Panic

'panic among your troops...' 2 Samuel 17:9

Watching England play footy is usually not a comfortable experience...

Commandments

'Each of your commandments is right.' Psalm 119:128

Including Exodus 20:8

Hate

'I hate every false way of life' Psalm 119:104

I hate every ideology that belittles Jesus, the Son of God. I hate my own failure to live His ways.

Sorrows

'Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. ' John 16:33

What gets me down the most is something I can`t talk about here.

Furious

'I become furious with the wicked,

because they reject your instructions...' Psalm 114:53

The story in the paper today that makes me the most cross is about the doctor in Tokyo that killed his girlfriend`s baby.

Ruler

'the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me...' John 14:30

Atheists sometimes blame God for suffering. While the problem of evil is not easily resolved, Jesus states in this verse that God allows Satan some limited power here on Earth.

Safe?

'the Jebusites thought they were safe...' 2 Samuel 5:6

Many people these days don`t believe in Hell.

Someday

Jesus replied, 'You don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.' John 13:7

Blinded

'The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts.' John 12:40

Many Japanese don't seem to practice Shinto because they think it is true, but more out of a sense of misguided loyalty. Seriously folks, what has Shinto ever done for you, except taken large amounts of cash out of your pockets?

You may feel I sound angry and disrespectful. I am sorry. But when hundreds of thousands of Japanese took their own lives during the last decade, ask yourself: just exactly what was your local Shinto priest doing to help?

Evil

'The LORD detests evil plans' Proverbs 15:26

Surely encouraging the murder of unborn children with TV adverts, as will soon happen in Britain, is deeply offensive to Our Creator?

Heroic?

'You will do many heroic deeds...' 1 Samuel 26:25

Killing 46 South Koreans and leaving numerous widows and orphans doesn't seem very heroic at all.

Faith

'The LORD protects those of childlike faith' Psalm 116:6

It is easy to be cynical about the miracles in the Bible. But it brings no peace of mind.

Children

'May the LORD richly bless

both you and your children.' Psalm 115:14

8 year old stabbed in Osaka yesterday. It`s been happening a lot in China recently. I hope it's the last case for a long long time..

From?

'We don`t even know where this man comes from...' John 9:29

I am extremely tired of liberal double standards. If a Catholic abuses a child, he is still a Catholic, and what he has done reflects badly on his religion. But if a Muslim kills someone, then suddenly in the eyes of many, he`s no longer a Muslim, merely a crazy person. Hypocrisy!

Trash

'..the fool feeds on trash.' Proverbs 15:14

While some Christians avoid most secular forms of entertainment and perhaps end up somewhat out of touch with the world around them, I need to be more discerning.

Darkness

'Jesus spoke to the people once more and said: '' I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness...'' ' John 8:12

I still make bad choices and turn away from Jesus sometimes.

Freely

'If the men had been allowed to eat freely...' 1 Samuel 14:30

Some foreigners here in detention are on hunger strike.

Help

'..all human help is useless. With God's help we will do mighty things...' Psalm 108:12-13

A long time before David Cameron, a different David wrote these words. I hope our new English Prime Minister bears them in mind.

Anyone?

'Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?' 1 Samuel 10:12

One thing I am proud of, regarding Britain, is some of its traditions: David Miliband is now being talked about as Labour leader and possible Prime Minister, even though his father was an illegal immigrant to the UK.

Great?

'Godliness makes a nation great...' Proverbs 13:34

Britain isn't great any more.

Crowd

'a huge crowd of people' John 6:5

Went to a baseball game today for the first time in ages.

Who?

'Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel?' 1 Samuel 4:8

Not the Bank of Japan. Not a British politician either.

Down?

'He brings some down and lifts others up...' 1 Samuel 2:7

The results from the British election are not yet clear. But one thing is for sure- God is in control.

Bath

'take a bath' Ruth 3:3

Summer is here. I don`t think my body is designed for this climate...

Famine

'A severe famine came upon the land...' Ruth 1:1

Times are not good in the English teaching industry but we are still eating, thank God.

Profit

'Work brings profit...' Proverbs 14:23

If your clients pay you.

She

'She looks good to me...' Judges 14:3

My wife and I got married a decade ago this week. The rules of mutual attraction are seldom simple, especially with two people from opposite sides of the planet, but I think it had something to do with being alone together in a flat in the West Midlands over Christmas and the millenium New Year...