Comments for Psephizo

Comment on Phoebe, carrier of Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians by tgif | Many Things

tgif | Many Things — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:10:11 +0000

[...] Psephizo Phoebe, carrier of Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians [...]

Comment on Phoebe, carrier of Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians by What About “Women Be Silent in the Church”?

What About “Women Be Silent in the Church”? — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:28:54 +0000

[...] in the church in order to read Paul’s letter aloud to the church at Rome (and probably authoritatively answer questions about what Paul meant!); and that the words of Mary, Mother of Christ, are included in our New [...]

Comment on Can I blame the devil for the wrong things I do? by Ian Paul

Ian Paul — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:11:35 +0000

Yes–see you there!

Comment on Can I blame the devil for the wrong things I do? by Golding

Golding — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:04:09 +0000

Just seen the article at Home News in the C of I Gazzette and hope to attend your conference when you get to Dublin ! thank you for all the info in your Blog .

Comment on Can I blame the devil for the wrong things I do? by Ian Paul

Ian Paul — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:47:41 +0000

Thanks for commenting…

Comment on Can I blame the devil for the wrong things I do? by Angela

Angela — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:29:35 +0000

This is a really interesting piece. It raises as many questions as it does give answers, for the devil presents itself in so many ways not least in self doubt, the kind of doubt that causes one to do a Jonah and turn in the opposite direction. The devil has no power, until we ignore the guidance of Jesus. At such times the devil may get for a short while our attention, which itself makes us less able to discern. The bible tells us that Jesus is stronger than the devil, this is true so the first method of the devil is to fill your time,so you cant concentrate on his word, the next is to overload you to reading the bible too often, this is possible, to the point where it cannot be discerned. The devil gets least hold when we are confident and self assured, whilst we are studying and serving resting and playing. But no we cannot blame the devil if we do evil or if we are tempted, but we can take responsibility if we choose to do wrong when the right way has been presented and understood. Understanding is not just about the logistics of the words which are spoken but the application of them at the right time in the right place.

Comment on Seven reasons why I didn’t like Comic Relief 2013 by Ian Paul

Ian Paul — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:54:05 +0000

Michael–thanks for contributing. Good point, well made–thank you.

Comment on Seven reasons why I didn’t like Comic Relief 2013 by Michael Croft

Michael Croft — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 23:17:13 +0000

I came across your post through a friend’s Facebook so forgive me I don’t really know your back story or the influences on your comment. Therefore I do not feel able to be critical or negative about your observations as such and, indeed, I have some sympathy for a number of the points you make and I commend you for speaking up. I am troubled however. I confess I have not worked In Africa and note your comments focus on that continent and Comic Relief’s work there. However I have worked in to challenging inner city parishes in the UK and I have worked with significant numbers of folks living challenging lives (to put it mildly). I ran significant projects attracting funding and interest and generating measurable results. I fear those more likely than others to throw stones and offer negative critiques were Christians. Might i suggest those who want to offer chides and negative critiques might not only tell us but demonstrate another way. So might I ask detractors to consider and to share what they are doing to see Christ and to be Christ in the midst of the abandoned and the abused and the profane. It is surely from wisdom that comes from reflecting on encountering and sharing abandonment that we find the grace and wisdom to inform our criticism and our cynicism.

Comment on Seven reasons why I didn’t like Comic Relief 2013 by John

John — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 10:40:56 +0000

With all these telethons I am rather fed-up with rich people telling poor people like me to donate their money. Yes I believe in charity and most people in the UK are much richer than most people in Africa, but if the presenters got their celeb. friends to donate a percentage of their annual incomes you’d probably raise just as much. It annoys me when such a fuss is made over reaching a couple of million pounds – just an average bonus for many CEO’s or bankers.

It is also cheap tv and cheap advertising for the ‘partner’ companies (I am not knocking the genuine well-meaning efforts of their staff who raise the money). I would rather Sainsburys paid their farmers and other suppliers a fair price for their products.

Comment on Seven reasons why I didn’t like Comic Relief 2013 by Ian Paul

Ian Paul — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 10:18:04 +0000

Ruth, thanks for sharing these observations. I felt the same as you–walking into someone’s home, and the celebrity saying ‘You live…in THIS?’ It really showcased ignorance and cultural insensitivity. What is really surprising is this level of insensitivity when we are now such a multi-cultural society. In most cities you only have to walk a few streets to encounter another culture…

Steve (are you a Steve I know..?) thanks for your comments. Just to pick up on one thing, which someone else commented, my use of ‘pornographic.’ Pornography seems to me to have two distinctive features: it allows you to watch something that you are not actually involved in; and it makes you think you are participating when in fact you are not. It felt to me as though this is exactly what was happening with these videos.

You comment that most people don’t have friends in these contexts. And yet many schools do have exchanges (two of our kids are hoping to go to Ghana with theirs, and my daughter is going to Burma for her year out), and if not these are not difficult to set up. We live in a world of global tourism, yet many people don’t engage with the context they visit. It is my practice always to learn something about the countries I am visiting (even for a weekend conference) and try and learn some vocabulary from the local language. It is this kind of real encounter I would like to see encouraged.