Tag Archives: life - Page 2

a night with Simon Riches

Posted by on October 30, 2009 1 comment

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!

Who am I?

Posted by on September 30, 2009 Comments Off

“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!

Our first job each morning

Posted by on September 29, 2009 2 comments

C.S. Lewis

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.”

justify yourself!

Posted by on September 18, 2009 Comments Off

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

Munchee et al

Posted by on September 4, 2009 Comments Off

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.

Munchee

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

books and papers

Posted by on July 10, 2009 Comments Off

I’ve been tidying up piles of books and papers most of the day which is wonderful if you value being able to see the study floor (which I do).  It’s not so good though for one’s sentimentalism, but I’m practising being ruthless … somewhat.

One thing not to be ruthless about is the Compassion appeal letters we have sprinkled around the house.  Today I read two of them.  The stories contained are so heart-breaking it is easier simply not to consider them deeply.  A quick scan is enough to take in the horror of the world’s poverty, and ‘protects’ me from a sense of helplessness at the enormity of it all.

But I have to be careful don’t I, not to shut off completely.  It’s one thing to be sentimental and quite another to be sensitive, to put on the mind of our Lord Jesus in responding to the least and the lost of his world.

The story of the family in Bangladesh, reduced to rading rat’s holes for the rice ferretted from the fields, shocked me into action – as I hope it might do for you.

I’m only sorry these appeal letters have lain buried for weeks – in our piles of books and papers, testament to the wealth with which we’ve been blessed so we can be a blessing to others…

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

Nineteen Minutes

Posted by on June 5, 2009 Comments Off

After owning it for more than a year, I’ve just started reading Nineteen Minutes, one of Jodi Picoult’s many novels.   For me it’s the kind of book you have to be in a certain mood to read, simply because the issues dealt with can be so emotive and thought-provoking.  I haven’t been disappointed so far although I’m only a sixth of the way in.
nineteen minutes
As usual, Picoult weaves her plot and characters finely together in a realistic and engrossing way. It seems she will deliver what I hoped for – a detailed and ‘human’ examination of the background and motives behind a 17 year-old American boy’s school shooting.

Part 1, Section II opens with this:

Nobody wants to admit to this, but bad things will keep on happening.  Maybe that’s because it’s all a chain, and a long time ago someone did the first bad thing, and that led someone else to do another bad thing, and so on.  You know, like that game where you whisper a sentence into someone’s ear, and that person whispers it to someone else, and it all comes out wrong in the end.

But then again, maybe bad things happen because it’s the only way we can keep remembering what good is supposed to look like.

I’d posit that the first reason is the more accurate one, and it certainly gells with the Bible’s explanation for why bad things happen.  It bears itself out on both a macro (Adam and Eve’s fall into sin and the rest of humanity’s being infected by the same disease) and a micro (chain reactions of bad things  / behaviours / patterns being passed down from one person or generation to the next) level.

I’m looking forward to getting into the meat of the novel and seeing how the characters are further pictured and developed.  But I’m thankful that when I reach the end of it (as well as episodes of Criminal Minds for that matter) I don’t need to wallow in the hopelessness of all the ‘bad things’.  The Bible shows me both a convincing explanation for them and a convincing solution.

Don’t get me wrong; I don’t say this tritely.  Bad things are awful – I can’t overstate that.  But Jesus Christ offers us his death on our behalf as the all-time solution for bad things – as God punishes Jesus in our place as if HE had been the perpetrator of all bad things ever done – so that none of us need to be punished for the bad things we actually have done.

And he doesn’t stop there, but gives everyone who trusts in his saving death ability and incentive to change – power to do fewer ‘bad things’ and desire to do good things instead.  This is definitely what Steve’s and my experience has been and what we pray more people in our community and city will come to know.  In Jesus our past ‘bad things’ (done by us or done to us) don’t need to govern our present and our future.  If anyone is in Christ, the old has gone and the new has come.