Joshua chapters 3 and 4 describe how Israel crossed the Jordan River into the land of Canaan. More about the ethics of that next week. After forty years sequestered in the desert as virtual nomads, the people stand on the banks of the Jordan River. Behind them lies a generation shaped by slavery, exodus, testing, and …
Courage for the journey
“Be strong and courageous!” It sounds like a quote from a self-help manual. The opening chapter of the Book of Joshua is one of the Bible’s great texts on courage. Following the death of Moses, Joshua faces the daunting task of leading Israel into the promised land. The people are in transition. Their great leader …
If only we were all prophets!
Today, in the church’s liturgical calendar, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the universal church. Pentecost is a unique historic gospel event, arguably as central to the mission of the church as is the resurrection of Jesus. British Anglican pastor-theologian John Stott observes that Without the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship …
Sharing the good news of Jesus with others
In his book, What is Happening to Religion in Australia? Understanding the Trends, social researcher Philip Hughes observes a fundamental change in Australian values in the past century. He charts a shift from duty to family life to personal fulfilment. Perhaps the most notable example of this is changing attitude towards same sex marriage, with two-thirds of all …
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Light of the world
Have you ever been in a light-filled space, and suddenly you’re plunged into darkness? Or you’ve been out driving in a thunderstorm when the traffic signals fail? It can be frustrating; it can be frightening; it can quickly lead to chaos. Without light, Gerard Manley Hopkins would never have uttered those immortal words, “Glory be to …
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