Category Archives: Judgement

The Devil made me do it

Posted on February 10, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

In another twist on the old ‘the Devil made me do it’ excuse, a little girl who had been sent to her room for misbehaving, was heard saying her prayers and blaming God for what had happened, because she’d prayed … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, Judgement, responsibility | Leave a comment

Looking for a loophole

Posted on January 11, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

W. C. Fields was one of Hollywood’s original comedians. For most of his life he described himself as an agnostic who didn’t know if there was a God or not and didn’t particularly care. But even he was not entirely … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, Death, Judgement | Leave a comment

Judging Mona Lisa

Posted on November 24, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

These days the church doesn’t command the same respect as in previous generations. This is not surprising, given the stories of abuse by some of its representatives. Sadly, there have always been people whose actions have betrayed Jesus, rather than … Continue reading →

Posted in Discernment, Judgement, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

It’s only true wealth if it enriches your soul

Posted on July 26, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

John D. Rockerfeller at the age of fifty became the world’s first billionaire. But three years later he had what appears to be a nervous breakdown. His entire body became racked with pain, he lost all the hair on his … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, Achievement, Judgement, Treasure, Treasure in Heaven, wealth | Leave a comment

The only assessment that ultimately counts

Posted on February 19, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

One night at a famous jazz bar, legendary jazz musician Cab Calloway introduced a promising young saxophone player. After he’d played, a self-appointed jazz critic came over and said, ‘You aren’t that good, man. All you can do is play … Continue reading →

Posted in Faithfulness, Judgement, Stewardship, Suffering | Leave a comment

Saved by a comma

Posted on February 19, 2017 by vincentsmithauthor

Maria Fedorovna, the Empress of Russia and wife of Czar Alexander III, was well known for her philanthropy. She once saved a political prisoner from exile in Siberia by transposing a single comma in a warrant signed by her husband … Continue reading →

Posted in Judgement, Pardon, Salvation, Substitutes, Substitution | Leave a comment

Pound for pound

Posted on September 29, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

I read about a court case in a small American town where a farmer got sued by the local baker for selling him one pound bricks of butter that actually weighed less than the full pound. At the trial, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Judgement, Justice | 4 Comments

‘Have it your own way’

Posted on January 27, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

The concept of Hell isn’t popular these days, and yet we see its seeds all around us. C.S Lewis said perceptively that the essence of hell is separation – separation from God and from others. To be totally separated from … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Hell, Judgement, Separation | Leave a comment

Brezhnev should have listened to his wife

Posted on October 30, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

George Bush Senior, representing the United States at the funeral of the Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev’s widow. She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Death, Faith, Judgement | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Knowledge and privilege always bring responsibility

Posted on August 29, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

One aspect of human courts of law that often seems unjust is that ignorance of a law is not deemed to be an excuse for having broken that law. So, for example, someone wrote to a motoring organisation complaining they … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, Judgement, Knowledge, Privilege | Tagged | Leave a comment