Every now and then you meet someone who leaves quite an impression on you. Padre Andy was one of those guys. Andy was here for treatment on a brain tumour and, being the cousin of my friend Cathy, spent a fair bit of time at the Christelow household. So, Andy became 'one of us' in our Bible study group.
It's very easy to become insular in a church setting. Churches have that horrible ability to develop a culture which ends up being about ways to behave, dress, speak and reverence for traditions. And so it morphs into some sort of correct Christian behaviour model that ends up being totally irrelevant to world in which we live and, as a result, makes God look weird and irrelevant to those who don't yet know him.
One of Andy's endearing qualities was that he a follower of Christ who connected easily with people who weren't church goers. He was politically incorrect from a Christian perspective yet, what is our role? Is it help people connect with our God who wanted reconciliation so badly that he chose to sacrifice his own son on a cross? Is it to help those in need and be there for them? If the answer to those questions is yes, then Andy was a great example of how to do that and not care what other more 'holy' people thought about him.
I didn't know Andy for all that long but I valued him as a friend. And he challenged me about how I carry out my role in life as a disciple of Jesus.
Enjoy your reward Padre!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Does God still have power?
I managed to get a doughnut for August - no blog postings at all. Almost 2 months between posts. Bit slack...
I'm not sure what day I'm supposed to be up to in the devotional booklet we were all given at church for our planned giving programme, but I was reading day 13 today. One part of scripture quoted was 2 Timothy 3: 1-5 and this bit particularly caught my eye "...having a form of godliness but denying its power."
I mentioned briefly when doing devotions at songster practice that my theology over time has become much more liberal in some areas but one of the downsides of that was that I somehow also lost a bit of belief in God to work miracles.
Some areas where I am a bit more liberal these days are regarding a 7 day creation and some of the Old Testament miracles. I very much believe in intelligent design but, whilst I think that God could easily have created the word in 7 literal days, and make it look millions of years old, I don't think he did.
Similarly, was Jonah swallowed by a big fish? Did some of those things that we read about Elijah and Elisha happen exactly as explained in the Bible?
These days I am comfortable that those questions don't threaten my faith. But reading "having a form of godliness but denying its power" challenges whether I am somehow making God smaller. The God who created life is no less powerful if he then let it evolve rather than create everything over a 7 day period.
The challenge in moving in a more liberal direction when it comes to theology is to not throw the baby out with the bath water - not to have a form of godliness but deny its power. God is still able to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants to do it. I need to remember that God is still the God of miracles and make sure that I don't make him small enough to fit into my very limited intellectual capacity.
I'm not sure what day I'm supposed to be up to in the devotional booklet we were all given at church for our planned giving programme, but I was reading day 13 today. One part of scripture quoted was 2 Timothy 3: 1-5 and this bit particularly caught my eye "...having a form of godliness but denying its power."
I mentioned briefly when doing devotions at songster practice that my theology over time has become much more liberal in some areas but one of the downsides of that was that I somehow also lost a bit of belief in God to work miracles.
Some areas where I am a bit more liberal these days are regarding a 7 day creation and some of the Old Testament miracles. I very much believe in intelligent design but, whilst I think that God could easily have created the word in 7 literal days, and make it look millions of years old, I don't think he did.
Similarly, was Jonah swallowed by a big fish? Did some of those things that we read about Elijah and Elisha happen exactly as explained in the Bible?
These days I am comfortable that those questions don't threaten my faith. But reading "having a form of godliness but denying its power" challenges whether I am somehow making God smaller. The God who created life is no less powerful if he then let it evolve rather than create everything over a 7 day period.
The challenge in moving in a more liberal direction when it comes to theology is to not throw the baby out with the bath water - not to have a form of godliness but deny its power. God is still able to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants to do it. I need to remember that God is still the God of miracles and make sure that I don't make him small enough to fit into my very limited intellectual capacity.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Engraved on my heart
" This new plan I'm making with Israel
isn't going to be written on paper,
isn't going to be chiseled in stone;
This time I'm writing out the plan in them,
carving it on the lining of their hearts.
I'll be their God,
they'll be my people.
They won't go to school to learn about me,
or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons.
They'll all get to know me firsthand,
the little and the big, the small and the great.
They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven,
with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.
By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust." Heb 8
The heart is the centre of our being, the thing that keeps us alive. And God has carved his new plan on the very thing central to keeping us alive.
When you carve something it stays carved. It isn't something temporary. God's salvation is not temporary. It isn't God's intention that this salvation is some sort of passing fad. It is God's permanent gift of eternal life.
God didn't sacrifice his son for some temporary quick fix. He meant it to be eternal and intensely personal.
As it says in verse 13 - "God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust." It's never to be used again.
And we don't have to have a privileged upbringing attending Scotch College or Geelong Grammar to get to know God personally. Little, big, small or great, we are all the object of his love.
Thank you God for making a permanent way for me to spend time with you. And thank you for engraving your plan on my heart, never to be removed again.
isn't going to be written on paper,
isn't going to be chiseled in stone;
This time I'm writing out the plan in them,
carving it on the lining of their hearts.
I'll be their God,
they'll be my people.
They won't go to school to learn about me,
or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons.
They'll all get to know me firsthand,
the little and the big, the small and the great.
They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven,
with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.
By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust." Heb 8
The heart is the centre of our being, the thing that keeps us alive. And God has carved his new plan on the very thing central to keeping us alive.
