Travelling with Gershom

This great R&B song, released in 1965 and originally performed by Fontella Bass, is as infectious today as it was when it first hit the charts. I don't think it is simply the beat, or the fabulous vocal, that  reaches people (although they certainly do). I think it touches us because it speaks to a fundamental need: "can't you see that I'm lonely?". We need to be loved, but more importantly we need to know that we are loved. In our fragility, our weakness, we often do not feel assured we are loved by the people in our lives. As circumstances change, so we think love goes: she's disappointed, he's angry, he's hurt, they're unhappy...and therefore she, he or they don't really love me. But love trancends these things. Love is patient, is kind, does not envy, does not boast, said Paul to the Corinthians (his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 13, verses 1-13). "Hang on," you say. "That's not how I have experienced

It seems to be very popular to complain about Christians and their intolerance, and to cite religion generally (and often Christianity in particular) as a source of evil in the world. This opinion is expressed in books and blogs, the media, and in private conversations. As a Christian, let me expound a little on this view of Christians. Most of the time, the complaint is deserved. We behave badly, in a non-Christian manner, and end up defaming Christ. This is partly due to human weakness - is there any leader or follower of a political or social movement who has not fallen or failed in one way or another? - but in some (and the most important) instances it is more than that.  We all expect people to lose their temper, make mistakes, and the like. The real problem is that when we are presented with an issue like abortion or gay marriage we fail to think first and respond later. In fact, I would go farther: we fail to think. Following Christ is not about a set of rules and regulations th