There are two forms of art: The art of addition. The artist takes a blank canvas and, with careful brush strokes, adds paint to the empty space, creating a masterpiece. The art of subtraction. The artist takes a block of stone and carefully removes unwanted pieces of rock, revealing the masterpiece that was already there. … Continue reading The Art of Subtraction
Kenosis
It’s hard to swim against the tide. The flow toward power, prominence and platform. The addiction to addition. The fear of subtraction. The ego hates to lose, even to God. Yet, this is the way of Christ: He emptied Himself. The Creator in a manger. The King on a cross. The Centre of all things … Continue reading Kenosis
100 Days
God doesn’t waste anything. At the start of the first COVID-19 lockdown, uncertain how to communicate with the church I love, I decided to broadcast an online devotion each evening, thinking I might do this for a week or two at maximum. It turned out that I prepared 100 short talks and delivered them ‘live’ … Continue reading 100 Days
The Silence of Christmas
The Christmas story starts with silence. An awkward silence. Before the cattle are lowing and the baby awakes, there is silence. A very long silence. From Malachi to Matthew God isn’t speaking (or at least, people weren’t listening!). Four hundred years without His voice being clearly heard. When great orators speak they will create a … Continue reading The Silence of Christmas
Home
The shepherds returned home. The heavens had opened. The sounds of the sky had revealed the choir of jubilant angels. The Messiah had come. Born in humility. The shepherds were the first to be told. And then they returned home. No speaking tour of the surrounding regions to explain their unique supernatural revelation. No grasping … Continue reading Home
The whole earth…
In a secular age, where the sacred is pushed to the margins, to place the holy at the centre of our lives is an act of rebellion. We are resisting the cultural conspiracy that treats casually that which is divine. As Advent approaches, our celebration of sacred days becomes a way of resisting the attractions … Continue reading The whole earth…
Pastor Duncan Clark's Blog 