Romans 13:8-14 addresses the concept of love, obedience to authority, and living in the light of Christ’s coming
The Apostle Paul imparts important teachings to the early Christin community in Rome. He begins with a powerful statement: “Owe no one anything except to love one another.” Here, Paul emphasizes the significance of love as the only debt Christians should have. Love, in the context of this passage, refers to the selfless, agape love that mirrors God’s love for humankind.
Paul then continues to emphasize the importance of fulfilling the commandments, particularly “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and other commandments: all summed up in the love for one’s neighbour as oneself. He emphasizes that love is the fulfilment of the law, emphasizing that if one loves their neighbour, they won’t harm or wrong them.
The passage also touches on the idea of obedience to authority. Paul encourages believers to submit to governing authorities, as God has established these authorities to maintain order and justice in society. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of respecting earthly authorities while prioritising obedience to God’s ultimate authority.
Paul then shifts the focus to the urgency of the times, suggesting that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent. He calls on believers to live as if they are in the light of Christ, casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armour of light. This means leading lives characterized by righteousness and holiness, free from sinful behaviour and debauchery.
He advises believers to walk properly, as in the daytime, avoiding revelry, drunkenness, sexual immorality, and quarrelling. Instead, they should “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” and make no provision for the flesh, which implies that they should be spiritually vigilant and not give in to sinful desires.
This passage underscores the importance of love, both in interpersonal relationships and in fulfilling the commandments of God. It also emphasizes obedience to earthly authorities and the need to live a life of righteousness and holiness in anticipation of Christ’s return. It serves as a reminder to Christians of their responsibilities in the world and their hope in the future redemption through Jesus Christ.
This Sunday Devotional follows on from my previous one and details important Christian life lessons from Romans 12:9-21.
The passage emphasizes the importance of sincere and authentic love. Believers are encouraged to love others genuinely, without any pretence or hidden motives. This love should be expressed through actions and should extend to both fellow believers and even those who may be considered enemies.
Believers are called to detest what is evil by refusing to participate in or condone anything that goes against God’s standards of righteousness and goodness.
Christians are encouraged to be devoted to one another in genuine love. This involves showing honour and respect to fellow believers, being hospitable, and actively caring for one another’s needs.
We should bless and not retaliate, instead of seeking revenge or responding in kind to those who do evil, believers are urged to bless them. This involves responding to hostility or mistreatment with acts of kindness and praying for their well-being.
We are to live in harmony with others. The passage emphasizes the importance of living in peace and harmony. Believers are encouraged to be humble, avoiding pride and arrogance, and seeking unity.
Supremely, we are challenged to overcome evil with good. Instead of being overwhelmed by evil, we are instructed to overcome evil with good. This means responding to evil deeds or intentions with acts of goodness, seeking to bring about positive change and transformation.
Overall, Romans 12:9-21 teaches the importance of living a life characterized by genuine love, rejecting evil, and actively pursuing peace and unity with others.
Romans 12:1-8 (click the link to read) is a profound and transformative passage that offers invaluable guidance for Christian living. In these verses, the Apostle Paul addresses the believers in Rome, urging them to embrace a life of devotion, transformation, humility, unity, and service to the community of believers – but here is a message for all of us.
The passage begins with an earnest plea: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” Here, Paul implores believers to dedicate themselves entirely to God, not as lifeless offerings, but as living sacrifices. This act of devotion is portrayed as a response to God’s abundant mercy, representing a reasonable and spiritual form of worship.
Paul then instructs us not to be conformed to the patterns of the world, but to undergo a profound transformation by renewing our minds. This transformation is an integral aspect of Christian life, emphasizing the necessity of breaking free from the negative influences of the secular world and embracing God’s will and wisdom. It serves as a call to seek a deeper understanding of God’s purpose and to align our lives accordingly; accepting, including, and loving everyone with the very love of God.
Verse 3 underscores the importance of humility. Paul encourages us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but to exercise sound judgment. This message promotes a posture of humility, acknowledging that all believers possess distinct gifts and roles within the body of Christ. By recognizing our individual limitations and strengths, we foster an environment of mutual respect and cooperation.
Verses 4-5 employ the metaphor of the body to illustrate the interconnectedness of believers. Just as a human body comprises many parts, each with its unique function, so does the Christian church. Each member possesses a distinctive role and spiritual gift, all indispensable for the proper functioning of the body. This vivid imagery underscores the need for unity within the Christian church community, where no member holds greater or lesser importance than another. The body metaphor highlights the interdependence of believers and encourages cooperation and support among them.
