Many people know that they need Vitamin D for healthy bones. They also think that they receive plenty of Vitamin D from sunshine. This is only partially true. First, old people do not produce much Vitamin D in their skin and those who live in northern countries like Scotland receive so little sunshine that we …
Cheating in elections
There are various forms of cheating at elections but the most grievous one is using other people's votes by impersonation or other means. How is this done? There are various ways, and this is one reason why there are international observers at many national elections throughout the world. The problem exists even in Britain, where …
UK General Election 4th July 2024
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has surprised the pundits and called a snap General Election for 4th July 2024. Why did he do so? There are different theories why he did not use the next six months to try to turn round the dismal record of his Conservative Party, trailling more than 20 points in …
Responding and replying, but not answering
Modern discussion and debate is full of unanswered questions. Prime Minister's Questions, First Minister's Question and BBC Question Time produce many examples of questions that are ignored and not answered. People respond, but they do not answer; they reply, but they do not answer. An answer addresses the question, but the person responding may reframe …
Reviving the Christian Church
How do we revive the Christian church? Many people can see the decline in the Christian church, although there are not so many that are able to diagnose the problem. There are two things that are urgently needed for the revival of the Christian church. The first need is exegetical preaching, with emphasis on both …
Evangelical errors
Evangelical Christians pride themselves in believing the Bible and in preaching the Gospel. However, this self-assessment does not completely stand up to scrutiny. I have heard many an evangelical preacher who is rather niggardly with the Gospel and sometimes I wonder if they know how to preach it. As for their biblical teaching, I have …
Experts and professionals
What is the difference between an expert and a professional? A professional may not be an expert. An expert may not be a professional. A professional has professional standards and an external professional body maintaining these standards. An expert may not behave professionally. They may have no external standards to live up to and their …
Are you religious or are you spiritual?
Some people say that they are not religious, but that they are spiritual. What is the difference? Are these the only options? Whatever they mean by this, it is true that human beings are spiritual. We are more than body; a human being is a spirit with a body. When we die, our body ceases …
Jesus’ teaching on the Trinity and the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third Person in the Triune Godhead. Only Jesus Christ has explained the Trinity to us, because only He is capable of doing so. He has made it sufficiently clear that it astonishes those who meditate upon God's majesty. The wonders of science are a little insight into the wonders of …
Continue reading Jesus’ teaching on the Trinity and the Holy Spirit
Jesus’ views on ecclesiastical leadership
Having considered Jesus' view of those Christians who do not pay attention to His Word I now turn to notice Jesus' opinion about ecclesiastical leadership. Leadership During His time on Earth, Jesus criticized Jewish officialdom. It was not "the Jews" but the leadership who persecuted Jesus and finally secured His crucifixion. The ordinary Jewish public "heard …