It was my privilege on Sunday to preach at Living Rock Church. It was a double honour, as it was a visitor service, and so I was speaking to several visitors and non-Christians.
Our current theme is "The Citizenship of a Disciple — The Kingdom of God" which is a subject dear to my heart, which I have spoken on many times; but the challenge was to make the subject accessible to visitors too. This meant, among other things, stripping out all the jargon, and all the assumptions that we just take for granted as Christians. So before I read from the bible, I took the time to explain why it is the greatest book, and why we believe that God still speaks to us from it.
The way I approached the "Kingdom of God", was to start in heaven; something that everyone has thought about and has an opinion on, and then explained that it has been God's plan right from the beginning to bring heaven to earth. He has no alternative plan "B". This is the plan we see introduced in Genesis, and fulfilled in Revelation. The commission given to Adam, and restored in Christ.
I'm not ashamed to admit I was a little nervous beforehand. I'm not saying I didn't have peace — I did. But there is a sense of uncertainty, a requirement for faith. I'm very aware, every time I preach, that although I have done it many times before, I still can't do it without God. If he doesn't turn up with the goods, the very best I can do, is just entertain for 45 minutes. I don't know if other preachers feel the same way, but I often think of Peter, just before he stepped out of the boat; walking was not a problem, but in this situation, without God, that natural ability would count for nothing.
But my confidence in those situations is to remember the faithfulness of God. He has never let me down. Every time I have preached, he has always turned up, and always equipped me. He has never let me fall fat on my face just to teach me a lesson in humility, or to remind me how uninspiring I would be without him. God never sets us up to fail. When he calls you to do something, he will always make it possible, even if it is stepping out of the boat on to the choppy seas.
I'm pleased to report that the meeting went well. I spoke briefly with one visitor, who was in deep conversation with the friends who had brought her, obviously touched by God.
19.9.05
16.9.05
Which came first...?
Following on from my deep and meaningful post on Thursday... here's a photo for a caption competition that seems appropriate! Have fun
15.9.05
No spam please, we're British
You'll notice a change when you try to leave a comment on this site. I have enabled the "Word Verification" option. This just means that you will see an image of some letters that you need to type in order to leave a comment.
I have recently started to get a number of "Spam" comments in the form of: "Love your site, Check out my site on stamp-collecting..." etc. These spam comments are generally created automatically on blogs that allow anonymous comments. As the programs that generate these messages have not yet learned to read, but most people who would want to leave a legitimate comment have, the word verification thing is a nice way of still allowing anyone to comment, but keeping the spammers at bay.
Feel free to have a go... but really... I'm not interested in stamp-collecting! ;-)
[My thanks to the mysterious QuakerOatsGuy for pointing this option out]
I have recently started to get a number of "Spam" comments in the form of: "Love your site, Check out my site on stamp-collecting..." etc. These spam comments are generally created automatically on blogs that allow anonymous comments. As the programs that generate these messages have not yet learned to read, but most people who would want to leave a legitimate comment have, the word verification thing is a nice way of still allowing anyone to comment, but keeping the spammers at bay.
Feel free to have a go... but really... I'm not interested in stamp-collecting! ;-)
[My thanks to the mysterious QuakerOatsGuy for pointing this option out]
14.9.05
Logic proves the existence of God
God exists! This is not just a statement of faith, but a conclusion of abstract logic.
Take the age old problem: "Which came first the chicken or the egg?" It is a very profound question, because to get a chicken you need an egg, but to get an egg, you need a chicken. The chickens we now see, came from eggs, which in turn came from chickens, which came from eggs and so on backwards in time. Logically there are two, and only two, explanations to this problem: either chickens (and all life by extension) have an infinate ancestry, or they had a moment of genesis.
The argument does not just apply to life, but to everything that goes on in the Universe. All things that happen in the Universe have a cause: there is nothing that "just happens." We refer to this as Cause and Effect. But the things we regard as "causes" are in reality also "effects", that is they themselves did not "just happen" but came about because of an earlier causal event, which in turn happened because of something earlier, and so on back in time — just as with the chickens and the eggs. So with the Universe itself, there are equally only two logical explanations: either these chain of events stretch back to infinty past, or there must be a Primal Cause. That is, a "Cause" that is not itself dependent on anything prior for its existence. As everything in our Universe IS dependent on something prior, it cannot be a cause from within, it must be a cause from without. Thus whether or not you know who or what this Primal Cause is, you cannot logically argue against it. If the Universe has a beginning there must be a pre-existent external entity that started it off.
Atheism is not a logical option!
[See also: Science proves the existence of God]
Take the age old problem: "Which came first the chicken or the egg?" It is a very profound question, because to get a chicken you need an egg, but to get an egg, you need a chicken. The chickens we now see, came from eggs, which in turn came from chickens, which came from eggs and so on backwards in time. Logically there are two, and only two, explanations to this problem: either chickens (and all life by extension) have an infinate ancestry, or they had a moment of genesis.
The argument does not just apply to life, but to everything that goes on in the Universe. All things that happen in the Universe have a cause: there is nothing that "just happens." We refer to this as Cause and Effect. But the things we regard as "causes" are in reality also "effects", that is they themselves did not "just happen" but came about because of an earlier causal event, which in turn happened because of something earlier, and so on back in time — just as with the chickens and the eggs. So with the Universe itself, there are equally only two logical explanations: either these chain of events stretch back to infinty past, or there must be a Primal Cause. That is, a "Cause" that is not itself dependent on anything prior for its existence. As everything in our Universe IS dependent on something prior, it cannot be a cause from within, it must be a cause from without. Thus whether or not you know who or what this Primal Cause is, you cannot logically argue against it. If the Universe has a beginning there must be a pre-existent external entity that started it off.
Atheism is not a logical option!
[See also: Science proves the existence of God]
13.9.05
"That's my favourite!"
This is my two-year old son's latest expression. When he really likes something, he will pipe up with "That's my favourite!" He's a positive child; has a good confession, even at a tender age! :-)
When we were at the Ministries Without Borders Bible week, we were given a Children's Illustrated Bible Story book. He loves it. Most mornings after he wakes up, he comes and sits on our bed, while Dada drinks his coffee and slowly rejoins the land of the living, and asks to read his "Special Book."
Can you guess what his favourite stories are? It's no great surprise: "Big Boat" (Noah), "Big Fish" (Jonah) and "Lions' Den" (Daniel) — that's ma boy!
This got me thinking. Jesus loved Children. You see that clearly in the Gospels. He didn't have much time for religious people, with their pretence and their hypocrisy, their legalism and their somber piety, but he loved the simple, real, down to earth, fun-loving children.
So, I don't think it is any coincidence that these three stories, the ones that most Children are immediately drawn too, are three of the most significant illustrations of Christ in the Old Testament.
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." (Lk 10:21)
In the story of Noah, we have a great picture of what it means to be shielded from God's wrath by being in Christ. Just as only Noah and his family, those who were in the ark, were saved, so too, only those who are in Christ can be saved from God's righteous judgement on sin. Just as it didn't matter how good a swimmer you were when the floods came, so too, it doesn't matter how good a person you think you are, or how many good deeds you have done. No-one can be saved by their own efforts; Jesus is the only way. The great news is that while only 8 people were saved in the ark, in Christ there is room for all who will respond. He will never turn anyone away.
Jonah too is an amazing book. I don't think many Christians realise just how remarkable the book of Jonah really is. It is listed among the prophets and yet we don't have recorded a single word of Jonah's prophetic utterance! This is because Jonah himself, and his life were the prophetic message. In the four short chapters of Jonah we have an entire summary, a succinct representation, of the whole divine will of God for man! Man was purposed to serve God, that was his calling and his commission, yet he rebelled and turned the other way, choosing instead to turn his back on God. Yet God desires to take hold of man, and through a powerful identification with Christ's death and resurrection, give him a second chance to serve him in newness of life, and give him a part to play in the proclamation of a message that will bring salvation to the multitudes.
And Daniel... what can I say about Daniel... I could preach a whole series on Daniel!... oh yeah! I already did! ;-) If you are looking for Christ, revealed in the pages of the Old Testament, there isn't a better book! Jesus himself chose his messianic title "Son of Man", from the pages of this book. Daniel was a man before his time; he lived full of the Spirit before Pentecost, and met Christ himself prior to the incarnation. He saw things that even the great prophets like Isaiah didn't see. He saw the coming of the messiah, as they did; he saw the suffering and death of Christ as they did; but he saw even further to Christ's second coming, the final judgement of the living and the dead. Did you know that the only clear reference to the resurrection of the dead in the Old Testament is found in this book? But Daniel himself is also a "type" of Christ. As an exercise just read again the passage of Daniel in the lions' den, and compare it to the Gospel accounts of Christ in the tomb...
So never underestimate the truth contained in these "Children's Stories." Jesus loves the children. And as for Daniel... to quote my little boy.... "That's my favourite!"
When we were at the Ministries Without Borders Bible week, we were given a Children's Illustrated Bible Story book. He loves it. Most mornings after he wakes up, he comes and sits on our bed, while Dada drinks his coffee and slowly rejoins the land of the living, and asks to read his "Special Book."
Can you guess what his favourite stories are? It's no great surprise: "Big Boat" (Noah), "Big Fish" (Jonah) and "Lions' Den" (Daniel) — that's ma boy!
This got me thinking. Jesus loved Children. You see that clearly in the Gospels. He didn't have much time for religious people, with their pretence and their hypocrisy, their legalism and their somber piety, but he loved the simple, real, down to earth, fun-loving children.
So, I don't think it is any coincidence that these three stories, the ones that most Children are immediately drawn too, are three of the most significant illustrations of Christ in the Old Testament.
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." (Lk 10:21)
In the story of Noah, we have a great picture of what it means to be shielded from God's wrath by being in Christ. Just as only Noah and his family, those who were in the ark, were saved, so too, only those who are in Christ can be saved from God's righteous judgement on sin. Just as it didn't matter how good a swimmer you were when the floods came, so too, it doesn't matter how good a person you think you are, or how many good deeds you have done. No-one can be saved by their own efforts; Jesus is the only way. The great news is that while only 8 people were saved in the ark, in Christ there is room for all who will respond. He will never turn anyone away.
Jonah too is an amazing book. I don't think many Christians realise just how remarkable the book of Jonah really is. It is listed among the prophets and yet we don't have recorded a single word of Jonah's prophetic utterance! This is because Jonah himself, and his life were the prophetic message. In the four short chapters of Jonah we have an entire summary, a succinct representation, of the whole divine will of God for man! Man was purposed to serve God, that was his calling and his commission, yet he rebelled and turned the other way, choosing instead to turn his back on God. Yet God desires to take hold of man, and through a powerful identification with Christ's death and resurrection, give him a second chance to serve him in newness of life, and give him a part to play in the proclamation of a message that will bring salvation to the multitudes.
And Daniel... what can I say about Daniel... I could preach a whole series on Daniel!... oh yeah! I already did! ;-) If you are looking for Christ, revealed in the pages of the Old Testament, there isn't a better book! Jesus himself chose his messianic title "Son of Man", from the pages of this book. Daniel was a man before his time; he lived full of the Spirit before Pentecost, and met Christ himself prior to the incarnation. He saw things that even the great prophets like Isaiah didn't see. He saw the coming of the messiah, as they did; he saw the suffering and death of Christ as they did; but he saw even further to Christ's second coming, the final judgement of the living and the dead. Did you know that the only clear reference to the resurrection of the dead in the Old Testament is found in this book? But Daniel himself is also a "type" of Christ. As an exercise just read again the passage of Daniel in the lions' den, and compare it to the Gospel accounts of Christ in the tomb...
So never underestimate the truth contained in these "Children's Stories." Jesus loves the children. And as for Daniel... to quote my little boy.... "That's my favourite!"
12.9.05
Ooops!
Apologies to anyone who has been viewing my blog in Internet Explorer over the last few days. It seems IE objected to the formatting of one of my entries and shunted the sidebar down to the bottom. As I use Firefox, which is a sensible browser, I was blissfully unaware.
How come none of you guys told me!? ;-)
How come none of you guys told me!? ;-)
Getting the word out
It's great when you have good news to share. You tell a few people and very quickly it ripples out, sometimes out of sight, as one person tells another.
Thank you for all the responses we have had so far to our happy announcement... I just want to share something exciting about a different message of good news that is going out from this site.
If you are a regular (thank you!) you may remember that a month or so ago I posted up my notes on "The Kingdom of God." Well these notes should now be in Cuba, as some of the ladies from Ministries Without Borders, who have just arrived there, are using them as the basis of a series of teachings they are doing. I also discovered, that just today someone from Australia has downloaded my notes. Apparently if you do a search on "Kingdom of God notes" on google.com.au, I come up #56! Cool!
I'm not meaning to brag! I'm just very excited that God is using me and what I have done. As Christians we have a message of good news that is meant to go into all the world. That's why I'm thrilled that excellent teachers like Roger and Trevor have their own blog sites. It's truly amazing how many people from how many countries you can reach when you post material up on the Internet. Especially when the search-engines start to take notice of you.
So here's a challenge: If you've got something that's worth saying, why not say it to the world?
Power to the Bloggers!
Thank you for all the responses we have had so far to our happy announcement... I just want to share something exciting about a different message of good news that is going out from this site.
