Listening to a programme on the BBC World Service this morning I was again informed by a liberal unbeliever that the Bible was never intended to be understood as a literal text and has always been, like the Koran, reinterpreted to reflect society at the time. The speaker took no position as either a Christian or as a Muslim yet felt free to pass his advice on to those who revere these texts. It is Read more…
Scotland Needs the Gospel is presently undertaking a major mailshot covering most of Dumfries and Galloway from Dalbeattie Westward to Stranraer. A total of 27,100 homes will receive a copy of our leaflet, “Is God Speaking”, which has been given a refresh for the purposes of this mailshot. If you have received a leaflet and you would like to get in touch you can contact us or request additional free literature via the Contact section Read more…
Here are some thoughts I have been enjoying recently from the Gospel according to John Chapter 3. Most of this chapter is taken up by an exchange between Nicodemus, a member of the ruling religious elite at Jerusalem, and the Lord Jesus Christ – a carpenter from Nazareth, and the Son of God. Through their exchange we can learn so much about what it means to be saved and how we can be saved. Unusually Read more…
GospelBlog has previously marvelled at the corruption of fundamental words of the Christian faith. Indeed we recently commented on how the word ‘Christian’ itself has been adopted as a descriptor for all sorts of stuff that couldn’t be further from the teaching of the New Testament. In the first century if someone said they were a Christian there was no need for further explanation – it might take an afternoon today to resolve exactly what Read more…
I have to say that I am fairly sceptical about the valid origins of many of the more whimsical collective nouns – you know the sort of thing I mean: “a hastiness of cooks” or “a blush of boys”. My wife has a china mug from a series called ‘Collective Nouns’ that has “a peep of chickens” on it. All good fun, but I suspect that most of these were made up on the spot Read more…
Mildly concerned this evening that the destination showing on the front of my train home is indicating that I have joined a ‘Mystery Excursion’. Sounds like a Harry Potter type adventure – who knows where I may end up! I suppose that this is how some of us view life – a rollercoaster ride to who knows where. Except that it doesn’t need to be like that. Oblivion may indeed be an Alton Towers rollercoaster Read more…
The European Space Agency has reported a little difficulty with the placement of the two latest satellites in its Galileo programme. It is somewhat awkward that a programme intended to provide a satellite navigation system superior to the American GPS system should fail to correctly place two of its key components. All the same, if they succeed in this venture it will be truly impressive. Since the Americans unlocked some of the military grade capability Read more…
In the course of the next few weeks the people of Scotland will make a significant historical decision – whether to remain in their 300 year-old union with the United Kingdom or to go it alone. GospelBlog takes no position on this debate, that is not our purpose, but the passion (and egg-throwing!) that has been aroused demonstrates just how seriously this important decision is being considered by the people of Scotland. Never before in Read more…
Have you heard the one about the king buried in a car park in Leicester? The astonishing story of the discovery of the remains of Richard III in such ignominious surroundings does sound a bit like the start of a joke. But, it turns out, it is the real deal. They have even located some modern day descendants and matched DNA samples with those taken from the skeleton. This, together with the deformity in his Read more…
I would like to congratulate the ingenuity of whoever it is at Scotrail that is providing the Gaelic translations on Scottish rail station boards. Dunfermline Town now rejoices in the much more impressive Baile Dhùn Phàrlain and Haymarket has morphed into Margadh an Fheòir. Perhaps the most challenging for local tongues to navigate is Sràid GhilleMhoire Phàislig – the magnificent new title for Paisley Gilmour Street. So when, my readers may be wondering, were these central Read more…