Hello, my name is Christopher Dryden, I am a peacemaker. Typing those words is not easy for me or even that natural. I am an easy going guy who likes to avoid confrontation wherever possible. That does not make me a peacemaker. The Prince of Peace was hardly a guy who ran from confrontation. Preferring […]
Read More What Makes Peace? 1 – PriorityThen Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. (Genesis 24:67) It did not occur to me just how many expressions of true love are apparent throughout this chapter. Father-Son Love: The incident […]
Read More Genesis: 24 – True LoveAn inferiority complex can be a really debilitating condition. My recollection of developing and dwelling with an inferiority complex was that it involved two key factors. One is how I viewed myself. Another is how I viewed the expectations of others. On that score the issue began with the value I placed on other people’s […]
Read More Whose Expectations?After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. (Genesis 15:1) This episode in Genesis 15, as I understand it, is the first time we’re told of someone having a vision. What a vision it is. To get such […]
Read More Genesis: 15 – Following Footsteps of FaithIt takes much to live in your own skin. Getting on with people in a different culture is always going to be difficult. What makes it easier is finding common ground. Even this, however, is designed to make matters easier to engage with the more unfamiliar territory. The effort is such that it is no […]
Read More Beyond Our KindAre you still with us? I remember getting asked that question by a church leader. He was interested to see if we were still committed to the project. What happened, however, was that there was a confusion between the effort for the Kingdom and the desire to build an empire. In as much as there […]
Read More Committed To The EffortNoah, a man of the soil, proceeded[a] to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then […]
Read More Genesis: 9 – Covering, Not ExposingIt’s a struggle for me to relate. Often the issue is that I am more concerned about how we’re different than what and who we have in common. I feel sometimes what I say falls on deaf ears and what is said is bizarre and not thought through. There are a host of reasons why […]
Read More Fighting To RelateOne of the things I like about blogging is the ability to categorise. It’s interesting noting which categories have the most blogs, it’s a good indicator of what I like to blog about that. One of those categories is Relationships. This evening I was reminded why it is such an important issue to write about. […]
Read More Relationships MatterOne of the things I have planned to do this year is to make the most of meals. Thank God I had the opportunity to put that in practice yesterday. Leaving Derby last year wasn’t heart-wrenching, but there were some relationships that we developed there that would now have a longer distance to navigate. We […]
Read More Making A Meal Of It – Building Relationships
Life With CD 