When you carve something it stays carved. It isn't something temporary. God's salvation is not temporary. It isn't God's intention that this salvation is some sort of passing fad. It is God's permanent gift of eternal life.
God didn't sacrifice his son for some temporary quick fix. He meant it to be eternal and intensely personal.
As it says in verse 13 - "God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust." It's never to be used again.
And we don't have to have a privileged upbringing attending Scotch College or Geelong Grammar to get to know God personally. Little, big, small or great, we are all the object of his love.
Thank you God for making a permanent way for me to spend time with you. And thank you for engraving your plan on my heart, never to be removed again.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Feeling flat? Try preparing better.
Am I listening to God?
Do I prepare myself to listen to God?
Am I doing the long term things - not taking shortcuts?
How desperate am I to find Jesus?
These questions are written in the front cover of one of my old journals. I don't recall whether they are my words or something I had read and decided to write in my journal as a reminder. Either way, I had forgotten that they were there so it didn't really work!
We have just participated in another Pentecost Sunday. Not all of our Sunday meetings seem to be blessed with the feeling of the closeness of God. Sometimes that's just my state of mind. Other times it's the way in which the congregation as a whole approaches worship. Whenever we take our focus off God our worship time will suffer. And, as humans, we are very good at taking our eyes off God.
On Pentecost Sunday there is a focus on asking the Holy Spirit to come. When our focus is on God and we spend an hour or so waiting on Him and asking for that rushing wind and tongues of fire to come upon us we usually sense a presence of God that is stronger than other times.
For some reason, the special event that is Pentecost makes us focus a little more on God than we seem to do on a 'normal' Sunday.
When I look at those questions at the top of the post I realise that most of the time I am nowhere near prepared to hear from God when I read the scripture, pray, attend music rehearsals, attend Bible Study or roll up to the Sunday meetings. Is it any wonder then that sometimes I leave feeling flat and unfulfilled.
Do I prepare myself to listen to God?
Am I doing the long term things - not taking shortcuts?
How desperate am I to find Jesus?
These questions are written in the front cover of one of my old journals. I don't recall whether they are my words or something I had read and decided to write in my journal as a reminder. Either way, I had forgotten that they were there so it didn't really work!
We have just participated in another Pentecost Sunday. Not all of our Sunday meetings seem to be blessed with the feeling of the closeness of God. Sometimes that's just my state of mind. Other times it's the way in which the congregation as a whole approaches worship. Whenever we take our focus off God our worship time will suffer. And, as humans, we are very good at taking our eyes off God.
On Pentecost Sunday there is a focus on asking the Holy Spirit to come. When our focus is on God and we spend an hour or so waiting on Him and asking for that rushing wind and tongues of fire to come upon us we usually sense a presence of God that is stronger than other times.
For some reason, the special event that is Pentecost makes us focus a little more on God than we seem to do on a 'normal' Sunday.
When I look at those questions at the top of the post I realise that most of the time I am nowhere near prepared to hear from God when I read the scripture, pray, attend music rehearsals, attend Bible Study or roll up to the Sunday meetings. Is it any wonder then that sometimes I leave feeling flat and unfulfilled.
Monday, May 30, 2011
WWBD
Another year, another Red Shield done and dusted (for me anyway). I really appreciate Bunnings' willingness to let us park ourselves outside of their front door for 3 weekends in a row to collect. It is a great location for us but our presence brings no benefit to them I wouldn't have thought. So their generosity is much appreciated.
I found myself again this year pondering the success of the Bunnings model. People come and go in their hundreds and what's interesting is the large number of kids who go along. Bunnings are smart. They cater for the kids. There is Rudy the one man band and the gentleman who blows up balloons. They wander the store entertaining the children. And then they hand out flags and blow up hammers, do face painting etc.
So, to my title 'WWBD'. Nothing to do with the Western Bulldogs (great win Hawks!). It is a rip off of the 'WWJD' "What would Jesus do'. 'WWBD - What would Bunnings Do'.
If Bunnings were a church, what would they do. What can we learn from Bunnings that would make us better at being 'church'.
1) It's obvious that there is no discrimination. One of the things that is obvious is that people of all races, skin colour, personal beliefs, income etc etc feel comfortable shopping at Bunnings. For all of its' inclusive protestations, the church is not particularly inclusive. Our beliefs, and maybe the way we have majored on the theology at the expense of seeing the person, have done a pretty good job of alienating large numbers of people. Without wanting to get into a uniform debate, what we wear in church must be pretty off putting to the average person too.
2) The staff are helpful and know their stuff. There is a person at the entrance who often greets but who answers questions. People come there with a need and there are staff who help meet their need. Around the store there are staff ready to assist.
The church has a history of welcomers at the front door and some who make it their duty to assist within the building. But my experience is that too few make it their business to be on the look out for those who need to be made feel welcome and even fewer of us who know our stuff when it comes to meeting basic human needs. I'm included in that number. Last year at Preston Salvos, we did a pilot program called 'STAMP'. It was good to learn more about the needs of people and now we could assist as well as inform us of the programs available in the Salvos to help deal with those issues. I hope it moves beyond a pilot program. Must talk to Jason about that.
3) The kids receive special attention. Attendance at Bunnings can be a fun time for both parents and children.
4) It's easy to get into a Bunnings building. The entrances to churches are often foreboding and not very welcoming. And that's even before new folk get to meet the church people who might be even more foreboding!
