life

Jesus

On January 31, 2010, In Uncategorized, By keiyeng

There’s someone we know who keeps having to deal with rather nasty people. I know this is a bold description, but from their behaviour they don’t seem to be terribly kind, thoughtful, generous, or other-centred. The nastiness involves things like bosses clearly exploiting their employees, rude clients, and ‘friends’ scavenging off and even stealing from mates. It makes me so frustrated to hear about it. Why? Obviously because it’s downright awful and we hate seeing our friend go through it, but also because our friend isn’t a Christian. He doesn’t get to experience the blessing of relating with people (other than family members) who consistently seek to do him good and not evil.

So in my upset-ness for him last night as I was pondering the situation again, I wished he could meet some great Christian men. I so much want for him to meet some genuine Christian guys – faithful, solid, loyal, true in word and character, generous, loving, sacrificial.

And then it hit me (silly me) – all this describes Jesus.

It’s so much easier for us mere mortals to look for exemplary behaviour in other mere mortals. It might be our lack of familiarity with the four gospels, it might be that we emphasise Jesus’ transcendence to the detriment of his imminence, or his divinity to the detriment of his humanity. It might be that I’m female so I’m not practised at looking to Jesus for an example of what (hu)manhood should look like. Whatever it is, I’m slow to see Jesus as the perfect man, the perfect human. It’s like (I suppose – haven’t seen it!) watching Avatar without the 3D glasses – we know Jesus was incarnated so he could die and rise for our sins, but we don’t fully appreciate or savour the added dimension of his earthy human-ness – in all its raw, full perfection.

So I still hope and pray that our friend meets some great Christian guys, but now I realise I’ve got to attach that description more solidly to the man Jesus. I hope those Christian guys are ‘great’ because they know and copy Jesus really well, and I hope that makes our friend want to get to know Jesus himself – so he can see what an incredible man Jesus was – and come to know that life can be lived better – not least because of his exemplary humanity.

Tagged with: gospel • life

what are you reading?

On November 28, 2009, In Uncategorized, By keiyeng

I am sitting in our study with our guinea pig Munchee on my lap, with her little hind legs stuck out in her ‘this is the life’ position. I’ve just finished reading Isaiah 45 – a majestic portrayal of God’s absolute sovereignty over Israel and both her friends and her enemies. As a proclamation it could sound arrogant if it weren’t true, and justly so. And what a great finish -

They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’ All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.

You don’t need 3 guesses to work out which side you’d want to be on!

But actually I was going to ask what you’re reading, and say that if you ever want or need a recommendation, Steve and I love both reading and recommending books (including books of the Bible) to people. We’ve been so influenced and grown through reading over our journeys as Christians that we can’t help spreading the love. Plus we have several hundred books in our library available for borrowing, so let us know if you’d like a summer reading list. We’d be glad to get you started!

Reading is Cool

Tagged with: Bible • growing • life • resources

yum

On November 26, 2009, In Uncategorized, By keiyeng

Very often our conversations with people are about God, the Bible, Christianity, doctrine, ministry, following Jesus etc. You can probably guess why. But this can give people the idea that we aren’t ‘normal’ or don’t do anything ‘normal’.

(NB. I don’t think ‘normal’ is the best word for it because all of life for us Christians is 100% ’spiritual’ AND all of life is 100% ‘normal’, but hopefully you still get the idea.)

So, here’s something ‘normal’ that Steve and I did today; we went to the Baskin Robbins on Moggill Rd in Chapel Hill and picked up our free Birthday Club ice-creams. Except that our cones didn’t have the extra over-flow fringe bit of ice-cream that the cones in the picture do, but they were yum nonetheless.

baskin-robbins-birthday-club-free-ice-cream-cone

Then we walked around the block!!

Tagged with: life

Doing Hard Things

On November 22, 2009, In Uncategorized, By keiyeng

a hard thing

Our CG (Community Group: a weekly 5:17 mix of Bible, people, and food) has heard Steve and me talk about how we’ve been actively trying to ‘do hard things’ recently, especially with the energy we came back from our big overseas trip with. We’ve known for a while that we’d sunk into a rut of just surviving – doing the things necessary to stay in maintenance mode, badly wanting to be able to do more, but not having the all-round health and energy and impetus needed to get out of the rut.

Getting out of ruts (or ‘enacting change’) is another topic I’ve been thinking and reading about recently, but suffice to say for now, God used our trip to inject us with the new energy needed to change our patterns. So instead of pretty much just functioning in maintenance mode, we’re trying to function in ‘do hard things’ mode.

What do we mean by this? Well we’ve borrowed this fantastic motto from The Rebelution – “a teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture”, lead by Alex and Brett Harris. (They happen to be Pastor Joshua Harris’ younger twin brothers). You can read about their ‘do hard things’ motto here, and I recommend you do. It’s about choosing to live intentionally rather than reactively, doing the things that grow our Christian character and competence and impact in the world. This is instead of falling prey to the low expectations the world has of teens generally. Maybe this is applicable to our popular culture too, where not just teens but adults are encouraged to simply live in a way that makes them the happiest – not necessarily to live courageously, against culture where God calls for this, doing hard things.

