Joshua 6 – the fall of Jericho

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The historical accuracy of account of the conquest of Jericho as recorded in Joshua 6 is doubted by most scholars today.

According to that account, the walls of Jericho suddenly collapsed, and the Israelites were able to enter the city unhindered.

Maura Sala roundly states:

‘No archaeological evidence corroborates the biblical account of what happened in Jericho.’

According to the present scholarly consensus, Jericho was not a walled city at that time (around 1400 BC, if a later date for the exodus is assumed).…

Jesus of judgement

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A bit of an ‘Aha!’ moment came while reading this interview (by Ian Paul) of Andy Angel, vicar of St Andrew’s, Burgess Hill in West Sussex and author of The Jesus You Really Didn’t Know.

Evidently, the thrust of the book is that Jesus, in his teaching as recorded in the Gospels, placed a lot more emphasis on judgement and obedience than many care to acknowledge.

IP: You talk about the prominence of judgement in the teaching of Jesus as an ‘elephant in the room’.…

Christ’s prayer for his people

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A summary of ch. 20 of John Flavel’s The Fountain of Life.

“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, as we are.” John 17:11

This scripture contains the first preparative of Christ for death, whereby he sets his house in order, prays for his people, and blesses them before he dies.…

2 Peter 3:9 – ‘The Lord wishes all to come to repentance’

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2 Peter 3:9 ‘The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.‘

Does this verse support universalism?

According to Barclay (DSB):

‘Ever and again there shines in Scripture the glint of the larger hope. We are not forbidden to believe that somehow and some time the God who loves the world will bring the whole world to himself.’

…

The case against euthanasia

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A summary of The Case Against Euthanasia, by Donald Mcleod (From The Monthly Record, Feb, 1981)

Current publicity probably gives an exaggerated impression of the pro-euthanasia lobby. But the subject cannot be dismissed ‘lightly: ‘respect for human life derives ultimately from the fear of God and that is becoming an increasingly rare commodity.’

Danger highlighted in the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill of Lord Raglan in 1969. The provisions of this were,

  • The patient signed in advance a form requesting “the painless inducement of death” in the event of him contracting an incurable illness.
…

Another silent killer

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Just a few days ago – 1st April 2020 – the number of deaths associated with the coronavirus rose by 563 in a single day.

This is similar to the number of abortions that are carried out in the UK every day of every year.

The first of these situations is regarded as an ’emergency’.  Everyone’s talking about it.  Everyone is affected by it.

The second scarcely raises an eyebrow.  However an abortion may affect those directly involved (the mother and the father, especially), for the rest of us, it’s ‘business as usual’.…

Encouragements to prayer

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  1. An opened way, Heb 10:19-20 ‘We have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.’
  2. A heavenly advocate, Heb 7:25 ‘He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.’
  3. An indwelling Spirit, Rom 8:26 ‘The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.’
…

Reflections of a Christian nurse

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From time to time, during my career as a nurse and nurse educator, I was asked to give a talk on, ‘My faith and my work.’

Here’s what I came up with on one of these occasions.

AS A CHRISTIAN NURSE, I HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT…

1. THE WONDER OF LIFE

As a nurse, I have repeatedly marvelled at the miracle of life itself. I cannot understand how anyone who has witnessed the birth of a baby, or who has studied the workings of the human brain, or who has seen the body’s
remarkable recuperative powers at work, can fail to see in all of these things the wisdom and power of a wise and powerful Creator-God.…

The fear of the Lord

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A term used frequently in Scripture to denote a right attitude towards God.

1. IMPORTANCE

Deut 4: 10 “…that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children so.”

Prov 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Eccle 12:13 “…the whole duty of man.”

Luke 12:4, 5 “…fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell.”…

What can the Coronavirus teach us?

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The number of people, globally, who are known to have been infected by the Coronavirus has just passed the 1 million mark.  Deaths associated with the virus are spiralling.  Expressions such as ‘self isolation’, ‘social distancing’, ‘ramping up’, and ‘shutting down’, have taken on a new meaning and significance.  The race is on to provide more diagnostic tests, discover a suitable treatment, offer enough protective gear to those working on the front line.

But what lessons can we learn, even while we are in the midst of the crisis?…