Is it right to be angry in prayer? Is it right to be sad in prayer? Is it right to let our emotions run free when talking to God?
Elijah’s moan
Author: derrickjohnphillips
An ordinary bloke. More than that - an ordinary Christian bloke.
That counts. It means that I live in hope. Not the wishful-thinking kind of hope, but an active hope built on faith and fueled by experience. Becoming old just takes time but, my years have been full of challenges overcome, joys experienced, trials that became valuable lessons, and constant contact with God. When I was young I had a future; now I'm older, I have a past; but I still have a future to look forward to, and there's no end to it.
My career is now in the past. I was once a member of a nationally known Christian rock group and my music hasn't quite gone away (I still play acoustic guitar) but it's no longer at the core of my life. Writing and prayer are now my main occupations - and being a grandfather. The primary passions that are reflected in my writing are Church, Bible, and Prayer.
Did Jesus found the church?
He certainly didn’t set up a multi-national organisation with plush headquarters and a complex hierarchy, nor even a national institution controlling numerous congregations and an imposed Statement of Faith. But the New Testament gives evidence that he went further in the church foundation direction than just selecting the twelve apostles.
The making of Shemayin
I have long wanted to write a fiction story, but I couldn’t find a credible plot. But now I had the first paragraph of what would become the book, “Shemayin”. I had the first idea, but it didn’t have that title, nor a story line, nor any characters – yet!
Burning Bush
Imagine the burning bush as a reflection of Moses. Imagine the burning bush as a reflection of you.
Acting Christians
Which role will we choose for ourselves in this epic play of life? Choose quickly, because someone else may already be selecting a part for us.
Without Doubt
Don't be afraid of doubt - it is an important means of protection and a route to strengthening faith.
Resurrection
The ultimate Christian hope is bodily resurrection in a renewed Earth, but ideas originating in Platonism and Gnosticism have led many believers into a watered-down hope – the prospect of an eternity as disembodied souls in a non- material “heaven”.
Reasonable Holiness
Holiness has become a rarely used word, even in Christian circles. It’s gone out of fashion. Does that matter? Is holiness reasonable and relevant for today? Do we want it? Is it achievable?
A boring documentary
Alone in a hotel room I didn't expect the TV to offer much to interest me, but I came across a documentary that bored into my hidden feelings - grief for my long-dead mother.
Jesus in the Wilderness
Jesus began his ministry following his encounter with John the Baptist. The four Gospels are unanimous about that, and it’s an easy story to understand. But the next story, whilst familiar, is much harder to comprehend. We are presented with a picture of God incarnate in a head-to-head debate with the Devil. What’s happening here?
Derrick John Phillips 