The Storeroom

From Paul, a servant and a apostle of Christ Jesus, and Richard his brother,

Grace and Peace.

Our brother Richard has reported that in the 21st century some are accusing me of supporting the practice of slavery. It did take me some time in Arabia to realise that the Gospel of our Lord would impact this practice. It is also true that my main emphasis is to preach Christ knowing that His presence in you will bring about reform in every area of society.

However, I must implore you to examine my writings more closely to see my three pronged attack on this abomination.

First, you will see that my letter to the church at Ephesus and elsewhere I have commanded slaves and masters to treat each other differently because of our Lord Jesus Christ. If this command were viewed apart from my other writings then I can understand the above assumption. However, this first step is very important. By expecting Christian slaves to work as if they were working for our heavenly master they will grow in self respect. Their increased efforts will alter the manner in which fair minded masters treat them. More importantly, my reminder to the masters that there is really only one master who treats us all equally will, upon reflection, begin to transform people’s thinking. These words will have been read in the mixed company of the church. The concept that God has no partiality and that slaves and masters are equal are completely revolutionary, as is the whole Gospel. The transformation will begin from small home church communities.

Through these writings and others that I will refer to in my next e-pistle you will understand my opposition to slavery and my determination to bring the ownership of human beings to an end.

How sad that many who criticise me do so little to end trafficking in their own generation, even eating foods produced by slaves.

I will send Richard to you soon.

Grace to all those who love the Lord Jesus with a love incorruptible.

Paul

I am the proud father of two teenage boys and one tweenage boy. They always do their homework, never fight, don’t answer back and I can’t stop them doing chores around the house! Some of you aren’t so lucky so to join with you in what might feel like a daily FAIL I’m inventing imaginary children. These children are entirely fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, in my house, is purely coincidental.

My eldest daughter is Jemima. She is nearly 17, blonde and beautiful like her mother and loves boys. She recently passed nine GCSEs with four A*s, three A’s, one B and one C which is far better than we imagined. Every weekend she argues with Susanna about what she wears, from the length of the skirt to whether the colours match. We monitor her Facebook and are deeply shocked by the explicit things her friends say. While she doesn’t say them she says that’s normal and that we’ve got no idea. We’re soooooo old.

Two of her close friends got caught up with the London riots. They stole ‘loads’ of clothes and one has been arrested but wasn’t charged. I suggested that she should report the other one but she said that’s not what friends do. I wondered what I should do, particularly when you see the size of the sentences they’re giving out. When her old best friend was dropped (if that’s the current term) by her looting boyfriend, she reported him to the police. He lost his management training career and was given six months in jail. Thank God we were on holiday.

I really love imaginary Jemima but she’s growing up so fast. She’s not just daddy’s little girl anymore and often doesn’t want to talk at all.

And then there’s Isaiah…

He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
- Matthew 13: 52

I enjoy sharing the message of God’s love for humans from the Bible and the massive implications that has for all of life.

As a result, I will beg borrow and steal to stock a storeroom of stories, quotes, anecdotes and pictures. They are old and new, funny and sad, mundane and extraordinary.

This is the place to sample my store and put some things in. Then I won’t have to steal!

Here’s my first entry…

How to bluff at being a deep Bible Teacher - part 1?
Many of you teach the Bible in churches, house groups, Sunday School and so on. You will know that if you want to make a real impact it’s really hard. As well as studying the text and the experts you have to study presentation techniques, voice, body language, PowerPoint, and think deeply about your audience.

Sometimes that’s too hard when there is something good on the television. So here are some ideas for pretending to be really deep, learned and profound in the absence of a message that impacts people’s lives.

Never, ever, admit to reading a book

The exception to this vital rule is if the book has only just been published. Then you have to say that you are reading, for example, John Piper’s new book. The word ‘new’ is very important.

Now you might be wondering how you can impress people with your reference to CS Lewis or Calvin. That’s why I am here.

Always, always, say that you were rereading it. This is what you say. Recently, I was rereading The Screwtape Letters, Augustine’s Confessions or John Wesley’s journal. Then when your audience have no idea what you’re talking about or how your points fit together they will think that it’s their fault. If the preacher has read and reread all the great and good of Christian history, then they are obviously too shallow to understand and your reputation improves.

You can watch The Simpsons and be deep.