Robbie

How Dark Can It Get?

In life, in our interactions with one another, we often don’t see very far into the heart, into the past, into the experience of another. We see as far as they will allow us. At times someone can be so broken it’s written all over them, it’s evident. Such is the extent of their brokennessContinue reading “How Dark Can It Get?”

Racism, superiority, and love to those outside of our love.

If you have a superhuman olfactory sense for racial disrespect, or an uncanny tingle when arrogance is creeping around, then you’ll either be repulsed, or at least confronted and confused by Jesus in Mark 7:24-30. In Mark 7:24–30, there is an infamous interaction. I recommend you read it and the preceding story on ‘cleaness’ (butContinue reading “Racism, superiority, and love to those outside of our love.”

Creative Glory and Moral Glory – Psalm 19

There is a sense of God we feel as we wander about in creation. I know you get that sense in your bones because I’ve read about it, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they revealContinue reading “Creative Glory and Moral Glory – Psalm 19”

The Almighty(‘s) Government

In a dark world there are many clouds. Concerns about China loom on the horizon. The storm clouds of climate change are always present in the newsfeed. There have been stifling government restrictions brought about by covid-19. There is a general cultural failing at upholding women with dignity, but particularly so in our Parliament. SoContinue reading “The Almighty(‘s) Government”

“Simple Church” by Rainer and Geiger – A Brief Summary

Simple Church is a church process designed around focusing on discipleship, particularly the process of discipleship. The book is based off research done by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger comparing ‘thriving and vibrant churches’ to churches that are not, while seeking to find what makes the difference between the two. Their answer is “simplicity”. ComplexContinue reading ““Simple Church” by Rainer and Geiger – A Brief Summary”

Psalm 13 – A Model for Suffering and Lament

How do you deal with your pain? We could ignore it and pretend it’s not there. We could medicate ourselves so that we feel less pain or suffering. If the pain is caused by someone who wants to hurt us then we want to hurt them back. We could blame others for our pain, sometimesContinue reading “Psalm 13 – A Model for Suffering and Lament”

Struggles with Faith

When someone says they struggle with the faith, what comes next could be a myriad of different issues. People may struggle with an intellectual aspect to the faith – perhaps it’s the reliability of the gospel, or philosophical questions regarding suffering and God’s sovereignty. Others may struggle to simply ‘feel it’ (coming from a PentecostalContinue reading “Struggles with Faith”

“The Experiment of Faith”

When John Stott became a Christian, he spoke of his initial experience as taking, “the experiment of faith” – or to paraphrase, “I just gave it a go”. It got me thinking about how I became a Christian. I remember the time when I had exhausted many of the initial questions I had and atContinue reading ““The Experiment of Faith””

Modern law(lessness)

The modern human of western values is in the process of trying to re-write moral laws. What was once right is now wrong, what was once bad is acceptable, what was once a grey area is a display of the self – an expression of authenticity. Where do these modern moral laws come from? MuchContinue reading “Modern law(lessness)”

Moralism – Faith alone in Christ alone by Grace Alone…. Again

At the heart of Moralism is our innate tendency to secure for ourselves some sort of favour based on our performance. There is an intrinsic mixture of fear (due to failure, doing wrong) and pride (an arrogance in our ability to do good, which is itself ironically not good, and wrong). The human compass alwaysContinue reading “Moralism – Faith alone in Christ alone by Grace Alone…. Again”