"Each had a harp and each had a bowl, a gold bowl filled with incense, the prayers of God's holy people." Rev 5:9
It's that time of the year again when my daily readings come from Ezekiel and Revelation. It isn't the easiest combination of readings. There is the grim judgement of Ezekiel and the apocalyptic stuff of Revelation which is hard to understand. Today's reading talks of the four animals and twenty four elders. I have no real idea of what it all means but one verse mentions the prayers of God's holy people.
There are times when we wonder whether our prayers have gone the distance. Often at work, someone on the other side of the world will complain that they haven't received an email that we have sent. It has just disappeared into cyberspace. And I often wonder whether the same thing happens with my prayers.
This verse tells me that my prayers have reached heaven. They haven't been lost or ignored. I might not understand how, why or when God does things, just as I don't understand the book of Revelation, but I take comfort in the fact that my prayers are not lost. Maybe they are being stored for just the right time to be released as incense.
Thank you God for the reminder that you hear my prayers.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Extravagant
It's interesting how some little things from your childhood tend to stick with you and impact on your life as you get older. When I was attending primary school in England I recall the ritual of trying to obtain a new exercise book. I would take my book to the teacher who would scour every page to ensure that the book had been fully utilised. More often than not the teacher would find a blank space measuring about 1 inch square and I would be sent away to fill it in before I would be issued with a new book.
We didn't throw anything away then either. Every last crumb from the corn flakes packet would be used and every last scrape of margarine would be used before the container was washed to be used to store something else.
Now, years later, I still find it hard to throw anything out or leave lines unused in a book. When completing my Life Journal entry each day I nearly always use exactly one page because two pages is too much and to use 1 1/2 pages would be a waste of 1/2 page. The organised part of me says that I can't start my Life Journal half way down a page. The Shrinks would have fun with me.
My old British primary school could hardly have been described as extravangant and most of the time, nor am I.
A couple of weeks ago I blogged on reckless love and today there is this passage: "Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that." Ephesians 5:1
There is nothing frugal about God. He is reckless and extravagant. And most of all he was extravagant with his Son. And Jesus gave everything of himself to us. Not a bit or 75%, nor 99%, but everything!
How extravagant am I in return?
We didn't throw anything away then either. Every last crumb from the corn flakes packet would be used and every last scrape of margarine would be used before the container was washed to be used to store something else.
Now, years later, I still find it hard to throw anything out or leave lines unused in a book. When completing my Life Journal entry each day I nearly always use exactly one page because two pages is too much and to use 1 1/2 pages would be a waste of 1/2 page. The organised part of me says that I can't start my Life Journal half way down a page. The Shrinks would have fun with me.
My old British primary school could hardly have been described as extravangant and most of the time, nor am I.
A couple of weeks ago I blogged on reckless love and today there is this passage: "Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that." Ephesians 5:1
There is nothing frugal about God. He is reckless and extravagant. And most of all he was extravagant with his Son. And Jesus gave everything of himself to us. Not a bit or 75%, nor 99%, but everything!
How extravagant am I in return?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Perfect waste
I've been very fortunate today to go to the tennis centre for lunch. As we are a company that spends oodles of money on seats and meals at the Australian Open two of us were invited to a tasting of the menu for the 2011 event. So, we indulged in a tasting of 4 entrees and 4 main courses plus a vast number of desserts and ice creams that will be offered to the Gold corporates. There were also 4 different wines to taste which, being a good Salvo, I chose to ignore. It's a great way to spend a work day I must say!
But the question that always arises is, what happens to all of the food not eaten. For example, two people on our table didn't show up. They would have been catered for. Of course, food handling laws require that most of it be thrown out. Sometimes when you can't see it it doesn't seem so bad. But on this occasion sitting on long trestle tables were examples of the food that will be on offer in the 'lesser' dining rooms. Large platters full of steaks and chops, prawns and slabs of salmon. All of it beautifully cooked and every last bit of it destined for the rubbish bin. In fact, as the chefs prepared it they would have known that its only purpose was for display, never to be eaten. It's an incredible waste. It's criminal.
There is also a lot of waste of life in our world. Tonight on tv is the documentary on Ben Cousins, a guy who has managed to turn his life around and hopefully will keep on doing so. But for every relative success story like Cousins there will be plenty of examples of those who didn't manage it. Beautiful creations of God - a human example of the food platter, a fantastic creation but ending up as waste. I guess this is one of the reasons why our denomination, the Salvos, exists, to try to ensure that none of God's beautiful, perfect creations ever ends up in the garbage. Every life created by God has great potential. It would be criminal if we just stood by and watched them self destruct.
It's somewhat frustrating sitting in an office 5 days a week, and spending most of my 'ministry' time in music activities. It doesn't seem quite right.
