This is my last post on the mixed marriage crisis drawing some lessons from the story overall. In an OT class I taught, we were reflecting on the Mosaic law and how to interpret regulations in a meaningful way. I…

Ezra 10:1-44 Recently when discussing Ezra 9-10, someone mentioned to me the plight of African chiefs with several wives who came to Christ and were encouraged by missionaries to divorce them, a tragic fate for those women. This situation seems…

Ezra 9:5-15 Reading Ezra’s prayer, I am struck by how different his approach to God is compared to what we are used to today. For some from a toxic Christian background, guilt is a constant companion exaggerating every sin, every…

Ezra 9:1-4 A few years ago, I visited Jim Thompson’s house in Bangkok, an American businessman who helped revitalise traditional Thai silk weaving. On the guided tour, I was struck by how Thai beliefs shaped so much in the structure…

Ezra 8:21-36 In a church I attended in the UK, an African student finished his studies and was looking for a job in engineering. After several unsuccessful interviews, stressed about his expiring visa and how to support his family, he…

Ezra 8:1-20 Early in my working career, I felt the stirrings for Christian ministry and left to become a volunteer with a Christian mission in the UK reaching out to international students. My boss was puzzled why I would give…

Ezra 7:11-28 Waiting for the promises of God can be hard when the fulfilment takes years, and we wonder if God is really on our case at all or has forgotten us entirely. The psalms in particular are full of…

Ezra 7:1-10 Whenever I visit churches, I ponder the question of what these places implicitly communicate about their purpose. One church I recently went to was particularly friendly and strong on fellowship and the sermon focused on God’s acceptance and…