The Locust Effect 11Jan15
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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
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- Category: Ephesians
{podcast id=38}
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
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- Category: Christmas and Epiphany
{podcast id=37}
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
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- Category: Christmas and Epiphany
{podcast id=36}
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
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- 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
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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?
Peace on Earth? 25 Dec 14
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Peace on Earth?
Peace on earth has become as much a part of the Christmas legend as Silent Night and the animals. Perhaps the angels were guilty of false advertising. Maybe the speech about peace on earth was exaggerated. Certainly at the time there was not much peace. Jesus and his parents had to flee in the night for fear of being assassinated. Even when the king died they still were unable to return to Bethlehem because the next king was just as bad. For the families of all the other boys born in Bethlehem at that time there was no peace.
Maybe God picked a bad time. Or chose the wrong place. Surely he could have organised for his Son to be born in a safe place. But Jesus was born in an occupied country which was ruled by a puppet King who had all the characteristics of a corrupt and ruthless tyrant. How could Jesus hope to establish a kingdom in such a hostile place?
This is not just a story from long ago.
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