Tag: repent

Two Men Praying – Luke 18:9-14

October 21, 2019

What? What was that? A story? Can I listen too?

Narr: Of course you can. It’s a story that Jesus told, about two man who went to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Rod: A Who-isee and a What-alector?

Narr: Oh sorry. A Pharisee was someone who was very religious and was very careful to do everything right. The tax collector was a cheat who took more money than he was supposed to. … More Two Men Praying – Luke 18:9-14

Isaiah 64:1-9 – A ribbon-wrapped box containing nothing?

November 20, 2017

Of course it’s fun to wear dreadful jumpers to work, it’s lovely to sing carols by candlelight, it’s even OK to eat so many mince pies that your friends have  to roll you home. 

But just before we dive head-first in to the glitter-infused double cream (with a healthy dash of sherry for Gran), let’s take this opportunity to slow down, and use Advent to prepare for, rather than pre-empt Christ’s coming.  … More Isaiah 64:1-9 – A ribbon-wrapped box containing nothing?

Hosea 1:2-10

July 11, 2016

The first child is called Jezreel. That probably means nothing to you (I had to go look it up) but it meant a lot back then. Today, it would be like calling a child Auschwitz or Hiroshima or Nine-Eleven. Ouch. … More Hosea 1:2-10

Psalm 51

March 7, 2016

God uses loved, mended, broken people to bring broken people to be mended and loved.

It’s like Eton Mess – crushed fruit, broken meringue, bashed-up cream – yet so good. Our broken-ness, in God, is redeemed. … More Psalm 51

Two Men Praying – Luke 18:9-14

January 8, 2016

What? What was that? A story? Can I listen too?

Narr: Of course you can. It’s a story that Jesus told, about two man who went to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Rod: A Who-isee and a What-alector?

Narr: Oh sorry. A Pharisee was someone who was very religious and was very careful to do everything right. The tax collector was a cheat who took more money than he was supposed to. … More Two Men Praying – Luke 18:9-14

Baptism of Christ – Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

December 28, 2015

Epiphany 1 – It’s easy to fake repentance, and even great deeds, as Jesus said in Matt 7. “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’” Ouch! Their faith was not real. It looked great from the outside, but had no inside. So how can we tell what’s real beauty and what’s just good make-up? How can we tell real repentance from following the crowd? How can we tell wheat from chaff? … More Baptism of Christ – Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Luke 3:7-18

November 30, 2015

Advent 3 – “Welcome, dearly beloved. You’re all bunch of hypocritical snakes.”
OK, ummn, interesting tactic. Has the Rev been at the communion wine a little early?
It gets worse.
“So you’ve been at St Dithering’s for forty years, man and boy? Don’t care. There are drunks down the Red Lion closer to God than you!”
I say, steady on there, Vicar! … More Luke 3:7-18

Malachi 3:1-4

November 23, 2015

Advent 2 – Refiner’s fire and fuller’s soap? How is fire like soap, and what’s a fuller when he’s at home? (That’s Northern for ‘whoever he is’.) Stand back, here comes the science bit! … More Malachi 3:1-4