For us it has a huge range of applications. Take chores for example. Doing hard things means washing the dishes NOW instead of later, because even though we could leave them a bit longer, it would be most helpful to exercise self-control and get them done now in service to the other.

In other areas, it includes tackling hard decisions head-on rather than procrastinating over making them. It means taking our husband-wife roles seriously, or biting our tongues and being quick to listen and forgive, or pushing out of the comfort zones of our personalities and experiences in order to reach out to someone who needs it.

Now all this could sound rather humanistic – as if ‘the only thing stopping you from achieving your dreams is a negative attitude’!! But just like The Rebelution, this isn’t a call to throw God out of the picture and ‘realise new heights of personal achievement as you take control of your life’. Rather it’s a call to dependent yet also ruthless obedience – the kind that achieves much precisely because of how closely God is involved. It’s a call to not let teen or Gen Y or pop or post-modern (or even conservative!) culture call the shots for how to live, but to do the truly hard thing by rebelling against all the often low expectations in order to achieve much for Jesus.

So if you’re in a maintenance mode or other kind of rut we pray you’ll be similarly inspired and motivated to do hard things by and for Jesus. Ultimately we follow his example in this as this week’s memory verse reminds us. He did the absolute hardest thing possible (being separated from his Father) for our sake to give us the possibility and power of doing hard things for his - and because he’s such a good Saviour and Lord these hard things usually end up being good for us too.

Tagged with: life

a night with Simon Riches

On October 30, 2009, In Events, By keiyeng

Simon Riches event

5:17ers, we hope you’ll make a point of coming to listen and learn, and also to help host this supremely important night. We want to be thoughtful, loving, thinking, biblical Christians who respond well to the significant issues in contemporary society. This night will help.

And BC3ers, please join us – it will be a pleasure to host you!

There will be an opportunity to ask Simon questions on the night, but it would be easier for him and us if you could submit them beforehand – by email or by posting them (anonymously if you prefer) in the Comments section of this post.

Details again: 7.15pm | Saturday 14 November | 83 Ryans Rd, St Lucia. RSVPs aren’t necessary but are welcome through the same means as above!

Tagged with: Events • growing • life

Who am I?

On September 30, 2009, In Uncategorized, By steve.nation

“It’s a shame, but many – if not most Christians – will spend a lifetime trying to become something they already are.”

I recently read that statement (from Bill Reiser’s White Jesus) and I’ve come to realise that it’s so very true. So many Christians struggle with a low sense of self worth. I recently termed the phrase “functional worthlessness” for myself – which means that if I’m not as productive as I’d like to be (at work, home etc), then I feel worthless. As a pastor:

I should know better than to think that my self-worth is wrapped up in my productivity.
I should know better than to think that who I am isn’t worth much.
I should know better than to have identity crises – struggling to know who I am and what my place is in this world.
I should know better, but I have to admit that I do succumb to these struggles.

That is why Ephesians 1:3-14 is so important. It tells me that I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. I don’t have to try and become a better me. Why? Because I already am something that I could never become through my own efforts.

Who Am I ?

What am I? Who am I? According to Ephesians 1, I am the recipient of the following:

I am the recipient of every spiritual blessing in Christ: 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

I was chosen by God before He created this universe. I was chosen by God; not because He needed me, but because He wanted me: 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

I am a child of God – adopted into God’s family: In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

I have been redeemed. On the cross, Jesus died the death I deserve so that my past will never have to govern my future. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

My future is bright – full of hope, because of the inheritance God has given me (peace, heaven, seeing God face to face, no condemnation etc): 11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

My future is secure: when God opened my eyes to the gospel and led me to turn and trust in Jesus, I received the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee that I will find rest and infinite joy in heaven: 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

The Apostle Paul never got over the shock of who he once was (a persecutor of Christians), and who he had become (a dearly loved child of God). May we never get over the grace of God – how God has changed us from His enemies to His friends – no, more than friends, we’re now His children, who He lavishes His love on.

In the closing chapter of his book, ‘Knowing God’, J.I. Packer urges all Christians to know their identity and thus to claim their destiny:

I am a child of God

God is my Father

heaven is my home

every day is one day nearer

My Saviour is my brother

every Christian is my brother too

That list almost brings tears to my eyes. It’s almost too good to be true. But, praise be to God’s glorious grace, it isn’t!

Tagged with: 2 Cor 5:17 • growing • life

Our first job each morning

On September 29, 2009, In Uncategorized, By steve.nation

Our Ephesians 1 sermon this last Sunday finished with a C.S. Lewis quote. At least one person other than me said that it was helpful for them, so I thought I’d post it for your continual edification.

“The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.”

Tagged with: life • QOTW

justify yourself!