Paul continues by enumerating various spiritual gifts in verses 6-8, including prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy. These gifts are not granted for personal gain, but for the edification and strengthening of the body of Christ. Believers are encouraged to exercise their gifts faithfully and generously, recognizing that they are instruments through which God’s grace and love flow into the community.
These verses stand as a foundational and comprehensive passage outlining essential principles for Christian living. They call for wholehearted devotion to God, transformation through the renewal of the mind, humility in recognizing one’s role, unity within the Christian church community, and the responsible utilization of spiritual gifts. This passage serves as a guide for believers, promoting a life that not only glorifies God, but one that strengthens and enriches the Christian community, ultimately fulfilling the broader mission of the church in the world.
In recent years, the world has witnessed a significant surge in interest and participation in recreational running. Amidst this running boom, a unique and inclusive event called parkrun has gained immense popularity.
Spanning more than twenty countries, parkrun has transformed the way people engage with running, empowering individuals from all walks of life to experience the joy of running in community parks every weekend.
At its core, parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5k run organized by volunteers in local parks. Participants of all ages and abilities are welcome, whether they’re seasoned runners, joggers, walkers, or even strollers with babies. The idea behind parkrun is to create a friendly and supportive environment that encourages physical activity and promotes well-being.
What started as a humble gathering of thirteen runners in Bushy Park, Teddington, UK, in October 2004 has transformed into a global phenomenon. Today, parkrun boasts over 2,000 registered events across 23 countries, with more than six million registered participants. It’s become a powerful catalyst in promoting physical fitness, social inclusivity, and community engagement around the world.
One of the key strengths of parkrun lies in its ability to bring people together. The events are designed to be accessible and welcoming to everyone, regardless of age, gender, socio-economic background, or fitness level. This inclusivity is further exemplified by the volunteer-driven nature of parkrun, as local communities come together to manage and organize each event. These dedicated volunteers play a crucial role in creating a warm and supportive atmosphere for participants, fostering a sense of belonging.
The impact of parkrun extends well beyond the physical exercise itself. Participants often report improved mental health, increased self-confidence, and enhanced social connections because of their involvement. The supportive environment of parkrun encourages many individuals who might have hesitated to participate in organized running events. parkrun provides a platform for personal achievements and mutual encouragement.
Regular participation in parkrun offers numerous health benefits. Engaging in physical activity such as running has been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases, improved cardiovascular health, strengthened bones, enhanced mental well-being, and a boosted immune system. parkrun enables individuals to integrate regular exercise into their weekly routine, contributing to a healthier lifestyle.
parkrun has grown into a global movement, uniting individuals through a shared passion for running, community, and well-being. It offers a unique space for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to come together, celebrate physical activity, and support each other on their fitness journeys.
The success and impact of parkrun lie in its remarkable ability to foster inclusivity, volunteerism, and a sense of belonging. As this global phenomenon continues to grow, it is certain to inspire and encourage even more people to lace up their running shoes and experience the true joy of parkrun.
There’s currently a lot of discussion about inclusion within my Christian faith community, as there is in many churches. Differing views are deeply felt and often strongly expressed.
After a journey of many years in Christian ministry, during which my understanding has deepened, I’ve arrived at the destination of supporting the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people within all Christian churches.
This blog post is not an invitation to argue for or against my position, merely an opportunity for me to share my thoughts. This discussion can be conducted elsewhere.
I haven’t jumped onto a ‘fashionable’ bandwagon; seeking to score points, look good, or start an argument. For me, this a deeply human and faith conviction. All human beings need to be treated with respect. I’m simply seeking to be true to myself and God. Love and peace, John.
Yes, Die Hard was released in July 1988 as a summer blockbuster, but everything about it shouts CHRISTMAS. It’s both a Christmas movie AND a movie set at Christmas. It’s been criticised for its swearing, violence, and moral ambiguity, but it does contain themes of forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, healing, and transformation. It also ends with the characteristic warm glow of Christmas movies. The latter being emphasised by the end credits music Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, a recurring thematic and musical motif throughout the movie.
Die Hard has acquired status as a Christmas movie over the years since its release, although others would totally disagree with this attribution. Both sides can be very vocal when expressing their view, some allowing no discussion – it just IS a Christmas movie.