There's probably many more. And Bunnings is far from a church model. The DIY craze has made Bunnings a very popular place to go whereas church isn't. God is not exactly on the nose but most people don't find 'religion' to be high on their priority list. Also, once a person leaves Bunnings the relationship ends. Church is involved in serious life issues that are much more complicated than finding the right size screws.
There are many challenges to the church but sometimes, spending a lot of time outside of somewhere like Bunnings, watching how it all works, can remind us that some models in the business world operate on principals that cross over into the church world. And often, we do those things badly in the church and can learn from business. WWBD?
I found myself again this year pondering the success of the Bunnings model. People come and go in their hundreds and what's interesting is the large number of kids who go along. Bunnings are smart. They cater for the kids. There is Rudy the one man band and the gentleman who blows up balloons. They wander the store entertaining the children. And then they hand out flags and blow up hammers, do face painting etc.
So, to my title 'WWBD'. Nothing to do with the Western Bulldogs (great win Hawks!). It is a rip off of the 'WWJD' "What would Jesus do'. 'WWBD - What would Bunnings Do'.
If Bunnings were a church, what would they do. What can we learn from Bunnings that would make us better at being 'church'.
1) It's obvious that there is no discrimination. One of the things that is obvious is that people of all races, skin colour, personal beliefs, income etc etc feel comfortable shopping at Bunnings. For all of its' inclusive protestations, the church is not particularly inclusive. Our beliefs, and maybe the way we have majored on the theology at the expense of seeing the person, have done a pretty good job of alienating large numbers of people. Without wanting to get into a uniform debate, what we wear in church must be pretty off putting to the average person too.
2) The staff are helpful and know their stuff. There is a person at the entrance who often greets but who answers questions. People come there with a need and there are staff who help meet their need. Around the store there are staff ready to assist.
The church has a history of welcomers at the front door and some who make it their duty to assist within the building. But my experience is that too few make it their business to be on the look out for those who need to be made feel welcome and even fewer of us who know our stuff when it comes to meeting basic human needs. I'm included in that number. Last year at Preston Salvos, we did a pilot program called 'STAMP'. It was good to learn more about the needs of people and now we could assist as well as inform us of the programs available in the Salvos to help deal with those issues. I hope it moves beyond a pilot program. Must talk to Jason about that.
3) The kids receive special attention. Attendance at Bunnings can be a fun time for both parents and children.
4) It's easy to get into a Bunnings building. The entrances to churches are often foreboding and not very welcoming. And that's even before new folk get to meet the church people who might be even more foreboding!
There's probably many more. And Bunnings is far from a church model. The DIY craze has made Bunnings a very popular place to go whereas church isn't. God is not exactly on the nose but most people don't find 'religion' to be high on their priority list. Also, once a person leaves Bunnings the relationship ends. Church is involved in serious life issues that are much more complicated than finding the right size screws.
There are many challenges to the church but sometimes, spending a lot of time outside of somewhere like Bunnings, watching how it all works, can remind us that some models in the business world operate on principals that cross over into the church world. And often, we do those things badly in the church and can learn from business. WWBD?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Don't believe everything you hear
"...the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun,... "Do you for a minute suppose that David is honoring your father by sending you comforters?"" 2 Sam 10:2
David, hearing of Hanun's Dad's death wanted to send him condolences. But Hanun's Ammonite leaders said, don't believe him. He is just sizing up the city.
So, instead of accepting David's gesture Hanun seized David's men and cut off half of their beards, humiliating them. Then, of course, fearing David's retribution he made things worse by spending 37 1/2 tons of silver to hire 33,000 fighting men to protect himself. And they lost anyway resulting in disastrous consequences for the Ammonite people.
When we take advice from people we really need to know who they are and what makes them tick. Are they reliable or prone to gossip? Are they power hungry? Are they just plain dumb?
Acting on wrong advice can have terrible consequences, maybe not quite as severe as for the Ammonites but nevertheless, consequences that cause pain and suffering often spanning generations.
God, help me to be wise in choosing what advice to accept and what advice to reject.
David, hearing of Hanun's Dad's death wanted to send him condolences. But Hanun's Ammonite leaders said, don't believe him. He is just sizing up the city.
So, instead of accepting David's gesture Hanun seized David's men and cut off half of their beards, humiliating them. Then, of course, fearing David's retribution he made things worse by spending 37 1/2 tons of silver to hire 33,000 fighting men to protect himself. And they lost anyway resulting in disastrous consequences for the Ammonite people.
When we take advice from people we really need to know who they are and what makes them tick. Are they reliable or prone to gossip? Are they power hungry? Are they just plain dumb?
Acting on wrong advice can have terrible consequences, maybe not quite as severe as for the Ammonites but nevertheless, consequences that cause pain and suffering often spanning generations.
God, help me to be wise in choosing what advice to accept and what advice to reject.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Reaching the end of the rope
"They came, tons of them, bringing along the paraplegic, the blind, the maimed, the mute—all sorts of people in need—and more or less threw them down at Jesus' feet to see what he would do with them. He healed them." Matt 15:30
I've written before about the faith and determination of these people bringing the sick to Jesus. Jesus had climbed a mountain yet tons of people still struggled up with their handicapped family & friends. But it's the next bit that caught my interest today. They virtually chucked the sick at Jesus' feet to see what he would do with them.
