Thus sayeth a wise old dude with pointy ears. He must have been reading Mark 11:23 that morning, because in it Jesus said something similar:

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

The problem most people have with this verse is that it goes against their understanding. Yoda tells Luke he “must unlearn what [he has] learned”. Although experience has taught him that he can’t do certain things, Yoda teaches him that he is limited only by his doubt.

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“Pain is part of growth. It tells you where your boundaries are, what you’re comfortable with and very much not comfortable with. It lets you know when something inside you needs fixed.”

A great piece of wisdom from my amazing wife.

So Pain: what have you got to say to me?

As I’ve been studying lately (read: listening to sermons on my iPhone) I’ve noticed how often in the New Testament Jesus started a sentence with “I tell you the truth” (sometimes translated “verily” or “assuredly I say to you”). According to a quick Google search, he’s recorded using that phrase 78 times in the gospels, 30 times in Matthew alone.

I’d never before questioned why this was, assuming it was just the way they spoke back then, but as I began to think about it, I realised he was making a point. Continue reading →

Upon realising this week that Carol’s driving license was due for renewal we began the time honoured tradition of last minute frantic searching for an eligable identity document. While hoking through our files, we came across the poem that John, the best man at our wedding, wrote in place of a speech.

Ignoring a Presbyterian’s need to shoehorn the Gospel into any public speaking engagement, the joy this brought us surpassed anything else this week, so I thought I’d share it with you all. And so, without further ado I present to you; “Andy & Carol: Not a Traditional Couple”. Continue reading →