Let’s consider the evidence. Christmas is integral to the story, John McClane (played by Bruce Willis) was in Los Angeles because of the season. The Nakatomi Plaza (where the action takes place) only had minimal staffing because of the Christmas break, this being the reason why Hans Gruber (played by Alan Rickman) chose Christmas Eve to take over the building. There was a Christmas party happening in the building with the head of the corporation present. One crucial scene features a gruesome, yet humorous reference to Father Christmas, and another references a miracle because it was Christmas. Finally, McClane’s wife is called Holly, and the start of this poem is quoted, ‘Twas the night before Christmas.
All things considered, the action had to take place at Christmas. For me, and for many others, it feels like a Christmas movie, that’s the time of the year I watch it. Therefore, it IS a Christmas movie, end of.
On a special anniversary (16 February 2020) my friend Jemma Smedley posted the story of Alex on Facebook. I was so moved by her story that I was prompted to ask if I could share the story here. With Jemma’s permission and final approval, I’ve edited her words to tell the story as a guest post in Baby Loss Awareness Week.
13 years ago today at 5.30 am our beautiful boy Alex came into the world sleeping, a day when I really thought I was going with him, but let me rewind and tell you the story of Alex Smedley…
It was the day before Valentine’s Day 2007 and off me and Richard went for my 20-week scan at QMC, we were so excited to find out whether our baby was pink or blue. We left Leah and William with my mum and promised to bring a present back from the baby, so first stop when we got to QMC was the shop a Barbie for Leah and a teddy for Will.
Then round to antenatal, booked in and sat waiting for my scan. You watch smiling couples walk out the scan rooms clutching scan photos, thinking that will be me in a minute. My name is called, yeyyyyyy our turn! I lie on the bed, cold jelly on my tummy holding Richard’s hand excited to see our baby, chatting to the lady doing the scan.
I can see the screen, then after a few seconds…silence and the screen is turned away…sorry I just need to get someone else. OK Jemma take a breath, this isn’t happening – I knew what was coming!
I’m silent, yet in my head I’m screaming. Another senior sonographer comes in, and they whisper while I stare at the ceiling in the dark and Rich squeezes my hand then the words, “we are so sorry we can’t find a heartbeat your baby has died at around 18 weeks.”
I ask them to check again, “there is nothing we are so sorry.” I see for myself, hands feet arms legs nose and face perfect outline of our baby, but no heartbeat. Gone, but still there inside my tummy, safe and warm. I cry, the tears won’t stop, I’m trying to wipe the jelly off my bump while I stand up. Now what do I do?
We were taken into a side room with pictures of lilies on the wall, and Miscarriage Association leaflets on the table with a box of tissues. This is the room no parent ever wants to enter, but here I am with Richard and a lovely woman. She’s talking asking me how I want to deliver my baby. What I think is, is she joking, not a chance they are taking him, I’m off home. I heard inducing labour with tablets or operation, at that I was out of the door, nope I’m keeping him, and I was sobbing and crying for Rich to take me home!
That’s where I went, home. I walked into the house and straight upstairs, I sat there numb. Leah and Will came up, I gave them their presents and told them that Alex sent them, but he had to go to heaven.
The hospital rang to say if I hadn’t started to lose Alex in 2 days I had to go back, that gave me 2 days with him. So, Valentine’s Day came, and Rich had twelve roses delivered from Harvey Nichols, they were stunning. I stood up to sort them, and blood was gushing everywhere. Shit, what had I done by coming home!!
An ambulance was called, and off I went to hospital. I was admitted onto the gynaecology ward to save me having to go to maternity with all the new mums and babies. By now it was late, the bleeding had stopped, and I was told get some rest, we will scan you in the morning…and they did. Great, back to antenatal to sit with all the pregnant women going for their scans!
I’m sat in my dressing gown hooked up to a drip in a wheelchair with blood shot eyes when just 2 days ago I was one of them, into the scan room I go. Cold jelly, screen turned away, until I say no I want to see; and there again is my perfect beautiful boy. still safe in my tummy. I remember smiling just looking at his silhouette, and I asked for pictures of every angle, as I knew this was the last time I would see him.
Up on the ward I’m told that I’m booked in later for that day to have an operation. The anaesthetist came, forms were signed, I asked for the Chaplain, and I cry as she prays for Alex and tells me about the ceremony and cremation he will have at Wilford Hill. I felt better that he was going to have a Christian funeral, and we could go to the service of remembrance. The day dragged, I’m nil by mouth, waiting, waiting, waiting, then I’m told my operation will be tomorrow as they’d had an emergency. Fine, I get to keep him a bit longer. Richard visited me; we didn’t have much to say as we were both just numb. What do you say?
