Is it wrong to call Jesus a Jew? Several Christian social media influencers have recently downplayed or denied Jesus’ Jewishness. But it isn’t a recent phenomenon. There is a trend to call Jesus a Palestinian rather than a Jew. This comes to the forefront every Christmas and often driven by people like Palestinian … [Read more...]
About Alf Cengia
Words and the Gaza Genocide
Words and the Gaza genocide: Words do things. Words matter. Words are vital in speech and writing. Picking out the right words enhances communication. However, using the wrong words in certain circumstances has a deleterious effect on the receiver, and often the subject of those words. Take this short phrase … [Read more...]
Eustace Becomes a Dragon
Eustace Clarence Scrubb was a character from C. S. Lewis' Narnian Chronicles. He was the Pevensie children's rotten little cousin - the sort of kid one doesn't like having around. He's introduced to us at the start of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader where we find him mercilessly taunting Lucy and Edmund Pevensie. Later … [Read more...]
The Blessed and Boundless God
The Blessed and Boundless God - a book by George Swinnock, and edited by J. Stephen Yuille. The book is published by Reformation Heritage Books (Paperback 170 pages). You can read a short biography of George Swinnock (1627-1673) at A Puritan's Mind. It also has some PDF format links to his works. His full set of … [Read more...]
The Importance of Regular Prayer Meetings
The importance of regular prayer meetings must not be underestimated. The saints of long ago who witnessed revivals regularly prayed together. This isn't to say that their prayers brought about revival. It is more complicated than that. But there was a definite connection. My small involvement in prayer … [Read more...]
Christians and Courage that Matters
What is courage? According to the dictionaries courage, or bravery, is the ability to something which frightens one. It is the mental and moral willingness to act on one's beliefs despite danger, difficulty or disapproval. It's important to note individuals who act bravely or exhibit courage aren't necessarily moral … [Read more...]
On Aslan and the Reading of Many Books
On Aslan and the reading of many books - "going forward" I'll (hopefully) be buying fewer and reading more books. This sounds somewhat contradictory. But it makes sense in my personal situation. I am that classic Bookworm. Yet over the years my focus has changed. I need to rethink my strategy. New Age, … [Read more...]
Many antichrists among us
While we tend to think of The Antichrist as a single future figure, there are already many antichrists among us. It has been the case from the beginning of the church. Ian Hamilton’s study of John’s Letters is helpful. He notes that belief and behavior are inseparable, and that what you believe ought to shape how … [Read more...]
Charles Spurgeon on Expecting Christ’s Second Coming
Charles Spurgeon gave Christians advice on expecting Christ's Second Coming. He wrote that we should live as if it would happen today. Do we live it? The two quotes below come from Spurgeon's Twelve Sermons on the Second Coming of Christ. Spurgeon's Advice Oh, Beloved, let us try, every morning, to get up as if … [Read more...]
A Covenant Keeping God
We worship a covenant keeping God. Our salvation depends upon that fact. If God doesn't keep His word, we can't depend upon promises such as John 3:16. The question is: Has God yet to fulfill covenant promises to Israel? Covenant Theology attempts to unify the Old and New Testaments around the Covenant of redemption, … [Read more...]
