by Neil Ellis | Oct 1, 2016 | Devotionals
On Sunday we turn our attention to Luke 17. A section of the Bible which the NRSV sub-titles ‘Some Saying of Jesus and which the Good News Translation breaks into three sections: ‘Sin, Faith and A Servant’s Duty.’ Are these verses in...
by Neil Ellis | Sep 23, 2016 | Devotionals
What’s in a name? A name means a great many things. It is what we are called, how we identify ourselves. Parents bestow names on their children which they hope will have meaning or perhaps to honour parents. I have seen family rifts develop because grand-parents...
by Neil Ellis | Sep 2, 2016 | Devotionals
When we think about what something costs, we usually equate that to price. What is the sticker price of an item and can we afford it? Routine items are generally affordable for most people. It is when we begin to consider items outside of our normal purchases that the...
by Neil Ellis | Aug 27, 2016 | Devotionals
In our gospel lesson today Jesus tells the host of a party that by inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind he will be blessed. As I have reflected on this passage this week I have asked myself a series of questions what does it mean to be blessed? What...
by Neil Ellis | Aug 20, 2016 | Devotionals
What exactly is Sabbath? Sabbath has often been described as a day of rest. However, this explanation falls short in capturing the nuanced aspects of rest as described by God. We find two different explanations for why we should take a Sabbath. Both are in the Old...
by Neil Ellis | Aug 13, 2016 | Devotionals
If I am not present on Sunday morning take a quick glance at the scripture lesson and you will have the first clue as to why. This Sunday we deal with perhaps one of the most difficult passages in Luke’s gospel. It is a passage that makes us uncomfortable. As a...
