It is common to hear commentators refer to the left and right in politics and it is a sure put-down to call someone far right or far left. Such terms mean something to the politically-minded but because many people are not political it is more helpful to use other, more exact descriptions. People have different …
Author: Donald
Learning basic Exegesis
There are some basics in exegesis that Christians can learn and develop to improve their personal Bible study and their discussion at collective Bible studies. Drawing out of (ex-egesis) the Scripture will feed the soul. Which is the most significant word in the following sentence? "The red car went down the hill." You may say …
The argument for mature politicians
David Cameron said in today's BBC programme The Cameron Years that he never had enough time as Prime Minister to make decisions but plenty of time to think about them after his period as Prime Minister. “I do brood hugely, and the truth is, as Prime Minister you don’t have enough time, sometimes, to think, …
The father of lies
Biblical ignorance has found its way into the Supreme Court in London, U.K. Aidan O’Neill Q.C., barrister for Joanna Cherry MP, declared today to the Supreme Court justices that “the mother of parliaments has been shut down by the father of lies”. The BBC referred to "robust exchanges". If this is meant to be meaningful …
The Lib Dem Revokers
EU Remainers are by definition those who voted to ‘Remain’ in the Brexit Referendum to leave the European Union on 23 Jun 2016. Since then, these Remainers have fallen into four categories. RemoanersRemoaners are activists in the Remain camp who demonstrate that they are bad losers by refusing to accept the result of the EU …
The challenge to Royal authority
The sovereignty of Parliament, the sovereignty of the monarch, the sovereignty of the people or the sovereignty of God? Donald Boyd Her Majesty the Queen gave authority to prorogue the UK Parliament. This was resisted by two unsuccessful legal challenges and it did not stop opposition MPs in the House of Commons objecting to Her …
What constitutes a ‘good’ minister?
Not so long ago I discussed the subjective nature of a 'good' sermon. A good minister is not so subjective to assess as a sermon, because the apostle Paul discusses it in his letters and when writing to Timothy he gives advice about a good minister 1Tim 4:6 and evangelist 2Tim 4:5. Ministers and preachers …
Confidence to converse
This is a continuation of my series to help Christians to witness to their neighbour. Lack of confidence Young Christians usually want to witness to their friends about their faith in Christ but they lack confidence. They need guidance but they do not have many examples to follow. It is important for those who lack …
Happiness in the Highlands
The Bank of Scotland's annual happiness survey indicates today that the Highlands and Islands is the happiest region in which to live in Scotland. Some of us have known this for some time. Indeed, Inverness, the capital of the Scottiish Highlands was voted the happiest place in Scotland in 2014. The same year, Llandrindod Wells …
Compounding one error with another
As if it was not bad enough to discover child abuse scandals in the Church of England, but its General Synod meeting in York has voted to formally recognise monks and nuns for the first time since the 16th-century European Reformation. These two errors are compounded by trying to justify one for the sake of …
Donald's Thoughts 