Acts 16 v4 As they went from town to town, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.
The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989, S. Ac 16:4
So to see a strengthening in our faith (as the church as a collective body) do we too need decisions to be made by the elders, the leaders, the senior apostles of the faith, which can then strengthen us through the unity they create? Would a stand, for example prohibiting actively homosexual members of the church from being promoted into ministry, actually strengthen us rather than weaken us due to exclusion?
There is a time to be hesitant and cautious and then there is a time to make the hard decision and stick to it - realising when each time begins and ends can be difficult but is crucial I think as it can both strengthen and weaken the church.
Monday, 24 September 2007
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Did you know???
Did you know that...
Some studies have found that people who are actively spiritual and healthy have a 25% lower morbidity level than those who are not but are healthy
Church communities are able to create 'social capital' (its a Community Health Psychology term - google it) relatively easily and through this enhance the health of all members and negate other determinants of health such as poor housing, poverty, unemployment etc
The majority of people would like their doctor or medical professional to enquire about or include their spiritual belief system in treatment procedures
Spirituality has been found to decrease likelihood of repeat heart attacks etc - especially through daily meditation
I have been collating research for a presentation on how spirituality enhances health and overall wellbeing for my Comm Psych paper - its fascinating the stuff thats out there and the evidence available supporting the incorporation of beliefs and worldviews in health treatments and programmes...
Some studies have found that people who are actively spiritual and healthy have a 25% lower morbidity level than those who are not but are healthy
Church communities are able to create 'social capital' (its a Community Health Psychology term - google it) relatively easily and through this enhance the health of all members and negate other determinants of health such as poor housing, poverty, unemployment etc
The majority of people would like their doctor or medical professional to enquire about or include their spiritual belief system in treatment procedures
Spirituality has been found to decrease likelihood of repeat heart attacks etc - especially through daily meditation
I have been collating research for a presentation on how spirituality enhances health and overall wellbeing for my Comm Psych paper - its fascinating the stuff thats out there and the evidence available supporting the incorporation of beliefs and worldviews in health treatments and programmes...
Friday, 27 July 2007
Hearing God in Amos
Reading through Amos as a requirement of my Old Testament paper (it's quite challenging reading several OT books per lesson I can tell you!) a lot of things have caught my attention but these verses really address the main topic I have blogged about recently:
"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it. In that day the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst... they will fall, never to rise again." Amos 8:11-14
Interesting.
Its not a famine of words but rather of hearing. Also instead of turning to God the people will wander around the land seeking for His word. Even those with the most stamina and energy - the young - will fall from lack of God's word.
So how important is it to hear God's word and to hear it often?
Where are you looking to hear Him?
How hungry are you?
How healthy are you?
"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it. In that day the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst... they will fall, never to rise again." Amos 8:11-14
Interesting.
Its not a famine of words but rather of hearing. Also instead of turning to God the people will wander around the land seeking for His word. Even those with the most stamina and energy - the young - will fall from lack of God's word.
So how important is it to hear God's word and to hear it often?Where are you looking to hear Him?
How hungry are you?
How healthy are you?
Monday, 23 July 2007
How to hear God?
As a result of the essay I wrote for BCNZ I have become increasingly curious about how people hear God. The more I ask the more diverse the answers become! It seems though that the more intentional people are in seeking to hear God the more they hear and also the more diversely they recognise God in their lives.
I have asked at least 30 people so far and not one has said they hear God as an audible Voice - rather they hear Him as an unusual thought of wisdom (often in relation to something they are doing at the time - working or watching a movie etc), as a direction or guidance, as intuition, as reassurance and peace about a situation or a decision etc. By the by I have been only asking students and young workers not anyone with Bible College or similar teaching.
Interestingly most people tend to talk about the 'last time' God spoke to them - typically weeks or months ago. Also they are not very confident talking about this topic. Not once have I encountered someone who interacts with God as He speaks to them, not questioning or arguing or commenting even.
