Freedom from... freedom for …? 18Jan15
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- Category: Weekly Reflections
Freedom from... freedom for …?
The terrible killings in France have sparked a huge response of outrage, and support for freedom of speech. The magazine Charlie Hebdo has released its latest issue with a cartoon of the prophet on the cover, according to news reports.
Some of the rhetoric in favour of free speech seems like a contrary fundamentalism itself. As though free speech was the highest value. In traditional Christian societies, free speech has been balanced with an awareness that offensive and insulting speech is mostly inappropriate. Laws have made libel and slander illegal.
More recently debates and laws have come into effect regarding “hate speech” and speech that is intended to arouse social animosities. Prior to this has been a trend, in western society at least, to lower the boundaries on crude and insulting speech. What used to be called swearing and offensive language.
The Locust Effect 11Jan15
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- Category: Weekly Reflections
The Locust Effect
In 1875 trillions of locusts weighing 27 million tons bore down 200,000 square miles of the American Midwest and wiped out every living plant. Gary Haugen and Victor Boutros, in their book, The Locust Effect, show that a similar effect is happening to the world’s poor. As much as they try to work, save for their children’s education, buy small houses (or rooms) to live in, their efforts are consistently and effectively thwarted by an epidemic of violence.
The authors don’t focus on war zones or civil conflicts, although these are devastating enough. They illustrate in pitiful detail the ordinary criminal violence that afflicts the world’s poor – especially in developing countries.
Sexual violence (a “medical emergency” according to Medicine Sans Frontiers), slavery (there are more slaves in the world now than there were during the whole period of the 18th century slave trade), land grabbing, arbitrary detention and torture are some of the features of this violence.
5. One House Ephesians 2.11-22
- Written by: Administrator
- Category: Ephesians
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5. One House Ephesians 2.11-22
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 4 January 2015
Bringing all things together in Christ; How it happened, Why God did it; What it means.
The Lord, The Girl, The Son, and the Servants Luke 1.26-38
- Written by: Administrator
- Category: Christmas and Epiphany
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Three Simple Sermons for Christmas
1. The Lord, The Girl, The Son, and the Servants Luke 1.26-38
Sermon preached on the Sunday before Christmas 2014
The Saviour Luke 2.1-20
- Written by: Administrator
- Category: Christmas and Epiphany
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Three Simple Sermons for Christmas
2. The Saviour Luke 2.1-20
Sermon preached on Christmas morning 2014
Is this really good news? What could you do about it?
What are you waiting for? Luke 2.22-40
- Written by: Administrator
- Category: Christmas and Epiphany
{podcast id=35}
Three Simple Sermons for Christmas
3. What are you waiting for? Luke 2.22-40
Sermon preached on Sunday after Christmas 2014
What has happened; what is happening; what are we? The two old people waiting for the promises.
Is this a new year? 4 Jan 15
- Written by: Administrator
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Is this a new year?
Is this a new year? It's a very confusing question. Our financial year begins on July 1. Our church financial year begins on May 1. Our church Calendar year began on on November 30. Chinese new year begins on February 19. And Muslim New year doesn't start until October 15.
In 567 the Council of Tours abolished January 1 as the beginning of the year because of its pagan associations. At different times and places throughout medieval Christian Europe, the new year was celebrated on Dec. 25, the birth of Jesus; March 1; March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation; and Easter.In 1582, the Gregorian calendar reform restored January 1 as new year's day. Although not everyone agreed straight away. The British did not adopt the new date until 1752.
Does it make any difference?