Category: Exhortations

The cat in the room

The last time I gave an exhortation in Edinburgh, I talked about the elephant in the room. I thought I’d keep to that theme, but instead of talking about the elephant in the room, I am going to talk about the cat or cats in the room. As I am sure you have all noticed, […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 9 months agoMarch 10, 2024

I don’t feel hate

The last time I gave an exhortation was in 2005, and when I was thinking about what to say today, I had to make a decision about whether or not to address the elephant in the room, or to ignore him. I think that life is too short to ignore elephants, so the elephant will […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 2 years agoMarch 12, 2023

Exhortations

Holocaust Memorial Day

On the 27 of January 1945, just over 60 years ago, the Nazi extermination and concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated. Last Thursday, the 27 January 2005, was Holocaust Memorial Day. I won’t mention what went on on Auschwitz. I won’t mention other Nazi atrocities. I think we all have a good idea what went […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 20 years agoJuly 24, 2022

Exhortations

A King to Fight Our Battles

The last time I exhorted from 1 Samuel, I got to chapter 6, where the Ark had just been sent back by the Philistines. In Chapter 8, Israel demands a king. 1 Samuel chapter 8, verses 19 to 22: Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 20 years agoJuly 24, 2022

Exhortations

“So that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed”

Today’s exhortation on Samuel focuses on the Ark of the Covenant, its brief exile from Israel, and its subsequent return. The story is in 1 Samuel chapters 4 to 6, and it tells us some very interesting things about the state of Israel at the end of Eli’s life, as well as contrasting Israel unfavourably […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 20 years agoJuly 24, 2022

Exhortations

Eli, his sons, and Samuel

I am continuing my series of exhortations on the book of Samuel today, and I want to consider the demise of Eli and his sons, and the rise of Samuel. First Samuel chapter two, verse 12: Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. “Sons of Belial”–does that remind […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 20 years agoJuly 24, 2022

Exhortations

I need you all

There is a suite, by the composer Aaron Copland, called Appalachian Spring. It was written in the mid 20th Century, and first performed in 1945. It’s a particular favourite of mine at the moment. Appalachian Spring is one of those pieces that nobody has heard of, but everybody recognises. One of the themes is used […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 20 years agoJuly 24, 2022

Exhortations

Samuel 1 and 2: An Introduction

This is the first exhortation in a series which I am planning on the books of Samuel. First Samuel begins a little before the end of the era of the Judges. Eli the priest was the leader. Israel had begun to grow decadent; the Philistines were a very real threat to the survival of the […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 20 years agoJuly 24, 2022

Exhortations

The most frightening words in the Bible

Consider the following words: Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, uncleanness, lasciviousness, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, whoremongers. How many of you can honestly say that you understand every one of those terms? What is ‘uncleanness’ for a follower of […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 21 years agoJuly 24, 2022

Exhortations

Publicans and sinners

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with […]

Andrew McFarland Campbell 21 years agoJuly 24, 2022