But the question that always arises is, what happens to all of the food not eaten. For example, two people on our table didn't show up. They would have been catered for. Of course, food handling laws require that most of it be thrown out. Sometimes when you can't see it it doesn't seem so bad. But on this occasion sitting on long trestle tables were examples of the food that will be on offer in the 'lesser' dining rooms. Large platters full of steaks and chops, prawns and slabs of salmon. All of it beautifully cooked and every last bit of it destined for the rubbish bin. In fact, as the chefs prepared it they would have known that its only purpose was for display, never to be eaten. It's an incredible waste. It's criminal.
There is also a lot of waste of life in our world. Tonight on tv is the documentary on Ben Cousins, a guy who has managed to turn his life around and hopefully will keep on doing so. But for every relative success story like Cousins there will be plenty of examples of those who didn't manage it. Beautiful creations of God - a human example of the food platter, a fantastic creation but ending up as waste. I guess this is one of the reasons why our denomination, the Salvos, exists, to try to ensure that none of God's beautiful, perfect creations ever ends up in the garbage. Every life created by God has great potential. It would be criminal if we just stood by and watched them self destruct.
It's somewhat frustrating sitting in an office 5 days a week, and spending most of my 'ministry' time in music activities. It doesn't seem quite right.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Steadfastly miserable
"With money in your pocket, you are wise and you are handsome, and you sing well, too." Yiddish Proverb.
A few years back a network of university economists in Britain produced a report entitled "The Scots May Be Brave, But They are Neither Healthy Nor Happy". It found that Scots were still as miserable as they were in 1973 despite incomes rising more than elsewhere in the UK.
The European Union have a "scale of happiness" which they used to analyse data compiled over a 30 year period. The conclusion being that "the Scots have remained steadfastly miserable for 30 years."
But it is not just 'the Scots who have remained steadfastly miserable'. We still don't seem to understand that increased wealth does not mean increased happiness.
I work in Kew where there are a number of exclusive private schools close by. There are no shortage of BMW's, Mercedes, Audi's, Range Rovers and other assortered expensive 4wd's. Most of them seem to be driven by attractive blond women. I wouldn't mind betting that the husbands cannot sing and are not handsome, but they do have money and so fit the abovementioned proverb perfectly.
I often wonder whether those families are happy. There is plenty of wealth but is there a sense of peace and joy in the home?
I am no expert of course but it seems to me that in spite of all of our learning over the centuries we have moved further away from the source of peace and happiness, God. More than ever we are beholden to possessions and the drive to be happy without God.
Two quotes have caught my attention over the weekend. The first one, either by chance or by divine purpose, I have seen twice, once in an email from a Salvo friend and then on my desk calendar - "The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."
The second quote was from the newly elected member for Melbourne, Adam Brandt - "We need more love in this world, not less."
Happiness & love. Two things we desire and yet struggle to obtain.
God is not only the source of love, He is love. In the federal seat of Melbourne, many people from different church denominations work selflessly to demonstrate God's love, yet I would imagine that God's presence would not be acknowledged by too many people. I pray that through people's authenticity God might be seen as the source of love & happiness.
A few years back a network of university economists in Britain produced a report entitled "The Scots May Be Brave, But They are Neither Healthy Nor Happy". It found that Scots were still as miserable as they were in 1973 despite incomes rising more than elsewhere in the UK.
The European Union have a "scale of happiness" which they used to analyse data compiled over a 30 year period. The conclusion being that "the Scots have remained steadfastly miserable for 30 years."
But it is not just 'the Scots who have remained steadfastly miserable'. We still don't seem to understand that increased wealth does not mean increased happiness.
I work in Kew where there are a number of exclusive private schools close by. There are no shortage of BMW's, Mercedes, Audi's, Range Rovers and other assortered expensive 4wd's. Most of them seem to be driven by attractive blond women. I wouldn't mind betting that the husbands cannot sing and are not handsome, but they do have money and so fit the abovementioned proverb perfectly.
I often wonder whether those families are happy. There is plenty of wealth but is there a sense of peace and joy in the home?
I am no expert of course but it seems to me that in spite of all of our learning over the centuries we have moved further away from the source of peace and happiness, God. More than ever we are beholden to possessions and the drive to be happy without God.
Two quotes have caught my attention over the weekend. The first one, either by chance or by divine purpose, I have seen twice, once in an email from a Salvo friend and then on my desk calendar - "The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."
The second quote was from the newly elected member for Melbourne, Adam Brandt - "We need more love in this world, not less."
Happiness & love. Two things we desire and yet struggle to obtain.
God is not only the source of love, He is love. In the federal seat of Melbourne, many people from different church denominations work selflessly to demonstrate God's love, yet I would imagine that God's presence would not be acknowledged by too many people. I pray that through people's authenticity God might be seen as the source of love & happiness.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The dog and the politician
I have the dubious honour of living in what is, for another couple of days anyway, Australia's most marginal seat. McEwen is held by the Liberals by a mere 27 votes. Hence, I am being deluged with electoral mail. Liberal polling must show that Labor is going to win the seat because today, for the third time in four days I had mail from the Libs. Not just one letter, but two! Do they think the more mail they send, the more likely I will be to vote for them? Obviously. But they might be wrong. It might encourage me to vote against them. What a waste of money!
