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.
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