Echurch's Page

written by Stephan Joubert



The well-known tennis player, Arthur Ashe, play a tough match in the 1970’s against an insulting opponent. After two hours of verbal abuse, Ashe suddenly walked off the court. When the chair umpire warned him that he would forfeit and lose the match if he does, Ashe answered: “I’m close to losing my temper. I’d rather forfeit the match than my dignity.” The next day the officials did award him the match. When I read this story somewhere,… Continue

written by Stephan Joubert



In a fascinating article: Does Religion Influence Epidemics? Elizabeth Pennisi refers to a paper read at at conference in Europe on 22 August by the American evolutionary biologist David Hughes. He and his colleagues claim that some of the major world religions emerged at the same time as widespread diseases, and that the two… Continue

written by Stephan Joubert



"Christianity is illegal — is there enough evidence to convict you?" That is what Peter Rollins asks in The Orthodox Heretic, following a story that he tells. It floored me. Are all my talks about the Lord the big mark of my faith? Or maybe all my sermons? Or possibly the prayers and bible studies? Do I need to do more of it all? Do I need to preach, write, pray or talk more? I can so easily soothe my conscience — as if with… Continue

written by Stephan Joubert



Psalm 42 tells in imaginative language of a deer in the desert desperately longing for water. The psalm writer says that he’s also thirsting for God in the same way. Everything in him calls out to God. He wants to be in the house of God, there where he will be safe and sheltered. He wants to experience God’s approving gaze every day. He wants to constantly experience the comforting presence of the Lord.



Do you also know… Continue