The Wake-up Call

What if the world had never been tainted by sin and evil? What if Adam and Eve had resisted the temptation of the forbidden fruit? How would our history and faith have been different? Would we still have needed God, or would God still have wanted us, in such a perfect world?

Now, imagine attaining immortality, defying the graceful ageing and inevitable death. You find yourself in an Eden-like setting where your sole duty is to sing praises for the creator, living forever with no sin, no emotions, no physical form, and no attachments except for the service of God. The allure of eternal life, as depicted in various religious texts, often presents an image of endless existence in a paradise-like setting. However, the reality of such an existence may not be as idyllic as it first appears.

Imagine, for instance, your favourite meal. The first taste is a revelation, the hundredth still delightful. But the thousandth? The millionth? Even the most divine delicacies could become mundane. Similarly, consider a favourite song or a beloved film. Repeated endlessly, even these could lose their charm. In an eternal life, where each day mirrors the last, the pleasures we savour in our mortal lives could become tedious.

Compare this with our finite existence, shaped by time. Each day brings a new opportunity, every encounter could change our lives, and every challenge helps us grow. Growing old, often seen negatively, is a mark of our wisdom and experience. The beauty of ageing is a tribute to life itself.

At some point, whether you are a devout cleric or a God-fearing layman, you have wondered about questions that challenge your beliefs, your interpretation of the Bible, and what you have learned. The Wake-Up Call invites you to explore the Bible from a completely new angle. It’s not a demand to change what you believe, but to learn things from a different perspective. The readers who accept this invitation will find it rewarding, and I promise you a delightful journey.

This book is not just a critique of God, the Bible, and Abrahamic religions. It’s a reflection of our convictions, a challenge to look beyond the obvious, and a call to question the unquestionable. Are you courageous enough to answer the call? Are you prepared for the shock of the new insight? If so, open the book and start your journey. The road may be tough, but the rewards are priceless.

This is your wake-up call. Will you heed it? The choice is yours.

An Atheist View of the Bible

The Inspiration for An Atheist View of the Bible came from reading An Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy by C. Dennis McKinsey.

My reading of the Old Testament of the King James translation of the Bible, along with the William Buck translation of the Indian epic Mahabharata, has made me look at these ancient stories from a new and modern perspective: a perspective that the ancient scribes could not have possibly imagined and could not describe what they witnessed.

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins is an exceptionally good example of an alternative view on harmful medieval religious dogma.

The Bible Unearthed by ‎Israel Finkelstein challenges the fundamentalist reading and offers a controversial perspective the Bible.

There is a growing interest in our ancient past, with the desire of many people to find the real truth behind the one-sided history that has been accepted and taught for far too long.

Method Prayer

Method Prayer by Fr. Jay T. Magpuyo offers an enlightening exploration into the transformative power of prayer within the Christian tradition. This book delves into the nuanced practice of Method Prayer, presenting it as both an art and a journey toward deepening one’s spiritual connection with the Divine.

Through insightful chapters, the reader is guided on how to integrate prayer into daily life, transforming routine experiences into profound moments of divine communion. With a focus on emotional reflection, sensory awareness, and active dialogue with God, Fr. Magpuyo invites readers to craft their personal spiritual masterpiece, fostering a richer, more fulfilling relationship with the Divine.

Time Conquered

Time — an ever-advancing current many of us feel caught in, acutely aware of its swift passage, especially as we age. But what if there’s more to existence than merely being at the mercy of time?

What if, beyond time’s constraints, we could find a deeper, more enriching life? T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets delves into this profound possibility, enveloping readers in exquisite language and evocative imagery. Time Conquered illuminates these poems, making their profound insights accessible even to those unfamiliar with Eliot’s work. The core of Four Quartets offers a revelation: we are not mere captives of time. Instead, by embracing glimpses of the eternal in our daily lives, we can live more vividly within the moment.

Musings on Faith by an Ordinary Bloke

Have you ever found yourself wondering about the role of Faith in life? Questioned the relevance of Church, religion, or the existence of God, especially when faced with the world’s hardships? Or perhaps you’re grappling with religious studies homework and seeking some clarity.

This book offers a unique perspective from someone who isn’t ordained, doesn’t claim to be a theological expert, but is, as the title suggests, just an ordinary bloke. A bloke who has turned to his faith during tough times and found comfort and solace. Despite acknowledging the confusing and contradictory nature of faith, he believes he has uncovered some answers and is ready to share them.

Musings on Faith by an Ordinary Bloke provides a refreshingly honest insight into one person’s journey with faith. It’s an engaging read for anyone of any age seeking understanding and comfort when traditional avenues seem inadequate. This book isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about sharing the journey of finding them.

Prophets, Priests and Politics

The prophets of the Old Testament were speaking, in the first instance, to the people of their own time. This means that we need to locate the prophets in the history of their own time, in order to understand them in the first instance.