If you are a regular (thank you!) you may remember that a month or so ago I posted up my notes on "The Kingdom of God." Well these notes should now be in Cuba, as some of the ladies from Ministries Without Borders, who have just arrived there, are using them as the basis of a series of teachings they are doing. I also discovered, that just today someone from Australia has downloaded my notes. Apparently if you do a search on "Kingdom of God notes" on google.com.au, I come up #56! Cool!
I'm not meaning to brag! I'm just very excited that God is using me and what I have done. As Christians we have a message of good news that is meant to go into all the world. That's why I'm thrilled that excellent teachers like Roger and Trevor have their own blog sites. It's truly amazing how many people from how many countries you can reach when you post material up on the Internet. Especially when the search-engines start to take notice of you.
So here's a challenge: If you've got something that's worth saying, why not say it to the world?
Power to the Bloggers!
11.9.05
Increase!
We like to reflect the nature of the Kingdom of God in the Hamer-Hodges family: we are increasing! Jacqueline in particular is increasing at this time... yes, we are expecting another child... I'm going to be a dad again... and Michael will have a little brother or sister sometime in mid-April.
...unlike the Kingdom of God, we do not plan to increase in this way without ceasing!! ;-)
...unlike the Kingdom of God, we do not plan to increase in this way without ceasing!! ;-)
9.9.05
Blessed are the geek...
Here's a little test. Look at the image below. If you think it is cool or amusing - you are one of us, brother!
...don't be ashamed, be proud! Blessed are the geek! This is a day when the richest man in the world is a geek. No company can survive without its own team of geeks. Geeks are now well paid and respected members of society, no longer just spotty lovelorn teenagers who never leave their bedroom.
I visited a friend's house last night and on his fridge he had spelled in fridge magnets the words: "gentoo" and "ubuntu" -- Respeccct!!
So calling all fellow geeks -- confessional time: What is the geekiest thing you have ever done? Make me proud!
8.9.05
Jesus still has more to give!
Is this a controversial statement? I would never have thought so. To me it seems self-evident. God by nature is a giver, always has been, always will be. God so loved the world that he gave... Give and it shall be given to you. Generosity is one of the ways we reflect the nature of God, the most generous giver of all. He wants all his people to be sowers, and he generously showers us with an abundance of provision so in all occasions we will have something to give.
So what's the problem? Why is it that there is a growing number of Christians who have a problem with this statement? It seems to have its root in a misguided teaching that is going around that claims that God has already given all he has to give. That's it! There is no more!
Crazy!.... at least I still think so! [I'm sure I can't be the only one!] This teaching claims that when Jesus hung on the cross and said "It is finished" -- it meant God had done all he was ever going to do... oh yeah, except the outpouring of the Holy Spirit... but that really is your lot now! They say you shouldn't ask God for provision, healing, or any other kind of blessing because he has already given it to you. If you can't see it, it is because of some "Emperor's New Clothes" effect -- you just don't have enough "faith" to realise that these spiritual "truths" are more "real" than the deficiency that is perceived with the natural senses.
What a load of nonsense!! Can you honestly expect me to believe that God is like that?! That you can exhaust his generosity? That he gives in such a way that you have to ascend to the fith-dan of super-faith before you can experience it? Did Jesus ever heal like that? Is that how he fed the five thousand? Is that how he turned the water in to wine.... sorry Jesus, still tastes like water to me.... ahhhh! that's because you are tasting with your mouth not your spirit! When God gives, it is a blessing, not a krypton-factor puzzle that leaves you wondering what if anything you have actually got.
The real danger with this "You've already got it" doctrine lies not because it is so wrong, but because it is nearly right! This puts it into the category of the most dangerous errors: those that contain enough truth to slip under the radar of many Christians' defences without a blip, but still contain enough distortion to confuse, disrupt, divide and condemn.
Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as, by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced (ridiculous as the expression may seem) more true than the truth itself.
-- Iranaeus
You see the work of Christ on the cross was a "once for all" event. When we sin, Jesus does not have to come and die all over again. His death was totally sufficient to propitiate all of God's wrath, and forgive us for all sins - past, present, and future. There is no sacrifice left for sin, nothing that needs to be added to this finished work of Christ... BUT... far from being a sign that this is the last and ultimate gift of God, it is actually the guarantee that God will continue to give!
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Ro 8:32)
It is also true that in Christ we already have all we need for life and godliness, and we have already been blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. We are not waiting for God to do or give anything else before we can take our place in his kingdom purpose. We don't need to know any more before we share our faith with the lost. We don't need anymore anointing before we lay our hands on the sick. We don't need a specific word before we serve our brothers and sisters in the Lord... BUT... again this does not mean that along the way we will not have any genuine needs nor that God will fail to meet those needs. Again it is quite the opposite. God gives us a promise -- if we do what he wants us to do, he will give, and meet all our other needs.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt 6:33)
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Php 4:19)
Finally it is also true that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things that we do not see. There is a realm of the spirit that we need to see if we are to walk by faith and not by sight alone. We need to have our eyes fixed in heaven, to see the world from God's perspective and not our own... BUT... the evidence of things hoped for refers to things we have not yet received. Not for things we allegedly already have. As it says in Romans 8 "Who hopes for what he already has?" Faith is taking God at his word (like Abraham) that when God gives a promise it is as good as done, not living in denial that it is already done.
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Ro 8:24)
God is a giver! Don't let any false doctrine rob you of this great truth. He still has more to give. He delights to give -- and he wants us to ask. Jesus did not go into retirement when he ascended into heaven after the cross. He is still very much present and active in all we do. We must remain in him if we are to be fruitful. Without him we can do nothing. So I say again, and like John Crysostom -- I wish I could proclaim it to the whole Universe -- "Jesus still has more to give!"
So what's the problem? Why is it that there is a growing number of Christians who have a problem with this statement? It seems to have its root in a misguided teaching that is going around that claims that God has already given all he has to give. That's it! There is no more!
Crazy!.... at least I still think so! [I'm sure I can't be the only one!] This teaching claims that when Jesus hung on the cross and said "It is finished" -- it meant God had done all he was ever going to do... oh yeah, except the outpouring of the Holy Spirit... but that really is your lot now! They say you shouldn't ask God for provision, healing, or any other kind of blessing because he has already given it to you. If you can't see it, it is because of some "Emperor's New Clothes" effect -- you just don't have enough "faith" to realise that these spiritual "truths" are more "real" than the deficiency that is perceived with the natural senses.
What a load of nonsense!! Can you honestly expect me to believe that God is like that?! That you can exhaust his generosity? That he gives in such a way that you have to ascend to the fith-dan of super-faith before you can experience it? Did Jesus ever heal like that? Is that how he fed the five thousand? Is that how he turned the water in to wine.... sorry Jesus, still tastes like water to me.... ahhhh! that's because you are tasting with your mouth not your spirit! When God gives, it is a blessing, not a krypton-factor puzzle that leaves you wondering what if anything you have actually got.
The real danger with this "You've already got it" doctrine lies not because it is so wrong, but because it is nearly right! This puts it into the category of the most dangerous errors: those that contain enough truth to slip under the radar of many Christians' defences without a blip, but still contain enough distortion to confuse, disrupt, divide and condemn.
Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as, by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced (ridiculous as the expression may seem) more true than the truth itself.
-- Iranaeus
You see the work of Christ on the cross was a "once for all" event. When we sin, Jesus does not have to come and die all over again. His death was totally sufficient to propitiate all of God's wrath, and forgive us for all sins - past, present, and future. There is no sacrifice left for sin, nothing that needs to be added to this finished work of Christ... BUT... far from being a sign that this is the last and ultimate gift of God, it is actually the guarantee that God will continue to give!
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Ro 8:32)
It is also true that in Christ we already have all we need for life and godliness, and we have already been blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. We are not waiting for God to do or give anything else before we can take our place in his kingdom purpose. We don't need to know any more before we share our faith with the lost. We don't need anymore anointing before we lay our hands on the sick. We don't need a specific word before we serve our brothers and sisters in the Lord... BUT... again this does not mean that along the way we will not have any genuine needs nor that God will fail to meet those needs. Again it is quite the opposite. God gives us a promise -- if we do what he wants us to do, he will give, and meet all our other needs.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt 6:33)
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Php 4:19)
Finally it is also true that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things that we do not see. There is a realm of the spirit that we need to see if we are to walk by faith and not by sight alone. We need to have our eyes fixed in heaven, to see the world from God's perspective and not our own... BUT... the evidence of things hoped for refers to things we have not yet received. Not for things we allegedly already have. As it says in Romans 8 "Who hopes for what he already has?" Faith is taking God at his word (like Abraham) that when God gives a promise it is as good as done, not living in denial that it is already done.
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Ro 8:24)
God is a giver! Don't let any false doctrine rob you of this great truth. He still has more to give. He delights to give -- and he wants us to ask. Jesus did not go into retirement when he ascended into heaven after the cross. He is still very much present and active in all we do. We must remain in him if we are to be fruitful. Without him we can do nothing. So I say again, and like John Crysostom -- I wish I could proclaim it to the whole Universe -- "Jesus still has more to give!"
7.9.05
St Augustine on Grace and Free will
I mentioned in my post on Sovereignty and Free will, that this debate has been played out already throughout history. I found this quote from St. Augustine which is very succinct:
If there is no [sovereign] grace of God, how does He save the world? and if there is no free will, how does He judge the world?
If there is no [sovereign] grace of God, how does He save the world? and if there is no free will, how does He judge the world?
5.9.05
Cold Turkey
The unthinkable happened at work today... no internet connection!
Throughout offices up and down the building, people were running back and forth: "Can you get on? No? Me neither." No instant messaging, no RSS blog feeds, no external email and no web-surfing! It suddenly dawned on everyone, with a cold chill, that there was nothing for it.... we would all have to do some work today!! ;-)
I'm lucky enough that playing with a computer all day IS my job! It's great when you love your work, and you get payed for doing what you like doing anyway. It's called programming actually, or Software Engineering if you want to be grandiose - but essentially it's a big computer game where the goal is to get the computer to do what you want!
It's amazing how technology has moved on. Those of us with a passion for things technical are still regarded as a bit geeky, regardless of how physically fit or socially skilled we are. But I like to think that we "geeks" are just a few years ahead of our time. I remember a time when just to be "on the net" was considered the height of geekdom. Only as far back as the late '90s when I first made the suggestion that the church have a website, it was almost dismissed with the joke that the only people who would turn up would be pale spotty teenagers in Iron Maiden tee-shirts! How things have changed! Now almost everyone is on the net, has an email address, and most churches have a website.
I was reminded again today, how we have grown to depend on the 'Net over the years. For information, for communication, for recreation, for purchases or just window shopping; holidays, getting in touch with old friends, planning church and cellgroup activities.. and of course posting your thoughts in a blog. What did we do before the internet!?
I saw a documentary on "The New Al-Qaeda" recently. One expert said that there is a way that we could stop global terrorism dead in its tracks, but the cost is so high that no one would dare to even suggest it: Shut down the Internet! Some people are worried about the internet, with the danger of paedophiles in chatrooms, and the spread of pornography, and the rampant illegal copyright theft of songs and movies that happens on a huge scale.
But there are many good things on the internet too. It's a window on the world and its people. Some people see only darkness, but others see more. This is God's world, and it is full of the good things that God has created, and the people he made in his image. Sure sin has corrupted it, and there is plenty of evil about, but God is still in control, and the light always drives out the darkness. This world is destined to be filled with the glory of God... does that include the Internet? I don't know, but I'm going to do my bit anyway! It's always better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
[For more light visit Trevor Lloyd's bog - he's just recently started. He's a gifted and inspiring teacher of the word. A man with wisdom and integrity.]
For a less inspiring, but amusing concluding quote. Here's Peppa Pig -- my two-year old's favorite programme:
Mummy Pig (at the Museum): This is the Kings and Queens' room
Peppa: Where is the queen's television?
Daddy Pig: They didn't have television in those days, Peppa.
Peppa (shocked): No television!... but they did have computers.
Mummy Pig: No Peppa, they didn't have them either.
Peppa (horrified): No computers!! What did they do all day?!
Throughout offices up and down the building, people were running back and forth: "Can you get on? No? Me neither." No instant messaging, no RSS blog feeds, no external email and no web-surfing! It suddenly dawned on everyone, with a cold chill, that there was nothing for it.... we would all have to do some work today!! ;-)
I'm lucky enough that playing with a computer all day IS my job! It's great when you love your work, and you get payed for doing what you like doing anyway. It's called programming actually, or Software Engineering if you want to be grandiose - but essentially it's a big computer game where the goal is to get the computer to do what you want!
It's amazing how technology has moved on. Those of us with a passion for things technical are still regarded as a bit geeky, regardless of how physically fit or socially skilled we are. But I like to think that we "geeks" are just a few years ahead of our time. I remember a time when just to be "on the net" was considered the height of geekdom. Only as far back as the late '90s when I first made the suggestion that the church have a website, it was almost dismissed with the joke that the only people who would turn up would be pale spotty teenagers in Iron Maiden tee-shirts! How things have changed! Now almost everyone is on the net, has an email address, and most churches have a website.
I was reminded again today, how we have grown to depend on the 'Net over the years. For information, for communication, for recreation, for purchases or just window shopping; holidays, getting in touch with old friends, planning church and cellgroup activities.. and of course posting your thoughts in a blog. What did we do before the internet!?