All of this research leads me pondering a few things. I think there really is a need for teaching on this subject - especially for those who have been Christians for a while and are struggling in their relationship with God. For me a relationship works two ways in terms of communication and so a huge part of my relationship with God is conversing with Him daily (and that isn't just me pray for an hour then listen for an hour - thats one of us say something - the other respond etc). I know we all have individual relationships with God but I'm pretty sure this sort of thing is key to growing in spiritual maturity. Thoughts?
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Every day I receive a Devotion from Christian Women Today. This was yesterdays:
by Suzanne Benner
How do you define blessing? Do material possessions, such as a comfortable home, the latest gadgets and stylish clothes, determine whether or not you are blessed? Or does blessing refer to less tangible items like fulfillment in work, a healthy body or a sense of purpose in life? Is blessing simply a stroke of luck or good fortune? Does it apply only to people living in the western hemisphere of the world? Surely, blessing from God would include children, a satisfying marriage, and close friendships. Yet, if we are honest, we will acknowledge that we don't have answers for those who lack these "blessings" that we presume are ours. You know someone -- maybe it's you -- who has longed for children, but remains barren; who has ached to be married but remains single; who has suffered pain from a chronic illness that doctors can't alleviate; who although they are faithful to God have endured financial devastation, the agony of divorce, or the death of a child. Maybe we lack a response because our assumptions are incorrect. I was stunned by how Peter defined blessing from God in one of his sermons. "When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways" (Acts 3:26). Peter describes blessing as being turned from evil. God blessed us by sending Jesus to reveal the truth of our wicked and deceitful behavior, to change the direction of our lives. We are incredibly blessed by God when He opens our eyes to the sin in our lives, so that we can turn to Him. That is the blessing that every believer experiences. Consider your idea of blessing and thank God for turning you from sin.
Does this line up with your understanding of being blessed? It didn't with mine!
by Suzanne Benner
How do you define blessing? Do material possessions, such as a comfortable home, the latest gadgets and stylish clothes, determine whether or not you are blessed? Or does blessing refer to less tangible items like fulfillment in work, a healthy body or a sense of purpose in life? Is blessing simply a stroke of luck or good fortune? Does it apply only to people living in the western hemisphere of the world? Surely, blessing from God would include children, a satisfying marriage, and close friendships. Yet, if we are honest, we will acknowledge that we don't have answers for those who lack these "blessings" that we presume are ours. You know someone -- maybe it's you -- who has longed for children, but remains barren; who has ached to be married but remains single; who has suffered pain from a chronic illness that doctors can't alleviate; who although they are faithful to God have endured financial devastation, the agony of divorce, or the death of a child. Maybe we lack a response because our assumptions are incorrect. I was stunned by how Peter defined blessing from God in one of his sermons. "When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways" (Acts 3:26). Peter describes blessing as being turned from evil. God blessed us by sending Jesus to reveal the truth of our wicked and deceitful behavior, to change the direction of our lives. We are incredibly blessed by God when He opens our eyes to the sin in our lives, so that we can turn to Him. That is the blessing that every believer experiences. Consider your idea of blessing and thank God for turning you from sin.
Does this line up with your understanding of being blessed? It didn't with mine!
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Hello world!
Hellllllllloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
Yes I am back. We are currently onto our third modem in the flat in one week and I have had virtually no internet at home since my last posting so while the withdrawal symptoms have well and truly died down blogging once again is a novelty =).
I really have very little to say tonight other than watch this space and please pray as I am struggling a little with fatigue after being horribly sick during probably the busiest week of the year so far and now the semerster has dawned to find me yet again near the end of my tether. Be that as it may at least God is strong in my weakness!!!
luv Cat
Yes I am back. We are currently onto our third modem in the flat in one week and I have had virtually no internet at home since my last posting so while the withdrawal symptoms have well and truly died down blogging once again is a novelty =).
