Israel-Palestine: Who's Side am I on?

I was asked today what my thoughts on Gaza was. My first thought is this when it comes to anything geo-political: The state of Gaza is merely a geo-political concept, so too is Israel and Ireland and Britain and any other country that claims to exist.

On talking further it was clear that the discussion was more about whose side I was on. I just got the sense that the conversation was essentially a fishing for a condemnation of the attack on Gaza by Israel.

I won’t condemn the indiscriminate attack on innocent men, women and children no matter who is doing it. It doesn’t matter to me if you are pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian or anti these. It doesn’t matter to me if you are unionist of republican.

Your Tears Touch the Eternal

I love that feeling you get in your throat when you are trying to talk while holding back the tears.

I love it because it means that there exists something or someone that means something to you.

It means that you have touched the unseen world where love, compassion and beauty exists.

It means that you have learned to love and feel love.

In that moment just before tears where the throat is tight and you are rendered speechless you have touched the eternal.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:18

Amen

5 Steps to Becoming a Christian Mystic

Hi folks, I'm back after my break.

During my time away I thought about what I feel is missing in the on line Christian realm is some shred of mysticism. The online sphere seems to be all about either fundamentalism or anti-fundamentalism and it is laden with debate. I’d like to get the ball rolling by giving this simple 5 Step guide to becoming a mystic.

5 Steps to Becoming a Christian Mystic
1. Begin by Praying
2. Then Pray again
3. Then you should Pray some more
4. Then take some time out to Pray
5. Then when you’re done Praying, pray some more.

15 Weird Bible Verses

Kings 2:23

There's no doubt that it's a weird and wonderful Bible that we have. The mixture of time, culture, language and geography have yielded a strange and interesting book that never fails to amuse, repulse and engage on every page. There is no doubt that there are some weird stories in the Bible and here are 15 of the weirdest. One must remember that these must be understood in their historical and cultural context. If ever you are in doubt always think, what would Jesus say of this verse. We must always remember that all Scripture must be understood in light of the Gospel. Would you add any to the list?

Final Thought for Fred Phelps

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
(Mat 7:15-20 ESV)

Unfortunately we are still left with the rotting fruit, but hopefully this will soon decay.