I saw a documentary on "The New Al-Qaeda" recently. One expert said that there is a way that we could stop global terrorism dead in its tracks, but the cost is so high that no one would dare to even suggest it: Shut down the Internet! Some people are worried about the internet, with the danger of paedophiles in chatrooms, and the spread of pornography, and the rampant illegal copyright theft of songs and movies that happens on a huge scale.
But there are many good things on the internet too. It's a window on the world and its people. Some people see only darkness, but others see more. This is God's world, and it is full of the good things that God has created, and the people he made in his image. Sure sin has corrupted it, and there is plenty of evil about, but God is still in control, and the light always drives out the darkness. This world is destined to be filled with the glory of God... does that include the Internet? I don't know, but I'm going to do my bit anyway! It's always better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
[For more light visit Trevor Lloyd's bog - he's just recently started. He's a gifted and inspiring teacher of the word. A man with wisdom and integrity.]
For a less inspiring, but amusing concluding quote. Here's Peppa Pig -- my two-year old's favorite programme:
Mummy Pig (at the Museum): This is the Kings and Queens' room
Peppa: Where is the queen's television?
Daddy Pig: They didn't have television in those days, Peppa.
Peppa (shocked): No television!... but they did have computers.
Mummy Pig: No Peppa, they didn't have them either.
Peppa (horrified): No computers!! What did they do all day?!
2.9.05
It's good to talk
Google have released a new Instant Messaging service that is free to all its Gmail users: Google Talk.
"Why do we need yet another Instant messenger?", I hear you say. We already have MSN, AIM, ICQ, and Yahoo messengers. What's different about Google's offering?
Well there are a number of things that make it very nice:
The downside is that you have to be an existing Gmail user to use it... and you can't get a Gmail account without an invitation... but fear not. If any of you would like to try Gmail and Google Talk, just pop me an email (address is at the bottom of the page) and I'll send you an invite. Gmail has some great advantages - more than 2Gb of storage, POP and webmail access, and advanced Google searching on all your old mails (all free!).
If you are already a Gmail user, just visit www.google.com/talk and download it.
"Why do we need yet another Instant messenger?", I hear you say. We already have MSN, AIM, ICQ, and Yahoo messengers. What's different about Google's offering?
Well there are a number of things that make it very nice:
- It's very lightweight. Blink and the download is over.
- It's simple and uncluttered. No adverts or huge information panels.
- As well as instant text communication, it offers crystal clear voice communication too: ala Skype (in fact they are using the same technology)
- It works as a Gmail notification too. As you want to keep informed of new email messages anyway, it's no extra bother to have all the nice IM features thrown in for free too.
- Custom status messages: You can set your own status. Not just the same old boring "Available" or "Away", you can add your own like "Gone fishing" or "Deep in prayer!"
The downside is that you have to be an existing Gmail user to use it... and you can't get a Gmail account without an invitation... but fear not. If any of you would like to try Gmail and Google Talk, just pop me an email (address is at the bottom of the page) and I'll send you an invite. Gmail has some great advantages - more than 2Gb of storage, POP and webmail access, and advanced Google searching on all your old mails (all free!).
If you are already a Gmail user, just visit www.google.com/talk and download it.
1.9.05
It's not the critic who counts...
First of all, a big thank you to Joe James, who generously awarded me a prize for my efforts on one of his caption competitions. My prize was a book: Treasury of Courage and Confidence, by Norman Vincent Peale. It's an anthology of inspiring quotes by great writers.
I've only dipped into it so far, but it looks great. This quote caught my eye this morning:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
-- Theodore Roosevelt
It made me think... although I don't take back anything I said yesterday, I don't want to be remembered as a man who criticised from the sidelines! I'd much rather be in the thick of the action, actually making a difference. That's what counts at the end of the day; not what you said about what others did, but what you did yourself! It's all too easy to criticise....
"When I've walked on the water... then I'll preach about Peter's unbelief. Until then, I tend to be very impressed!"
-- Tony Ling
I've only dipped into it so far, but it looks great. This quote caught my eye this morning:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
-- Theodore Roosevelt
It made me think... although I don't take back anything I said yesterday, I don't want to be remembered as a man who criticised from the sidelines! I'd much rather be in the thick of the action, actually making a difference. That's what counts at the end of the day; not what you said about what others did, but what you did yourself! It's all too easy to criticise....
"When I've walked on the water... then I'll preach about Peter's unbelief. Until then, I tend to be very impressed!"
-- Tony Ling
31.8.05
Sovereignty and Free will
I was very disturbed yesterday, very disturbed indeed. I visited a website of a well known ministry, whose teaching has been in circulation in our congregation, only to find that one of the basic foundations for his doctrine is a denial of the total sovereignty of God.
"The widely accepted doctrine that God controls everything is a deception. If Satan can confuse and deceive you on that issue, he’s got you!"
Yikes! This is such a serious error! If God is not sovereign, then he is not God. If he is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all. This is the most ancient of all heresies: Dualism. The belief that God does not have total control, but that Satan or some other power has a competing portion of the total sovereignty of the Universe. This view is the one caricatured by the image of God and the Devil playing chess for the souls of men -- it's only because God is so much smarter that he is going to win.
The root of this problem is also age old. It's the apparent contradiction between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. In human logic it must be one or the other. If God is sovereign then human free will is just an illusion. If men truly have free will, then God is not in total control. The argument gets even more complicated when you throw in the problem of evil. If God is totally sovereign does this mean he is responsible for all the evil in the world? If God is not sovereign over evil does this mean we have a weak or complicit God who is unable to exert his will over Satan?
The argument has been played out down through the centuries of Church history. Between St. Augustine and Pelagius; Calvin and Arminius. It's a sad comment on our ignorance of church history that the same old debate is coming around again -- if we do not learn from our history we are destined to repeat it.
The Bible teaches both God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. If we ignore one or the other we wander into error, and even blatant heresy. If we ignore the free will of man, then the inevitable result is fatalism and passivity. Why evangelise, if the elect will get saved anyway, and the damned never will? Why pray if God is going to do what he has predestined to do whether we pray or not? But even more serious are the errors we fall into if we deny the sovereignty of God: Satan becomes a little-god, and God becomes no god at all. If you worship a God who is not totally sovereign, then you do not worship the Sovereign Lord of the scriptures -- you are an idolater! Sorry to put it in such stark terms, but these things need to be said. Peter puts it in even stronger terms:
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. (2 Peter 2:1)
So how can God be sovereign, and man's responsibility not be diminished? Well it is a mystery. God wouldn't be God if you could totally understand him would he? But there are some analogies in nature. How can an electron be both a wave and a particle? How is it that when you pop a balloon, each molecule of air continues to do its own thing in total ignorance to the state of the balloon, and yet the air always flows out. How can it be that the individual radioactive decay of an atom is one of the securest forms of pure random data in the world, and yet radioactive half-lives can be calculated with accuracy down to fractions of a second? Did you know that your right eye and your left eye see two conflicting two-dimensional views of the universe? Yet we would have no concept of the world's true three-dimensional nature if they saw exactly the same thing.
But ultimately our best recourse is to the scriptures themselves. If you are struggling to understand the true meaning of God's sovereignty, let me prescribe a good dose of Romans chapter 9.
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, `Why did you make me like this?' " (Romans 9:18-20)
"The widely accepted doctrine that God controls everything is a deception. If Satan can confuse and deceive you on that issue, he’s got you!"
Yikes! This is such a serious error! If God is not sovereign, then he is not God. If he is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all. This is the most ancient of all heresies: Dualism. The belief that God does not have total control, but that Satan or some other power has a competing portion of the total sovereignty of the Universe. This view is the one caricatured by the image of God and the Devil playing chess for the souls of men -- it's only because God is so much smarter that he is going to win.
The root of this problem is also age old. It's the apparent contradiction between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. In human logic it must be one or the other. If God is sovereign then human free will is just an illusion. If men truly have free will, then God is not in total control. The argument gets even more complicated when you throw in the problem of evil. If God is totally sovereign does this mean he is responsible for all the evil in the world? If God is not sovereign over evil does this mean we have a weak or complicit God who is unable to exert his will over Satan?
The argument has been played out down through the centuries of Church history. Between St. Augustine and Pelagius; Calvin and Arminius. It's a sad comment on our ignorance of church history that the same old debate is coming around again -- if we do not learn from our history we are destined to repeat it.
The Bible teaches both God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. If we ignore one or the other we wander into error, and even blatant heresy. If we ignore the free will of man, then the inevitable result is fatalism and passivity. Why evangelise, if the elect will get saved anyway, and the damned never will? Why pray if God is going to do what he has predestined to do whether we pray or not? But even more serious are the errors we fall into if we deny the sovereignty of God: Satan becomes a little-god, and God becomes no god at all. If you worship a God who is not totally sovereign, then you do not worship the Sovereign Lord of the scriptures -- you are an idolater! Sorry to put it in such stark terms, but these things need to be said. Peter puts it in even stronger terms:
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. (2 Peter 2:1)
So how can God be sovereign, and man's responsibility not be diminished? Well it is a mystery. God wouldn't be God if you could totally understand him would he? But there are some analogies in nature. How can an electron be both a wave and a particle? How is it that when you pop a balloon, each molecule of air continues to do its own thing in total ignorance to the state of the balloon, and yet the air always flows out. How can it be that the individual radioactive decay of an atom is one of the securest forms of pure random data in the world, and yet radioactive half-lives can be calculated with accuracy down to fractions of a second? Did you know that your right eye and your left eye see two conflicting two-dimensional views of the universe? Yet we would have no concept of the world's true three-dimensional nature if they saw exactly the same thing.
But ultimately our best recourse is to the scriptures themselves. If you are struggling to understand the true meaning of God's sovereignty, let me prescribe a good dose of Romans chapter 9.
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, `Why did you make me like this?' " (Romans 9:18-20)
30.8.05
Lost in translation?
I'm still loving my new ESV Bible. I spotted something while I was reading Isaiah that I had never seen before; because the NIV translates the verse slightly differently.
Here's Isaiah 11:8 in the NIV
The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
And here it is in the ESV:
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
[bold face my addition]
Spot the difference? It's subtle, but it makes a big difference. If you are only reading the verse for the immediate meaning, there is little or no difference between the two, and the NIV is making the immediate meaning more accessible... but... in the context of the rest of Isaiah that has come before, particularly chapter 7, "the weaned child" is very significant. It relates to the sign of Immanuel!
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. (Isa 8:14-16)
The virgin being with child and giving birth to a son named Immanuel is of course a prophecy that not only had immediate significance, but pointed forwards to Christ. The child was to be weaned on curds and honey (also significant -- think milk and honey -- promised blessings) when it knew good and evil, and before this time there would be deliverance from the enemies that threatened. The weaned child thus represents the fulfilment of the sign of Immanuel.
The wording could thus make the difference from a nice verse about peace and security, to being a messianic prophecy about Christ subduing the power of the serpent.
So is this verse a messianic prophecy? I'm not a Hebrew scholar, so I can't make a definitive comment -- but the wording of the ESV certainly makes it a strong possibility; a possibility that you totally overlook in the NIV. I don't want to decry the NIV, I love that version too, and have read it for years, but it does illustrate the importance for serious Bible Study of getting a version that's as close to the original wording as possible. Often words are laden with significance and chosen deliberately to convey more than just one layer of meaning.
Here's Isaiah 11:8 in the NIV
The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
And here it is in the ESV:
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
[bold face my addition]
Spot the difference? It's subtle, but it makes a big difference. If you are only reading the verse for the immediate meaning, there is little or no difference between the two, and the NIV is making the immediate meaning more accessible... but... in the context of the rest of Isaiah that has come before, particularly chapter 7, "the weaned child" is very significant. It relates to the sign of Immanuel!
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. (Isa 8:14-16)
The virgin being with child and giving birth to a son named Immanuel is of course a prophecy that not only had immediate significance, but pointed forwards to Christ. The child was to be weaned on curds and honey (also significant -- think milk and honey -- promised blessings) when it knew good and evil, and before this time there would be deliverance from the enemies that threatened. The weaned child thus represents the fulfilment of the sign of Immanuel.
The wording could thus make the difference from a nice verse about peace and security, to being a messianic prophecy about Christ subduing the power of the serpent.
So is this verse a messianic prophecy? I'm not a Hebrew scholar, so I can't make a definitive comment -- but the wording of the ESV certainly makes it a strong possibility; a possibility that you totally overlook in the NIV. I don't want to decry the NIV, I love that version too, and have read it for years, but it does illustrate the importance for serious Bible Study of getting a version that's as close to the original wording as possible. Often words are laden with significance and chosen deliberately to convey more than just one layer of meaning.
29.8.05
In Christ Alone!
One of the Songs at the wedding was "In Christ Alone" by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend. What a fantastic worship song it is. For a start: what a great title! It's rare to find a modern chorus with a depth of theology to match the old hymns, but if there are any contenders around today -- this must be one of them. I love it.
As we sang it, I was struck in particular by the last verse...
No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till he returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!
As we sang it, I was struck in particular by the last verse...
No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till he returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!
28.8.05
Congratulations, Dan & Rosy!
I went to a great wedding yesterday. Dan and Rosy got married in Manchester. Due to the terrible traffic on the M6 we only just made it in time for the start of the ceremony.