I lie awake watching the car park out of my window. I must have fallen asleep as it’s still dark outside. Suddenly, I’m woken by pain ripping across my stomach, I manage to get to the loo on the ward and OMG, blood everywhere again, I pull the red cord, alarms go off, I’m put in a wheelchair, and taken back to my bed. The contractions are coming thick and fast. I’m screaming in pain. At 5.30am I push Alex out, still in his amniotic sack, protected in his little bubble. The lovely young nurse carries him in her hands out of the curtain as I lie there, I feel a warm sensation by my feet, I look down and the bed is soaked in blood. I’m surrounded by doctors sticking drips in every vein possible, being told I need to go to theatre as the placenta is just bleeding out and it’s stuck.
The red button’s hit at the back of my bed, alarms sound. I’m dizzy, not quiet with it, and absolutely terrified, screaming for Richard. The porter comes with a bed, the nurse said no time to transfer me, I need to get to theatre now as they were waiting for me.
The porter runs with my bed, all I can see is the lights on the ceiling flashing by, the young nurse that took Alex is running by my side holding my hand, I feel the mask on my face and I’m gone…
…I wake up shivering in recovery, hooked up to fluids and blood. I’m soon back on the ward. I’m now known as the lady that lost her baby. The other patients were lovely, one even ringing her sister to bring me a cake in at visiting time and asking to see my scans.
The doctor that looked after me came to see me and hugged me. He told me I was as white as a ghost, but at one point he thought I was going to be a ghost! Two days later, I went home. I had Alex’s remembrance service at the hospital to go to, losing Alex broke me in more ways than I can say. When I lost the twins, we didn’t have any other children. People understood that we were childless, so we got support then. With Alex, it was “Oh, at least you have Leah and William.” The support wasn’t there. I do remember Richard’s dad buying me three boxes of chocolates. though he said nothing. But he didn’t need, to it was his way of saying sorry.
Today, I tell our story. We remember you; we miss you, but most of all we love you. Happy 13th birthday, my beautiful boy.
In September 2020 I took Freddy with me to do some jobs in Stockton-on-Tees town centre, but we also had some fun and did some sightseeing.
Freddy got soaking wet in the fountains and had to walk back to the car in wet shorts and bare feet, fortunately there were some spare clothes in the car. You can see the photos here.
We also had a walk along the riverside, passing a striking piece of constantly moving public art entitled Aeolian Motion (Phil Johnson). It was erected in March 2001 as part of a regeneration plan for the area and was inspired by the endless flow of the river and its rich history (see plaque below).
A few years ago (actually more years than I care to remember) I travelled to Bristol with Sarah on the first stage of her journey back to Bologna, Italy. I arrived back home in the early hours after driving in temperatures down to -9.0C at some points on the M5 and M42. But it was only later that I found out something interesting.
We had passed Pestilence Lane, and I wondered about the name. I looked it up and found the following information about Alvechurch in Worcestershire. Half the population died of the Black Death in the 14th Century and local tradition has it that the bodies are buried on the outskirts of the village in Pestilence Lane.
This may or may not be true, but the story was taken very seriously when the M42 motorway was being planned. Test pits were dug in Pestilence Lane and the samples were checked for traces of contagious diseases.
Nothing was found and the Hopwood Services were built on the site in 1998. Not a bad name, but ‘Pestilence Services’ would have far been more interesting.
My main everyday watch is a Casio G-Shock that’s radio-controlled and solar-powered, and I absolutely love it. Imagine my feelings when the analogue hands went out of alignment and nothing I tried fixed the problem! Fortunately, I found this video and solved the problem.
I share the video here in case anyone else has the same problem.
Video Description: Although it should be rare, it is possible that the hands on an analog/digital watch will drift out of alignment with the digital time display. If the analogue time and the digital time don’t match, there’s a simple way to adjust the hands and bring them into sync again with the digital time.
In this video I demonstrate the hand realignment process. These instructions are specific to models of the Casio G-Shock AWG-M100 watches or any other watch which might use Casio’s Model 5230, like the AWG-M510. You can download the complete, official manual for that module from Casio’s website.
These watches are shock-resistant but it’s still possible that extreme shocks, shaking, hard knocks, etc. can cause the hands to drift out of alignment. Another possible cause for an alignment problem might be that the watch has been exposed to strong magnetism. Have no fear. Just try this simple procedure then protect your watch from shocks and magnetism and, in almost all cases, you won’t have an alignment problem again. If you’re asking “Why don’t the watch hand match the time?” or “Why are the G-Shock hands out of sync?” or “Why are the hands off?” …then maybe this video will help you. Greg Anderson.
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