I little imagined that after posting my “Tommy Robinson is a hero” blog five days ago (see here) things would blow up the way they have, bringing together some seemingly unrelated interests.
Continue readingAuthor Archives: John
Tortured for Christ – a message for our time
Yesterday, I finished reading a book: “Tortured for Christ”, which I had previously read and was moved by when a young Christian, mindful of how Christians suffered under Communism. The book had earlier been given to my wife by a Romanian Lady who attends our church. Today, another friend posted the following text, titled FORGIVENESS, LOVE AND DEATH, on his Facebook page …
Continue readingConspiracy theories; conspiracy facts and the right approach
I was recently sent a meme (see below) by a well-meaning friend, who no doubt felt this was a timely corrective knowing my propensity to entertain what are known as conspiracy theories.
Continue readingTommy Robinson is a hero
“Tommy Robinson, aka Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed for breaching an injunction by repeating libellous claims he made about a 15-year-old refugee, Jamal Hijazi. Jamal was filmed being assaulted in a playground attack at his school, before Robinson made a series of false claims about him. Musk’s call to free Robinson is ignorant, self-serving and dangerous”.
Continue readingThe Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and Christ in the Old Testament
Oops – missed this by a day … the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ is on 1 January in the liturgical calendar of some churches, including Anglican ones, that celebrate special days.
Continue readingHappy Hanukkah
My thoughts recently turned to Hanukkah. Wikipedia (see here) tells us: “Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE …”
Continue readingJohn Barber’s end of year (2024) newsletter
It often happens, especially at Christmas / New Year time, when folk meet up, either in person or remotely, e.g. via the Internet, that questions are asked on the lines: what have you been up to (in the past year) and what are your plans (for the year to come). I want to pre-empt such questioning (but with a light touch because it is in the public domain) with this letter that is kept brief for easy reading.
Continue readingGot Questions and “the Consolation of Israel”
In recent years, I discovered, and ever since have regularly resorted to, a resource called “Got Questions”, which I often defer to when researching some biblically related subject. While not telling me everything I want to know, nor do I agree with everything set out, I invariably find it tells me some of the things that I need to know.
Continue readingMagnus Carlsen has been DISQUALIFIED from the World Chess Championship
It was only just over two weeks ago that I posted my “The 2024 World Chess Championship – some thoughts” (see here) blog making the point that I am a chess enthusiast and have been since I was a boy, yet admitting my own abilities are modest and I only play occasionally these days but that I am fascinated by what happens when chess is played at the highest level. Not only do I enjoy seeing excellent play but I love observing the human and psychological aspects, taking comfort even top players blunder.
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