You get a sense of absolute frustration here. These people have reached the end of their rope. They have family & friends with handicaps and have reached the point of desperation. So they struggle up a mountain for one last effort to find a way out of their seemingly hopeless situations.
What did Jesus do with them? He healed them!
This is the Jesus we worship. He is the God of last resort at times for people. It would be good if we sought him out at the start, not when we are desperate. Yet, he is the God that does stuff that no human can!
I have been watching General Bond's welcome meeting today (as you do at work!). It's only 2hrs 20mins long if you have the time.
http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/EF83AFD7532CF1218025784F0034CE06?openDocument
At the end of the meeting the General uses a well known song which I have sung many times, but in light of my reading today these words jumped out
At the moment of my weakness,
When my need for pow'r is plain,
And my own strength is exhausted once again,
Then my Lord has made provision
For the day of my despair,
And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer, my prayer,
Then my Lord has made provision
For the day of my despair,
And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer.
God made a provision for the day of despair for those on the mountain all those years ago and today he brings provision for our despair and his Holy Spirit hears our prayer.
Thank you for being the God who solves the impossible and delights in being there for those who have run out of hope.
I've written before about the faith and determination of these people bringing the sick to Jesus. Jesus had climbed a mountain yet tons of people still struggled up with their handicapped family & friends. But it's the next bit that caught my interest today. They virtually chucked the sick at Jesus' feet to see what he would do with them.
You get a sense of absolute frustration here. These people have reached the end of their rope. They have family & friends with handicaps and have reached the point of desperation. So they struggle up a mountain for one last effort to find a way out of their seemingly hopeless situations.
What did Jesus do with them? He healed them!
This is the Jesus we worship. He is the God of last resort at times for people. It would be good if we sought him out at the start, not when we are desperate. Yet, he is the God that does stuff that no human can!
I have been watching General Bond's welcome meeting today (as you do at work!). It's only 2hrs 20mins long if you have the time.
http://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/EF83AFD7532CF1218025784F0034CE06?openDocument
At the end of the meeting the General uses a well known song which I have sung many times, but in light of my reading today these words jumped out
At the moment of my weakness,
When my need for pow'r is plain,
And my own strength is exhausted once again,
Then my Lord has made provision
For the day of my despair,
And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer, my prayer,
Then my Lord has made provision
For the day of my despair,
And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer.
God made a provision for the day of despair for those on the mountain all those years ago and today he brings provision for our despair and his Holy Spirit hears our prayer.
Thank you for being the God who solves the impossible and delights in being there for those who have run out of hope.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Isn't there another way?
Not a biblical blog today....
There are many things I don't understand. I don't understand the AFL's match review panel and it's anti Hawthorn viewpoint (ok. I know I am biased). I don't understand the Army's headquarters decision making. I don't understand the Gillard government's carbon tax policy. It seems ridiculous to me. And I don't understand inflation....
Today the CPI figure was released and our inflation rate for the year to March was 3.3%. The cost of fuel went up 8.8%, vegetables up 16%, fruit up 14%, pharmaceuticals up 12.5%, deposit and loan facilities up 4.6%. In other words, the things that ordinary people need in order to live have gone up. And once Ms Gillard's carbon tax comes in, watch the electricity bills go up... again...
So, what are the economists saying. "Inflation is on the march. Put up interest rates." I'm not an economist and maybe a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic, but how does putting interest rates up help the majority of people. People still need to eat, educate their kids, buy pharmaceuticals. And, as many people have no choice but to live in outer suburbs with little or no public transport, thanks to decades of incompetent governments, they have to drive cars which use petrol. What is an interest rate rise going to do for them? Do they stop eating because their mortgage or rent has gone up, again?
If some people are still buying too many tv's or BMW's surely there is another way to cool demand. Why put up interest rates which hurts the vulnerable the most? It all seems rather unethical to me? What would be a Biblical solution? It's an interesting question. I doubt very much that God would choose to put up interest rates because the poor are very much at the forefront of his concerns.
I do believe that capitalism is the best of a bad bunch of options. But sometimes the policies of these highly paid public servants leave me shaking my head.
There are many things I don't understand. I don't understand the AFL's match review panel and it's anti Hawthorn viewpoint (ok. I know I am biased). I don't understand the Army's headquarters decision making. I don't understand the Gillard government's carbon tax policy. It seems ridiculous to me. And I don't understand inflation....
Today the CPI figure was released and our inflation rate for the year to March was 3.3%. The cost of fuel went up 8.8%, vegetables up 16%, fruit up 14%, pharmaceuticals up 12.5%, deposit and loan facilities up 4.6%. In other words, the things that ordinary people need in order to live have gone up. And once Ms Gillard's carbon tax comes in, watch the electricity bills go up... again...
So, what are the economists saying. "Inflation is on the march. Put up interest rates." I'm not an economist and maybe a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic, but how does putting interest rates up help the majority of people. People still need to eat, educate their kids, buy pharmaceuticals. And, as many people have no choice but to live in outer suburbs with little or no public transport, thanks to decades of incompetent governments, they have to drive cars which use petrol. What is an interest rate rise going to do for them? Do they stop eating because their mortgage or rent has gone up, again?
If some people are still buying too many tv's or BMW's surely there is another way to cool demand. Why put up interest rates which hurts the vulnerable the most? It all seems rather unethical to me? What would be a Biblical solution? It's an interesting question. I doubt very much that God would choose to put up interest rates because the poor are very much at the forefront of his concerns.
