Paul Ellis's Blog, page 25

50 fictional fathers

For many people around the world, but not me, this Sunday is Fathers’ Day. This gives me an opportunity to do something I enjoy: make a list. Below is a list of 50 fictional fathers. It wasn’t an easy list to make. Initially I wanted to list 50 great dads, men like Atticus Finch and John Walton. But I couldn’t find 50 awesome fathers. To pad out my list of 50 I had to include a few dodgy fathers (eg: Darth Vader, Homer Simpson). And this has given me something to think about. If art mirrors soci...

“The Blessing” – 2020’s unofficial anthem

The Blessing Phenomenon may be the best thing that’s happened in a bad year. It has brought comfort to millions and unity to the church – just when we needed it. What is “The Blessing”? It’s a worship song with lyrics straight out of the Bible. You may have seen versions of this song on social media. It’s everywhere. Like a spark from heaven, this song has ignited a spiritual fire that is sweeping across the world. A fire is lit On March 6, 2020, “The Blessing” was first released as a live music...

Last chance to get “The Good Shepherd”

Hi friends,

Just a gentle reminder that you have one day remaining to take advantage of our special offer.

“What special offer?”

Sign up as a patron before this weekend and you will receive my latest ebook, “Henry Moorhouse’s ‘The Good Shepherd’.” My book introduces the Victorian boy preacher, Henry Moorhouse, and his great sermon in easy-to-read language for modern readers.

What is a patron? Patrons are readers like you who contribute a small amount each month to become partners in this messag...

How to be holy

Jesus is the only one of us who lived undamaged by sin. He walked among the wreckage of fallen humanity as a beacon of wholeness and health. Jesus knew no sin yet the writer of Hebrews tells us he “learned obedience” and was “made perfect” (Heb. 5:8–9). That sounds like a contradiction, as though Jesus started out as a disobedient sinner but came good in the end. Perhaps he signed up for one of those sanctification courses and sweated his way to sinlessness. No, that didn’t happen. What the writ...

The greatest grace preacher you’ve never heard of

D. L. Moody, the great American evangelist, told millions of people about the love of God. But who told him? It was this guy…

Henry Moorhouse may be the most prolific grace preacher you’ve never heard of.

Born in Manchester in the UK in 1840, the teenaged Moorhouse was a gang leader who battled depression. He carried a loaded pistol in his pocket not intending to shoot people, but for the purpose of blowing out his brains should he be struck with utter despair.

On a cold December night in 1861,...

What makes a great Christian movie?

I recently turned 50, and to mark the occasion I ranked my all time top 50 movies. Every guy has a list of his favorite five or ten movies. I wanted to go all the way to 50 baby!

It turned out to be a worthy challenge because there are so many great movies. In the end, I listed 100 movies (my top 50 + 50 honorable mentions). You can check out the list on Facebook.

My list has an eclectic mix of genres and languages. There’s something for everyone and a whole lot for me. I could watch all 100 fi...

Why are there no great Christian movies?

I recently turned 50, and to mark the occasion I ranked my all time top 50 movies. Every guy has a list of his favorite five or ten movies. I wanted to go all the way to 50 baby! It turned out to be a worthy challenge because there are so many great movies. In the end, I listed 100 movies (my top 50 + 50 honorable mentions). You can check out the list on Facebook. My list has an eclectic mix of genres and languages. There’s something for everyone and a whole lot for me. I could watch all 100 fil...

What does it mean to have an ear to hear?

At the end of the Bible we find letters from Jesus to seven churches. At the end of each letter, he says this: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (see Rev. 2:7a). We like to think that we have heard Jesus. But how do we know we have? How can we be sure? What does it mean to have an ear to hear? It means spiritual truth comes by revelation. “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying” is one of Jesus’ favorite expressions. It’s the punch line to e...

The sky is falling! Darkened suns and falling stars

Pamdemics. Economic collapse. Locust plagues. Murder hornets. Whenever the world goes through a crisis, its natural to wonder if we have reached the end of days. This is it! Were all going to die! We turn to social media and YouTube for answers and encounter wacky end time predictions. Some involve spectacular astronomical events, such as blood moons, mysterious constellations, and, most dramatic of all, a darkening sun. But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be...

Did Jesus say adultery is the only grounds for divorce?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said this about divorce and remarriage: It has been said, Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Matthew 5:31-32) The words of Jesus are meant to impart life, but a misreading of this passage can bring condemnation and despair. Women have even been beaten and...