-24 Redemption and the Pawn shop I bought my second bass guitar at a pawn shop. It cost me £415 after bartering, the same model is going today, three years later, at £516 on Ebay and £583 on Reverb, so even taking three year's inflation …
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Songs in the New Testament: Paul’s Humble Journey
I must Decrease - 1 Timothy 1:17 Songs in the New Testament, part 7 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. Walter C. Smith (1847) A winding dirt path stretches through colorful rolling hills under a dramatic sunrise. …
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Jesus’ Brothers and the Desire for Big Signs
Jesus and his Brothers Who is Jesus? part 74 - John 7:1-11 If you say that you are mineI'll be here till the end of timeSo you got to let me knowShould I stay, or should I go?(Written by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer) The Clash's lyric is lightheartedly showing the sort of dilemma Jesus …
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The Meaning of Booths: Celebrations in the Gospel
Comparingthe festival of Booths to the Sabbath and Passover Who is Jesus? part 73 There's no Bible passage this week, quite a bold/stupid move when I'm slowly working through a Gospel. Take your pick as to which it is. Possibly both! What I'm looking at is the big picture. John's Gospel chapters 5 to 10 …
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The Unique Experience of Being AuDHD
Having autism and ADHD is like wearing a tie-dye shirt Before 2013, diagnostic criteria said that if you were autistic you could not have ADHD and if you had ADHD you could not be autistic. A study from 2022 suggests that 50 to 70% of autistic people have co-existing ADHD and up to 20% of …
Four Reasons Disciples Turn Away from Jesus
How to leave the church Who is Jesus? part 72 I want to have some fun with this. When working through the debate following Jesus feeding the 5,000 I was drawn to four words on how the people were reacting to Jesus. These are, in the ESV translation, seeking, grumbled, disputed and turning away, (sorry, …
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The Challenge of Believing in Jesus: John 6:60-71
Departing Who is Jesus? part 71 - John 6:60-71 That's me in the cornerThat's me in the spotlight, losing my religion(Peter Buck / Michael Mills / William Berry / Michael Stipe Copyright Night Garden Music 1991) Hey, that's me there in the corner, my head upon my handsOr maybe I'm the one who's trying to …
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Striving and Belief: Insights from John’s Gospel
Striving Who is Jesus? part 70 - John 6:49-59 Drop Thy still dews of quietness,till all our strivings cease;take from our souls the strain and stress,and let our ordered lives confessthe beauty of Thy peace. Words from the poem The Brewing of Soma, by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892), the last of the 17 …
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Exploring Paul’s Baptismal Poetry
A baptismal song - Ephesians 5:14 Songs in the New Testament, part 6 It's a short one this month, not even a whole verse in the Bible, but it comes at a unique location in Paul's writing. A glowing heroine ascends amidst shadows with radiant beams of light. for anything that becomes visible is light. …
Making an ass of myself 