Even as I write this, I just saw a news report on CNN talking of the way 'millennials' meet each other through social mediums promoting casual sex. All this led me to thinking of how relationships are formed, or how they ought to be.

After Clare Wood was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, it came to light that she was unaware of his history of violence. As a result a campaign was waged to introduce 'Clare's law'. Clare's Law enables women to check the police record of their boyfriends, in a bid to protect themselves from domestic violence. For me this law raised a few alarm bells. The inequality of the permission to check men and not vice versa, the invasion of privacy and the slippery slope, and since when was 'boyfriend' a legally recognised status granting such intrusive access anyway? Even as I write this, I just saw a news report on CNN talking of the way 'millennials' meet each other through social mediums promoting casual sex. All this led me to thinking of how relationships are formed, or how they ought to be.

The introduction of Clare's law, highlights the absence of community and the place community plays in successful relationships. The concept of Clare’s Law, to me, has found its credibility only because of the breakdown of community and family. Investigating ones potential partner is not the problem. It's the method of investigation employed. Shouldn't there be ample resources for such exploration of a person within the community? For example, amongst Citizens of the Kingdom should police criminal checks replace the due diligence of knowing someone by getting to know their family, friends and testimony? It is through shared life that we know and are known.

1 Tim 6:3 reveals something of how the deacons were selected. They had to be men of good ‘reputation’. This means many could testify to their attributes, history and life. Imagine Stephen being short listed after his CRB check.

The breakdown of family and the lack of fathers cannot be ignored in this matter. It plays a big part in the current mistrust between the generations, children and parents. The absence of fatherly oversight and the lack of parental involvement in the choosing of the spouse, has left the immature to determine their own spouse and continually define family in their own way. This absence of mature parenting has opened the door for a lack of judgement and a dependence on institutions and professionals (various forms of social services).

We are in scary times, when the very idea of the traditional family has been challenged. There is an emphasis placed on career building instead of family building. The relationship with one's employer has been elevated, in some modern minds, as superior to the life long relationship with a spouse.  But let me not deviate. Relationships; how should we go about forming them? We've built religious centres plenty, but this year let us prioritise building and realisation of the community of Christ and there by supporting fruitful and lasting relationships.

Pelumi Igunnubole

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the ekklesia, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.

Colossians 1:17-18 (NKJ)

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence”

It seems fitting in the present climate and in the midst of challenging situations we meditate on these scriptures that have been recorded for our benefit.

Whilst we arise every day and for most become pre-occupied with the day-to-day affairs of life, we must reflect continually on the responsibilities that we are accountable to. To remain faithful witnesses of Christ. Indeed when Christ talks of His second coming He asks a pertinent question. “When I come who will I find faithful?

Who will He find? Who testifies of His grace, placing Him as their master pre-eminent in all their affairs? When we read the scriptures we must ask ourselves how He has been made pre-eminent and through what manifestation is that pre-eminence revealed as part of the gospel message of the kingdom.

The scriptures first states that He who descended was before all things created, hence pre-incarnation, Christ’s eternal position as the son of God remains the boldest statement and revelation to man. Through His eternal position the scripture buttresses that all things created consist.

It is through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension that He has become head of the Ekklesia, a new ruling house, and stands representative as the firstborn from the dead. Here we have the condition of the pre-eminence. That in all things His standing as firstborn from the dead must be witnessed.

In keeping with this new ruling house, the Ekklesia is admonished to stand in the same stead as the Son regardless of the ensuing trials. Within the powerful occupation of the Son we are to find strength to endure the hour of trials and steadfastly maintain His theocratic governance.

Ephesians 6:13 'Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand'

Psalm 2 states: “Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”

Through the prophetic utterances of the psalms we see a clarinet message against the rebellion of the day. We see a tumult of people aggressive and defiant against the will of God, we see authorities plotting against God’s sovereignty and purposes. Within this however, we also see the Lord’s response.

“Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”

It is the establishment of God’s king in Zion that is the answer to all the defiance. To the kings of the earth, a higher authority God’s king is now appointed. To those who would usurp positions of authority on earth, the highest position in heaven and earth, the throne in Zion is already filled and occupied by the one chosen by God as His representative in all things to all things.

“I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

It is fitting to see that Paul records in the book of Hebrews that this text has already come to pass since Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension. And He holds His position in Zion, effecting the changes that will bring all His enemies into subjection.

Hebrews 1:8 states 'But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom'

In his letter Peter the Apostle sums up with the following comforting words to Ekklesia

1 Peter 5 'But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.'

Did you know Christians see the Pride logo like Jews see the Swastika? Apart from representing an immoral lifestyle, it also represents a threat to their livelihoods.

The persecution in the west is increasing so why do Christians have to remain vigilant?

“Ladies and gentlemen I am officially running for president of the united states and we are going to make our country great again…”

Wild beauty is not often advertised because of its brusque look. Growing up, I struggled to pick between dainty and fierce aspects of beauty.

The concept of the city-state has been with us for thousands of years. History books provide us with evidence of their rise and fall. Out of the desire for stability, security and success, our ancestors journeyed from nomadic to native lifestyles.