I do believe that capitalism is the best of a bad bunch of options. But sometimes the policies of these highly paid public servants leave me shaking my head.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Is deafness worse than the occult?
1 Sam 15:22-23 "Then Samuel said,
Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—
empty rituals just for show?
He wants you to listen to him!
Plain listening is the thing,
not staging a lavish religious production.
Not doing what God tells you
is far worse than fooling around in the occult."
I've often thought that the occult is really bad. And it is. But what about not listening to God? Bad? Yeah, maybe, but not that bad. This verse says it is far worse to not listen to God than to be involved in the occult.
In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel gets the word from God to go and anoint the next king. He has his own ideas about which son of Jesse might be the right one to be chosen. But the one who God wanted wasn't even in attendance at the worship event. If Samuel had not listened to God and failed to ask Jesse if he had more sons than those who were present, who would have ended up king? I doubt it would have been David. And that would have been disastrous.
Not listening to God is not just an act of disobedience it also results in us making wrong choices because we trust in our own wisdom instead of trusting in God.
Maybe not listening is worse than the occult after all.
Forgive me God for not placing the correct importance on stopping and listening for your guidance and direction.
Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—
empty rituals just for show?
He wants you to listen to him!
Plain listening is the thing,
not staging a lavish religious production.
Not doing what God tells you
is far worse than fooling around in the occult."
I've often thought that the occult is really bad. And it is. But what about not listening to God? Bad? Yeah, maybe, but not that bad. This verse says it is far worse to not listen to God than to be involved in the occult.
In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel gets the word from God to go and anoint the next king. He has his own ideas about which son of Jesse might be the right one to be chosen. But the one who God wanted wasn't even in attendance at the worship event. If Samuel had not listened to God and failed to ask Jesse if he had more sons than those who were present, who would have ended up king? I doubt it would have been David. And that would have been disastrous.
Not listening to God is not just an act of disobedience it also results in us making wrong choices because we trust in our own wisdom instead of trusting in God.
Maybe not listening is worse than the occult after all.
Forgive me God for not placing the correct importance on stopping and listening for your guidance and direction.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
What else can I learn from one of my favourite stories?
Today my reading was one of my favourites, one that I have blogged on before. It is the story of Hannah who was childless and promised God that if he would give her a child she would give the child back to God. And she did. She took Samuel to the temple and left him with the priest, Eli. And, of course, God blessed Hannah's devotion by giving her 5 more children.
In all of life's stories there are other people involved, others who are a part of the script. In this story there is Elkanah, Hannah's husband. These Old Testament times often seem brutal and the way in which women were treated often makes me squirm. But Elkanah, who also had another wife who did bear him children, obviously loved her deeply and showed a great deal of compassion towards her. He, I think, can take part of the credit for the outcome of the story. For without his love Hannah might have given up, or might have been totally ostracised because she hadn't given him children.
The other character is Eli the priest. I cringe at the first mention of Eli in this story. Hannah went to the temple to pray "Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably" (1 Sam 1:10). Eli's response? He accused her of being drunk. Great. Poor Hannah is already at her wits end and the priest's response is to accuse her of being drunk. To her credit Hannah didn't give him a mouthful back (I think I might have). And to Eli's credit, after hearing Hannah's explanation his attitude changed, although there is no record of an apology.
So what do I make of this great story today. Nothing earth shattering. Having persisted with reading this far you must be disappointed! Firstly, as with Elkanah, it is a must that we show compassion to innocent people. Who are the innocent in our society today? Or who in my circle of contacts is innocent? I am treating them with love and respect?
Secondly, am I guilty of being like Eli? Making judgments based on what I see and not what is really going on. How rude and insensitive of Eli to speak to Hannah the way he did. There is no excuse. Who, today, will I come into contact with and make and ill informed initial judgement? How about finding out some facts first rather than being judgemental as a first response.
In all of life's stories there are other people involved, others who are a part of the script. In this story there is Elkanah, Hannah's husband. These Old Testament times often seem brutal and the way in which women were treated often makes me squirm. But Elkanah, who also had another wife who did bear him children, obviously loved her deeply and showed a great deal of compassion towards her. He, I think, can take part of the credit for the outcome of the story. For without his love Hannah might have given up, or might have been totally ostracised because she hadn't given him children.
The other character is Eli the priest. I cringe at the first mention of Eli in this story. Hannah went to the temple to pray "Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably" (1 Sam 1:10). Eli's response? He accused her of being drunk. Great. Poor Hannah is already at her wits end and the priest's response is to accuse her of being drunk. To her credit Hannah didn't give him a mouthful back (I think I might have). And to Eli's credit, after hearing Hannah's explanation his attitude changed, although there is no record of an apology.
So what do I make of this great story today. Nothing earth shattering. Having persisted with reading this far you must be disappointed! Firstly, as with Elkanah, it is a must that we show compassion to innocent people. Who are the innocent in our society today? Or who in my circle of contacts is innocent? I am treating them with love and respect?
Secondly, am I guilty of being like Eli? Making judgments based on what I see and not what is really going on. How rude and insensitive of Eli to speak to Hannah the way he did. There is no excuse. Who, today, will I come into contact with and make and ill informed initial judgement? How about finding out some facts first rather than being judgemental as a first response.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
No exclamation mark?!
