In just one week it will be Christmas, are you ready? Have you bought and wrapped the presents, bought all the non perishable food so the last week is as smooth as possible? Or are you a stereotypical man? Men, rumour has it, though I have not met one who admits to it, start their …
Author: SteveP
I am married with one wife, three grown kids, one cat and no hair.
The sensible servant – Matthew in Advent day 16
Time for an perspective shift. Matthew chapter 24 is not about Jesus returning in this generation or any other one. It never has been and never will be. As we come to the end of the chapter we can look back on it, and look at how it goes. It stated with a warning not …
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The beginning of the end – Matthew in Advent day 15
This is so like God. Before a season of blessing comes a season of waiting. It has been so ever since creation. In the first three days God separated light from darkness, separated the sky from the sea and made the dry land appear. In the second set of three God populated the light and …
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The fig tree – Matthew in Advent day 14
Some years ago I heard a talk by a Christian which turned out to be an hour long advert for a scheme he was involved in which comprised finding Jewish people living in Russia and paying them to emigrate to Israel. Which seemed like a very strange thing for a Christian based in the UK …
Christingle
Holy Trinity Church, HuddersfieldSunday 13th December 2020 Another week in a pandemic world, and I wish I had something more upbeat to share, but imposter syndrome is beginning to set in. I am beginning to wonder if I am capable of doing things I know I have done. The news has been positive with the …
That’s Gnostics for you – Matthew in Advent day 13
Creeds. Those statements of belief that traditional churches use in the service as a "these are the beliefs of the church" statements. The Church of England says the Apostles' Creed at daily office (morning and evening prayer), and the Nicene Creed at communion, they are the Church's mission statement, written in response to heresies that …
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Abomination of desecration – Matthew in Advent day 12
The destruction of the Jerusalem temple happened very quickly. Herod's Temple was in fact Zerubabbel's temple, built somewhere between 538 and 520 BC. Far from being the country taken into captivity, Judah was by that time a small province, stretching no more than 25 km, 15 miles from Jerusalem. A small province had a small …
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Velocirapture? – Matthew in Advent day 11
I became a Christian in 1974 whilst at university. Only a few weeks later a fellow member of the Christian Union, a technician in the computer department, suggested I read a book called The Clock Strikes, which set about saying how the return of Christ would be very soon. Christ would take the Christians on …
All these things – Matthew in Advent day 10
There's an angel standing in the sunAnd he's crying with a loud voice"This is the supper of the mighty one"Lord of Lords, King of KingsHas returned to lead his children homeTo take them to the new JerusalemSongwriters: Mike Rutherford / Peter Gabriel / Phil Collins / Steve Hackett / Tony BanksSupper's Ready by Genesis lyrics …
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Jerusalem – Matthew in Advent day 9
Jerusalem was several things. It was the seat of power, where the civic power ruled from. It was the capital city from the time of David and in Jesus' time where King Herod had his palace. Jerusalem was a cultural centre, it had a place in the hearts of the people as it represented through …
Making an ass of myself 