Very many people object to being preached at. Indeed! Good training should teach preachers not to preach at people, nor beyond people, nor above people's heads, nor beating around the bush, but to people in a manner designed to engage their attention. However, many people do not want even this. So they cannot complain if …
Author: Donald
The cowardice of human shields
Human shields refer to fighters who use a defenceless human being to protect them from their opponents. This is forbidden by the Geneva Conventions and it is classified as a war crime. The most recent and public example of human shields is in Gaza, where its Hamas leadership uses civilians as human shields for its …
Latin coming to the rescue of English discussion
Seven-year-old Winston Churchill was amazed in his first Latin lesson to hear his Latin teacher expecting him to speak to a table! It reminds me of the folly of the much older Dean of Windsor speaking to a dead body, at the funeral of the aged Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. Churchill's experience was popularised …
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Christian blessings, with more to come
"Godliness with contentment is great gain."1Tim 6:6 Many people are missing out on these three blessings – 1. godliness, 2. contentment and 3. great gain. The world is full of discontentment. The noisy expression of their discontent does not make people happy and it even intimidates others, contravening the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as …
Failed leadership in Scottish politics
The failure of Scottish political leadership is sad to behold. The consequences of the failure to unite against the SNP has dawned too late upon the main unionist political parties, and there will be reprisals. I have already heard Tories trying to make out that the All For Unity party has spoiled the collective vote …
Some people are untouchable – Jesus is not
Some people are unapproachable. They keep their distance. Some people are untouchable – Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom wears gloves for handshakes. Jesus was not like that – and He is still not like that. He is as close as the air you breathe. You can pray to Him at any time and …
Impoverished conversation and free speech
Misunderstanding is common in conversation, but what really impoverishes speech nowadays is the subjects that are off-limits. Political correctness has made everyone aware that some topics are off-limits and even particular words have now been banned. Free speech is under attack but let us notice that it began long ago with the supposed rule for …
95 years – Happy Birthday, Your Majesty
Today is the 95th birthday of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, only days after the death and burial of her husband of 73 years. She has served her country well and overseen a period of tremendous change in the life of Britain and the British …
Critique of the Church of England ‘at its best’
One may assume that the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh was the Church of England putting on its best display. The splendour and pageantry of the day, organised by the Duke while alive, easily eclipsed the offerings from the official ecclesiastics. Since I have often said that the national churches are failing the UK …
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Failings in the Christian church
Thankfully, the Christian church acts as salt and light throughout the world but it could be more effective. The primary failure is in its leadership Eph 4:11-16, which fails primarily because of the lack of exegetical preaching. Nationally: the failure to witness to the nation Isa 56:10. The national churches have failed the UK nations. …