The service was led by Richard Anniss, my room-mate from Bible College, now the Lead Elder of a church of hundreds in the heart of Manchester. He did a fantastic job. The service focussed not just on Rosy and Dan, but on Christ. It was a real testimony not just for their love for each other, but their love for him.
It was also good to see Andrew and Trenna there, also old classmates from that vintage year of '97! It's always a pleasure to meet with brothers in Christ -- no matter how long you have been apart, that common bond forged in Christ never fades.
26.8.05
More caption fun
Enough of the deep and meaningful... time for some Friday fun. Post your wittiest captions for this photo.
25.8.05
The beginning of wisdom
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (Ps 111:10)
I'm going to bring my discussion of the fear of the Lord, and fearing no evil to a close now. I hope you've found it helpful. There is more I could say, but I feel I've said enough. I may pick up the subject again at a later date if it is appropriate.
However the scriptures say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This is just the beginning, not the end. So to conclude and summarise, here is a checklist:
Finally, I'll finish with an anecdotal story about the reformer Martin Luther. It is said that one night he woke from a bad dream, and hearing a sound, lit a candle. There at the foot of his bed, was none other than the devil himself, grinning menacingly over him. "Oh!" said Luther, "It's only you!" and blowing out the candle he turned over and went back to sleep.
Sleep easy. Our God is in control: fear him, and fear no evil.
I'm going to bring my discussion of the fear of the Lord, and fearing no evil to a close now. I hope you've found it helpful. There is more I could say, but I feel I've said enough. I may pick up the subject again at a later date if it is appropriate.
However the scriptures say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This is just the beginning, not the end. So to conclude and summarise, here is a checklist:
- Who do we fear more: God or Satan?
- Who do we believe is in the driving seat? On the judgement seat?
- How awesome is our God? Do we let God be God, or do we shift the bits we don't like (e.g. the curse on creation, the discipline of believers) onto Satan?
- Does the fear of God make us feel safe? Do we believe Romans 8: If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Do we have peace that our lives are in God's hands, or do we worry about Satan's attacks?
- Do we give God the respect he deserves or have we become sloppy in our attitude towards him?
- How do we see Christ? As the Lord slain, or the Lord high and lifted up?
- How do we see Satan? On a rung of the ladder just below God, or defeated and under his feet?
Finally, I'll finish with an anecdotal story about the reformer Martin Luther. It is said that one night he woke from a bad dream, and hearing a sound, lit a candle. There at the foot of his bed, was none other than the devil himself, grinning menacingly over him. "Oh!" said Luther, "It's only you!" and blowing out the candle he turned over and went back to sleep.
Sleep easy. Our God is in control: fear him, and fear no evil.
24.8.05
The Cross: Christ's victory, Satan's defeat.
The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. (Nu 21:7-9)
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (Jn 3:14-15)
There is so much that could be said about the cross, and this may not seem like the most obvious place to start, but bear with me, it's very significant.
Jesus tells us clearly in John's gospel that the bronze snake that Moses lifted up in the wilderness was a prefiguring of his own atoning death on the cross. Just as all who were dying from the snake bites could look to the snake and live, so too all who are dying in sin can look to the Son, put their faith in him and live.
So far so good, nothing new here. But as I was thinking about this again, a question occurred to me: why a snake? If this action was intended to prefigure Christ you would have expected a different and more appropriate symbol. If Moses had lifted up bread and wine, you would have caught the symbolism immediately. If he had been told to shed the blood of a lamb and lift that up, again the symbolism would have been unmistakable. But he didn't; he lifted up a snake... hold on Moses... what blasphemy is this?.... where we expect to see a symbol of the Christ we see instead.... THE SERPENT!
Now I know there is other significance here. The people were bitten by snakes and it was a snake that was lifted up. Jesus took the punishment that we deserved. The serpent is cursed, and Jesus became cursed on the cross, taking the curse from us so that we could be blessed... but I think there is more to it than that... The imagery of the serpent in a foreshadowing of the cross is too significant to be incidental.
You see it says in scripture that it was for the joy set before him that Jesus endured the cross. Jesus in his mind, although he set his face like flint to the cross, was always looking beyond it -- not to his death, but to all his death would accomplish. The thought of the death part itself was not something that Jesus liked to think about, you only have to read the account to Gethsemane to see that. It was what lay beyond the cross, that filled his heart with joy.
It makes you think - why do we like to fixate so much attention on the very part that Jesus himself liked to think about the least. The cross itself was a wonderful moment of victory, but it was not until the resurrection that this victory was declared. The cross without the resurrection would have been no victory at all. Thus it is not the dead Jesus hung on the cross that is the true symbol of the Christian faith, but the empty tomb; even better is the ascended Christ in glory and the outpouring of the Spirit. Thus the true mark of a Christian is not the cross around their neck, but the infilling of the Spirit in their life.
This makes me think that God, very deliberately, did not chose to use an image for his Son when he told Moses to lift up the pole in the wilderness, and instead chose an image of the enemy. You see, Jesus did not stay on the cross, but all the power of the enemy did! At the cross, Satan scored the greatest own goal ever. It says in 1 Corinthains, that if he had understood the cross, and what would have happened, he would never have done it. When Jesus hung limp and lifeless, he thought he had won -- when in reality he had just lost. The prophesy in Genesis had been fulfilled. He had struck his heel, but Jesus had crushed the serpent's head.
I like to think that when Moses attached the serpent to the post, one of the nails when through its head. A prefiguring of how the serpent would have his head crushed at the cross.
So when you consider the cross, don't see a lifeless Jesus hung there. Our Lord is alive, he has won, he has defeated death and is seated at the right hand of God in glory. See the serpent with his head crushed. Your Lord is victorious. Your enemy has been defeated.
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (Jn 3:14-15)
There is so much that could be said about the cross, and this may not seem like the most obvious place to start, but bear with me, it's very significant.
Jesus tells us clearly in John's gospel that the bronze snake that Moses lifted up in the wilderness was a prefiguring of his own atoning death on the cross. Just as all who were dying from the snake bites could look to the snake and live, so too all who are dying in sin can look to the Son, put their faith in him and live.
So far so good, nothing new here. But as I was thinking about this again, a question occurred to me: why a snake? If this action was intended to prefigure Christ you would have expected a different and more appropriate symbol. If Moses had lifted up bread and wine, you would have caught the symbolism immediately. If he had been told to shed the blood of a lamb and lift that up, again the symbolism would have been unmistakable. But he didn't; he lifted up a snake... hold on Moses... what blasphemy is this?.... where we expect to see a symbol of the Christ we see instead.... THE SERPENT!
Now I know there is other significance here. The people were bitten by snakes and it was a snake that was lifted up. Jesus took the punishment that we deserved. The serpent is cursed, and Jesus became cursed on the cross, taking the curse from us so that we could be blessed... but I think there is more to it than that... The imagery of the serpent in a foreshadowing of the cross is too significant to be incidental.
You see it says in scripture that it was for the joy set before him that Jesus endured the cross. Jesus in his mind, although he set his face like flint to the cross, was always looking beyond it -- not to his death, but to all his death would accomplish. The thought of the death part itself was not something that Jesus liked to think about, you only have to read the account to Gethsemane to see that. It was what lay beyond the cross, that filled his heart with joy.
It makes you think - why do we like to fixate so much attention on the very part that Jesus himself liked to think about the least. The cross itself was a wonderful moment of victory, but it was not until the resurrection that this victory was declared. The cross without the resurrection would have been no victory at all. Thus it is not the dead Jesus hung on the cross that is the true symbol of the Christian faith, but the empty tomb; even better is the ascended Christ in glory and the outpouring of the Spirit. Thus the true mark of a Christian is not the cross around their neck, but the infilling of the Spirit in their life.
This makes me think that God, very deliberately, did not chose to use an image for his Son when he told Moses to lift up the pole in the wilderness, and instead chose an image of the enemy. You see, Jesus did not stay on the cross, but all the power of the enemy did! At the cross, Satan scored the greatest own goal ever. It says in 1 Corinthains, that if he had understood the cross, and what would have happened, he would never have done it. When Jesus hung limp and lifeless, he thought he had won -- when in reality he had just lost. The prophesy in Genesis had been fulfilled. He had struck his heel, but Jesus had crushed the serpent's head.
I like to think that when Moses attached the serpent to the post, one of the nails when through its head. A prefiguring of how the serpent would have his head crushed at the cross.
So when you consider the cross, don't see a lifeless Jesus hung there. Our Lord is alive, he has won, he has defeated death and is seated at the right hand of God in glory. See the serpent with his head crushed. Your Lord is victorious. Your enemy has been defeated.
23.8.05
Curse-proof!
But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed." (Nu 22:12)
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. (Pr 26:2)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Eph 1:3)
One thing I find totally baffling is Christians who think that they are under a curse! How can that be? Who can curse those whom the Lord has blessed? If God has blessed us, who has more authority than God to over-rule this and say we are cursed? It's an utter nonsense!
This attitude shows again the errors people fall into when they fear the devil more than they fear God. Consider this: whose curse is the world under at the present time? Is it the devil's or is it God's? Satan does not have the power to curse -- he himself is accursed of God. All he can do is to try to take as many down with him as he goes. In some Christians' theology you wonder just who they think is sat on the judgement seat.
God pronounced the curse as a righteous judgement on sin, as a consequence of Adam's rebellion. But the blessings that come through Christ's obedience far outweigh the curse that came through Adam's sin. Who is greater: Christ or Adam? It's not difficult.
[This is why I have a problem with the doctrine of "Limited Atonement" -- there's an oxymoron if ever there was one! -- It elevates Adam's sin above Christ's redemption. In Adam all die, but in Christ only a few can be made alive? -- I don't think so!!]
So no more talk of curses, or paranoid obsessions about demonic activity, please!
God is good. You are blessed. Satan is defeated. Simple!
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. (Pr 26:2)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Eph 1:3)
One thing I find totally baffling is Christians who think that they are under a curse! How can that be? Who can curse those whom the Lord has blessed? If God has blessed us, who has more authority than God to over-rule this and say we are cursed? It's an utter nonsense!
This attitude shows again the errors people fall into when they fear the devil more than they fear God. Consider this: whose curse is the world under at the present time? Is it the devil's or is it God's? Satan does not have the power to curse -- he himself is accursed of God. All he can do is to try to take as many down with him as he goes. In some Christians' theology you wonder just who they think is sat on the judgement seat.
God pronounced the curse as a righteous judgement on sin, as a consequence of Adam's rebellion. But the blessings that come through Christ's obedience far outweigh the curse that came through Adam's sin. Who is greater: Christ or Adam? It's not difficult.
[This is why I have a problem with the doctrine of "Limited Atonement" -- there's an oxymoron if ever there was one! -- It elevates Adam's sin above Christ's redemption. In Adam all die, but in Christ only a few can be made alive? -- I don't think so!!]
So no more talk of curses, or paranoid obsessions about demonic activity, please!
God is good. You are blessed. Satan is defeated. Simple!
22.8.05
A picture worth 1000 words
I saw this picture on Roger's blog today, and loved it! It would make a great caption competition, but that's not why it caught my eye. I thought it illustrated excellently the apparent contradiction with a right fear of the Lord: how it also make us feel safe.
The little fish fears the big fish because it rightly recognises that it wouldn't stand a chance against it, but the very thing that makes the big fish so fearful, is the basis for the little fish's confidence in its safety. Inside the big fish's mouth it has nothing to fear except the big fish itself. It's the same when we are in the hands of the Lord... or should that be mouth?
(Does God carry us around in his mouth? It's not the usual anthropomorphic metaphor, but it is not without scriptural basis: read Revelation 3:16.)
Seen in a new light
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light... While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified. (Mt 17:2,5-6)
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead... (Rev 1:12-17a)
Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell face down... (Eze 1:26-28a)
I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. (Da 10:5-8)
One key to the fear of the Lord is our vision of Christ. How do we perceive him? As the baby in a manger? As the good teacher who was humble and full of grace? As an emaciated figure hung on the cross? Or as the Lord of glory -- majestic, awesome, holy, with all authority and sovereign power? A.W. Tozer wrote "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
If we could catch but a glimpse of his glory, we would not have any problem with the fear of the Lord -- it would come naturally: we could have no other response. The disciples thought they knew Jesus well, they had eat with him, travelled with him, heard him teach, seen him perform miracles; they had shared his private moments. Yet they were still taken aback and fell down in awe and reverent worship when they saw him in his glory on the mount of transfiguration. Equally for us, it doesn't matter how long we have been walking with the Lord; we need to press in to see more of him and his glory.
You cannot see Jesus and walk away unchanged!
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see you, I want to see you
To see you high and lifted up
Shining in the light of your glory
-- Open the Eyes of My Heart, Paul Baloche
19.8.05
Mostly Harmless?
An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. (Ps 36:1)
One of the easiest ways to see the need for a right fear of the Lord is to examine what happens when it is not present. Where there is no fear of the Lord, there is no moral restraint on behavior. Abraham feared for his life in Abimelech's kingdom, because he believed there was "no fear of God in this place."
Whilst it is unthinkable that the Church would ever abandon the fear of the Lord to this degree; it nevertheless can become eroded. On a subconscious level Christians can adopt an attitude that reveals they have lost some of the right fear of the Lord. Would I turn up late to a meeting, if I really believed God, the awesome maker of the Universe was present in the gathering? Would I not bother to turn up, because I didn't feel like it, or had other things to do?