I really have very little to say tonight other than watch this space and please pray as I am struggling a little with fatigue after being horribly sick during probably the busiest week of the year so far and now the semerster has dawned to find me yet again near the end of my tether. Be that as it may at least God is strong in my weakness!!!
luv Cat
Sunday, 17 June 2007
Shepherding and the Voice of God
While studying I started on a fascinating chain of thought that I need to put down in writing so here's another 'welcome to my thought process' blog. Good luck reading it!!!
Ok. In John 10 (which we covered in leaders lifegroup for those playing at home)Jesus says the following (New Revised Standard Version):
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Having pondered these verses a lot both in pastoral care study and in lifegroup recently they were fresh in my mind. Then I read John 8:47 today:
"Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”
Or, in the New Living Translation:
"Anyone whose Father is God listens gladly to the words of God. Since you don't, it proves that you aren't God's children."
So we have Jesus first saying that one of the ways we may know whether or not someone is from God, or is one of His children, is by whether they hear from God / listen for God's words gladly. Then Jesus states that He is the good shepherd and that the sheep follow Him and KNOW HIS VOICE - indeed they will run from the voice of a stranger.
Now hearing the voice of God and knowing that one has heard Him is a very touchy topic amongst Christians today. Some people claim He does not speak having said all He needs to through the bible, others claim He speaks through coincidence and scriptures only, still more claim the bible is irrelevant as God speaks to them continuously. Yet here in scripture it states quite clearly that to be considered a child of God we must be listening to - not just for but to - God's voice, and that we will accordingly run from strangers.
I started pondering what it's like to be a Christian and yet to not know God's voice - I won't say not hear God because I firmly believe God speaks continuously to all people Christian and non-Christian. Without being able to recognise the Shepherd life must be very confusing. I think we resort to following the general consensus around us - watching what the other sheep do and following their lead. Because we are unaware of the Shepherd calling our name and the direction and guidance He is providing we place far more value on our friendships and mentors and their advice and suggestions. So much so that we follow their lead even when we aren't completely comfortable and can no longer SEE the Shepherd or FEEL the effects of His presence. We follow other shepherds (i.e. other religions and leaders such as Buddhism and Islam) and get caught up in their flocks because we don't know what our Shepherd sounds like. They tend to look similar as they wear the same clothes and give similar instructions, but they lead us in the wrong direction and their promises of Heaven and our destinies are confusing and costly.
Knowing our Shepherd's voice and understanding some of what He is saying to us protects us and gives us a much more reliable connection with Him than simply seeing and feeling the effects of His presence. Listening to Him builds relationship.
I'm sure I could extend this and extend this but I'd actually love to hear your questions and comments on this topic. Do you know God's voice and if so how did you come to recognise it and can you describe it to others? Do you think it's important to hear God / listen to God? Is this an issue today? Do you feel comfortable talking about this? Could you help a friend come to recognise God's voice? Got any queries on or around this topic you'd like me to ponder and blog on?
I believe this topic is incredibly important and relevant to all of us today and I can't wait to see what you think!!!
Ok. In John 10 (which we covered in leaders lifegroup for those playing at home)Jesus says the following (New Revised Standard Version):
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Having pondered these verses a lot both in pastoral care study and in lifegroup recently they were fresh in my mind. Then I read John 8:47 today:
"Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”
Or, in the New Living Translation:
"Anyone whose Father is God listens gladly to the words of God. Since you don't, it proves that you aren't God's children."
So we have Jesus first saying that one of the ways we may know whether or not someone is from God, or is one of His children, is by whether they hear from God / listen for God's words gladly. Then Jesus states that He is the good shepherd and that the sheep follow Him and KNOW HIS VOICE - indeed they will run from the voice of a stranger.
Now hearing the voice of God and knowing that one has heard Him is a very touchy topic amongst Christians today. Some people claim He does not speak having said all He needs to through the bible, others claim He speaks through coincidence and scriptures only, still more claim the bible is irrelevant as God speaks to them continuously. Yet here in scripture it states quite clearly that to be considered a child of God we must be listening to - not just for but to - God's voice, and that we will accordingly run from strangers.
