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… to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary … For nothing is impossible for God. (Luke 1:27,37) Imagine the most excellent Theophilus talking with other men of rank and status in his Roman world. Someone asks him about the parentage ofContinue reading “God’s Speciality”

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, (Luke 1:26) Angels play rather prominent supporting roles in the Nativity story and they, together with shepherds, have provided the flexibility for any number of children to be included in school and church nativity plays. (Unfair onContinue reading “Angels from the realms of glory”

And so, on our Advent journey we come to Mary, the mother of Jesus, who declares in verse 46 “My soul glorifies the Lord.” Luke wrote his gospel primarily as a discipleship manual for Theophilus, a high-ranking Roman official. His hard-nosed Roman worldview would have been challenged by Luke’s gospel in many ways, especially byContinue reading “Who’s that singing?”

How many times have I read an instruction leaflet for something or other and concluded that the original set of instructions must have been written in another language and the translators haven’t quite got it right? The result can be quite amusing. Things can get lost in translation. In practically all English translations of RomansContinue reading “Lost in translation”

It’s simple, but I hope not simplistic. I think of our Christian Mission to the world (with alliteration’s artful aid) in terms of three ‘P’s. 1. Presence: This, if you like, is the ‘silent witness’ of Christian lives as we do the good works ‘prepared in advance for us to do’ (Ephesians 2:10). Our presenceContinue reading “There are three ‘P’s that open a heart, four that are needed.”

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. (Colossians 4:3) The situation was not ideal. Paul had planned to arrive in Rome as a free man on his way to Spain (Romans 15:23,24). ButContinue reading “Responding to the unexpected”

“Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” I have heard (or read) this quoted many times, and it is usually attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. There is, however, no credible evidence that he ever said or wrote it, and given that he was, by all accounts, quite the preacher, it seemsContinue reading “Silent Witness?”

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15) I used to be a Cub Scout and then a Scout and so the motto ‘Be Prepared’ was drummed into me and IContinue reading “Be Prepared”

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, (Luke 1:14) We’ve reached half-way in our Advent journey and today we think of John the Baptist. Luke records an angel of the Lord appearing to John’s father, Zechariah, who tells him, among other things, that his sonContinue reading “Zechariah reflects …”

For nearly thirteen years I regularly took assemblies at Tonypandy Primary school. The gathered children were probably the most responsive congregation I’ve ever known! One morning I turned up unkempt and a bit scruffy. As I walked through the playground to the school building, the children already waiting for first bell looked at me inContinue reading “Mirror, mirror on the page …”