We can become over familiar with this wonderous grace in which we stand before God. When this happens, in creeps the attitude that treats God like one of our buddies: "You don't mind, do you? -- didn't think so." God does mind! He is not one of our buddies. He is a jealous God, who demands and deserves our undivided loyalty and love. Is it right that we give our boss or our elders more respect than we give to God himself?!
Those who have subconsciously adopted this "Mostly Harmless" attitude towards God, or consider that the awesome and fearful God of the Old Testament somehow had a personality transplant with the advent of the New Covenant [Marcionite heresy] should consider again the story of Anianias and Sopphira (Acts 5).
A right fear of God may make us feel safe - but it should also constantly remind us that God himself is anything but "safe!"
One of the easiest ways to see the need for a right fear of the Lord is to examine what happens when it is not present. Where there is no fear of the Lord, there is no moral restraint on behavior. Abraham feared for his life in Abimelech's kingdom, because he believed there was "no fear of God in this place."
Whilst it is unthinkable that the Church would ever abandon the fear of the Lord to this degree; it nevertheless can become eroded. On a subconscious level Christians can adopt an attitude that reveals they have lost some of the right fear of the Lord. Would I turn up late to a meeting, if I really believed God, the awesome maker of the Universe was present in the gathering? Would I not bother to turn up, because I didn't feel like it, or had other things to do?
We can become over familiar with this wonderous grace in which we stand before God. When this happens, in creeps the attitude that treats God like one of our buddies: "You don't mind, do you? -- didn't think so." God does mind! He is not one of our buddies. He is a jealous God, who demands and deserves our undivided loyalty and love. Is it right that we give our boss or our elders more respect than we give to God himself?!
Those who have subconsciously adopted this "Mostly Harmless" attitude towards God, or consider that the awesome and fearful God of the Old Testament somehow had a personality transplant with the advent of the New Covenant [Marcionite heresy] should consider again the story of Anianias and Sopphira (Acts 5).
A right fear of God may make us feel safe - but it should also constantly remind us that God himself is anything but "safe!"
“Ooh,” said Susan, “I thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie,” said Mrs. Beaver. “And make no mistake, if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then isn’t he safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you!”
-- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; CS Lewis
18.8.05
In Safe Hands
Here is a little meditation on the hands of the Lord, to serve as an introduction to the subject of the fear of the Lord. It should illustrate what Roger shared in a comment yesterday - that the fear of the Lord actually makes us feel wonderously safe.
How can this be? Well, we fear the hands of the Lord because they are the hands that created the Universe. Compared to them we recognise how fragile and small our lives are. We understand the awesome power of the Lord, and that should he wish, he could remove our life in an instant!
Yet, look closer into those hands and you see something even more wonderous. Those same hands still bear the marks received on the cross; the nail-scars that forever proclaim to all the Universe how much we are loved, and the lengths he would go to save us.
Having our life in the hands of the Lord is the most fearful, yet the most wonderously safe place to be!
It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Heb 10:31)
It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshalled their starry hosts. (Isa 45:12)
Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
-- Arise, My Soul, Arise; Charles Wesley; 1742.
I lay my life, in nail-scarred hands that paid the price for me,
opened up the way for me to be
here in your love.
-- Shepherd of My Soul, Matthew Ling.
How can this be? Well, we fear the hands of the Lord because they are the hands that created the Universe. Compared to them we recognise how fragile and small our lives are. We understand the awesome power of the Lord, and that should he wish, he could remove our life in an instant!
Yet, look closer into those hands and you see something even more wonderous. Those same hands still bear the marks received on the cross; the nail-scars that forever proclaim to all the Universe how much we are loved, and the lengths he would go to save us.
Having our life in the hands of the Lord is the most fearful, yet the most wonderously safe place to be!
It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Heb 10:31)
It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshalled their starry hosts. (Isa 45:12)
Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
-- Arise, My Soul, Arise; Charles Wesley; 1742.
I lay my life, in nail-scarred hands that paid the price for me,
opened up the way for me to be
here in your love.
-- Shepherd of My Soul, Matthew Ling.
Where in the world?
Just discovered that Sitemeter (who give me free stats on this blog) are providing a new free service: you can see, on a map of the world, where your last 100 visitors came from. How cool is that!?
17.8.05
Fear no evil
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Ps 23:4)
One of the consequences of the attempt to transfer all the works of God we dislike over to the devil, is we end up with a Devil we fear and a God we don't! This is totally contrary to the teaching of scripture. We are commanded and exhorted to fear God, and equally we are instructed not to fear the devil or his power. The fear of the Lord is an important topic that deserves a post in its own right; for now let us examine why we should fear no evil.
Bluff, bluster and deception are the enemy's tools; fear is his ally. He would have us believe that he is more powerful than he really is. He desires to have us running scared from what he threatens he could bring down upon our lives. Many Christians have swallowed the lie, and are constantly watching their back, believing every sniffle of a cold, or every unexpected bill is an onslaught from Satan himself.
God wants us to see him as he really is. Yes, he is an enemy, but he is a defeated foe. Even before his defeat at Calvary, he still could do no more than God allowed him to do. Satan could not afflict Job with anything more than God permitted him; the demons had to ask Jesus' permission before they could even enter a herd of pigs! There is no power struggle here. God is almighty; Satan is just one fallen created being.
There is a great irony in all the Devil's works: ultimately they serve the purpose of the one he so bitterly opposes. This is a great mystery; one that has puzzled philosophers and theologians alike for centuries, but whatever the explanations for the origin or the persistence of evil in the world, the result is clear: God works all things together for good. Even the greatest evil - the betrayal and execution of the Author of Life, by the cruelest means imaginable, God turned into the most wonderful means of life. God turned the enemy's weapon on his own head. Time and time again we see this in scripture: Haaman was hung on his own gallows, David used the sword of Goliath in his battles against the Philistines, Daniel's accusers were hurled into the lion's den, and so on. Even when God does allow us to face the wrath of the enemy, we should not fear: he is on a leash, and ultimately that which is intended to harm us will bring us into greater blessing, and recoil on his own head.
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Lk 12:4-7)
One of the consequences of the attempt to transfer all the works of God we dislike over to the devil, is we end up with a Devil we fear and a God we don't! This is totally contrary to the teaching of scripture. We are commanded and exhorted to fear God, and equally we are instructed not to fear the devil or his power. The fear of the Lord is an important topic that deserves a post in its own right; for now let us examine why we should fear no evil.
Bluff, bluster and deception are the enemy's tools; fear is his ally. He would have us believe that he is more powerful than he really is. He desires to have us running scared from what he threatens he could bring down upon our lives. Many Christians have swallowed the lie, and are constantly watching their back, believing every sniffle of a cold, or every unexpected bill is an onslaught from Satan himself.
God wants us to see him as he really is. Yes, he is an enemy, but he is a defeated foe. Even before his defeat at Calvary, he still could do no more than God allowed him to do. Satan could not afflict Job with anything more than God permitted him; the demons had to ask Jesus' permission before they could even enter a herd of pigs! There is no power struggle here. God is almighty; Satan is just one fallen created being.
There is a great irony in all the Devil's works: ultimately they serve the purpose of the one he so bitterly opposes. This is a great mystery; one that has puzzled philosophers and theologians alike for centuries, but whatever the explanations for the origin or the persistence of evil in the world, the result is clear: God works all things together for good. Even the greatest evil - the betrayal and execution of the Author of Life, by the cruelest means imaginable, God turned into the most wonderful means of life. God turned the enemy's weapon on his own head. Time and time again we see this in scripture: Haaman was hung on his own gallows, David used the sword of Goliath in his battles against the Philistines, Daniel's accusers were hurled into the lion's den, and so on. Even when God does allow us to face the wrath of the enemy, we should not fear: he is on a leash, and ultimately that which is intended to harm us will bring us into greater blessing, and recoil on his own head.
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Lk 12:4-7)
16.8.05
Why does the best medicine taste bitter?
Hello again. I have been away in Scotland these past days, visiting my family; hence the absence from Blogging.
I have been reading the works of St. John Crysostom today. I am convinced of the value of learning from our fathers in the faith. Not just those who started the journey (the Apostles), and not just those who passed the baton to us (our spiritual fathers in the faith) - but all those who went between.
Solomon said "There is nothing new under the sun." If we do not learn from our history we are destined to repeat it. This is particularly true when it comes to doctrinal controversies. True - all that we need is in the Bible, but just as a wise lawyer will refer to past cases as well as the law itself when he argues his case, rather than reinvent the wheel; so we too should not despise the wisdom of our forefathers or think we are the first to face such issues.
Take the problem of suffering and sickness. There are some who have tried to do a P.R. job on God, and attribute all such activities to the devil. But what is the consequence? We no longer have a sovereign God, but a beleaguered candy-covered deity who looks on in despair, as through parted fingers, at what goes on in the world. Such a God may neatly fit into our small theological box, but is robbed of his divine majesty. Such a God would never have expelled man from paradise, would never have sent the flood to wipe out mankind, would never have taken away the gift of oneness of speech at Babel. Indeed such a God would never have endured to see his one and only son suffer so much on the cross. As such this theology is a form of idolatory, as it puts forward a God who is not the God revealed to us in the pages of scripture.
God is good - all the time. But we must be careful in our definition of what "good" means. God will never do anything that is morally corrupt, but he will sometimes use the "bitter medicine" to cure our ills.
John Crysostom had much to say on this issue. He lived in a time when many thought the world was over-run by the power of demons, rather than in the hands of a sovereign God.
I have been reading the works of St. John Crysostom today. I am convinced of the value of learning from our fathers in the faith. Not just those who started the journey (the Apostles), and not just those who passed the baton to us (our spiritual fathers in the faith) - but all those who went between.
Solomon said "There is nothing new under the sun." If we do not learn from our history we are destined to repeat it. This is particularly true when it comes to doctrinal controversies. True - all that we need is in the Bible, but just as a wise lawyer will refer to past cases as well as the law itself when he argues his case, rather than reinvent the wheel; so we too should not despise the wisdom of our forefathers or think we are the first to face such issues.
Take the problem of suffering and sickness. There are some who have tried to do a P.R. job on God, and attribute all such activities to the devil. But what is the consequence? We no longer have a sovereign God, but a beleaguered candy-covered deity who looks on in despair, as through parted fingers, at what goes on in the world. Such a God may neatly fit into our small theological box, but is robbed of his divine majesty. Such a God would never have expelled man from paradise, would never have sent the flood to wipe out mankind, would never have taken away the gift of oneness of speech at Babel. Indeed such a God would never have endured to see his one and only son suffer so much on the cross. As such this theology is a form of idolatory, as it puts forward a God who is not the God revealed to us in the pages of scripture.
God is good - all the time. But we must be careful in our definition of what "good" means. God will never do anything that is morally corrupt, but he will sometimes use the "bitter medicine" to cure our ills.
John Crysostom had much to say on this issue. He lived in a time when many thought the world was over-run by the power of demons, rather than in the hands of a sovereign God.
Not only when he confers benefits but even when he chastises God is good and loving. For even his chastisements and his punishments are the greatest part of his beneficence, the greatest form of his providence. Whenever therefore thou seest that famines have taken place, and pestilences, and drought and immoderate rains, and irregularities in the atmosphere, or any other of the things which chasten human nature, be not distressed, nor be despondent, but worship Him who caused them, marvel at Him for His tender care. For He who does these things is such that He even chastens the body that the soul may become sound. Then does God these things saith one? God does these things, and even if the whole city, nay even if the whole universe were here I will not shrink from saying this. Would that my voice were clearer than a trumpet, and that it were possible to stand in a lofty place, and to cry aloud to all men, and to testify that God does these things.
For the physician is not only to be commended when he leads forth the patient into gardens and meadows, nor even into baths and pools of water, nor yet when he sets before him a well furnished table, but when he orders him to remain without food, when he oppresses him with hunger and lays him low with thirst, confines him to his bed, both making his house a prison, and depriving him of the very light, and shadowing his room on all sides with curtains, and when he cuts, and when he cauterizes, and when he brings his bitter medicines, he is equally a physician. How is it not then preposterous to call him a physician who does so many evil things, but to blaspheme God, if at any time He doeth one of these things, if He bring on either famine or death, and to reject his providence over all? And yet He is the only true physician both of souls and bodies. On this account He often seizes this nature of ours wantoning in prosperity, and travailing with a fever of sins, and by want, and hunger, and death and other calamities and the rest of the medicines of which He knows, frees us from diseases.
9.8.05
Whose life is it anyway?
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. (Gal 2:20 ESV)
I was reading Galatians in my new ESV, and this verse stopped me dead - pardon the pun! I don't know whether it was a rhema moment, where the living word of God jumped out, or just the change of wording that caused the magnitude of these familiar words of scripture to sink in afresh; probably it was a bit of both.
These words are immense! What a change it would make if we really lived like this every day. I'm not saying I've never understood these verses theologically before - of course I have - but it occurred to me afresh that we daily face many issues and questions that quietly and implicitly ask the question, "Whose life is it anyway?" and without thinking we often respond equally implicitly - "Mine." However our life is not ours: my old life is dead; my new life is Christ's. Our reaction to life's circumstances should convey the reality of our theological convictions.
It's not my free time - it's his time.
It's not my career. Getting ahead in my job is not the ultimate goal.
It's not my ministry. The kingdom does not exist to forward my ambitions! I live to serve his kingdom.