I started pondering what it's like to be a Christian and yet to not know God's voice - I won't say not hear God because I firmly believe God speaks continuously to all people Christian and non-Christian. Without being able to recognise the Shepherd life must be very confusing. I think we resort to following the general consensus around us - watching what the other sheep do and following their lead. Because we are unaware of the Shepherd calling our name and the direction and guidance He is providing we place far more value on our friendships and mentors and their advice and suggestions. So much so that we follow their lead even when we aren't completely comfortable and can no longer SEE the Shepherd or FEEL the effects of His presence. We follow other shepherds (i.e. other religions and leaders such as Buddhism and Islam) and get caught up in their flocks because we don't know what our Shepherd sounds like. They tend to look similar as they wear the same clothes and give similar instructions, but they lead us in the wrong direction and their promises of Heaven and our destinies are confusing and costly.
Knowing our Shepherd's voice and understanding some of what He is saying to us protects us and gives us a much more reliable connection with Him than simply seeing and feeling the effects of His presence. Listening to Him builds relationship.
I'm sure I could extend this and extend this but I'd actually love to hear your questions and comments on this topic. Do you know God's voice and if so how did you come to recognise it and can you describe it to others? Do you think it's important to hear God / listen to God? Is this an issue today? Do you feel comfortable talking about this? Could you help a friend come to recognise God's voice? Got any queries on or around this topic you'd like me to ponder and blog on?I believe this topic is incredibly important and relevant to all of us today and I can't wait to see what you think!!!
Beauty = Love
A friend asked me the other day why does Beauty = Love above the picture of the sky on the right hand side? Well my thoughts are as follows: God created everything in this Universe with US - humans - in mind. He made it all good, He made it beautiful. There was no need or necessity to make it beautiful or pleasing to us and yet He did so and I personally get a lot of pleasure from God's handiwork. Therefore, to me, this combines to say that all that is good and beautiful was made in preparation for us via love.
Hence: Beauty = Love.
Blessings!
Hence: Beauty = Love.
Blessings!
Friday, 15 June 2007
Blogging Blogging Blogging
I do love blogging its extremely addictive in a non-harmful way - providing one does it in moderation!!! In the last 24hours a few of my friends have been accessing my blogs for the first time - most often when I've been present via chatting or actually while I've been in the room and hearing people's various comments has been quite intriguing.
Some people simply won't even look at the blogs cos they can't see the point, others will read but not have any opinion, more still will read and talk to you in person but not comment, and then there are the commenters! We are all so diverse!
So why do I blog? Well, as I've put in my profile/intro thingy, it helps me process and think things through as I type. Also I've been learning a LOT at bible college and at church and I want to toss ideas around and see what people find helpful. But mainly I love to get further input into my thinking. If I have a discussion the benefits are there but limited by what I recall and who is present. If I blog then the comments are visible for all and can build discussion.
I must admit that I shamelessly advertise my blog - I want to hear as many points of view as possible and I think that its important to share what I have learnt. Sometimes I get squeamish about sharing but hey its all learning right! Oh and if you ever have a topic you'd like me to blog on let me know...
And being accountable I put God first this morning - but I didn't have to be up very early. The challenge is tomorrow morning when I need to be out of the house by 8.25, hmmmm
Thursday, 14 June 2007
Commitment?!!?
Undercommitment and overcommitment. I think that two of the biggest problems amongst leaders today and facing leaders today are represented by these two words. Finding the balance between the two seems to be exceedingly difficult. They came up a little in leaders lifegroup tonight and when asked for solutions I don't think we really got anywhere fast! I know my tendency is towards overcommitment. If I'm going to do something then I want to do it well and to focus on both big picture and small details. Yet I also know a lot of people who won't commit to anything and will do the bare minimum to get by while grabbing as much as they can out of the commitment. Leading those types of people is frustrating as heck and exceedingly draining. Likewise leading overcommitters is challenging as they will do anything asked of them but then start to disappear under their commitments and so can't be relied upon to stay healthy and committed for the entire journey.