Jesus said, "You have no idea what you are asking." Mark 10:38
James & John have just asked Jesus if they would be awarded the highest place of honour in glory. What an outrageous question. How selfish.
Having read Jesus' responses to the Pharisees and other religious leaders I would have expected him to explode. Yet he doesn't. There isn't even an excalmation mark next to what he has said. It seems as though his response is calm and measured, even gentle.
Maybe his response of "you have no idea what you are asking", explains it. It seems it was an almost innocent question which they had not thought through.
Jesus' response was totally different to that of the other disciples when they heard the conversation. They got into a fight with James & John.
Jesus has incredible wisdom when dealing with people. He knows when to be angry and when to be gentle. We don't. Like the other disciples we often end up dealing with things in totally the wrong way.
Help me God to have the wisdom to choose the right response to every situation I face, not to choose the irresponsible and inappropriate way.
James & John have just asked Jesus if they would be awarded the highest place of honour in glory. What an outrageous question. How selfish.
Having read Jesus' responses to the Pharisees and other religious leaders I would have expected him to explode. Yet he doesn't. There isn't even an excalmation mark next to what he has said. It seems as though his response is calm and measured, even gentle.
Maybe his response of "you have no idea what you are asking", explains it. It seems it was an almost innocent question which they had not thought through.
Jesus' response was totally different to that of the other disciples when they heard the conversation. They got into a fight with James & John.
Jesus has incredible wisdom when dealing with people. He knows when to be angry and when to be gentle. We don't. Like the other disciples we often end up dealing with things in totally the wrong way.
Help me God to have the wisdom to choose the right response to every situation I face, not to choose the irresponsible and inappropriate way.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Is it still important to me if it costs me?
I received my Foxtel magazine today and in it was one of those letters starting with the words 'important changes'. That is code for 'you are about to be worse off'. In this case Foxtel have surveyed their customers and they have conveniently told Foxtel that they really don't want the magazine anymore. So, in an effort to protect the environment, they are no longer going to supply the magazine unless their clients ring up and say that they want to continue to receive it.
Now, excuse my cynicism, but companies are often passionate about the environment if they can see an opportunity to make money out of it. A few years ago Westpac also told me how passionate they were about the environment and suggested that I consider receiving my bank statements electronically rather than on paper. How noble of them to consider the environment in that way.
What do Foxtel and Westpac have in common? They both make money out of being passionate about the environment. Foxtel will save quite a bit of money by printing fewer full colour magazines and on postage and Westpac, I'm sure, has saved money by not printing out statements and mailing them. In both cases I have continued to read the letter looking for the sentence that says "We recognise that our company will save money and we are therefore going to reduce our fees. In fact, we are so passionate about the environment that we will halve our fees and take a financial hit in order to encourage our customers to join with us in protecting the environment." Of course, no such sentences ever appear in these letters.
It is rare to find businesses who are willing to take a financial hit in order to protect the environment. If it costs more they will pass the fee on. If they save money they hang onto it.
So, as I write this blog dripping with sarcasm and cynicism, I think of my faith. Do I only get passionate about it when I get something out of it? When there is a direct benefit to me? What about when it costs me? Because in Christianity, to quote a certain environmental campaigner, it is 'an inconvenient truth'. Christianity costs. And I need to be as passionate when it is going to cost me as when it brings me great benefits.
Now, excuse my cynicism, but companies are often passionate about the environment if they can see an opportunity to make money out of it. A few years ago Westpac also told me how passionate they were about the environment and suggested that I consider receiving my bank statements electronically rather than on paper. How noble of them to consider the environment in that way.
What do Foxtel and Westpac have in common? They both make money out of being passionate about the environment. Foxtel will save quite a bit of money by printing fewer full colour magazines and on postage and Westpac, I'm sure, has saved money by not printing out statements and mailing them. In both cases I have continued to read the letter looking for the sentence that says "We recognise that our company will save money and we are therefore going to reduce our fees. In fact, we are so passionate about the environment that we will halve our fees and take a financial hit in order to encourage our customers to join with us in protecting the environment." Of course, no such sentences ever appear in these letters.
It is rare to find businesses who are willing to take a financial hit in order to protect the environment. If it costs more they will pass the fee on. If they save money they hang onto it.
So, as I write this blog dripping with sarcasm and cynicism, I think of my faith. Do I only get passionate about it when I get something out of it? When there is a direct benefit to me? What about when it costs me? Because in Christianity, to quote a certain environmental campaigner, it is 'an inconvenient truth'. Christianity costs. And I need to be as passionate when it is going to cost me as when it brings me great benefits.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Am I in His hands?
It's only 9.30am but I have already come across examples of the extreme variety of life's circumstances. Mike Pilley & I met for breakfast this morning and our readings for the day came from Numbers 1 & 2 and Acts 24. Numbers 1 & 2 are all about the census of the Israelites and the ordering of the tribes. Mundane stuff to read about but very important in the ordering of their lives at the time.
Acts 24 sees Paul up before Felix on trumped up charges. Because Felix is more interested in politics and trying to get a bribe out of Paul than administering justice, Paul was still awaiting a decision on the case 2 years on when Felix was being replaced.
And then, on the front page of The Age is the heart wrenching picture of this poor little nine year old chap who lost his parents in the tragedy at Christmas Island.
As I look at that picture, a song runs through my head as it has done for a couple of days now; "I'm in his hands". We have been practicing this piece at band practice to the newer tune written by Phil Laeger.
