A Farewell to Gun Memes: “Swords–>Plows” Means Something
You can kill a man with a ploughshare or a pruning hook. So why would it make sense to take your sword and spear and fashion them into scythes? Because of the argument, that is the statement, implicit in the very act. A hammer can kill a man, but it was not made to do so. A gun not designed for hunting purposes is designed to kill a man. It’s not about mere practicality. It’s about symbol. Symbol affects society more than we may realize. Under the surface ours is a culture that celebrates violence, because of the symbols and messages we choose to endorse.
We want to know the details. God says, “Trust me.”
We want to know where the road of a particular decision leads us. God says, “Trust me.”
We want “clarity” because we are really uncomfortable with the “unknowns” of trusting God. Gods says, “Trust me.”
It would not be too much to suggest that one of the key elements to the Bible’s message is that present dark circumstances need not tyrannise us; there may be a greater purpose of good being worked out in the most difficult of events. It is not easy to recognise, or even remember, that when everything around us is so depressing. But that is the nature of faith: it does not allow the present darkness to disturb the present peace.
John’s Gospel: Reflections on Chapter 9, Part 1 (Why the Pharisees did not believe)
Why would the Pharisees be so obstinate? Well, it’s about power, and reputation, and influence. They were big shots in Jerusalem. This is well evidenced by the fact that the blind man’s family asked for their counsel to explain what had happened, and because they could compel the man’s own synagogue to excommunicate or disfellowship him. In that world, that was serious power.
So what does that have to do with new life? New teeth cannot come in until the old teeth are gone. It works the same way for those who decide to follow Jesus. He promises new life. He gives purpose to lives with no meaning. He frees us from our addictions. He restores relationships. He brings those who have been separated from God into relationship with their Creator.
A confession: The five real reasons that I blog
Following are the real reasons I am compelled to blog.
- To think as I could be, not as I am.
- To step out of my own, tiny experience.
- To kick to the curb the shrill critic in my head.
- To be in the act of creation.
- To make it better for someone else.
Anything After — The Movie Credits App
Ever gone to the movies and wondered, “Is there anything after the credits?” Well, there’s an app for that! Save yourself from missing a bonus scene, waiting for no reason and beating that foot traffic by downloading Anything After.