Redeeming Bitterness

On the subject of bitterness - how do we resolve a wrong done to us?

Well, I have to remember it as a wrong of a person for whom Christ has died, even if that person isn't receiving that redemption personally.

Then I look at myself. Christ died for my sins, too. I can't remember transgression against me as one who is purely innocent. It's not as if I stand in the light and the other person in the darkness, and he or she has to do all the changing, while I bask in my self-righteousness.

(Miroslav Volf in Christianity Today, April 2007, p50)

The Perfect Balance

I love Tuesdays - it's my day off - I sleep best in the week on Monday nights after our senior high youth group has finished. I prefer having a day off on a weekday as it is a lot quieter around the place than a busy Saturday.

I chase Campbell around the room, he laughs his head off, Cecily and I laze, we go for a drive around the highlands, I take Campbell to the library, we tinker in the garden, sometimes I play stick cricket (play it here but don't get addicted...BUT if you sign up we can start our own cricket league!), and at night we have video night together.

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Hebrews 4:9-10

Frost

Mittagong had its first frost of the season this morning (proof is above - our front yard).

Went up to Sydney on Thursday - made me appreciate the space and beauty of the Southern Highlands.

The Sydney CBD does have its own kind of beauty. It's found in the architectural lines of buildings, the different stylistic traditions of different eras fighting to co-exist. It's sophisticated and stimulating. Wish I'd brought my camera up.

Mist

"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."

Isaiah 44:22

Cars

* Was in one for nearly four hours today to Sydney and back
* One we own has a massive repair bill thanks to an electrical problem
* It's no fun being surrounded by many unmoving ones
* Put lots of them next to each other underground in the CBD and it's like a sauna
*'Nuff said!

More Life

I heard recently (therefore may only be rumour!) that J I Packer and friends have asked God in prayer for 5 more years of life for him to finish his last work, a big book on systematic theology. Packer is approaching his 81st birthday.

It brings a memory of 2 Kings 20 and King Hezekiah. Interesting thing to pray 'though. I wonder what your thoughts are on a prayer such as this. I for one hope he makes it!

The Soul of Prayer

I finished the book 'The Soul of Prayer' by P T Forsyth last week. You can read it here.

Being totally honest it was a torturous read, only 92 pages but pretty hard to get through. However it was worth wading through the mud to get to the pearls.

Let me show you some:

It is a wrestle on the greatest scale - all manhood taxed as in some great war, or some great negotiation of state. And the effect is exhaustion often. No, the result of true prayer is not always peace. (p87)

..lose the real conflict of will and will, lose the habit of wrestling and the hope of prevailing with God, make it mere walking with God in friendly talk; and, precious as that is, yet you tend to lose the reality of prayer at last. In principle you make it mere conversation instead of the soul's great action. You lose the food of character, the renewal of will. You may have beautiful prayers - but as ineffectual as beauty so often is, and as fleeting. (p92)

Take the Test

Take the Quiz here!

In a moment of cheekiness I took this test of 'which Jane Austen heroine are you'? CP did it and I think was disappointed she came out as a minor character! Have fun doing this.

Keep Praying

Was reflecting on my day today. The best part of my work day was seeing God answer some prayer about a lunchtime high school Christian group I co-lead with a couple of other ministers.

The previous term we'd worked out together that the group had many problems. Kids weren't listening, our lunchtime talks and discussion didn't seem to be itching where they were scratching, we were discouraged by lack of numbers, some kids' behaviour was disrupting the hearing of the gospel for the rest - it was discouraging.

We met, we talked, we strategised over what to do, we met with other Christian teachers - but really we realised we had to pray. We had to ask God to guide us, move kids in the group to move towards him, let God in to every part of our discussions, let God take over the problems, admit we needed his help.

I don't pretend this group is now radically different to last term! But something is changing.

The kids are better behaved. Some kids seem far more interested in listening to the gospel. Our relationships with some of the kids have improved. We heard a really moving story today from one of the helpers of how God saved her. The kids were silent and listening intensely (it was really amazing) even 'though she was reading it out from two crumpled pieces of paper. Some of the troublemakers didn't 'troublemake'. Some kids are really warming to us - and God's message.

It was the best 40 minutes of my day. Even of the week so far.

So don't forget to pray...

A Change of Scene

Hi. Hope you don't mind the change of scene - I was finding it hard to read white letters on a black background! Rest assured the content of this blog will remain as shallow as always!

'The Last King of Scotland'

A frightening film. We saw it tonight. Captures the reign of Idi Amin in Uganda from 1970. An incredibly charismatic man who becomes increasingly beset by the paranoid mistrust of others.

Being the Christian minister type, I found the movie showed the human situation quite profoundly.

• the young man seeking to do good in an African country
• young man becomes (already is!) amoral and follows the 'best offer' he can get sexually and professionally (he is a doctor)
• young man taken in by the intensely charismatic leader
• young man denies the cracks that appear in the charismatic leader's charm (ie disappearances of charismatic man's enemies and staff)
• young man realises he is in too deep with charismatic leader but can't escape...
• ...yet still does the amoral thing (sleeps with the charismatic ruler's wife)
• young man just gets out alive through the incredible willing sacrifice of a Ugandan co-worker. The co-worker helps the young man escape Uganda knowing he will be killed for doing so.

A very well-made and harrowing film portraying the frightening regime of Idi Amin. Also portraying the stark rawness of sin. Go see it.

More From Chuck Norris...

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

In fine print on the last page of the Guinness Book of World Records it notes that all world records are held by Chuck Norris - those listed in the book are simply the closest anyone else has ever gotten to him.

Chuck Norris once broke the land speed record on a bicycle that was missing its chain and the back tire.

With many thanks to mw.

Don't Take This Drug

Was listening to the second lecture of a series called 'Public Faith in a Postmodern World' this morning (Miroslav Volf).

Three reasons for an idle Christian faith:

1. The character of believers - faith demands so much that they pick and choose (like leaving the broccoli uneaten on the dinner plate but eating the potatoes)

2. Old faith - born in particular circumstances - seems mute when facing new issues (such as the environment and nuclear energy)

3. When one is constrained by systems in which one lives and works - one feels one must obey the logic and rules of the systems rather than the Christian faith one embraces

And the drug reference? Volf suggests that God can be seen as a performance-enhancing drug...being used for improving performance when we need it only, rather than influencing our entire lives for him.

Have This Post

...until I think of something to write~