How do I reconcile this thought of being in God's hands when looking at a picture of an orphaned boy? "The days I cannot see have all been planned for me" - I believe that, yet I see the little fella's face.
Life is never simple or predictable. Sometimes it is utterly boring, such as times of census. Counting, collating, organising. Sometimes it is frustrating, such as Paul's time under house arrest awaiting for the corrupt court's decision on his case. Imagine what he could have achieved in those two years if he had been free. And sometimes life is utterly tragic, as it is at this time for Seena who will, no doubt, become a political football for Labor & the Coalition as they try to make political mileage over him.
Is he in God's hands? Yes, I believe he is, despite the circumstances which tend to say otherwise. But, we also have to do our bit to ensure that justice is done.
If you would like to hear Phil Laeger's version of the chorus, here is a link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ighpk8Dlwz4
Acts 24 sees Paul up before Felix on trumped up charges. Because Felix is more interested in politics and trying to get a bribe out of Paul than administering justice, Paul was still awaiting a decision on the case 2 years on when Felix was being replaced.
And then, on the front page of The Age is the heart wrenching picture of this poor little nine year old chap who lost his parents in the tragedy at Christmas Island.
As I look at that picture, a song runs through my head as it has done for a couple of days now; "I'm in his hands". We have been practicing this piece at band practice to the newer tune written by Phil Laeger.
How do I reconcile this thought of being in God's hands when looking at a picture of an orphaned boy? "The days I cannot see have all been planned for me" - I believe that, yet I see the little fella's face.
Life is never simple or predictable. Sometimes it is utterly boring, such as times of census. Counting, collating, organising. Sometimes it is frustrating, such as Paul's time under house arrest awaiting for the corrupt court's decision on his case. Imagine what he could have achieved in those two years if he had been free. And sometimes life is utterly tragic, as it is at this time for Seena who will, no doubt, become a political football for Labor & the Coalition as they try to make political mileage over him.
Is he in God's hands? Yes, I believe he is, despite the circumstances which tend to say otherwise. But, we also have to do our bit to ensure that justice is done.
If you would like to hear Phil Laeger's version of the chorus, here is a link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ighpk8Dlwz4
Friday, February 4, 2011
Death or Glory
"Then a voice came: "Go to it, Peter—kill and eat."
Peter said, "Oh, no, Lord. I've never so much as tasted food that was not kosher."
The voice came a second time: "If God says it's okay, it's okay." Acts 10:13-15
It was an interesting group of chapters today with two seemingly different Gods talking. In Exodus 35 the order came out - if someone works on the Sabbath they must be put to death. People couldn't even light a fire on the Sabbath.
Then in Acts there is Peter who has only ever eaten kosher food being told to eat none kosher food. No wonder he was reluctant given that he comes from a tradition where even breathing the wrong way in Old Testament times was likely to get you killed.
Peter received a word from a voice that he identified as the Lord, "If God says it's okay, it's okay".
It's sometimes a bit difficult to know exactly what God is asking us to do, but it's likely that God, at some time, will ask us to do something quite radically different to what we think, or have been brought up to believe, is correct.
If God says it's okay, it's okay.
Help me God to have the courage to act when you tell me to do something which, for whatever reason, doesn't seem right to me.
Peter said, "Oh, no, Lord. I've never so much as tasted food that was not kosher."
The voice came a second time: "If God says it's okay, it's okay." Acts 10:13-15
It was an interesting group of chapters today with two seemingly different Gods talking. In Exodus 35 the order came out - if someone works on the Sabbath they must be put to death. People couldn't even light a fire on the Sabbath.
Then in Acts there is Peter who has only ever eaten kosher food being told to eat none kosher food. No wonder he was reluctant given that he comes from a tradition where even breathing the wrong way in Old Testament times was likely to get you killed.
Peter received a word from a voice that he identified as the Lord, "If God says it's okay, it's okay".
It's sometimes a bit difficult to know exactly what God is asking us to do, but it's likely that God, at some time, will ask us to do something quite radically different to what we think, or have been brought up to believe, is correct.
If God says it's okay, it's okay.
Help me God to have the courage to act when you tell me to do something which, for whatever reason, doesn't seem right to me.
Friday, January 28, 2011
High Council
Not a religious blog today. Just a few random thoughts about the Army and the High Council.
As an aside, I get frustrated with the really poor standard of the Army's official web pages. They are old, slow and lacking information. Trying to find out the appointments of the relative High Council members has been almost impossible, as it has been to find their ages, let alone a bio of the members. Pictures - easy, but information - not so. Surely we can do better...
Anyway, Ten nominees for General with Comm. Knaggs declining leaving nine candidates. All of them white. All of them either male or single female, i.e. no married women nominated ahead of their husbands. All of them relatively old - but so are most of the high council members as it's almost impossible to reach Commissioner rank until retirement is looming large.
Why, if the Army is growing in Africa and the Sub Continent whilst declining in Europe, USA & Oceania, are there never any Africans or Asians nominated for General? And what does that say about the Army, its structure and priorities? Is the Army so fixated now on programmes that only Europeans have the nous to run the organisation?
The age of people reaching senior leadership positions is a real problem. Not that it is wrong for someone in their sixties to be in a senior leadership role, more that it is wrong that someone in their mid forties or early fifties (if not younger) cannot, it seems, under our current structure reach a senior position at those ages. Secondly, the military structure almost means that any entrepreneurial thinking has either been beaten out of a person by the time they make it to Commissioner rank, or they will not make it there in the first place either by reason of being overlooked or having resigned in frustration.