So how do we address this - primarily in our own lives, and then in the lives of those we are shepherding??? Prioritising is whats shouted at me by my advisors and yet everything from my vantage point looks equally important...
Except God.
I have learnt that seeking God first results in everything falling into place.
I have also learnt that His priorities and mine don't necessarily line up and I need His input daily to fall in line with Him rather than imposing my steps on His.
I have learnt that going back to basics really does work.
It's not pat responses.
It's truth.
It's also hard work and discipline!!!
At the end of the day I don't think we will ever learn to get the balance right - things change every day that affect our balance! God however balances everything perfectly and knows whats coming before we do - it makes much more sense to pass everything over to Him. I know lots of people are not morning people and don't pray in the morning or like to read their bible then (me being one) but God has the ability and willingness to work with us to change our ways of being, if we ask Him to. I really feel challenged to try the 'mornings with God FIRST' approach to try and address this area of my life and I challenge you to do so too. Undercommitment stunts our growth and holds us back from experiencing lifechanging transformation. Overcommitment prevents us from doing what we do with excellence and being able to finish the race with heads held high. Where do you fit in?
Sunday, 10 June 2007
Prayer - focus in queston
Silly me, I've managed to reset my body clock so that now - coming up to midnight - I am the most awake I have been all day. Oh well.
As I was praying in the prayer meeting before church tonight I was quite challenged by the way we pray for our city and nation and world and also what we pray for in those areas. I love that Eastside always includes mission in the services - its a great way to both partner with God in reaching out and also leep our eyes focused outward even as we build our inner selves in the service. However.
We tend to pray that God would move through those areas, we focus on praying for the non-christians the majority of the time, we are quite abstract. I was really challenged on this. God has sent us to reach the lost. He has already gone to them - they just can't see Him and don't recognise His presence. Our job is to bring in the harvest, to BE God and Show God and Bring God to those who can't see and don't know.
So I'm left wondering - should we be focusing on the non-christians or the Christians? I think that we should still pray the prayers we do at the mo but I'm wondering if it isn't even more important to lift up the Christians worldwide, nationwide, citywide, churchwide. To ask God to change us and challenge us to see the lost in our daily lives and to take some risks. To ask God to partner with us as we go - instead of to ask God to move and then go where HE leads.
Going, and praying on the move, has been a huge theme for me this year. It's a lesson that God has been teaching me both through the way my life is going and also through speaker after speaker. Alongside 'perception' 'going first' has been a steady theme that has deepened in meaning, intensity, and applicability.
So question time! What do you think about the way we pray? Do you 'partner' with God? Is there a value in praying and what is it for you? What is intercessory prayer and do you do it? Do you have any themes God's been speaking to you about repeatedly? Can you share them with others? Have they changed your life? Why is it God sometimes seems to beat us overthe head with the same message over and over and over...?
Head thumping?!!?
As I was praying in the prayer meeting before church tonight I was quite challenged by the way we pray for our city and nation and world and also what we pray for in those areas. I love that Eastside always includes mission in the services - its a great way to both partner with God in reaching out and also leep our eyes focused outward even as we build our inner selves in the service. However.
We tend to pray that God would move through those areas, we focus on praying for the non-christians the majority of the time, we are quite abstract. I was really challenged on this. God has sent us to reach the lost. He has already gone to them - they just can't see Him and don't recognise His presence. Our job is to bring in the harvest, to BE God and Show God and Bring God to those who can't see and don't know.
So I'm left wondering - should we be focusing on the non-christians or the Christians? I think that we should still pray the prayers we do at the mo but I'm wondering if it isn't even more important to lift up the Christians worldwide, nationwide, citywide, churchwide. To ask God to change us and challenge us to see the lost in our daily lives and to take some risks. To ask God to partner with us as we go - instead of to ask God to move and then go where HE leads.
