Abraham and IsaacOne of my aims for 2008 is to read the whole Bible in the year. In Genesis a little while ago, and I came again to the story of Abraham (nearly) sacrificing Isaac. When you think of it, it is a horrific story - the idea of God asking Abraham to engage in child sacrifice is bizarre. Imagine someone in your church saying God had asked them to kill their own child...

Interesting set of questions from a blog by my mate Phil Ritchie. Thought I’d have a go at some answers:

1. What translation of the Bible do you like best?
I use the TNIV, but also quite like the NRSV. Still use the Greek a bit.

God's ContinentBeen reading a very interesting book by Philip Jenkins, Professor at Penn State University, called "God's Continent: Christianity, Islam and Europe's Religious Crisis". The basic argument seems to be that predictions of Islamic takeover of Europe is a big mistake. Muslims are not numerous enough, and are likely to assimilate more than to become more radical.

Went to Watford on Saturday to see the famous Bristol City take on the league leaders. Predicted a solid defeat, but had the bext kind of football fan's afternoon. 0-0 til late on, Enoch Showunmi leaps like a salmon at the far post to head home after 75 mins for a vital lead. We go mad. 3 minutes from the end, they equalise. We slump into our seats, consoling ourselves with the thought that we'd have taken a draw (but secretly gutted we wouldn't win), and hoping like crazy we don't let in another.

The OgreWent to a lecture at the Royal Geographical Society the other day with my good friend Paul Weston. We heard Chris Bonington and Doug Scott talk about their epic descent from the Ogre in the Karakoram in 1977 (?) when DS broke both his legs and CB broke 2 ribs, yet they still got down in a fierce Himalayan storm. I remember reading about these guys in the late 70s - DS was a real hippy then and CB young & getting famous. Funny to see them as old men, respectable, well groomed, a bit shaky.

Well, my blog has just moved. It's shifted over to the main SPTC site, so it will give me a bit of a new lease of life to start blogging here. We'll see what happens with it.

Life has got pretty busy with a new job, heading up a new college - St Mellitus College, started by the Bishops of London & Chelmsford in September. It will be doing theology & ministry training in London & Essex - a big vision & lots of work to do over the next few years. You'll hear more in time..... 

Fascinating story on the BBC website about the way Spirit-filled Christian faith can change a community can change with Christian .