Secretly

'The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were not pleasing to the LORD their God.' 2 Kings 17:9

We may seem respectable but God knows the truth.

Stand

'Who can stand the cold?' Psalm 147:17

31 degrees today. When I walked to the supermarket, my eyes were stinging as it was so hot my eyebrows failed to keep the sweat out of my eyes.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Glorious

'the glorious splendour of your majesty,
and on your wonderous works will I meditate.' Psalm 145:5

'Men will go further and pay more to see a tawdry picture on a canvas, a poor painted scene, than to behold the fairest or grandest scene that nature ever displays in their immediate vicinity...'

Thoreau, Journal.

Terrible

'I know the terrible things you will do...' 2 Kings 8:12

Thousands of years ago the leaders of Syria were not very nice, according to the Bible.
Not that much has changed.

Leprosy

'There were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city...' 2 Kings 7:3

Why should Japanese people listen to a social outcast like me talk about Jesus?


Because I am telling the truth. Only Jesus can save us from our sins.

Turn

'Turn to the living God, who made the sky, the sea, the earth and everything in them.'
Acts 14:15

It is high time Japan and the West stop thinking technology alone can save them.

Quarrel

'Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin' Proverbs 17:19

My college religious studies class was full of fierce debates about the nature of reality, God, and just about everything under the sun. My friend J loved the cut and thrust of intellectual argument- much as Socrates seemed to in the account by Plato which was one of our set texts. But although some people can find God through logical debate, most don't I find. Christianity has very strong grounds for faith in the historical evidence and in the experiences of millions worldwide. But as Cardinal Newman commented, we believe what we want to believe- and many simply just don't want the inconvenience of having to follow Christ, even though He is the Truth.

Descendants

'I will destroy every one of your male descendants.' I Kings 21:21

I have three children. Two are in heaven, praise God. Better there than here.

Daydreaming

'..surely [Baal] is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming or relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip..'
1 Kings 18:27

I love Elijah. A great prophet, he didn't give a flying fig for political correctness.

Sense

'You can't beat sense into a fool.' Proverbs 17:9

There are a lot of atheists out there that are busy creating a world of pain for themselves, hellbent on self-destruction.

God-Fearing

'a devout, God-fearing man' Acts 10:2

'the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom' Psalm 111:10

Satisfied

'I will satisfy its poor with food..' Psalm 132:15

Most Japanese bars are very expensive. Gone are the days when I could order a half of mild in Brum for around a quid...

Turn

'You must not marry them, for they will turn your hearts..' 1 Kings 11:2

In stressing equality legislation, feminists sometimes deliberately overlook the fact that all too often, women have a 'soft power' advantage over men. This is not to state that the oppression of women is ok-far from it. But when laws passed in the name of equality end up actually dominating and subjugating men, through for example the family court system, just who exactly is equal? Is it ok for a father to have his child aborted without his consent? Is it ok for women to criticise patriarchy but stay silent when matriarchy instead of equality is its replacement? Sisters, if matriachy is your true goal, please be gentlemanly enough to admit it.

Some fathers are getting a very raw deal, and no amount of cards and gifts of socks will bring true justice.

News

'The Good News about Jesus' Acts 8:35

We are all sinners, deserving of Hell. But Jesus died for you and me, to save us from eternal damnation.

Persecution

'a great wave of persecution began' Acts 8:1

If Christians aren`t being killed in Iraq, Egypt or N. Korea, they are being sacked in the US or Europe for no good reason. I can see why some are too scared to admit they wish to follow Jesus.

Everything

'I have made everything' Acts 7:50

God made every land and ocean, and every living creature, including the pigeons that seem to like making out on our balcony.

Foreign

'a foreign land' Acts 7:6

In a couple of weeks I will have been in this small corner of Japan eleven years- Sussex is the only place I have lived longer.

Small

'small creatures' 1 Kings 4:33

Beautiful butterflies like it when the grass is allowed to grow naturally along the riverside. Why does the city spend money cutting such natural habitat down?

Regulations

'decrees, commands, regulations...' 1 Kings 2:3

My local authority has about 8 pages on its website devoted to recyling, giving us precise instructions about how to handle various types of waste.

Witnesses

'God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!' Acts 3:15

Any lawyer will tell you how important an eyewitness is in determining the facts of a case.

Others

'others in the crowd ridiculed them...' Acts 2:13

People have been mocking the followers of Jesus for 2000 years. Meanwhile the church has grown by millions and spread worldwide. Atheists, will anyone remember your name 2000 years from now?

Pride

'Pride goes before destruction.' Proverbs 16:18

Many secularists are far too sophisticated to believe in Angels, or Heaven.

Dine

'Come and dine' John 21:12

Spicy food is somewhat unpopular in this household.

Evil

'Evil people won't obey you,
and so they have no hope
of being saved.' Psalm 119:155

Have mercy on us, Jesus.