After clearing out my P.O. box I wandered around the corner and saw a man sitting down eating his Subway roll. His mutt was sitting loyally at his feet, never taking its eyes off the roll, hoping no doubt to be fed. When its owner ignored it, it inched further forward. When its owner still chose to ignore it, it barked.
My lessons/challenges today - 1) Just as it isn't wrong for the Liberal party to try and solicit my vote, it isn't wrong for me to spend money on myself. But at what point does it become obscene? Is my spending ethical at the moment?
2) Sometimes there is need right in front of us that we just don't see. Sometimes the need inches closer to us and other times it actually barks at us, and still we ignore it. What needs I am not noticing right now or choosing to ignore?
God, help me to use my resources better and not ignore the need that is right in front of me.
After clearing out my P.O. box I wandered around the corner and saw a man sitting down eating his Subway roll. His mutt was sitting loyally at his feet, never taking its eyes off the roll, hoping no doubt to be fed. When its owner ignored it, it inched further forward. When its owner still chose to ignore it, it barked.
My lessons/challenges today - 1) Just as it isn't wrong for the Liberal party to try and solicit my vote, it isn't wrong for me to spend money on myself. But at what point does it become obscene? Is my spending ethical at the moment?
2) Sometimes there is need right in front of us that we just don't see. Sometimes the need inches closer to us and other times it actually barks at us, and still we ignore it. What needs I am not noticing right now or choosing to ignore?
God, help me to use my resources better and not ignore the need that is right in front of me.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Not quite right
A few years ago there was an interesting programme on ABC TV called 'Altered Statesmen'. It looked at former political leaders who, whilst leading their countries, were battling medical issues that the general public, by and large, were not aware of.
For instance, John F Kennedy and possibly also Sir Winston Churchill, were using amphetamines (speed) while they were president/prime minister of their respective countries. In fact, Kennedy was on Speed during the Cuban missile crisis. It's amazing really, given the mental fragility of some of our world leaders, that we haven't seen a major nuclear conflict in the world. Maybe God has exercised a little more control than people have given him credit for.
On the other hand, Biblical prophecy would seem to suggest that some time in the future something terrible will happen either with nuclear weapons or maybe with the emerging nanotechnology.
On a brighter note, the programme suggested that England may not have won the war had Churchill not been Prime Minister. Churchill experienced times of great highs followed by periods of melancholy. But his condition may have contributed to him being able to inspire his nation during its darkest days of 1940. A person not suffering Churchill's condition may not have been able to see victory through the gloom of that period.
I am encouraged by that. The fact that we aren't perfect doesn't consign us to the scrap heap. Sometimes our flaws can even be our strength.
When I look at our church I recognise that we are all flawed. Sometimes, I have lacked grace in my relationships with people who have been battling their flaws that have been both known and unknown to me. We are all flawed and yet God can use our flaws to achieve things through us that otherwise might be impossible to achieve. Flawed people ministering to a flawed world.
Let's not allow our flaws deter us from being involved in mission and ministry. God can, and will use us in ways we could probably not imagine.
For instance, John F Kennedy and possibly also Sir Winston Churchill, were using amphetamines (speed) while they were president/prime minister of their respective countries. In fact, Kennedy was on Speed during the Cuban missile crisis. It's amazing really, given the mental fragility of some of our world leaders, that we haven't seen a major nuclear conflict in the world. Maybe God has exercised a little more control than people have given him credit for.
On the other hand, Biblical prophecy would seem to suggest that some time in the future something terrible will happen either with nuclear weapons or maybe with the emerging nanotechnology.
On a brighter note, the programme suggested that England may not have won the war had Churchill not been Prime Minister. Churchill experienced times of great highs followed by periods of melancholy. But his condition may have contributed to him being able to inspire his nation during its darkest days of 1940. A person not suffering Churchill's condition may not have been able to see victory through the gloom of that period.
I am encouraged by that. The fact that we aren't perfect doesn't consign us to the scrap heap. Sometimes our flaws can even be our strength.
When I look at our church I recognise that we are all flawed. Sometimes, I have lacked grace in my relationships with people who have been battling their flaws that have been both known and unknown to me. We are all flawed and yet God can use our flaws to achieve things through us that otherwise might be impossible to achieve. Flawed people ministering to a flawed world.
Let's not allow our flaws deter us from being involved in mission and ministry. God can, and will use us in ways we could probably not imagine.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Stepping out of the shadows
"After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body." John 19:38
There comes a time in a believer's life when we can longer be a secret believer, or choose not to be a secret believer. Joseph of Arimathea had been a closet disciple but at the death of Jesus he chose to put it all on the line. He would have had to have known that to petition Pilate for Jesus' body would make him not only known to the Jews as a believer, but hated and vilified too.
