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Psalms for Everyone - How to Pray for the Government
Psalms for Everyone - How to Pray for the Government
by SPCK - John Goldingay
How to Pray for the Government Psalm 72: 1-17 The phrase “It’s the economy, stupid,” played a key role in Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. Most people are not really interested in foreign policy or other such important issues but in whether they are feeling financially …
Job for Everyone - If Only Wickedness Did Get Its Reward
Job for Everyone - If Only Wickedness Did Get Its Reward
by SPCK - John Goldingay
If Only Wickedness Did Get Its Reward! Job 21: 1-34 Two or three years before I write, the United States and the Western world as a whole experienced a “great financial meltdown,” with a significant factor in the crisis being the way financial institutions lent money for mortgage…
Exodus and Leviticus - Improving on Creation
Exodus and Leviticus - Improving on Creation
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Improving on Creation LEVITICUS : 19: 19- 20:27 When a man and his wife are about to go out and the wife asks whether she looks okay, the appropriate answer is “You look lovely” (not “Maybe that dress and those shoes don’t go together”). If she then says, “Is that what you really…
Psalms for Everyone - In the Dark of the Canyon
Psalms for Everyone - In the Dark of the Canyon
by SPCK - John Goldingay
In the Dark of the Canyon Psalm 23 In the foothills of the mountains near where we live is a retreat center where we have a faculty gathering each fall. Two years ago a new director at the center gave us some advice we had not been given before. If we met a bear on the grounds, w…
Job for Everyone - Leviathan
Job for Everyone - Leviathan
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Leviathan Job 41:1- 34 My wife is a bit apprehensive about monsters and can occasionally be scared for a moment by a shadow that might be some strange creature. For our honeymoon she was nevertheless keen to go to Scotland, from where her ancestors came, even though Scotland is a…
1 and 2 Samuel for Everyone - Leaderly Calculation and Mother Love
1 and 2 Samuel for Everyone - Leaderly Calculation and Mother Love
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Leaderly Calculation and Mother Love 2 Samuel 19: 41- 21: 22 We care about what happens to the bodies of our loved ones. My wife and I long ago agreed that we would be cremated and then have our ashes scattered in the valley where we had spent the first night of our honeymoon. No…
Numbers and Deuteronomy for Everyone - Kings, Priests, Levites, Prophets
Numbers and Deuteronomy for Everyone - Kings, Priests, Levites, Prophets
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Kings, Priests, Levites, Prophets Deuteronomy 17: 14- 18: 22 In the seminary where I taught in England, from time to time we would have someone delivering a prophetic message in the context of worship. Generally these messages were reassuring and general, promising people God’s l…
Numbers and Deuteronomy for Everyone - Justice and Only Justice ( Absolute Faithfulness)
Numbers and Deuteronomy for Everyone - Justice and Only Justice ( Absolute Faithfulness)
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Justice and Only Justice Deuteronomy 16: 18- 17: 13 The last time I took a student group to Israel, among the speakers we had in the evenings was a Christian Palestinian Israeli called Naim Ateek; his son was subsequently a student at our seminary. Dr. Ateek was born in Palestine…
Joshua, Judges and Ruth for Everyone - Meanwhile, in the Whorehouse
Joshua, Judges and Ruth for Everyone - Meanwhile, in the Whorehouse
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Meanwhile, in the Whorehouse JOSHUA 2: 1-24 In this commentary, Joshua 2 is the only chapter for which I will not attempt to provide an opening story in accordance with the usual format of The Old Testament for Everyone series. How could I compete with this actual story about the…
Genesis for Everyone Part 1 - Never Again
Genesis for Everyone Part 1 - Never Again
by SPCK - John Goldingay
Never Again Genesis 8: 21b- 9: 4 A few years ago, a couple who were friends of mine left the seminary and moved to another part of the country; he, to be a pastor; she, to be a counselor. We kept in occasional touch through e-mail, and it eventually emerged that their marriage wa…
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The First Sunday of Epiphany Year C
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The First Sunday of Epiphany Year C
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The First Sunday of Epiphany Isaiah 43.1–7 Acts 8.14–17 Luke 3.15–17, 21–2 The first three Gospels all have the story of Jesus’ baptism by John in very similar words. John’s version of events, as so often, is slightly different – you might like to go and have a look at it in John…
Poem: Evil intention, skilful deception
Poem: Evil intention, skilful deception
by Andrew Pratt
Poem: Evil intention, skilful deception Evil intention, skilful deception, Herodias plotting, bent on revenge; heart fired by hatred, nothing now sacred, John's words of judgment she'd need to avenge… Continues Andrew Pratt (born 1948) Words © 30/6/2012 Stainer & Bell Ltd, Lond…
The crisis had come, now they had to decide
The crisis had come, now they had to decide
by Andrew Pratt
The crisis had come, now they had to decide, to grasp what was safe, or to go with the tide. For Jesus was calling, and what would they say, would their actions say 'yes' or their words ring out 'nay'? He said, 'follow, follow, come on follow me, leave your nets and your lifestyl…
Times and Seasons - This is the Baptist, unkempt and yet ready
Times and Seasons - This is the Baptist, unkempt and yet ready
by Andrew Pratt
This is the Baptist, unkempt and yet ready, calling the people to listen and act; calling them down to the water for washing, talking of holiness, Godliness, fact. This is the man who will call to repentance fisherman, Pharisee, zealot and priest; here in the river the sinners wi…
Rhythms of remembering - Ordinary Time - Saturday Morning Prayer
Rhythms of remembering - Ordinary Time - Saturday Morning Prayer
by SPCK - Hannah Ward & Jennifer Wild
ORDINARY TIME - Saturday Morning Prayer Blessed are you, O God: you renew us with your goodness and loving-kindness. New every morning is the love Our wakening and uprising prove; Through sleep and darkness safely brought, Restored to life and power and thought...
the greatest prayer - Our Father in Heaven