“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17 [KJV] Wood stove I’ve recently been house-sitting in the country. One evening, as a storm rattled the house, I sat ‘cosied up’ by the wood heater in the lounge room. The glow of the charring wood mirrored my inner satisfaction: after two failed attempts, I was confident that I had built a fire that would burn for hours. You see, I’m still learning how to run a wood heater. So far, I’ve discovered that if you d

“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.” Romans 16:1-2 [KJV] Monarch butterfly Some of my recent research into the role of women in the church has involved looking up what celebrity preachers say about female preachers and pastors. Now, I don’t ta

Scripture references: 1 Kings 17, Luke 4:24-27 The woman walked slowly towards the city gates, shading her eyes from the burning sun. The ground was cracked with drought; not a single leaf or blade of grass remained. In her hand were two twigs, just enough to make one small fire. By the city gate sat an old man, hunched over against a rock. She shuddered and turned her head away, pulling her headscarf a little tighter to block him from view. “I ought to be used to such sights