I don't know any more about him but I would suspect that his life became more difficult after that. Yet, I also suspect that a weight lifted from his shoulders when he took the decision to step out of the shadows and own up to being a follower of Jesus the Christ.
The other thing I find interesting here is that all of the disciples except John have disappeared off the scene. Peter had been around until his famous three strikes experience. The disciples, probably with a mixture of emotions such as fear, confusion, depression, have deserted their Lord.
But not Joseph. He has chosen this time to make a statement. Why? I don't know, but I'm sure that God's chest would have pumped out a bit at this show of love and support.
There are times and will be times when I will need to step out of the shadows and put my faith on the line and risk being ostracised by 'the jewish leaders' in my life.
God, I pray that I won't be found wanting when I need to 'stand under the ball with a pack closing in on me from behind'. Help me to stand and not drop my head.
There comes a time in a believer's life when we can longer be a secret believer, or choose not to be a secret believer. Joseph of Arimathea had been a closet disciple but at the death of Jesus he chose to put it all on the line. He would have had to have known that to petition Pilate for Jesus' body would make him not only known to the Jews as a believer, but hated and vilified too.
I don't know any more about him but I would suspect that his life became more difficult after that. Yet, I also suspect that a weight lifted from his shoulders when he took the decision to step out of the shadows and own up to being a follower of Jesus the Christ.
The other thing I find interesting here is that all of the disciples except John have disappeared off the scene. Peter had been around until his famous three strikes experience. The disciples, probably with a mixture of emotions such as fear, confusion, depression, have deserted their Lord.
But not Joseph. He has chosen this time to make a statement. Why? I don't know, but I'm sure that God's chest would have pumped out a bit at this show of love and support.
There are times and will be times when I will need to step out of the shadows and put my faith on the line and risk being ostracised by 'the jewish leaders' in my life.
God, I pray that I won't be found wanting when I need to 'stand under the ball with a pack closing in on me from behind'. Help me to stand and not drop my head.
Monday, August 16, 2010
I'll stop the boats
"This is God's Message: Attend to matters of justice. Set things right between people. Rescue victims from their exploiters. Don't take advantage of the homeless, the orphans, the widows. Stop the murdering!" Jeremiah 22:2-3
I'm trying to ignore the election campaign even though I want to be informed enough to vote correctly. But the last sentence of the above scripture quote immediately brought into my mind Mr Abbott's catchcry "I'll stop the boats!"
God told Jeremiah to go to the royal palace and give his message to the king of Judah, his officials and all who go in out of the palace gates. This is what God wanted to tell the people in power, those who ran the country. These things were important to God and obviously weren't being addressed or, more likely, were being deliberately flouted by those in power.
There was nothing in God's message about creating a new chariot route between two outer suburban towns at the cost of several million Shekels. Nothing about cutting debt. No comment at all about the economy.
Today, in fact, when it comes to asylum seekers we could argue that both parties are attempting to take political advantage of the situation rather than vowing to "rescue victims from the exploiters".
When I look at my priorites, how far off the mark are they when compared to God's priorities? Even at church, how far away from God's priorities have we moved?
God, help me to understand and feel your desires when I make decisions in my life.
I'm trying to ignore the election campaign even though I want to be informed enough to vote correctly. But the last sentence of the above scripture quote immediately brought into my mind Mr Abbott's catchcry "I'll stop the boats!"
God told Jeremiah to go to the royal palace and give his message to the king of Judah, his officials and all who go in out of the palace gates. This is what God wanted to tell the people in power, those who ran the country. These things were important to God and obviously weren't being addressed or, more likely, were being deliberately flouted by those in power.
There was nothing in God's message about creating a new chariot route between two outer suburban towns at the cost of several million Shekels. Nothing about cutting debt. No comment at all about the economy.
Today, in fact, when it comes to asylum seekers we could argue that both parties are attempting to take political advantage of the situation rather than vowing to "rescue victims from the exploiters".
When I look at my priorites, how far off the mark are they when compared to God's priorities? Even at church, how far away from God's priorities have we moved?
God, help me to understand and feel your desires when I make decisions in my life.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Knock Knock...
I made a bad mistake this morning. At about 3am as it was pouring with rain and the roof and all the windows were rattling, I decided to check on the 2 cats shut in the laundry in case they had taken fright with the weather. One was awake but fine and the other was still fast asleep. Oh well, maybe on this occasion they could spend the rest of the right sleeping in the lounge or maybe on the end of the bed. No such luck. Awake and refreshed from their sleep they decided to fight, often jumping all over the bed. So much for the rest of my sleep. So, in desperation I got them out of the bedroom and shut the door. And then they meowed at the door.
They had 90% of the house to themselves yet they wanted to be in the other 10%. There are probably a number of thoughts that come to mind about this situation. One is that they are like kids when the one toy that another child has is the one they want. But the one that came to mind for me at 3am (bit sad isn't it?) is that we quite often confine God to a percentage of our lives. Some people leave God outside completely. Some people give God about the size of my laundry and shut him out of the other 95%. Some are good and allow God into 90% of their life but still 10% is off limits. Who allows God 100% access?
