2. Pride Screwtape attends now to the believer’s pride. A pride that displays itself in naivete about oneself and contempt for the ordinary collection of people in the church. About oneself, Screwtape writes, “He has not been anything like long enough with the Enemy (aka God) to have any real humility yet. What he says,... Continue Reading →
Mr Matcham
Way back in June 2019 I wrote a post about my great, great, great, great uncle Frank. Here's a wonderful video by Joe Stilgoe celebrating Frank's amazing contribution to Victorian theatre design in Britain. I love it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZQKjC5WCiQ
A Response to Matthew Parris on Atonement
To slip on a banana skin once is funny. To slip on a banana skin twice is tragic. Mathew Parris opens his Spectator article by reminding people that the post he wrote for the Times on Easter Saturday was met with “hundreds of comments from Christians protesting that I’d misunderstood the Crucifixion’s meaning…” Well, right... Continue Reading →
Reversing Screwtape: The Christian Life
The Christian Life In the very first letter, Screwtape advises Wormwood to make sure he keeps the man away from anything to do with contemplation and thoughtfulness about the deeper meaning of the world. The man is encouraged to think in the binary terms of “academic” or “practical” and is always to be nudged into... Continue Reading →
Naming the Enemy
In previous posts I have tries to expose the toxicity that is wokism. Wokism is a multi-fascited ideology that essentially boils down to a power grab, or for the philosophically literate among us, a 'will-to-power.' I have written quite a bit about the ideology behind 'Woke' and what drives it, and why it is toxic.... Continue Reading →
Coronation and Kingship (part 3 of 3)
This brief series will explore comparison and ironies between the Coronation of King Charles III and Jesus Christ the King. 3. The King is crowned on the ancient throne. King Charles wears the crown for the first and last time of his life. It is a powerful moment, that having been anointed the King is... Continue Reading →
Coronation and Kingship (2 of 3)
This brief series will explore comparison and ironies between the Coronation of King Charles III and Jesus Christ the King. 2. The King is anointed with oil. This oil is called ‘The Chrism Oil’ and comes from the Mt of Olives in Jerusalem. Chrism oil is Myrrh. Mrrrh surfaces several times in the New Testament... Continue Reading →
Coronation and Kingship (1 of 3)
This brief series will explore comparison and ironies between the Coronation of King Charles III and Jesus Christ the King. A few centuries ago, the Puritans (not all bad) were famous for saying: “Christ not man is King!” It is no surprise to find this slogan on the tomb of Oliver Cromwell. This is a... Continue Reading →
8 Reasons to Read Romans (part 1 of 2)
The recently deceased scholar Prof. Anthony Thiselton has written a wonderful little book (2016) called Discovering Romans - Content, Interpretation, Reception from the 'Discovering Biblical texts series. In the opening chapter he suggests eight reasons why we should read Paul's marvellous letter to the Romans. I will outline the first four here and the second... Continue Reading →
For the Time Being
I picked up this book for £2 in a second-hand book shop about 8 years ago. Every year I take it away with me on my summer holiday to dabble, reflect and ponder the sheer grandeur and beauty of the stories. It's a strange book unlike any other and worthy of a good chunk of... Continue Reading →