I’ve just received yet another article and podcast link from a friend who holds a biblically orthodox view of sexuality. And as I read and listen, I’m beginning to realise that orthodox evangelicals are going to pay the price for the bad theology of some forms of Pentecostalism, particularly its failure to grasp the significance […]
Author: stephenmcalpine
We need to grow old together
“Bill and Melinda Gates are getting divorced.” It was the headline you announce after you look at your phone to your still-in-bed spouse early in the morning as various house members are getting up and about and out the door. In the kinda way I said “Kobe Bryant died!” or “Prince Philip died!”. No one […]
Being the Bad Nine Year Olds
So I’m hosting a seminar for a bunch of pastors overseas who have been reading my book Being the Bad Guys. Sales seem to be going well. There have been a lot of positive reviews, and more importantly, many, many comments from people contacting me to say that I have been able to articulate what […]
Richard Dawkins blindsided by The Sexual Spaghetti Monster
How intriguing. Richard Dawkins has just had his Humanist of the Year title withdrawn by the American Humanist Society, because of, well, because of his humanist zeal. Dawkins was so focussed on not getting taken out by the Flying Spaghetti Monster and its zealous worshippers that he was blindsided by the most unbelieving of the […]
Today is our 25th
Today is our 25th wedding anniversary. I’ve gotten up early (as I always do) to write this. Jill seems to sleep her deepest at 6am. I pulled the blankets over her gently breathing body, covering her foot up, (one always seems to find itself astray and lie cold bereft in the mornings at the edge […]
Christian Leader: Are You a Painting Or a Window?
Paul is not a painting we look at and wish we could be like; rather he is a window to the awesome rescuing grace of the Redeemer. Leader pride produces personality cults, while leader humility stimulates worship of God. I love that quote about the Apostle Paul from Paul Tripp’s excellent book: Lead: 12 Gospel […]
Shock news: Judas Walks Away From Faith
In shock news, Judas Iscariot, one of the insiders of the nascent Jesus movement has walked away from the faith. The other disciples, who were those closest to him, didn’t pick it at the time, but noted afterwards that there were signs Judas was concerned about the direction Jesus was taking. Sounds kinda silly writing […]
Martyn Iles: A good racer, not just a Strava king.
I’m a Strava junkie. I check it every day. You know Strava yeah? If you’re a runner, cyclist or triathlete, it’s the go-to app/website to upload your training. Strava is the social network for athletes. I put up my runs everyday on Strava. My hard training. My intervals. My long slow runs. My heart rate […]
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet: the disciples of abusers wash their cars
One thing that struck me reading the 31:8 safeguarding review of now-disgraced Anglican leader, Jonathan Fletcher, was the observation that Fletcher had his interns or ministry apprentices wash his car or mow his lawn. Why did it strike me? Because that was my observation of another leader who has been caught up in an abuse […]
Nonna and Poppa Christians for an Immigrant Age
I am attending a 21st birthday party tonight. I don’t get to so many of those these days. Usually fiftieths, funerals, and weddings of those younger than me who know me through church. It’s the 21st birthday of my god-daughter’s younger brother. The third child of four in an Italian family. The whole extended family […]