One of the more famous verses in the Bible, if I can put it that way, is Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Fortunately God knocks, not meows!). I don't know why but I have always associated that verse with non-Christians but it is part of the letter to the Church in Laodicea, the infamous neither hot nor cold but lukewarm, church that makes God want to vomit. It is directed at believers. Interesting. What percentage of my life is sealed off with a locked door on which God is knocking?
They had 90% of the house to themselves yet they wanted to be in the other 10%. There are probably a number of thoughts that come to mind about this situation. One is that they are like kids when the one toy that another child has is the one they want. But the one that came to mind for me at 3am (bit sad isn't it?) is that we quite often confine God to a percentage of our lives. Some people leave God outside completely. Some people give God about the size of my laundry and shut him out of the other 95%. Some are good and allow God into 90% of their life but still 10% is off limits. Who allows God 100% access?
One of the more famous verses in the Bible, if I can put it that way, is Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Fortunately God knocks, not meows!). I don't know why but I have always associated that verse with non-Christians but it is part of the letter to the Church in Laodicea, the infamous neither hot nor cold but lukewarm, church that makes God want to vomit. It is directed at believers. Interesting. What percentage of my life is sealed off with a locked door on which God is knocking?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Intentional and reckless
"In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal." John 12:25
The incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a level three offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of two matches suspended within the last three years, which increases the penalty by 20 per cent to 270 demerit points. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 202.50 points and a two-game sanction.
So, a couple of weeks ago, the AFL match review panel found Campbell Brown guilty of being reckless. Had they also considered it to be intentional as well he would have received a longer suspension. Would the Bible be one of the few places where we are told to go out and be reckless; where we are actually rewarded for having a history of being intentionally reckless? Be reckless in your love.
I am a careful person. I am a bean counter after all. A brown cardigan, conservative type. It isn't natural for me to be reckless - to be a hoon with my love! The more you think about it the more fun it could be. Forget being careful with your life, be reckless. Be careless with love, not heeding the consequences.
It's only when we let go of everything, when we release that iron grip and start being reckless with what God has given us that we being to understand the power of a surrendered life.
"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over." V24
God, help me not to be so careful!
The incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a level three offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of two matches suspended within the last three years, which increases the penalty by 20 per cent to 270 demerit points. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 202.50 points and a two-game sanction.
So, a couple of weeks ago, the AFL match review panel found Campbell Brown guilty of being reckless. Had they also considered it to be intentional as well he would have received a longer suspension. Would the Bible be one of the few places where we are told to go out and be reckless; where we are actually rewarded for having a history of being intentionally reckless? Be reckless in your love.
I am a careful person. I am a bean counter after all. A brown cardigan, conservative type. It isn't natural for me to be reckless - to be a hoon with my love! The more you think about it the more fun it could be. Forget being careful with your life, be reckless. Be careless with love, not heeding the consequences.
It's only when we let go of everything, when we release that iron grip and start being reckless with what God has given us that we being to understand the power of a surrendered life.
"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over." V24
God, help me not to be so careful!
Monday, August 9, 2010
In spite of the evidence...
"That was a turnaround for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him. But some went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus." John 11:45
Jesus had just brought Lazarus back to life after 4 days and there were lots of witnesses to the event. Therefore, it's not surprising that it was a turnaround event for many of the Jews who saw it. None of them would have ever seen someone brought back to life, let alone one who had been dead for 4 days. But, amazingly, there were some who appeared to be totally unmoved by this extraordinary event. Their response was to dob on Jesus to the Pharisees.
Reality is that there are some people who will never, ever, believe in God no matter what evidence is presented in front of them. The issue with the Pharisees was that they feared they would lose their power and influence if Jesus were allowed to continue on with his God signs. And maybe those who told on Jesus feared losing the acceptance of the Pharisees.
There are many and varied reasons why people choose not to accept God. Importantly though, many of the Jews did come to faith as a result of what they saw. In our lives many people we know well will not ever choose to accept God. But some will.
In my life, I can't allow myself to become disillusioned when people refuse to accept that God exists. If I am faithful God will use me to influence people.
Help me God to remain faithful, especially when there isn't alot of encouraging evidence around.
Jesus had just brought Lazarus back to life after 4 days and there were lots of witnesses to the event. Therefore, it's not surprising that it was a turnaround event for many of the Jews who saw it. None of them would have ever seen someone brought back to life, let alone one who had been dead for 4 days. But, amazingly, there were some who appeared to be totally unmoved by this extraordinary event. Their response was to dob on Jesus to the Pharisees.
Reality is that there are some people who will never, ever, believe in God no matter what evidence is presented in front of them. The issue with the Pharisees was that they feared they would lose their power and influence if Jesus were allowed to continue on with his God signs. And maybe those who told on Jesus feared losing the acceptance of the Pharisees.