Going, and praying on the move, has been a huge theme for me this year. It's a lesson that God has been teaching me both through the way my life is going and also through speaker after speaker. Alongside 'perception' 'going first' has been a steady theme that has deepened in meaning, intensity, and applicability.So question time! What do you think about the way we pray? Do you 'partner' with God? Is there a value in praying and what is it for you? What is intercessory prayer and do you do it? Do you have any themes God's been speaking to you about repeatedly? Can you share them with others? Have they changed your life? Why is it God sometimes seems to beat us overthe head with the same message over and over and over...?
Head thumping?!!?
Saturday, 9 June 2007
The way of the dance
Dance. I love to watch people dancing and last year before the Oscars I attended the dance lessons put on at church. Besides being fun I found that I learn a lot about how I operate - especially in regards to God.
Due to the lack of men (surprise surprise!!!) I was one of the gals who danced the men's role. It was all about leadership and guidance and I found it very easy. However then I had to swap into the women's role later on and boy oh boy was this a challenge. I couldn't seem to relax and follow guidance. I wasn't able to 'listen' to my partner's guidance in the form of gentle pressure, intuition and letting go of my preconceptions of the steps and following his. When it came to changing the pattern to avoid a hazard or go in a different direction I would stuff up time and time again. However when I relaxed let go and stopped trying I was fine and we danced gracefully.
Today I was reading about how it is possible to see following God's will as being in a dance with God. Instead of seeing God's will as a set plan or target where we aim to hit 'the' spot, or seeing His will as a vague direction with everything being premissable but not everything beneficial, viewing His will as a dance allows us to understand how to both follow Him and yet have an input in the direction of our own paths. If life is a dance with God then we enter into it with Him as our lead partner. He is in intimate relationship with us, not distant, and is leading us through a predetermined set of steps, as we go though we can chat away and He both listens and responds to our requests and comments. However when we mess up by trying to lead or mistaking His guiding He can still guide us on - possibly in another direction, but still leading us in the intended pattern. If an obstacle comes into our path He can lead us around it, or, we can do our own thing and bump into it - but He can still move us on again. We can do our own thing and yet when we come back we can still enter into the dance with Him in confidence that we have not missed our calling but rather that He will guide us into different but still good paths.
How do we know where He is guiding us? By following His prompting through our perceptions and thoughts about things we know are not just from us, by testing these promptings against scripture, by being aware of our circumstances and what people around us are saying, by making decisions and discovering if we have peace. However most of all we discover where to go by going. Its much easier for a partner to guide us in dance if we are actually moving!!!
When learning to dance you can watch everyone around you dance, you can study the theory of dance, you can even have others explain to you where to move and how and THINK you can dance. But you must actually start to try to dance before you can be sure - and even then you will probably have to be stopped and started a few times and fall over after moving in the wrong direction entirely, before you get it right. When we learn to follow His lead and relax and dream big but still attend to His directing then life becomes far less stressful and more enjoyable. I know I struggle with giving up the lead in my life but when I do the dance is a sheer delight!
Due to the lack of men (surprise surprise!!!) I was one of the gals who danced the men's role. It was all about leadership and guidance and I found it very easy. However then I had to swap into the women's role later on and boy oh boy was this a challenge. I couldn't seem to relax and follow guidance. I wasn't able to 'listen' to my partner's guidance in the form of gentle pressure, intuition and letting go of my preconceptions of the steps and following his. When it came to changing the pattern to avoid a hazard or go in a different direction I would stuff up time and time again. However when I relaxed let go and stopped trying I was fine and we danced gracefully.
Today I was reading about how it is possible to see following God's will as being in a dance with God. Instead of seeing God's will as a set plan or target where we aim to hit 'the' spot, or seeing His will as a vague direction with everything being premissable but not everything beneficial, viewing His will as a dance allows us to understand how to both follow Him and yet have an input in the direction of our own paths. If life is a dance with God then we enter into it with Him as our lead partner. He is in intimate relationship with us, not distant, and is leading us through a predetermined set of steps, as we go though we can chat away and He both listens and responds to our requests and comments. However when we mess up by trying to lead or mistaking His guiding He can still guide us on - possibly in another direction, but still leading us in the intended pattern. If an obstacle comes into our path He can lead us around it, or, we can do our own thing and bump into it - but He can still move us on again. We can do our own thing and yet when we come back we can still enter into the dance with Him in confidence that we have not missed our calling but rather that He will guide us into different but still good paths.