It's not my money. I came with nothing, and will leave with nothing. I am but a steward of what he entrusts to me.
It's not my life, to do what ever I want with - it's his life to do whatever he wants.
If I live this way, then the rest of the verse applies: the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. If I don't then I am a "Zombie Christian" -- a dead man walking!
I was reading Galatians in my new ESV, and this verse stopped me dead - pardon the pun! I don't know whether it was a rhema moment, where the living word of God jumped out, or just the change of wording that caused the magnitude of these familiar words of scripture to sink in afresh; probably it was a bit of both.
These words are immense! What a change it would make if we really lived like this every day. I'm not saying I've never understood these verses theologically before - of course I have - but it occurred to me afresh that we daily face many issues and questions that quietly and implicitly ask the question, "Whose life is it anyway?" and without thinking we often respond equally implicitly - "Mine." However our life is not ours: my old life is dead; my new life is Christ's. Our reaction to life's circumstances should convey the reality of our theological convictions.
It's not my free time - it's his time.
It's not my career. Getting ahead in my job is not the ultimate goal.
It's not my ministry. The kingdom does not exist to forward my ambitions! I live to serve his kingdom.
It's not my money. I came with nothing, and will leave with nothing. I am but a steward of what he entrusts to me.
It's not my life, to do what ever I want with - it's his life to do whatever he wants.
If I live this way, then the rest of the verse applies: the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. If I don't then I am a "Zombie Christian" -- a dead man walking!
7.8.05
All the World's a Stage... ?
"All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts" - (As You Like it - Act II, Scene VII - William Shakespeare).
Famous words from the bard, but is the world a stage? While it is true that everything we do here on earth is significant and being watched, we are not doing it as actors on a stage to get recognition or applause. We should not seek the limelight for fame's sake, nor weigh our words for the pleasure of men. We have been called to a greater purpose; we are part of the eternal advance of his kingdom. We do not run the race for our glory, but for his; not for the pleasure of man, but to please the heart of God.
Better (though less poetic) is to say, "All the world is an amphitheater, in which every man must run his race."
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb 12:1)
... this is not a dress rehearsal!
Famous words from the bard, but is the world a stage? While it is true that everything we do here on earth is significant and being watched, we are not doing it as actors on a stage to get recognition or applause. We should not seek the limelight for fame's sake, nor weigh our words for the pleasure of men. We have been called to a greater purpose; we are part of the eternal advance of his kingdom. We do not run the race for our glory, but for his; not for the pleasure of man, but to please the heart of God.
Better (though less poetic) is to say, "All the world is an amphitheater, in which every man must run his race."
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb 12:1)
... this is not a dress rehearsal!
5.8.05
Iron Anniverary
This weekend is Jacqueline's and my Iron anniversary: we have been married 6 wonderful years. "Iron" doesn't have quite the same ring as some of the other anniversary names. It's not as romantic as gold, silver, ruby or diamond - though it is less expensive!
This year we are not giving each other presents of iron! We are going for a romantic weekend away in Stratford-upon-Avon. We are staying in a luxury hotel, going to a performance of As You Like It at the Royal ShakespShakespeareere Company, and having a meal out at our favorite restaurant. It's also two nights of freedom away from our little boy - we love him dearly, but will appreciate the break.
Here's a quote about Iron that seems appropriate:
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Pr 27:17)
All godly relationships do us good, and none so much as the relationship we have with our spouse. Who else knows us better or speaks into our lives on such a regular basis.
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the LORD. (Pr 18:22)
I praise God for all the favour, blessings and good things I have received from the Lord, through my marriage to Jacqueline these past six years.
This year we are not giving each other presents of iron! We are going for a romantic weekend away in Stratford-upon-Avon. We are staying in a luxury hotel, going to a performance of As You Like It at the Royal ShakespShakespeareere Company, and having a meal out at our favorite restaurant. It's also two nights of freedom away from our little boy - we love him dearly, but will appreciate the break.
Here's a quote about Iron that seems appropriate:
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Pr 27:17)
All godly relationships do us good, and none so much as the relationship we have with our spouse. Who else knows us better or speaks into our lives on such a regular basis.
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the LORD. (Pr 18:22)
I praise God for all the favour, blessings and good things I have received from the Lord, through my marriage to Jacqueline these past six years.
3.8.05
Delight in the Law of the Lord
I got a new Bible yesterday. It's an ESV Classic Reference Bible. The ESV (English Standard Version) is a relatively new (2001) translation which is a Literal Translation (word for word) in the tradition of the ASV and RSV (NASB, and NKJV also fit into this category). Rather than a dynamic equivalence (idea for idea) like the NIV, or a paraphrase (verse for verse) like the NLT. I already have many copies of the NIV, a NLT, a NKJV, and various others. I decided on the ESV because it comes highly recommended, and has had scholars such as Wayne Grudem (whose systematic theology I find very helpful) on the oversight committee. I have also been reading it online and found it good to read. For in-depth study of the word, I want a version that is as close as possible to the original text whilst still flowing well in modern English.
I love the word of God! Whatever version of the Bible you read - it's good to delight in the Law of the Lord. Here's a passage from the ESV I read this morning that highlights the importance and blessings that come from delighting in God's word.
Psalm 1
1Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
I love the word of God! Whatever version of the Bible you read - it's good to delight in the Law of the Lord. Here's a passage from the ESV I read this morning that highlights the importance and blessings that come from delighting in God's word.
Psalm 1
1Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
1.8.05
To the Ends of the Earth
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Hab 2:14)
Another of the great truths that kept coming again and again at the Bible Week, was that the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. Our view of the end times, it not one of doom and gloom (though we do not deny there will be hardships and trials) but of the ultimate victory of God's Kingdom in God's earth.
This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Mt 24:14)
It's great that as I write members of our local expression of Jesus' church are fulfilling this call to go into all the earth. Two members of our cellgroup left to go the the Philippines for a missionary visit with YWAM last week. Several others from the church were already there, and some more are flying out today. They will be delivering clothes and bibles to needy people. Providing education in basic health care. Spending time in a boys' prison where 18 boys accepted Christ last year. It's a great work - it's God's work. He wants the whole of his earth to be blessed and reached by his people.
They will be based at a place called Cagayan De Oro. If you have Google Earth you can find it here:cagayan.kmz. If you haven't got Google Earth, and you have broadband it's well worth a download. Whether you want to pray for God's earth, or just entertain yourself with a fantastic free interactive atlas with real satellite imagery that you can zoom as far in as the cars on the streets in some places! And as you zoom around and in and out just consider - it's all destined to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. Amen!
Another of the great truths that kept coming again and again at the Bible Week, was that the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. Our view of the end times, it not one of doom and gloom (though we do not deny there will be hardships and trials) but of the ultimate victory of God's Kingdom in God's earth.
This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Mt 24:14)
It's great that as I write members of our local expression of Jesus' church are fulfilling this call to go into all the earth. Two members of our cellgroup left to go the the Philippines for a missionary visit with YWAM last week. Several others from the church were already there, and some more are flying out today. They will be delivering clothes and bibles to needy people. Providing education in basic health care. Spending time in a boys' prison where 18 boys accepted Christ last year. It's a great work - it's God's work. He wants the whole of his earth to be blessed and reached by his people.
They will be based at a place called Cagayan De Oro. If you have Google Earth you can find it here:cagayan.kmz. If you haven't got Google Earth, and you have broadband it's well worth a download. Whether you want to pray for God's earth, or just entertain yourself with a fantastic free interactive atlas with real satellite imagery that you can zoom as far in as the cars on the streets in some places! And as you zoom around and in and out just consider - it's all destined to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. Amen!
30.7.05
Isaiah 43
But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze...
"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"...
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
The title for our Bible Week this year was "All things New." When I read this chapter of Isaiah his morning, some of these verses just leapt out at me! It was if I was reading a summary of what God has said to me at the Bible week. This is what the Spirit of God stirred within me:
"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"...
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
The title for our Bible Week this year was "All things New." When I read this chapter of Isaiah his morning, some of these verses just leapt out at me! It was if I was reading a summary of what God has said to me at the Bible week. This is what the Spirit of God stirred within me:
I am doing a new thing with you. This is the beginning. It is a time for holiness - a time to deal with the small sins that you thought I overlooked; to be pure - like a refreshing stream of water without pollution or taint, that delights my heart and brings refreshing to others.
It is a time to see me afresh, to see me in my glory, to see me and to worship me - for this is why you were created, this is why you were chosen, and this is why you were redeemed. This is why I saved you, that you might be a people who proclaim my praise.
It is a time to step out and be my witnesses. Do not fear man. Do not be afraid. The giants you fear, are but bluff and bluster. I am with you and you will not come to harm. I am watching over my people and my word to bless and to fulfill.
It is a time for the streams to flow in the wasteland. Those areas in your life that are dry and hard will flow with a freshness of my Spirit - and you will go out into those areas in your region that people have said are dry and dead and I will overflow my Spirit from you out into the barren places and bring life, and bring fruit and produce a harvest for the honour of my name and for my glory, declares the Lord.
29.7.05
Hello Again!
I'm back from the Bible Week. It was a great time. The only disappointment was the weather - it rained... a lot! But even the worst of the British weather couldn't dampen the spirits of God's people.
There is so much I could say about the week it is hard to know where to begin. So here is a quick top 10 of my highlights from the week.
Needless to say, all the teaching was fantastic and inspiring. I have come back with a set of CDs of those messages that particularly stirred me, and those I missed through serving the children.
I'm glad to be back now. Not because I'm glad it's over. But now is the beginning of working out all that God has worked into me over the last week. I can't wait to get started!
There is so much I could say about the week it is hard to know where to begin. So here is a quick top 10 of my highlights from the week.
- Worshipping the Lord with hundreds of God's people gathered together (a taste of heaven here on earth).
- Rising to the challenge of growing in the purposes of God for my life.
- Seeing the lives of friends touched and transformed by the power of God.
- The report on how our giving last year has led to thousands of lives being touched, and thousands coming to know Jesus as Lord - all over the world.
- The opportunity to give generously to see even more happen this year.
- The privilege (and challenge) of serving the children in Globetrotters group 2... especially Sand-pit duty! ;-)
- My son saying he wanted to sing "Ba ba black-sheep" to Jesus.
- The view of the deer from the window of our warm and dry static caravan, 12 minutes drive off site
- Andrew Hughs throwing dried pasta shells over the crowd, pretending they were live cockroaches. As he said - we will never forget that illustration!
- Catching up with old friends from around the country
Needless to say, all the teaching was fantastic and inspiring. I have come back with a set of CDs of those messages that particularly stirred me, and those I missed through serving the children.
I'm glad to be back now. Not because I'm glad it's over. But now is the beginning of working out all that God has worked into me over the last week. I can't wait to get started!
22.7.05
Week Away
To all my friends in blog-land: see you in a week's time. Unless of course you are going to the Ministries Without Borders Bible Week too - in which case: see you there!
It's going to be a fantastic week. Great fellowship, hundreds of people worshiping, inspired and prophetic teaching, ministry in the Holy Spirit... but sadly no opportunities to blog. I'll tell you all about it when I get back.
It's going to be a fantastic week. Great fellowship, hundreds of people worshiping, inspired and prophetic teaching, ministry in the Holy Spirit... but sadly no opportunities to blog. I'll tell you all about it when I get back.
21.7.05
Pacman
Game on! Time for a bit of fun and some healthy competition. Here is a computer game I wrote. It is a clone of the arcade classic - Pacman. The HiScore table is global, so let's see who can get the highest score.
You may need to be patient the first time it loads. If you have problems, make sure that your Browser is Java enabled. You will need to click inside the game before it will respond to keystrokes.
Controls: Use the arrow keys to move around. [P] pauses and unpauses the game. [ESC] to kill yourself off quick.
Techie Details: I originally wrote this game in the mid '90s in AMOS for the Amiga home computer. A couple of years ago, I ported it to Java so it could run inside a web browser. The hardest bit was getting the HiScore table to be persistent and universal. The security restrictions imposed on Java Applets make this quite a challenge. I finally achieved it a few days ago - so enjoy!
You may need to be patient the first time it loads. If you have problems, make sure that your Browser is Java enabled. You will need to click inside the game before it will respond to keystrokes.
Controls: Use the arrow keys to move around. [P] pauses and unpauses the game. [ESC] to kill yourself off quick.
Techie Details: I originally wrote this game in the mid '90s in AMOS for the Amiga home computer. A couple of years ago, I ported it to Java so it could run inside a web browser. The hardest bit was getting the HiScore table to be persistent and universal. The security restrictions imposed on Java Applets make this quite a challenge. I finally achieved it a few days ago - so enjoy!
20.7.05
Riddle me this...
Now I have published all my Kingdom of God notes, what next? Tomorrow I intend to share with you another one of my writings. This one is of a very different nature. Here is a riddle about it - can you guess what it is going to be?
I am written with care, yet not to be read.
I have keys, but open no lock.
Your time spent with me will vanish with glee,
So keep one eye on the clock.
Kingdom Promise
Here it is! The final part of my Kingdom of God notes. Well done to anyone who has read them all thus far. What better topic is there to end on than the ultimate fulfilment of God's Kingdom purpose on the earth and the return of King Jesus?