There are many and varied reasons why people choose not to accept God. Importantly though, many of the Jews did come to faith as a result of what they saw. In our lives many people we know well will not ever choose to accept God. But some will.
In my life, I can't allow myself to become disillusioned when people refuse to accept that God exists. If I am faithful God will use me to influence people.
Help me God to remain faithful, especially when there isn't alot of encouraging evidence around.
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Christian or the Atheist?
On 11th November 1975 I was sitting in a classroom at Reservoir High School (now Reservoir Secondary College), opposite the library, studying French or suffering French more like. It was announced that Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, had dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam's Labor government. That, of course, led to Mr Whitlam's famous quote on the steps of Parliament house ``Well may we say `God save the Queen' . . . because nothing will save the Governor-General!''. Another 14 year old would have been sitting in a class somewhere that day too. Her name was Julia Gillard, about 7 months my junior. Prime Minister Gillard now. Makes me feel old.
Julia Gillard is an atheist and Tony Abbott is a Christian. For whom should we vote?!
I quoted one of my favourite authors last week, Chuch Colson, and he wrote this about voting:
"Thinking that electing Christians to high public office answers all of our problems ignores a reality that Luther knew: In every society, "the wicked always outnumber the good." It's a sinful world. Therefore, government's prime job is to restrain sin and to preserve order. That is its ordained role from God. Our leaders, therefore, have to be those who are best-suited for carrying out these tasks, the most confident and responsible. Or, as Luther is supposed to have said, it is better to be "ruled by a wise Turk than a foolish Christian."
Does this mean that we shouldn't encourage our fellow believers to seek elective office and support them once they do? Of course not. Christians are called to apply biblical truth to all areas of life, including politics and government. Nor does it mean that a candidate's beliefs are irrelevant. A candidate's beliefs shed light on his values, priorities, and character -- all of which matter when it comes to governance. A believer should be a force for virtue, and having one in office is a witness, of course. But this doesn't change the fact that the first requirement is competence. And some non-Christians may be better prepared to carry out government's biblical mandate than some Christians, no matter how often the latter attend church."
As much as I get frustrated with election campaigns and threaten to vote for 'Mickey Mouse' as a protest, we live in the most wonderful country with a tremendous privilege called democracy.
I praise God for the freedom to be able to vote. Now I just have to make the correct decision on the day.
(p.s. Paul, I have no idea what song would fit this post!)
Julia Gillard is an atheist and Tony Abbott is a Christian. For whom should we vote?!
I quoted one of my favourite authors last week, Chuch Colson, and he wrote this about voting:
"Thinking that electing Christians to high public office answers all of our problems ignores a reality that Luther knew: In every society, "the wicked always outnumber the good." It's a sinful world. Therefore, government's prime job is to restrain sin and to preserve order. That is its ordained role from God. Our leaders, therefore, have to be those who are best-suited for carrying out these tasks, the most confident and responsible. Or, as Luther is supposed to have said, it is better to be "ruled by a wise Turk than a foolish Christian."
Does this mean that we shouldn't encourage our fellow believers to seek elective office and support them once they do? Of course not. Christians are called to apply biblical truth to all areas of life, including politics and government. Nor does it mean that a candidate's beliefs are irrelevant. A candidate's beliefs shed light on his values, priorities, and character -- all of which matter when it comes to governance. A believer should be a force for virtue, and having one in office is a witness, of course. But this doesn't change the fact that the first requirement is competence. And some non-Christians may be better prepared to carry out government's biblical mandate than some Christians, no matter how often the latter attend church."
As much as I get frustrated with election campaigns and threaten to vote for 'Mickey Mouse' as a protest, we live in the most wonderful country with a tremendous privilege called democracy.
I praise God for the freedom to be able to vote. Now I just have to make the correct decision on the day.
(p.s. Paul, I have no idea what song would fit this post!)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Courage
Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus earlier and was both a ruler and a Pharisee, spoke up. "Does our Law decide about a man's guilt without first listening to him and finding out what he is doing?" John 7:50-51
Nicodemus was a brave man. The Pharisees and the High Priests had a lot power. Earlier in the chapter it is mentioned that people in the crowd were talking in guarded whispers because of the intimidating Jewish leaders. Yet Nicodemus was prepared to speak up about something he felt was wrong. He had a lot to lose yet wasn't intimidated by the rest of the Pharisees.
It takes a lot of courage to stand up for something we believe in or for someone we feel has been wronged. In the process we risk being vilified ourselves or ostracised. It can come at a great cost. Yet it is what Christians are supposed to do. It's about justice and fairness.
Help me God to have the courage to stand up and be counted when I need to.
Nicodemus was a brave man. The Pharisees and the High Priests had a lot power. Earlier in the chapter it is mentioned that people in the crowd were talking in guarded whispers because of the intimidating Jewish leaders. Yet Nicodemus was prepared to speak up about something he felt was wrong. He had a lot to lose yet wasn't intimidated by the rest of the Pharisees.