How do we know where He is guiding us? By following His prompting through our perceptions and thoughts about things we know are not just from us, by testing these promptings against scripture, by being aware of our circumstances and what people around us are saying, by making decisions and discovering if we have peace. However most of all we discover where to go by going. Its much easier for a partner to guide us in dance if we are actually moving!!!
When learning to dance you can watch everyone around you dance, you can study the theory of dance, you can even have others explain to you where to move and how and THINK you can dance. But you must actually start to try to dance before you can be sure - and even then you will probably have to be stopped and started a few times and fall over after moving in the wrong direction entirely, before you get it right. When we learn to follow His lead and relax and dream big but still attend to His directing then life becomes far less stressful and more enjoyable. I know I struggle with giving up the lead in my life but when I do the dance is a sheer delight!
Friday, 8 June 2007
I am
“I am not what I ought to be.
I am not what I want to be.
I am not what I hope to be.
But still,
I am not what I used to be.
And by the grace of God,
I am what I am.”
John Newton (1725-1807)
Author of the hymn Amazing Grace
Thursday, 7 June 2007
Distractions
I am really struggling with discipline in all areas of my life currently. Partly because I am absolutely exhausted with BCNZ courses all wrapping up tomorrow and so trying to complete everything means I'm up till 2am and beyond so my defences are naturally lower, and partly because I haven't been practising remaining on task much this semester in general!
Distractions come from all sources, friends, bodily requirements, God! However I read something recently that made me think, Joyce Huggett said that when praying we will automatically be distracted - especially if we are unused to silence. To counteract this she suggests that we incorporate distractions, acknowledge them, and then dismiss them. If a bird is singing praise God for the bird and consider the wonder of the song and then return to what you were originally praying aboout. If the neighbours kids are yelling... If your tummy is rumbling...
So blogging for me has become a distraction eliminator! I acknowledge I have an interesting thought, write it down, and then dismiss it. Sounds crazy but I actually lose more time pondering it and trying to avoid the thought than I do writing it down and posting it online. Got any other distraction busters to share with me?
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
God speaks to me through music! one?
Ok so I'm sitting here in an exhausted state of being trying to write an essay on why hearing God is spiritually essential and basically providing a how to guide. I also have i-tunes playing in
the background as I need to have a constant source of distraction otherwise my brain distracts itself! Anyway I'm listening to the boyband Blue of all sources and the song 'Breathe Easy' comes on. It's actually one of my all time favourites and so I cranked the sound up and started actually paying attention.
No I
I can't breathe easy
I can't dream yet another dream
Without you lying next to me
There's no way
Out of my mind
Nothing makes sense anymore
I want you back in my life
That's all I'm breathing for
Tell me why
Tell me why
So, ignoring the blatantly boy-girl relationship aspect to the words, the words just suddenly hit me. We are God's dream - His purpose even? He has done so so much for us and is crying out to us to return to Him. We cause Him such huge pain and yet such great delight. Even when we seem to come closest to Him our eyes are constantly caught by idols - money, relationships, materialism, pride - the heartbreak must be intense. And yet He still sings us lovesongs through creation and quietly whispers into our souls, He bails us out time and time again. I know if a guy cheated on me that would pretty much devastate me - even more so if he had committed his life to me. To have him then come back and ask forgiveness only to repeatedly leave me to come crawling back would really really break my heart. I don't know if I could keep taking him back. Yet God does. Jesus knew what it was to be tempted and yet stayed true. I can't help but feel He was speaking to me - tell me why? tell me why? Is it worth it? I LOVE YOU! Come back, never leave me, you are my dream.
the background as I need to have a constant source of distraction otherwise my brain distracts itself! Anyway I'm listening to the boyband Blue of all sources and the song 'Breathe Easy' comes on. It's actually one of my all time favourites and so I cranked the sound up and started actually paying attention.
