Cert: 12A
Out now
In the near future, Frank, a retired burglar, is becoming increasingly forgetful. His family, worried that he's going senile, buy Frank a robot helper. At first, Frank is very resistant to any technological assistance... until he realises that a conscience-free robot could help resurrect his unlawful career in burglary.
This is a very unusual movie. It's a science-fiction film yet the world is very similar to ours, with a few notable advances in technology. It's a film about family relationships and yet they mostly don't seem to care very much for each other. It's a film about an ex-con and yet he doesn't seem to regret or repent of his unlawful past. Most of all it's a film that heart-breakingly details a man struggling with the onset of old age and a failing mind.... continue reading
I got up early this morning keen to get out of the house, on the road and into the office to start work.
Tea made, lunches prepared for daughters, dog fed, Bible read. So far so good.
Then it started to go wrong.
The delivery man with the weeks' shop was late. I would normally set my watch by him at 7am on the dot. But today no explosion of barking from dog at the expected moment. Just silence. When he arrives with apologies, it all takes too long to sort out.... continue reading
This weekend a magazine insert caught my eye. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a leaflet widely distributed before. It was a leaflet from an organization which offers assisted-suicide services at their premises in Switzerland.
It is not news that some diseases in this fallen world bring terrible suffering. Nor is it a surprise that human beings wish to escape the pain that can come with terminal illness. Few of us relish the thought of long-term agony. And as I read the featured story, I did have some empathy for the British woman planning to end her own life. I have sat with relatives at the end of their lives and a peaceful death is certainly easier to cope with – for both patients and relatives – than a traumatic one. But as I read the leaflet (and subsequently browsed the website) I was repeatedly struck by just how the much the literature differs from a biblical view of life.... continue reading
The only right motivation for serving or obeying Christ Jesus is love. It sounds so simple and obvious; but we find it so very easy, and it appears so very natural, to serve for any and every reason other than love. We serve to earn blessing (or even salvation); to pay Jesus back, as though he’s not generous; to be noticed by others or be part of an in-crowd; we serve because we think Jesus needs us to, as though if we don’t serve, His mission will fall apart.
We serve for all kinds of reasons other than the only one which Jesus asks for, looks for, and is pleased by: love.
And when we serve in love, everything changes.
Think about an act of service for a moment, maybe something you do in church, at home or at work. Choose something repetitive—a way you serve others every day or each week. Now ask: If I do that act of service as a way to earn God’s love or blessing, or to impress others or be needed by others, what will it do to my heart? One of two things. It will fill your heart with pride, if you’re noticed or needed, or if you consider that now you have deserved God’s blessing. Or it will fill it with despondency or bitterness, if you feel you haven’t had the praise you deserve, or if God doesn’t do for you what you think He should.... continue reading
How do you serve Jesus? And (more importantly) why do you serve Jesus… and how do you feel about serving Jesus?
If you’re anything like me, serving can be a bit of a burden—just one more job in an already busy life. I often feel weary or discouraged about it. Or, when it’s going well, I feel proud and self-reliant about it.
Most of the time, it’s just the price that has to be paid to get eternity.
John Hindley, whose new book Serving Without Sinking has just launched, puts it this way:
“We Christians often seem to be a burdened, joyless bunch. It should not be like this, and it doesn’t need to be—for me or for you.”... continue reading
Is it offensive to say that you’re ex-gay or post-gay?
That’s the question the High Court is deciding this week, after Transport for London took bus adverts down from their buses last spring, which stated; “Not gay! Ex-gay, post-gay and proud. Get over it”. Those ads had gone up in response to Stonewall’s adverts which had stated: “Some people are gay. Get over it.”
The court was told that the second advert, paid for by Core Issues and Anglican Mainstream, was: “a slap in the face, gay rejection … [and was] interpreted by many as homophobic”.... continue reading
It's a subject that's taboo. A reality that many find shocking. A fact that some would prefer to deny. But the truth is out there: women use porn too.
Accurate statistics are difficult to source but a quick trawl of the web seems to suggest that about a quarter of those who visit internet pornography sites are female. Some pages suggest that up to 60% of women have used porn at some point in their lives. And while we might prefer to think otherwise, it's fairly safe to assume that some of those surfing such sites will be Christians who are confused, ashamed, addicted or desperate. Indeed over the last decade I've had quite a few Christian sisters confide in me - each convinced that they are the only one. Far from being a solely male pastoral issue, porn is something that affects women too and those involved in women's ministry need to be addressing the subject proactively.... continue reading
One of the constant nagging worries that people in ministry and Christian work of all kinds have is about money.
At it's worst, money obsession is about just keeping myself and what I have going, and ensuring my comfort. At it's best it is a desire for financial resources to move forward the work of the gospel in ambitious and exciting ways.
Direct appeals on giving often fall on deaf ears. Christians are not immune to the "Donor fatigue" syndrome that many charities are experiencing - particularly in difficult financial times as household budgets are squeezed tighter in the recession. When a preacher comes to the lectern and announces a text like Malachi 3: 10 – "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse" we mentally stiffen and prepare to resist...... continue reading
Jesus in the garden was much on my mind on Sunday.
First because I heard a terrific sermon at church - twice in fact - because I stayed for the second sitting to play in the band. What struck me most forcefully was this verse:
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:44
I've often wondered about why the Gospels speak so neutrally about the death of the Lord Jesus. The details of his scourging, mockery and death on the cross are told with almost the minimum of detail. My temptation as a writer would have been to paint in detail the cruelty, pain and injustice of this execution of an innocent man. The gospel writers do not. They simply say: "and they crucified him." It's one of the things I had against the film The Passion of the Christ. It shows details that, while true, are not part of the the way the Gospels are written.... continue reading
