Jesus didn’t mince His words in His ‘crashing’ epilogue to His most famous Sermon. His ‘two by four’ close -- two ways, two trees, two claims, two builders, one way to LIFE -- is a sobering reality in balance to His attractive picture of an ideal Christian life. Hearing and not obeying Jesus, put plainly, is a fatal and self-destructive position that guarantees everlasting isolation from His radical love. Hard words, yes. But motivating for His people who have been gifted wit

There’s a cultural and religious pride that I’ve noticed – in me, in those around me – and it lies to us. It says subtly – “I can do better than this, if I just try harder”, “At least I’m not as bad as ….” There’s a language of cultural and religious shame that runs deep – in me, in those around me – and it lies to us, too. It says harshly – “I am never going to make it”, “I’m no good”, “It’s just the way things are, I can’t change”. And these two narratives, these two lies,

Hello all! Three sentence introduction of myself: my name is Julia, and I’m an American from the state of Ohio, a place where you probably have no reason to go and would probably be bored if you did. I’m currently doing a three-month internship with the Vineyard church in Belfast, and I have the privilege to help the Foyle Vineyard on occasion as well. I like both cats and dogs, I take my tea with milk (no sugar), and I currently volunteer at this great Belfast organization c