I propose to survey Israel’s history mainly in terms of the work and role of the prophets, from Moses to Malachi. Of course, they were interacting with the temple priesthood and with the disciples of Machiavelli, who cannot be left out of the story. God himself is in the background of this history, pursuing his purposes through these events and making his will known, which brings us back to the prophets.

I’ve been a student of history since I was nine years old, a simple transition from an interest in maps. My mind itches, instinctively, to arrange things in chronological order. In fact, I was trying to synchronise the kings and prophets, for my own interest, while I was still at school. However, this will not be an academic work. My chief source of information will be the Old Testament itself.

The story is told from a Christian viewpoint, or even a Protestant viewpoint, as will be evident from time to time. Yet faith will not be over-powering the critical spirit. The charioteer will be running these two horses as a team.

The Story of the Torah

Who authored the most ancient segments of the Bible? What is their age, and how have they endured through the ages? This book delves into the reasons why dictators, tyrants, and powerful factions have harboured such fear and loathing towards these texts, leading to relentless suppression and censorship. Even now, possession of these writings can result in dire consequences. These pivotal questions are explored in The Story of the Torah, the inaugural volume of the ‘Is the Bible a Dangerous Book?’ series of commentaries.

Eternity

This thoughtful book explores fundamental questions about life on Earth – how did we get here, and what sustains us? For generations humanity has relied on natural cycles that predate us - seasonal rains to nourish crops, a hospitable climate – but who or what engineered this system perfect for human life?

Author John Hall posits that there may be an omnipresent creative force behind not just the climate, but a wholesome world rich in all we need to thrive. As the human population expands faster than ever, we depend more than ever on natural patterns outside of our control. By pondering the origins of this miraculous ecosystem made for humankind, we gain perspective on an intelligence greater than our own, one that designed the ideal conditions for our eternity on this planet and beyond. This provocative book urges us to reflect on the deeper roots below the surface of life as we know it.

How Was the Church Service?

If you want to know how to read and preach the Bible with simplicity, clarity and boldness, this book is for you.

God’s design for Christianity is for people to be saved (i.e., being forgiven of their sins) and to grow in the knowledge of the Bible.

The more you know the Bible, the better you live.

The Apostle Paul recorded that it is God, “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”. (1 Timothy 2:4)

Dr. Tim Cantrell, in his endorsement of the book wrote,

“Patrick has provided us a useful tool for digging into God’s Word, growing as a Christian, and strengthening churches. May God use this resource far and wide.”

The Winged Mare Explained and Signs of Spiritual Ascension

Penned in divine company, this book reveals spiritual progress brewing on Earth despite humanity’s trials. Living conditions will markedly improve for multitudes as enlightenment advances.

The Winged Mare is in fact a diminutive humanoid spirit who inhabits an unsullied white horse. In Greek lore, Pegasus befriends kind-hearted people on spiritual paths to help them thrive. This celestial creature appears either male or female based on the selected person’s gender. Once their transformation culminates in sacred freedom, the enlightened individual earns the moniker ‘Winged Mare.’

Through signs and wonders sprinkled amid struggle, glimmers emerge of long-foretold Ascension. All living souls inch toward higher states, yet some courageous pioneers blaze ahead by consciously nurturing spiritual faculties. In these quickening times, are you hearing rumblings of a great Awakening? Heed the Winged Mare’s higher call, and perhaps discover your own wings waiting.

Stepping Stones

Can answers to the biggest questions in life be found?  Today there are many who are unsure whether there is a creator God, are uncertain about religion and yet instinctively feel that their life has a purpose and that values such as love, truth, honesty, beauty, logic and kindness are real.  This book has been written to help such people make sense of their existence and to indicate the types of evidence available to help people find a strong rational faith.

“So many people think faith is a feeling or a flight of fantasy, by contrast Cambridge-educated medical surgeon, Dr Bernard Palmer, makes it clear that there is outstanding evidence at the basis of Christian belief. But he does not stop there, he then not only shows what that evidence means for our lives, he also reveals what the reader should do about it. That is the rhythm of this excellent book: the evidence, its meaning and our action, which makes this a profoundly challenging read that appeals to the mind, the heart and the will.”

Rico Tice

Christianity Explored

“I am both delighted and honoured to recommend Bernard Palmer’s new book to you. There are three reasons for this.

First, he himself truly believes the things he is asking you to believe.

Second, he writes about profound matters in such a way that it is not only easy to follow but it is winsome and appealing.

But thirdly, he is offering us ‘Stepping Stones’ to a new life by introducing us to Jesus Christ with compelling reasons to become a believer. And this is the most important thing of all.”

Frank Retief

Retired presiding bishop of the Reformed Evangelical Church of Southern Africa

Shall I Not Drink the Cup the Father Has Given Me

You will in this book see how the Lord Jesus Christ badly wounded Living Death for you and me, more than two millennia ago.

Like many Christian believers have done in the past, you will finish off the mutilated death if you confront them with the very weaponry with which the Lord injured them.

This book teems with such weaponry.