On September 18, 2009, In Uncategorized, By keiyeng

This morning I met with J and we worked through James 2:14-26. Meeting with J has been one of the highlights of each fortnight; it’s such a privilege to meet with someone who is spurred on by God’s word and spurs me on.

James 2 was a fantastic kick up the pants as we considered especially what vs 24 means:

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

First it must be said that James and Paul most certainly agreed with each other – that we are indeed saved by grace through faith alone and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). And they agreed that we are saved to do good works (Ephesians 2:10), such that what James is saying in 2:24 is not that we are saved by works, but rather he’s using the word ‘justified’ in a different way from how Paul uses it. James is using it not in a legal way (‘to be justified’ = ‘to be made right with or declared legally innocent by God’) but rather to mean ‘justify yourself! Show yourself and your faith to be the real deal by your works’.

We agreed that this is huge and has implications for every aspect of our Christian lives. And that here, God wants from us exactly the same things that we want of people generally – authenticity, sincerity, and consistency. Jesus doesn’t tolerate lukewarm Christianity like we often do – he wants real faith that shows itself to be real by its actions. As this book review quotes:

“a lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron; there’s no such thing. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are ‘lukewarm’ are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven.”* God wants all or nothing.

There is so much that real Christianity and real Christians have to offer to the world. There are so many big things that need doing and that can be done by Christians who are willing to think and decide and live real and big for their Lord. This is the vision Steve and I have caught a better view of and that we hope you’ll get in on too.

God help us to love taking Him and His word so seriously that by our every action we ‘justify ourselves’ – show our faith in Jesus to be alive and kicking!

—

*the reviewed and quoted book is ‘Crazy Love’ by pastor Francis Chan

Tagged with: growing • life

Munchee et al

On September 4, 2009, In Uncategorized, By keiyeng

I didn’t grow up with pets, so the whole world of domesticated animals has only recently been opened up to me. First we came back from the pet store with 2 fish in a plastic bag. Atticus died all too soon (our googling wasn’t keeping up with their rate of ammonium production) leaving behind valiant Boo. We realised Boo needed a new friend so then we welcomed Scout to the tank. Though Boo was valiant, Scout was viscious, and constantly chased and tormented Boo at feeding time. Time covered over a multitude of Scout’s sins and they became happy enough friends… until the fateful night Boo leaped out of the tank onto the kitchen counter. There is something terribly stressful about dying and dead fish. We mourned Boo’s loss even more than Atticus’, and don’t tell him this, but not even Jem can make up for the hole in our hearts!

In February this year we adopted guinea pig Munchee from the friends she earned her name from. Munchee has been a most delightful addition to our home; she brings us (and all our visitors) great joy with her cute little ways.

But I’m rambling like a doting parent. The point of all this was in fact to muse aloud about what a satisfying thing it’s been to learn a little of what it means to ‘rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground’. (Genesis 1:26)

It is such a pleasure to image God’s benevolent rule over us, as we ‘rule’ over our little fish and guinea pig. Especially because of our interaction with a culture that holds quite a utilitarian view of animals, even seeing ‘food’ where others see ‘friends’ (!), I’ve loved getting up close and personal with animals in a new way. We love learning new and creative ways to interact with our pets and anticipate and meet their small but real needs. We enjoy their small but real recognitions of us (yes, even the fish!) even if we do exaggerate and personify them a little too much. :p

It is a privilege to be in a God-given position of authority and responsibility, and to be able to choose to wield this in a way that honours His intentions and His care for His creaturely world. And as I express my joy in and affection for little Munchee and talk to her about her Creator, it makes me look forward to His new Creation – shared as it will be with animals living in perfect harmony with humans and Him.

…

I cannot now remember whether she was naked or clothed. If she were naked, then it must have been the almost visible penumbra of her courtesy and joy which produces in my memory the illusion of a great and shining train that followed her across the happy grass. If she were clothed, then the illusion of nakedness is doubtless due to the clarity with which her inmost spirit shone through the clothes. …

‘Is it? …is it?’ I whispered to my guide.

‘Not at all,’ said he. ‘It’s someone ye’ll never have heard of. Her name on earth was Sarah Smith and she lived at Golders Green.’

‘She seems to be… well, a person of particular importance?’

‘Aye. She is one of the great ones. Ye have heard that fame in this country and fame on Earth are two quite different things.’

…

‘And how… but hullo! What are all these animals? A cat – two cats – dozens of cats. And all those dogs… why, I can’t count them. And the birds. And the horses.’

‘They are her beasts.’

‘Did she keep a sort of zoo? I mean, this is a bit too much.’

‘Every beast and bird that came near her had its place in her love. In her they became themselves. And now the abundance of life she has in Christ from the Father flows over into them.’

I looked at my Teacher in amazement.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It is like when you throw a stone into a pool, and the concentric waves spread out further and further. Who knows where it will end? Redeemed humanity is still young, it has hardly come to its full strength. But already there is joy enough in the little finger of a great saint such as yonder lady to waken all the dead things of the universe into life.’

CS Lewis, The Great Divorce, p97-99

Tagged with: creation • life