Category Archives: Theology and Life

The Underwhelming Underworld

The ‘darkness within’ is a trope of popular movies and stories. There is a certain kind of relatability we have with the modern villains. But when it comes to the ‘underworld’ (that includes angels and demons, the devil, death and the spiritual realms), it’s out there in the darkness at the edge of society, certainlyContinue reading “The Underwhelming Underworld”

On Attraction

Recently I’ve been reading a very helpful book called, ‘Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion’ by Rebecca McLaughlin. It was published relatively recently – in 2019 – and it features a wonderful combination of McLaughlin’s sharp wit and a plethora of footnoted stats and research. Definitely worth a read if youContinue reading “On Attraction”

Does a baby’s spirit return?

Over the past few months I’ve had a couple of people express the idea to me that the spirit of a deceased baby returns with the birth of a subsequent child.  While I realise that this idea may comfort some people, as a Christian I find it to be problematic with what I understand ofContinue reading “Does a baby’s spirit return?”

The Ironic Experience of Reading Psalm 119

I am not a naturally skilled reader. I also don’t enjoy reading a whole lot. It’s taken a good deal of intentional habit-building to start developing any semblance of wholesome habitual reading in my life. Perhaps you could call this a character deficiency. At any rate, it has put me in a funny spot asContinue reading “The Ironic Experience of Reading Psalm 119”

Psalm 91 and our Arbitrary Literalism

The Psalm of the season is clearly Psalm 91. It lifts our eyes up from our circumstances and calls us to call God, “my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” In a year as tumultuous as this, these words ought to be regularly uttered by us Christians. However, there are someContinue reading “Psalm 91 and our Arbitrary Literalism”

To Have and to Have-Not.

There is a sentiment in society today that success perpetuates success. You acheive to display acheivement, which leads to more acheivement to display all the more, which leads… This is all very well and good, appropriate and understandable (we all do this to varying degrees). But it does become a little bit more difficult whenContinue reading “To Have and to Have-Not.”

Grief in a ‘pleasure v pain’ world

Mark Vroegop in his book on lament “Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy” writes this, “Finding an explanation or a quick solution for grief, while an admirable goal, can circumvent the opportunity afforded in lament – to give a person permission to wrestle with sorrow instead of rushing to end it.” (p.19) This quote got me thinkingContinue reading “Grief in a ‘pleasure v pain’ world”

Virtue Signaling and Psalm 26

We probably all feel that natural and ironic cringe when we encounter virtue signalling and moral grandstanding. When you meet that person and within three minutes you know they are a Minimalist and all the ethical reasoning behind their choice. How righteous! And now the right hand knows what the left hand is doing, whichContinue reading “Virtue Signaling and Psalm 26”

To Ponder Suffering

As I ponder upon the magnitude and intensity of human suffering – specifics, generalisations, through history, at this very moment – I shake my head. Sometimes there are no words. Who can truly fathom it? Who can really give an exhaustive answer? Only God. In our limited experience we can do not much more thanContinue reading “To Ponder Suffering”