In this section we will look at how the Kingdom is yet to come – the ultimate coming of the Kingdom with the return of the conquering King. We will examine the scriptures that speak of the kingdom coming in its fullness on the earth, and the eternal rule of righteousness in the new heavens and the new earth. We will discover how a correct understanding of the ultimate fulfilment of the Kingdom should affect how we live today.
Kingdom Promise [pdf 85.3KB]
In this section we will look at how the Kingdom is yet to come – the ultimate coming of the Kingdom with the return of the conquering King. We will examine the scriptures that speak of the kingdom coming in its fullness on the earth, and the eternal rule of righteousness in the new heavens and the new earth. We will discover how a correct understanding of the ultimate fulfilment of the Kingdom should affect how we live today.
Curry Night
Had a great time last night with some of the guys from the Nuneaton cellgroup, and Lee. There was plenty of humour, and laughter and great food! We also spoke about the works of God - we reminisced about the great things he has done in the past (Lee shared his testimony again of how he turned from drugs and violence to give his life to Christ), and of the amazing things that are happening overseas (the accounts from India of people being raised from the dead, and new believers simply taking the Bible at its word, without any education in scepticism or doubt, and going out healing the sick through their prayers, and leading many others to know Jesus as Lord.) Yet we also spoke faith to each other that these things were not just for the past, and not just for other nations - but for us, here and now. I shared what I had discovered about the 1905 revival in Nuneaton, and how the whole atmosphere of the town was changed in just one week.
A lot can happen in one week; people, towns, nations can be changed forever. That's the expectation I have for the upcoming Bible Week that I am going to with the churches linked by Ministries without Borders. I'm going expecting to be changed, equipped and empowered, and to come back ready to make a difference for the Lord, in Nuneaton, in the UK... in his world!
A lot can happen in one week; people, towns, nations can be changed forever. That's the expectation I have for the upcoming Bible Week that I am going to with the churches linked by Ministries without Borders. I'm going expecting to be changed, equipped and empowered, and to come back ready to make a difference for the Lord, in Nuneaton, in the UK... in his world!
19.7.05
Kingdom Progress
Here is the penultimate part of my Kingdom of God notes. It is on an exciting topic - Kingdom Advance. It is an awesome privilege to be able to play a part in the eternal advance of God's Kingdom.
In this section we will see that the kingdom is still coming. That it is not something that is just passively received but something that is actively advanced. Like Joshua we have met the King, but we still need to take the kingdom. We will examine the ways that we can actively advance God’s kingdom, and so hasten his coming.
Kingdom Progress [pdf 85.3KB]
In this section we will see that the kingdom is still coming. That it is not something that is just passively received but something that is actively advanced. Like Joshua we have met the King, but we still need to take the kingdom. We will examine the ways that we can actively advance God’s kingdom, and so hasten his coming.
Revival in Nuneaton!
A headline from the past, that is destined to be a headline in the future!
One hundred years ago the Welsh Revival was in full swing. During this time, there were similar localised revivals in England. One of these was in the Midlands, and the epicentre was Nuneaton. It started in 1905 after a week of united prayer in the town. Soon after, special trains had to be put on to transport the people coming into the town for the prayer meetings!
See these articles for more information:
THE WELSH REVIVAL OF 1904-05 - Oliver W. Price
WESTERN MAIL, Dec 9th 1974
Sometimes the folks in Nuneaton feel like they are on the edge of what is going on, or that they are overlooked in the strategies and plans for the region - but on God's map Nuneaton is not on the edge, it's right in the centre! The revivals of the past, are just foretastes of the ones yet to come.
One hundred years ago the Welsh Revival was in full swing. During this time, there were similar localised revivals in England. One of these was in the Midlands, and the epicentre was Nuneaton. It started in 1905 after a week of united prayer in the town. Soon after, special trains had to be put on to transport the people coming into the town for the prayer meetings!
See these articles for more information:
THE WELSH REVIVAL OF 1904-05 - Oliver W. Price
WESTERN MAIL, Dec 9th 1974
Sometimes the folks in Nuneaton feel like they are on the edge of what is going on, or that they are overlooked in the strategies and plans for the region - but on God's map Nuneaton is not on the edge, it's right in the centre! The revivals of the past, are just foretastes of the ones yet to come.
18.7.05
Kingdom Present
This week I will give you the final 3 installments of my Kingdom of God notes. These three sections focus on the threefold nature of the Kingdom: The Kingdom Come, The Kingdom Coming, and the Kingdom Yet-to-Come. (Rather than switch alliteration, I have called these: Kingdom Present, Kingdom Progress, and Kingdom Promise). So here is part 7: Kingdom Present.
In this section we will look at how the Kingdom has already come. Jesus came and ushered in the Kingdom of God. He is the King of the kingdom, and the only way we enter the Kingdom is through him. We will see how the Kingdom was established by Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Kingdom Present [pdf 87.3KB]
In this section we will look at how the Kingdom has already come. Jesus came and ushered in the Kingdom of God. He is the King of the kingdom, and the only way we enter the Kingdom is through him. We will see how the Kingdom was established by Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Male and Female he created them...
I watched a very interesting documentary last night on BBC1: Secrets of the Sexes. It seems Science is now confirming what we knew all along - Men and women think differently! The sexes are different, not just physiologically, but psychologically too.
Although some stereotypes were debunked, many were confirmed. Women in general are better at empathy, and men at spacial awareness. There was a great part in the programme where a man and a woman had to answer questions while having a brain scan. They were shown pictures of people and asked what emotion they were displaying. The woman's brain scan showed lots of activity in the part of the brain responsible for emotion - she accessed her own emotions to empathise with the pictures she saw. The man's brain scan was equally telling - there was zero activity in that part of the brain! He answered the questions as a purely intellectual exercise.
Why does society have a problem with differences? Why is it politically incorrect to say that women are different from men or to say that people from one culture are different from another? The reason seems to be that most cannot distinguish between difference and inequality. If two people are different - one must be "better" and the other "inferior". So highlighting the difference between the sexes is seen as "Sexism" and highlighting the difference between cultures is seen as "Racism". Whilst such prejudices are to be condemned, the pendulum has swung too far the other way; political correctness is robbing us from rejoicing in the diversity of God's creation. Every human being is different, but all are loved equally by God who "shows no favouritism". What society should be striving for is not a sexual equality that tries to ignore the differences between men and women and pretends they don't exist, but a sexual equity, that recognises the differences but treats each with the same respect and value.
Although some stereotypes were debunked, many were confirmed. Women in general are better at empathy, and men at spacial awareness. There was a great part in the programme where a man and a woman had to answer questions while having a brain scan. They were shown pictures of people and asked what emotion they were displaying. The woman's brain scan showed lots of activity in the part of the brain responsible for emotion - she accessed her own emotions to empathise with the pictures she saw. The man's brain scan was equally telling - there was zero activity in that part of the brain! He answered the questions as a purely intellectual exercise.
Why does society have a problem with differences? Why is it politically incorrect to say that women are different from men or to say that people from one culture are different from another? The reason seems to be that most cannot distinguish between difference and inequality. If two people are different - one must be "better" and the other "inferior". So highlighting the difference between the sexes is seen as "Sexism" and highlighting the difference between cultures is seen as "Racism". Whilst such prejudices are to be condemned, the pendulum has swung too far the other way; political correctness is robbing us from rejoicing in the diversity of God's creation. Every human being is different, but all are loved equally by God who "shows no favouritism". What society should be striving for is not a sexual equality that tries to ignore the differences between men and women and pretends they don't exist, but a sexual equity, that recognises the differences but treats each with the same respect and value.
15.7.05
Kingdom Parables
Here is part 6 of my Kingdom of God notes.
In this section we will discover that Jesus’ teaching was full of instruction about the Kingdom. We will examine some of these teachings to see what they tell us about the Kingdom. In particular we will look at the parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13. We will see how the message of the Kingdom is received, how the kingdom grows and expands, what the kingdom is worth to those who find it, and of the great separation at the end of the age.
Kingdom Parables [pdf 92.1KB]
In this section we will discover that Jesus’ teaching was full of instruction about the Kingdom. We will examine some of these teachings to see what they tell us about the Kingdom. In particular we will look at the parables of the Kingdom in Matthew 13. We will see how the message of the Kingdom is received, how the kingdom grows and expands, what the kingdom is worth to those who find it, and of the great separation at the end of the age.
14.7.05
More Free Software
A couple more great free software applications to draw to your attention.
See also:
Free Software
- w.bloggar
- Desktop blogging tool for Windows. Allows you to jot down your thoughts as and when they come to you in a Notepad like editor, and then automatically logon and publish them when you are ready with a single click. Essential tool for the busy blogger.
- pdfCreator
- Convert almost any document to pdf accurately and for free. Works by creating a psudo-printer. When you select this printer from Word (or whatever other application you are using) instead of printing it creates the pdf document after prompting you for the filename.
See also:
Free Software
13.7.05
Kingdom Paradigm
Paradigm: (n) One that serves as a pattern or model. [dictionary.com]
Here is part 5 of my Kingdom of God notes.
In this section we will look at what is probably the greatest example of the Kingdom in the Old Testament: the Kingdom of David. There are so many parallels between David’s kingdom and the Kingdom of God, that it is no wonder the Messiah is predicted as one who will restore David’s throne. It is a time of peace and prosperity, justice and mercy, when all the enemies are conquered. It is a place where worship fills the streets and God is restored to his rightful place in the midst of his people.
12.7.05
Isaiah 6
Isa 6:6 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
I'm reading through the book of Isaiah at the moment. It's one of those books where certain chapters jump out at you. It's all God's word, but there are certain sections which are particularly stirring.
The first of these chapters (to me anyway) is chapter 6 where Isaiah gets his commissioning. What I love about this passage is Isaiah's faith. His trust and his confidence (not in his own abilities) but in God. When God asks who should go, he immediately volunteers, even though he does not yet know what he is volunteering for. It is only afterwards that the Lord tells him what he is to do and what he is to say. But the fact that the request comes from God is enough for him, he doesn't need to know any more.
He reminds me of that other hero of faith - Abraham. In Hebrews 11 we are told "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Again the fact that the call came from God was enough, he didn't need to know the details.
That's the kind of faith and confidence in God that we should have. He never calls us to do anything that is beyond us, or too difficult for us to achieve. He never sets us up to fail. He only has the best possible plan for our lives. When he calls us to do something or go somewhere - that should be all we need to know. I want to be one who jumps to my feet, not one who checks the small print.
11.7.05
More on Faith and Science
I have just discovered an excellent Blog: Real Physics, written by a Christian with a doctorate in physics. He argues extremely lucidly (much better than me) against Darwinian evolution and for Intelligent design.
I wonder how many such individuals it will take before the Darwinists drop their assertion that evolution is a universally accepted theory amongst the scientific community, and that all who disagree are uninformed and naive??
See also:
Faith and Science
In the Beginning [on Roger's blog]
In the Beginning (2) [on Roger's blog]
[UPDATE: The author of Real Physics has pointed out that "Intelligent Design" is a movement with views that he does not completely endorse. I used this term in ignorance of this fact. See the comments to this post for more information - or better still visit MJ's site and see what he has to say for himself - it's good stuff!]
I wonder how many such individuals it will take before the Darwinists drop their assertion that evolution is a universally accepted theory amongst the scientific community, and that all who disagree are uninformed and naive??
See also:
Faith and Science
In the Beginning [on Roger's blog]
In the Beginning (2) [on Roger's blog]
[UPDATE: The author of Real Physics has pointed out that "Intelligent Design" is a movement with views that he does not completely endorse. I used this term in ignorance of this fact. See the comments to this post for more information - or better still visit MJ's site and see what he has to say for himself - it's good stuff!]
Kingdom Prophecies
Here is part 4 of my Kingdom of God notes.
In this section we will examine some of the passages in the prophetic writings of scripture that speak about the Kingdom of God. In particular the book of Daniel where the greatest kings of this world were shown in vision and demonstration that their mighty kingdoms were nothing compared with that of the King of Kings.
Kingdom Prophecies [pdf 82.3KB]
In this section we will examine some of the passages in the prophetic writings of scripture that speak about the Kingdom of God. In particular the book of Daniel where the greatest kings of this world were shown in vision and demonstration that their mighty kingdoms were nothing compared with that of the King of Kings.
9.7.05
Guess the Bible Verse
Time for another fun weekend competition. Below is an illustration that didn't make it into the Good News Bible. Can you guess which verse it is for?
Breakfast Fellowship in the Sun
Had a great time of fellowship and food this morning with the Nuneaton cellgroup.
We met at ours this morning, and sat out on the decking in the morning sunshine drinking fresh filter coffee, and eating croissants and bacon buns. Now that's living! The children had fun too, running around in the garden.
It was a big success. Have to do it again soon.
We met at ours this morning, and sat out on the decking in the morning sunshine drinking fresh filter coffee, and eating croissants and bacon buns. Now that's living! The children had fun too, running around in the garden.
It was a big success. Have to do it again soon.
8.7.05
Go with the flow
I had an expectation that we would have an encounter with the Holy Spirit last night, and I wasn't disappointed!
I met with the folks from Nuneaton, for the mid week meeting we call "Cell". Normally we follow a pattern known as the 4W's. Welcome, Worship, Word, and Witness. Which encapsulate the four most important things that should happen when we meet together. Fellowship, focussing on God, hearing his voice, and going out equipped to do it. Last night we had a plan along those lines, but God had a different plan - we never got past the worship.