It takes a lot of courage to stand up for something we believe in or for someone we feel has been wronged. In the process we risk being vilified ourselves or ostracised. It can come at a great cost. Yet it is what Christians are supposed to do. It's about justice and fairness.
Help me God to have the courage to stand up and be counted when I need to.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Risking ourselves with Jesus
They waffled: "why don't your give us a clue about who you are, just a hint of what's going on? When we see what's up we'll commit ourselves. Show us what you can do." John 6:30
The crowd had seen a miracle - Jesus feeding 5000 people, and were aware of another. Jesus had gotten back across the sea without being in the only boat there. Yet they were still asking Jesus to " show us what you can do". It seems to be a common problem, even for believers, that we keep asking Jesus to show us even though he has done so many times over.
Jesus then went on and gave them more than a clue about who he was yet at the end of it all we read that even a lot of his disciples left, not wanting to risk themselves with this Jesus.
Even being the Messiah and performing miracles didn't prevent Jesus from being rejected and rejected by his so called disciples at that.
Jesus said to the twelve "Do you also want to leave?" What Jesus stands for is sometimes not what we want him to stand for. In spite of the overwhelming evidence that he presents for who he is, it often doesn't fit with what we are looking for in 'our' God.
So, what is my response when it comes to risking myself with Jesus? When others leave and Jesus says to me "Do you also want to leave?" How emphatic is my response?
May I be found to be utterly loyal Lord.
The crowd had seen a miracle - Jesus feeding 5000 people, and were aware of another. Jesus had gotten back across the sea without being in the only boat there. Yet they were still asking Jesus to " show us what you can do". It seems to be a common problem, even for believers, that we keep asking Jesus to show us even though he has done so many times over.
Jesus then went on and gave them more than a clue about who he was yet at the end of it all we read that even a lot of his disciples left, not wanting to risk themselves with this Jesus.
Even being the Messiah and performing miracles didn't prevent Jesus from being rejected and rejected by his so called disciples at that.
Jesus said to the twelve "Do you also want to leave?" What Jesus stands for is sometimes not what we want him to stand for. In spite of the overwhelming evidence that he presents for who he is, it often doesn't fit with what we are looking for in 'our' God.
So, what is my response when it comes to risking myself with Jesus? When others leave and Jesus says to me "Do you also want to leave?" How emphatic is my response?
May I be found to be utterly loyal Lord.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Do we know when we are sick?
"One man had been an invalid there for thirty eight years. When Jesus saw him...he said "Do you want to get well?" John 5:5-6
What a soul wrenching place Bethesda must have been. Hundreds of people, all sick, blind, crippled and paralysed. The only hope they seemed to have was to get into the pool when it stirred in the hope of receiving healing.
Here is our unnamed man who has been there for 38 years waiting and hoping to be healed but never able to get to pool before someone else does. What a miserable, frustrating and painful existence.
A short time later we see Jesus being grilled by the religious leaders about healing our friend on the Sabbath and Jesus is urgently telling them about their need to accept him because there are eternal consequences.
The physically sick man knew his need was healing and had waited 38 years at the place where he thought healing could be found. The religious leaders, as spiritually sick as the other man was physically ill, did not acknowledge their need. In fact they were hostile to any suggestion that they needed healing.
I have been a Christian since I was 17 years old and like the religious leaders I often won't acknowledge that I have a spiritual sickness that can only be dealt with by God. There is something about Christians and pride that sometimes sees us take a moral high ground and refuse to acknowledge our need for healing.
When shall I come unto the healing waters?
Lifting my heart, I cry to thee my prayer.
Spirit of peace, my Comforter and healer,
In whom my springs are found, let my soul meet thee there.
Wash from my hands the dust of earthly striving;
Take from my mind the stress of secret fear;
Cleanse thou the wounds from all but thee far hidden.
And when the waters flow let my healing appear.
Light, life and love are in that healing fountain,
All I require to cleanse me and restore;
Flow through my soul, redeem its desert places,
And make a garden there for the Lord I adore.
From a hill I know,
Healing waters flow;
O rise, Immanuel's tide,
And my soul overflow!
What a soul wrenching place Bethesda must have been. Hundreds of people, all sick, blind, crippled and paralysed. The only hope they seemed to have was to get into the pool when it stirred in the hope of receiving healing.
Here is our unnamed man who has been there for 38 years waiting and hoping to be healed but never able to get to pool before someone else does. What a miserable, frustrating and painful existence.
A short time later we see Jesus being grilled by the religious leaders about healing our friend on the Sabbath and Jesus is urgently telling them about their need to accept him because there are eternal consequences.
The physically sick man knew his need was healing and had waited 38 years at the place where he thought healing could be found. The religious leaders, as spiritually sick as the other man was physically ill, did not acknowledge their need. In fact they were hostile to any suggestion that they needed healing.