Get the feeling that I don't like the Army's structure?! I'm sure that the person elected to be the next General of The Salvation Army will be a fine candidate and will lead well. But, despite the fact that I have been following the High Council proceedings daily, I almost feel the appointment of the next General will be largely irrelevant to me. It will be more of the same. Will there be a General who makes me feel that Army is inspiring again? Or is the problem mine and my attitude, not the Army's and it's structure?
One final thought. Bear in mind that I am almost 50 years of age and I think the structure is outdated. What do teenagers and people in their 20's and 30's think?
As an aside, I get frustrated with the really poor standard of the Army's official web pages. They are old, slow and lacking information. Trying to find out the appointments of the relative High Council members has been almost impossible, as it has been to find their ages, let alone a bio of the members. Pictures - easy, but information - not so. Surely we can do better...
Anyway, Ten nominees for General with Comm. Knaggs declining leaving nine candidates. All of them white. All of them either male or single female, i.e. no married women nominated ahead of their husbands. All of them relatively old - but so are most of the high council members as it's almost impossible to reach Commissioner rank until retirement is looming large.
Why, if the Army is growing in Africa and the Sub Continent whilst declining in Europe, USA & Oceania, are there never any Africans or Asians nominated for General? And what does that say about the Army, its structure and priorities? Is the Army so fixated now on programmes that only Europeans have the nous to run the organisation?
The age of people reaching senior leadership positions is a real problem. Not that it is wrong for someone in their sixties to be in a senior leadership role, more that it is wrong that someone in their mid forties or early fifties (if not younger) cannot, it seems, under our current structure reach a senior position at those ages. Secondly, the military structure almost means that any entrepreneurial thinking has either been beaten out of a person by the time they make it to Commissioner rank, or they will not make it there in the first place either by reason of being overlooked or having resigned in frustration.
Get the feeling that I don't like the Army's structure?! I'm sure that the person elected to be the next General of The Salvation Army will be a fine candidate and will lead well. But, despite the fact that I have been following the High Council proceedings daily, I almost feel the appointment of the next General will be largely irrelevant to me. It will be more of the same. Will there be a General who makes me feel that Army is inspiring again? Or is the problem mine and my attitude, not the Army's and it's structure?
One final thought. Bear in mind that I am almost 50 years of age and I think the structure is outdated. What do teenagers and people in their 20's and 30's think?
Monday, January 24, 2011
O Happy Day!
19,16,15,14,7,2,0 It looks a bit like one of the questions from an I.Q. test where you have to select the next number in the sequence. What it actually is is the number of blogs that I have written from month to month, starting with July and ending this month. As the initial enthusiasm for the blog waned so did the number of entries. And then we arrived in December when every Salvo's blog entries dropped as we grappled with Christmas caroling. After today the zero will become one.
In life we often start on new things with enthusiasm and gradually drop off. And a drop off in intensity and enthusiasm is something that happens to us as Christians too.
This morning I have been watching/listening to a bit of the Welcome to The 2011 High Council. The advances in technology that allow us in Australia to be a part of the High Council welcome in London are quite remarkable. Apparently the programme is about 3 hours long - even longer than our Divisional meeting last night! Speaking of which....we sang that great song 'O Happy Day' and were asked whether the day on which we were 'saved' was the happiest day of our life, or words to that effect. I'm not sure that it was my happiest day as such. Most momentous and important, yes but I don't recall leaving church that night as happy as I was when I left the MCG on grand final day 2008! But it was certainly the day that my life changed in a way that has eternal consequences.
I often think of 2 Thess 3:13 which says "And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." I do tire of doing good sometimes. I tire of doing a blog, I tire of being in a band (is that doing good?!), I tire of being in a leadership position and so on. I guess it is important to understand what 'doing good' really means. Being a disciple of Jesus, learning from him and doing what he did is really about 'doing good' I suppose.
So, in a new year, already 24 days old, celebrating the 'happy day when Jesus washed my sins away' and 'never tiring of doing good' are two challenges for me this year.
In life we often start on new things with enthusiasm and gradually drop off. And a drop off in intensity and enthusiasm is something that happens to us as Christians too.
This morning I have been watching/listening to a bit of the Welcome to The 2011 High Council. The advances in technology that allow us in Australia to be a part of the High Council welcome in London are quite remarkable. Apparently the programme is about 3 hours long - even longer than our Divisional meeting last night! Speaking of which....we sang that great song 'O Happy Day' and were asked whether the day on which we were 'saved' was the happiest day of our life, or words to that effect. I'm not sure that it was my happiest day as such. Most momentous and important, yes but I don't recall leaving church that night as happy as I was when I left the MCG on grand final day 2008! But it was certainly the day that my life changed in a way that has eternal consequences.
I often think of 2 Thess 3:13 which says "And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." I do tire of doing good sometimes. I tire of doing a blog, I tire of being in a band (is that doing good?!), I tire of being in a leadership position and so on. I guess it is important to understand what 'doing good' really means. Being a disciple of Jesus, learning from him and doing what he did is really about 'doing good' I suppose.
So, in a new year, already 24 days old, celebrating the 'happy day when Jesus washed my sins away' and 'never tiring of doing good' are two challenges for me this year.
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