Jun
14
2008
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Happy Father's Day - "Daddy"... |
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Written by Paul Anderson-Walsh
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Saturday, 14 June 2008 |
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“Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys.” –
Author Unknown
June 15th is Father’s Day. It is a day that is set aside to recognise and honour the role of fathers in our society. This year these celebrations will be especially mooted in some circles in the UK as this is the year that our government (to its shame) past The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill as the London Times put it, “Women win the right to children without fathers” (The Times May 21 2008). I am neither a politician nor a fundamentalist but it seems to me that we are sleepwalking our way into a place that we’d be wise not to venture. I agree with Sigmund Freud’s observation when he said “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.”
As someone who grew up never knowing his father (I was raised in an orphanage) I am dumfounded by the idea that anyone should feel it appropriate to say that a child has no need of a father. As a pastor and counsellor I can tell you that the single biggest problem facing our country and many of the countries that I visit is one of “father-less-ness” it is a crisis that knows no limit. I am not saying that a single parent cannot bring up her children adequately far from it. Many of the mothers that I have the privilege of pastoring do a fantastic job of raising their children by themselves. Moreover, many married women, let alone single-mums have to do precisely that as their husbands whilst physically present are often emotionally absent from the home. What I am saying is that is children need the positive affirming influence of a resonant father-figure in their lives. I think that in the absence of a paternal father being that ‘father-figure’ is one of the most important contributions that Christian men can make to the spiritual communities in which they serve.  Comments (1) |  Add as favourites (74) |  Quote this article on your site | Views: 2713
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 31 July 2008 )
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Jun
09
2008
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The Key to Understanding Luke Part 1 |
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Written by Paul Anderson-Walsh
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Monday, 09 June 2008 |
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In previous studies we have considered the operation of the Spirit in the life of Jesus in terms of the his advent and his initiating the Kingdom. In Matthew Jesus is king, (Matt 27:37) In Mark he is prophet (Mark 6:4) and in John he is portrayed as priest (John 2:21) In Matthew and Mark we emphasized the authority of Jesus and the conflict between the kingdom of light and the powers of darkness. In John’s gospel the emphasis shifted to the accomplished work of Jesus and the anticipation of the Spirit. In John we saw that the activities of Jesus were rooted in faith, underscoring John’s overriding objective that his readers might believe and go on believing.
In Luke/Acts we will see the source of the activities of Jesus is the anointing and as we enter into ‘The Age of the Spirit’ we will see the seed that the Sower of Life scattered, take root in the hearts of believers, they too are empowered in like manner to do the works that Jesus did. Luke unites these themes of prophet, priest and king.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 31 July 2008 )
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Jun
09
2008
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Written by Paul Anderson-Walsh
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Monday, 09 June 2008 |
An Ontario Outpouring
It’s been the hottest June on record here in Ontario Canada. Hayley and I arrived on Thursday for the weekend’s Made to be Free conference which is being hosted by Grace Walk Canada (GWC) which is run by Mike Zenker. We arrived here with a heightened sense of expectation, having left London where things have been hotting up in the Spirit and having returned home from the church in Finland where we had also seen encouraging evidence of the murmurings of the Spirit.
Ever since I started to teaching consistently into what I call the “teenage phase” of the grace walk we have begun to see and sense his presence in greater measure. I have been contemplating why it is that we are beginning to see evidence. Was it I wondered because we are in the early stages of a charismatic renewal or was it in fact that we are renewed charismatics? I am beginning to realise that it is the latter. At our Bible School, Grace Central Dr. Peter Rowe and I are currently leading our students through a module on the Roots of Pentecostalism which has been really instructive. Without doubt Pentecostalism has a chequered history, one of both glory and shame. However, it is a history that we can learn from and it is a history that we can contribute to by adding more to the glory years if we learn the lessons of the past.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 31 July 2008 )
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