Philip and the Ethiopian! One.

Controversial Doctrine?

Both Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch are under estimated in the Christian experience, many believing today that this account in the scriptures was never really there?

But this is not true from the point that God was bringing the death and resurrection of Jesus to the Jews in the Horn of Africa! It also shows us the little talked about ministry of Philip who knew that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah of Israel.

The problem with the Ethiopian conversion is that it does not fit the historical reformation doctrines of how sinners are saved, believing in a certain process for that salvation which today has become a mantra in evangelical circles as sometimes the only way?

Faith is not based on a set or process of doctrines, but rather on the power of God to change our hearts, to no longer be hostile to Him. The other reason for the avoidance of dealing with this area is the old one of white racism to black people, and in some cases that not all black Christians are really born-again?

John 1:45, 3:3, 5, 15-21, 31-36, Acts 8:26-39 , Romans 3:22-23, 6:22-23.

Carnivals?

Notting Hill, Reading, Glastonbury!

The justification of sin or just having a good time?

Cultures are different, something that should be considered by all believers in the statement made by the Gospel of John’ For God so loved the World! Controversial because it addresses humanities failure on race and so to Ekklesia that carries the un-repented problem of being in the community of all the same?

We can claim that next weekend will see a rise in crime in W-London with the annual west-Indian/Caribbean street party and much will be reported and addressed in relation to all the negatives of it?

But neither Glastonbury or Reading will receive the same fare reporting of its drug abuse and violent cultures and this is because it will be majority white and civilised over that of black and dark skinned?

Genesis 6:5, 1 Kings 8:39, Job 21:27, Psalm 7:9, 19:14, 139:2, Isaiah 55:8, Jeremiah 11:20, Amos 4:13, Luke 2:35, Acts 1:24, Philippians 2:2, Hebrews 4:12.

May Celebrations?

Fertility Rights!

The traditional May day celebrations around the May pole that many of us once enjoyed as children in Britain seems to have been lost today in hub-bub of religious identity?

This was a pagan festival brought into the Christian tradition marking the fertility rights of the spring season and new life! Even the Roman occupation adapted the festival and added colours to it!

We tend to forget very quickly as the seasons pass in the year the significance of Christmas and Easter, the Ascension and Pentecost as nothing more than another Christian holiday and yet Easter is the most prolific?

Since it deals with the New Life of the individual from the slave master of Satan to the servant of God!

John 5:29, 11:25, Romans 8:11, 1 Peter 3;11.

Identity!

‘Who am I?

Most people at some point in our lives stop to think this deep question, probably when we are going through a stressful period? It is a good question to both ask and ponder upon, because it makes us think that there must be much more to being alive and why are we here?

Creation, the universe and humanity are not complex flukes that science wants us to think, it was all by chance? The fallen nature of everything leads to an end or death, but the Holy Bible tells us a different version that is far more interesting than chance and flukes!

We were created by God before everything else was made that we see and understand! In some ways science has proved that we are made of materials that cannot be seen, such as atoms!

But our condition now is a fallen one, because of sin/failure entering in to spoil Gods order! This condition we have is a terminal illness, but healing can only be found by admitting our wrong, changing our attitudes and finding the forgiveness of God through the ‘Good works of Jesus death on the stake/tree and rising from the dead!

Deuteronomy 7:6-7, Psalm 90:2, John 17:24, 1 Corinthians 11:9, Ephesians 1:4, 2:10, 1 Peter 1:20.