K-Pop Demon Hunters is absolutely over the top, in the best possible way. The film is funny, delightfully quirky, and bursting with playful animation. The soundtrack is ridiculously catchy and the characters turn out to be more layered than you might expect. But given the themes of witchcraft, demons and idols should Christian parents let their children watch this movie? Many Christian commentators say No. But our guest review Elise Harden shows that great Christian truths shine through in this animated film.
There’s a strong case against organised religion. But two things are worth considering. The Bible, a religious text, teaches that organised religion can go very wrong. And yet, the Bible also teaches that Jesus’ plan was organised religion - the church. For organised religion, like organised crime, does it better.
In the letter of James Christians are called to consider our trials and problems with great joy because of what God is doing through them. He loves us too much to leave us unchanged. This poem, The Weaver, beautifully captures the mystery of God’s great work in our lives.
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Can ChatGPT help us get further than blind men with an elephant when it comes to ultimate reality? I thought it was worth asking the question.
Kind words matter more than ever. Have you heard them?
Photo (Facebook/Aleeia Abraham)
In Queens, NYPD officers kneeled alongside demonstrators as civilians read the names of black people killed by police throughout the years. (Channel 9)
Without healthy teaching (sound doctrine) God’s people cannot live the lives that God desires for us and our mission to the world is crippled. But with godly thinking from godly teaching comes a godly life. Christians need sound doctrine.
A really simple key to reading the Bible is to notice what the writer repeats. You’ll learn a lot more from this than from verses of the day or from a Bible streak on an app that throws up random verses each morning.
Until this year, the sure way to kill a conversation or slay a whole dinner party was to raise the topic of death. Unless, of course, it was a horrific public murder. But otherwise, even alluding to death was the social equivalent of deliberately insulting the party host. But, now, death is trending on twitter.
So, what does it say about the human heart that the overflow is spit? And what does it say when one person thinks another person deserves their phlegm?
Photo with thanks - By Asael Peña on Unsplash
In anxious times we look for help. Our true help is not the government, nor our own strength and power. Our true help is our creator, God. He is our protection and the one who can protect us even in death. Is God the one you look to in anxious times?
The fear of death has mastery over us, and we are captive to it. It does more than influence us. It controls us. This is why we stockpile toilet paper, sanitiser and rice. It is the reason some of us might pull a knife and it is the reason those in the past abandoned their loved ones. The fear of death is greater than we realise.
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This world is not enough. Yes, it’s the name of a not great 1990’s Bond film with Pierce Brosnan, but it also how we are all living now. We live like this world is not enough. And you’re right. This world is not enough.
Read Mark’s Gospel in just 21 days, taking 10-15 minutes a day. You could read most of these in 5-6 minutes giving you 10 minutes to think about what you’ve read.
BTW - Ignore the headings in most printed Bibles. They are a distraction from the flow and connections!
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Does Jesus have the right to rule?
I recently watched the new movie about Henry 5th – The King. He is a young King who wants to unite England under his rule. One of the key questions threaded through the movie is – does he have what it takes to rule? Can be bring the people of England together under his rule and what will it take?
Jesus says he is bringing the Kingdom of God. Does he have the right to rule? Mark’s Gospel answers this question.
What is it about Brooklyn 99? I’ve got so many friends who love the show. It could be the comedy, which is awesome, but I think it is more than the comedy. There is something deeper on going that speaks to our hearts during the laughs.
Over one summer in Sydney, Jesus thundered into my mind. Before that summer, Jesus was insipid in my mind. He was a slight, white figure with no power, no majesty and no strength. Yes, I knew he went to the cross for me, but it seemed a passive path, with a sad inevitability about it. But as I met Jesus in Mark’s gospel I was stunned by the strength of his character and deliberate desire to offer himself on the Cross.
The next few blog posts are written to help you read Mark’s Gospel.
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In my life the Bible has been a bright light shining in a dark world. It has been a living word in which I’ve heard the very voice of God. Now, many might recoil at this wild and dangerous assertion by a church pastor. So let me show you that this wild and dangerous assertion is made by the Bible itself.
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Read and apply these principles and your understanding of God’s word, the Bible, will be transformed.
Every church, except the really kooky ones, say that they teach God’s word, the Bible? But are they really? Here’s six questions to help you evaluate the teaching at your church.
Photo: Unsplash. Samantha Sophia
Dear Marty, all those issues that you raised that make you disbelieve and that no one talks about, the Bible talks about them. A lot! I’m so sorry. Your church should have been talking about them because the Bible talks about them.
A friend sent me a meme on Leviticus 19:19. The meme was confrontational and deliberately offensive. Since Christians wear polyester and cotton socks which are a blend of two materials – they break Leviticus 19:19. ‘Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.’ So, how can Christians say anything about sexual ethics or anything else that might spring from Leviticus as a standard since they break the rules themselves?
The Bible can seem overwhelming but once you know the key theme that gives a framework for the Bible things really start to change. And once you start to understand the timeline (chronology) even more things fall into place. Download these two PDF files to help you read the whole Bible and understand it.
With thanks to Aaron Burden Unsplash.com for the original image. This is an edited picture.
A review of three Children’s Bibles that will help kids understand God’s great love for them in Jesus.