God gave us a word through a prophecy, that he was going to open doors for us, and we should step out and push them. The Spirit was moving, and I felt that we shouldn't move on until we had received the word more specifically. In the end we ended up praying and laying on hands for all the members of the group in turn. It was a powerful time - everyone went away with an extra impartation from the Spirit, and a specific word from God, of which doors he wanted them to push.
I love meetings like that. I like coming together to meet with God's people, but I love it when we powerfully meet with God. That's what it's all about. Any structure or program only exists to serve the life it contains, and should always defer to that life. We should never love our pattern or way of doing things so much that we cannot defer to the Spirit's promptings. When he is moving, we shouldn't move on - but go with the flow. He leads the best meetings!!
I met with the folks from Nuneaton, for the mid week meeting we call "Cell". Normally we follow a pattern known as the 4W's. Welcome, Worship, Word, and Witness. Which encapsulate the four most important things that should happen when we meet together. Fellowship, focussing on God, hearing his voice, and going out equipped to do it. Last night we had a plan along those lines, but God had a different plan - we never got past the worship.
God gave us a word through a prophecy, that he was going to open doors for us, and we should step out and push them. The Spirit was moving, and I felt that we shouldn't move on until we had received the word more specifically. In the end we ended up praying and laying on hands for all the members of the group in turn. It was a powerful time - everyone went away with an extra impartation from the Spirit, and a specific word from God, of which doors he wanted them to push.
I love meetings like that. I like coming together to meet with God's people, but I love it when we powerfully meet with God. That's what it's all about. Any structure or program only exists to serve the life it contains, and should always defer to that life. We should never love our pattern or way of doing things so much that we cannot defer to the Spirit's promptings. When he is moving, we shouldn't move on - but go with the flow. He leads the best meetings!!
Kingdom Power
Here is part 3 of my Kingdom of God notes. This is on a key subject - Authority.
In this section we will see that the Kingdom of God is all about delegated authority. All authority belongs to God, but he has chosen to delegate authority to man. Just as there is absolute equality between the members of the Godhead, yet a submission to the Father by the Son, and to the Father and Son by the Spirit, we will see that God has established the same structure of authority in creation, in the family and in the church. We will discover that to truly exercise authority in the Kingdom, one must first be under authority.
Kingdom Power [pdf 83.1KB]
In this section we will see that the Kingdom of God is all about delegated authority. All authority belongs to God, but he has chosen to delegate authority to man. Just as there is absolute equality between the members of the Godhead, yet a submission to the Father by the Son, and to the Father and Son by the Spirit, we will see that God has established the same structure of authority in creation, in the family and in the church. We will discover that to truly exercise authority in the Kingdom, one must first be under authority.
7.7.05
Siblings Safe
You have probably heard by now about the dreadful terrorist attacks on London this morning.
One of my brothers and my sister currently live in London. I have just heard that they are both fine and unharmed - Praise God! My brother was at a tube station when the bombs went off, but he was able to get out and walk back home. My sister is currently stranded at Heathrow, with no public transport to get her home, but my mother has been able to book her a flight up to Edinburgh to stay with her.
Pray that they will know God's peace at this time (they are not believers). This is the second time they have been in proximity to a terrorist atrocity. They were in New York on holiday on September 11, 2001.
One of my brothers and my sister currently live in London. I have just heard that they are both fine and unharmed - Praise God! My brother was at a tube station when the bombs went off, but he was able to get out and walk back home. My sister is currently stranded at Heathrow, with no public transport to get her home, but my mother has been able to book her a flight up to Edinburgh to stay with her.
Pray that they will know God's peace at this time (they are not believers). This is the second time they have been in proximity to a terrorist atrocity. They were in New York on holiday on September 11, 2001.
Kingdom Properties
Here is part 2 of my Kingdom of God notes.
In this section we will investigate what the Kingdom of God is like. We will see that it is an eternal Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy. It is unshakeable, unstoppable, ever expanding – destined to fill the whole earth. It is a Kingdom with values that are totally contrary to those of the world.
Kingdom Properties [pdf 90.1KB]
In this section we will investigate what the Kingdom of God is like. We will see that it is an eternal Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy. It is unshakeable, unstoppable, ever expanding – destined to fill the whole earth. It is a Kingdom with values that are totally contrary to those of the world.
5.7.05
Kingdom Purpose
I have decided to make some of my old teaching notes available to the readers of my blog on a relaxed licensing. Basically you are free to copy and redistribute them in any format (paper or electronic) without needing my permission, as long as you credit me as the author, do not use them for commercial purposes, and do not change them (apart from minor corrections) to say anything different.
First up are my Kingdom of God notes. This is part 1 of 9 (the rest to follow). Read the synopsis below to see if you want to download the file.
In this section we will explain what we mean by the Kingdom of God. We will discover that it is the essence of the eternal plan of God. It is the manifestation of his divine rule and authority on the earth, not confined to any geographic limits or even to the church. It is the heart of the gospel, the unifying thread throughout all of scripture, and it embodied Jesus’ ministry while he was on earth, and now he is in heaven. It is the ultimate triumph of this unshakable kingdom that will see the King return in glory.
Kingdom Purpose [pdf 82.4KB]
First up are my Kingdom of God notes. This is part 1 of 9 (the rest to follow). Read the synopsis below to see if you want to download the file.
In this section we will explain what we mean by the Kingdom of God. We will discover that it is the essence of the eternal plan of God. It is the manifestation of his divine rule and authority on the earth, not confined to any geographic limits or even to the church. It is the heart of the gospel, the unifying thread throughout all of scripture, and it embodied Jesus’ ministry while he was on earth, and now he is in heaven. It is the ultimate triumph of this unshakable kingdom that will see the King return in glory.
The Bible in a Year
Ever tried to read the Bible through in a year? I have many times, and even succeeded once or twice! Currently I am in my second year of reading the Bible through in 2 years. I am getting more out of this; it is far more manageable, easier to catch up when you fall behind, and gives you more time to meditate on what you are reading.
Whether you take 1 year or 2 years, I would recommend to every Christian to read through the whole Bible. It's all God's word, and it's all there to do us good. If you don't have a plan to read it all, you generally tend to stick to what you are familiar with. If you are unfamiliar with some of God's word then you are more likely to be led astray by fine sounding yet unbiblical doctrines (and yes, there are some out there!) The mature man of God who is familiar with the whole world of God will not be easily swayed by every wind of teaching, or the ideas of the latest band-wagon or best-selling paper-back.
If you do want to try this, you don't have to wait for 1 January! And with the wonders of modern technology you don't even need a specialised 1 Year/2 Year Bible, it's as easy as reading your favorite Blog. (btw. you can easily use a 1 Year Bible as a 2 Year Bible; just divide the readings in two, and ignore the dates at the top).
The One Year Bible Blog Is a daily blog that provides links to the scriptures, a basic outline and exegesis, and gives you the opportunity to leave your reflections in the comments.
Also if you have an RSS Aggregator, such as sharpreader or feedreader. Then you can subscribe to the Bible in a Year in either the popular "One Year® Bible" system, or the M'Cheyne system. There is a list of feeds available at http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/share/rss2.0/.
Whether you take 1 year or 2 years, I would recommend to every Christian to read through the whole Bible. It's all God's word, and it's all there to do us good. If you don't have a plan to read it all, you generally tend to stick to what you are familiar with. If you are unfamiliar with some of God's word then you are more likely to be led astray by fine sounding yet unbiblical doctrines (and yes, there are some out there!) The mature man of God who is familiar with the whole world of God will not be easily swayed by every wind of teaching, or the ideas of the latest band-wagon or best-selling paper-back.
If you do want to try this, you don't have to wait for 1 January! And with the wonders of modern technology you don't even need a specialised 1 Year/2 Year Bible, it's as easy as reading your favorite Blog. (btw. you can easily use a 1 Year Bible as a 2 Year Bible; just divide the readings in two, and ignore the dates at the top).
The One Year Bible Blog Is a daily blog that provides links to the scriptures, a basic outline and exegesis, and gives you the opportunity to leave your reflections in the comments.
Also if you have an RSS Aggregator, such as sharpreader or feedreader. Then you can subscribe to the Bible in a Year in either the popular "One Year® Bible" system, or the M'Cheyne system. There is a list of feeds available at http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/share/rss2.0/.
4.7.05
Tomorrow's Worship Yesterday
Yesterday was our "Church in the Park" day. It was a fantastic time. The weather was great. There was a great turn out. Simon preached a clear message, and Matthew and the worship team did an outstanding job of filling the park with the praises of God.
I love worshipping God outdoors! Is it just because I was born-again in a field in Royal Deeside? Is it just because growing up in the beauty of Scotland, I have always been inspired to worship when outdoors, surrounded by the wonder of God's creation? Is it because I am a mad extrovert who enjoys making a fool of himself in public? The last isn't true by the way, and none of these are the real reason.
I love worshipping God outdoors, because when I do, I am playing my part in fulfilling the kingdom mandate of God - to fill his earth with his praises. One day the whole earth will be filled with the worship of God. When we fill the earth, even when it is just our little part of it, with his praises, we are doing something very powerful and prophetic. We are bringing tomorrow's worship into our today. We are bringing the worship of heaven to the earth. As Matthew said in his post on Friday: this is not a light that his meant to be hidden away within the four walls of the church meeting, but put on a stand for the world to see.
My only disappointment with the day was that more of the adults in the church didn't take this great opportunity we had to fill the park with his praises. The youth and the children set the standard instead. When we sang "Here I am to worship... Here I am to say that you're my God," what we communicated with our actions (or inactions) was something very different. I'm not meaning to be critical, I just think it was an opportunity missed. The day was a great success in showing the world that we are normal people who are full of life, but our commission is not to fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the church...
enough said. It was still a fantastic day in every other respect. Many people worked very hard to make it so and deserve to be commended.
I love worshipping God outdoors! Is it just because I was born-again in a field in Royal Deeside? Is it just because growing up in the beauty of Scotland, I have always been inspired to worship when outdoors, surrounded by the wonder of God's creation? Is it because I am a mad extrovert who enjoys making a fool of himself in public? The last isn't true by the way, and none of these are the real reason.
I love worshipping God outdoors, because when I do, I am playing my part in fulfilling the kingdom mandate of God - to fill his earth with his praises. One day the whole earth will be filled with the worship of God. When we fill the earth, even when it is just our little part of it, with his praises, we are doing something very powerful and prophetic. We are bringing tomorrow's worship into our today. We are bringing the worship of heaven to the earth. As Matthew said in his post on Friday: this is not a light that his meant to be hidden away within the four walls of the church meeting, but put on a stand for the world to see.
My only disappointment with the day was that more of the adults in the church didn't take this great opportunity we had to fill the park with his praises. The youth and the children set the standard instead. When we sang "Here I am to worship... Here I am to say that you're my God," what we communicated with our actions (or inactions) was something very different. I'm not meaning to be critical, I just think it was an opportunity missed. The day was a great success in showing the world that we are normal people who are full of life, but our commission is not to fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the church...
enough said. It was still a fantastic day in every other respect. Many people worked very hard to make it so and deserve to be commended.
1.7.05
Have I got news for you? - Round 5
Time for a bit of Friday fun. Here's another caption competition. See what you make of this:
< Round 4
< Round 4
Did I read the manual?
Praise God for gadgets! I had fun playing with my new video camera last night. Was a bit frustrating though. I set it going to transfer from a previous tape I recorded onto my DVD-HDD recorder (another great gadget!) It takes about an hour to complete. Half way through it failed with a "copy protection" error. I'll have to dig out the manual to find what that's all about.
Maybe I should have read the manual before I started.... nah! But it did get me thinking. We often plough straight ahead into situations that seem familiar, without consulting God or his word, because we think we know what we are doing. This is how Joshua came unglued at Ai; after the victory at Jericho he thought he was a pro, he thought he knew what to do.
I have found out many times, yet still need to remind myself, that however familiar I am with the word - I still need it on a regular basis. Daily is best (though I'm not religious, or superstitious about this). When I read God's word regularly, even when it doesn't seem directly applicable to my current situation, I do better in life than when I just try to cruise on my reserves. Reading God's word keeps us on track.
If you want some more on how important the word of God is to us, let me recommend Sue's Blog. Sue is a good woman of God, a member of Living Rock Church, and lives in Nuneaton (a great place to be!). She has just recently started Blogging, and is currently sharing on the importance of the word of God, based on her meditations on Psalm 119. Why don't you visit her site and give her some encouragement?
Maybe I should have read the manual before I started.... nah! But it did get me thinking. We often plough straight ahead into situations that seem familiar, without consulting God or his word, because we think we know what we are doing. This is how Joshua came unglued at Ai; after the victory at Jericho he thought he was a pro, he thought he knew what to do.
I have found out many times, yet still need to remind myself, that however familiar I am with the word - I still need it on a regular basis. Daily is best (though I'm not religious, or superstitious about this). When I read God's word regularly, even when it doesn't seem directly applicable to my current situation, I do better in life than when I just try to cruise on my reserves. Reading God's word keeps us on track.
Jos 1: 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
If you want some more on how important the word of God is to us, let me recommend Sue's Blog. Sue is a good woman of God, a member of Living Rock Church, and lives in Nuneaton (a great place to be!). She has just recently started Blogging, and is currently sharing on the importance of the word of God, based on her meditations on Psalm 119. Why don't you visit her site and give her some encouragement?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)