I have been a Christian since I was 17 years old and like the religious leaders I often won't acknowledge that I have a spiritual sickness that can only be dealt with by God. There is something about Christians and pride that sometimes sees us take a moral high ground and refuse to acknowledge our need for healing.
When shall I come unto the healing waters?
Lifting my heart, I cry to thee my prayer.
Spirit of peace, my Comforter and healer,
In whom my springs are found, let my soul meet thee there.
Wash from my hands the dust of earthly striving;
Take from my mind the stress of secret fear;
Cleanse thou the wounds from all but thee far hidden.
And when the waters flow let my healing appear.
Light, life and love are in that healing fountain,
All I require to cleanse me and restore;
Flow through my soul, redeem its desert places,
And make a garden there for the Lord I adore.
From a hill I know,
Healing waters flow;
O rise, Immanuel's tide,
And my soul overflow!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Finding out about the real person
The election campaign drones on and the chances are that at the end of the campaign we will be none the wiser about who Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott really are. We will be fed images that their respective media advisors want us to see and they will be countered with dirt from the other side.
One of the most vilified world politicians of recent times was George W. Bush. What was he really like? A few years ago I read the following article.
Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and former aide to President Nixon during the Watergate years, tells the story of the Bush's involvement in the Angel Tree program last Christmas. About 100,000 volunteers in America delivered gifts to more than 525,000- children of prison inmates.
Among those 100,000 volunteers were President and Mrs Bush. 40 or so members of the media accompanied the President and spent 10 minutes taking photos and notes before leaving. Charles Colson describes what happened next:
"I remember from my days with President Nixon what photo opportunities are: Get the picture and leave. So I thought the Bushes would shortly depart, but they didn’t. They stayed long after the cameras were gone to greet every child, to have their picture taken with them, their mothers, and their grandmothers, to talk with them, and to ask questions. Though the press didn’t report it, I noticed that both the president and Mrs. Bush talked to the Hispanic children in Spanish.
Just before the president left, I introduced him to Al Lawrence, a member of our staff. I told the president that I had met Al more than twenty years ago in a prison. Jesus had got hold of Al’s life, and he’s been working for us ever since. Then I told the president that Al’s son was now a freshman at Yale. At that point the president stopped, exclaimed, "We’re both Yale parents," and threw his arms around Al Lawrence—an African-American ex-offender being embraced by the president of the United States in a church basement. The ground is indeed level at the foot of the cross."
So, what was/is George W Bush really like? Probably quite different to man we have read and heard about in the media.
Every now and then I read the story again as it challenges me about how I formulate opinions of people. It's hard with with famous people as it is highly unlikely that I will ever have the opportunity of getting to know them one on one. But with the people I work with or attend church with I do have a choice. I can choose to believe the gossip that others 'kindly' pass on to me. Or, I can take the time to find out what the person is really like by taking the time to get to know them.
Gossip is a cancer but most of us still allow our opinions to be coloured by it and often then pass it on. I must do more to ensure that I am not a 'carrier' who passes on the virus that is gossip.
One of the most vilified world politicians of recent times was George W. Bush. What was he really like? A few years ago I read the following article.
Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and former aide to President Nixon during the Watergate years, tells the story of the Bush's involvement in the Angel Tree program last Christmas. About 100,000 volunteers in America delivered gifts to more than 525,000- children of prison inmates.
Among those 100,000 volunteers were President and Mrs Bush. 40 or so members of the media accompanied the President and spent 10 minutes taking photos and notes before leaving. Charles Colson describes what happened next:
"I remember from my days with President Nixon what photo opportunities are: Get the picture and leave. So I thought the Bushes would shortly depart, but they didn’t. They stayed long after the cameras were gone to greet every child, to have their picture taken with them, their mothers, and their grandmothers, to talk with them, and to ask questions. Though the press didn’t report it, I noticed that both the president and Mrs. Bush talked to the Hispanic children in Spanish.
Just before the president left, I introduced him to Al Lawrence, a member of our staff. I told the president that I had met Al more than twenty years ago in a prison. Jesus had got hold of Al’s life, and he’s been working for us ever since. Then I told the president that Al’s son was now a freshman at Yale. At that point the president stopped, exclaimed, "We’re both Yale parents," and threw his arms around Al Lawrence—an African-American ex-offender being embraced by the president of the United States in a church basement. The ground is indeed level at the foot of the cross."
So, what was/is George W Bush really like? Probably quite different to man we have read and heard about in the media.
Every now and then I read the story again as it challenges me about how I formulate opinions of people. It's hard with with famous people as it is highly unlikely that I will ever have the opportunity of getting to know them one on one. But with the people I work with or attend church with I do have a choice. I can choose to believe the gossip that others 'kindly' pass on to me. Or, I can take the time to find out what the person is really like by taking the time to get to know them.
Gossip is a cancer but most of us still allow our opinions to be coloured by it and often then pass it on. I must do more to ensure that I am not a 'carrier' who passes on the virus that is gossip.
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