No I
I can't breathe easy
I can't dream yet another dream
Without you lying next to me
There's no way
Out of my mind
Nothing makes sense anymore
I want you back in my life
That's all I'm breathing for
Tell me why
Tell me why
So, ignoring the blatantly boy-girl relationship aspect to the words, the words just suddenly hit me. We are God's dream - His purpose even? He has done so so much for us and is crying out to us to return to Him. We cause Him such huge pain and yet such great delight. Even when we seem to come closest to Him our eyes are constantly caught by idols - money, relationships, materialism, pride - the heartbreak must be intense. And yet He still sings us lovesongs through creation and quietly whispers into our souls, He bails us out time and time again. I know if a guy cheated on me that would pretty much devastate me - even more so if he had committed his life to me. To have him then come back and ask forgiveness only to repeatedly leave me to come crawling back would really really break my heart. I don't know if I could keep taking him back. Yet God does. Jesus knew what it was to be tempted and yet stayed true. I can't help but feel He was speaking to me - tell me why? tell me why? Is it worth it? I LOVE YOU! Come back, never leave me, you are my dream.
Oh!
I have a love affair with the sky. Somehow it doesn't matter the time of day or night, the weather or the colour, the sky captures me. I can stare at it and be lost in the wonder and beauty of God no matter what else is going on in my life. Sometimes I have to stop driving I get so distracted. Last night I came out to find the most amazing cloud formations and it took me aback. I realised it had been over a month since I had last taken the time to stare at the sky in adoration and praise God for His amazing amazing creativity and love. It's very easy to start taking things we love for granted when we don't have 'time' to stop. and pause. and wonder.
So today please, for His sake, spend time adoring and marveling at the love story written all around us. Do it for Him and I promise you will always be the one to gain!
So today please, for His sake, spend time adoring and marveling at the love story written all around us. Do it for Him and I promise you will always be the one to gain!
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Changing!
Why the lovely format and colour changes?!?! Well I am intermittently getting my red colour back in my computer screen at home (don't ask me why its been gone cos I don't know but I just got a new screen and am occasionally getting the red showing through?!?!). Accordingly I realised there was ORANGE in my template and as I detest orange I changed it. Which means everything else changed too. Oh well.
(Sorry Rick its just GROSS)
(Sorry Rick its just GROSS)
Sunday, 3 June 2007
Welcome to my thinking process
This feels a little weird - I'm a night blogger so to be sitting here in the middle of the day and not be procrastinating about something else well its weird. However I also process and think as I write, its something Pastor Clive picked up on with me early on at staff meetings, I find it easiest to respond if I have written notes. Even with exams I have always had to have a computer to type rather than a writer (due to my muscle etc. problems in my hands) cos I just can't seem to put things in quite the same way verbally. (Yes I am justifying shush!).
Anyway the reason I am needing to process is cos I've just got back from church - specifically the ordination of Simon Moetara as a Pastor and Teacher of the Apostolic Movement. After the ordination Simon and Rachael, along with quite a few others, were praying over those of us who felt we are called to fulltime ministry. Simon said one phrase that has given me much pause 'you have set yourself aside for God just as He has set you aside for Him prior to your conception' (wording may be out - meaning is the same).
Somehow that's been playing in my head every since - that I have set myself aside for God.
I have knowingly surrendered my life to God, it often is a daily thing. I have chosen to obey Him. I have a strong confidence that He has called me to be a Pastor within His church. I am doing all I can to grow into that and walk into that. But 'set myself aside', the words somehow resonate within me.
As I write this I now know that its true. I have, in a process I have largely been unaware of, been slowly dedicating all that I am and all that I have to God. I have been setting myself aside, moving away from those things and people that are not of Him and have an unduly large influence on my life, and focusing on God in all aspects of my life. But sudddenly that phrase means even more. It means I now love myself enough and am confident enough in His love for me and delight in me that I consider myself acceptable for His service. It means that I know that in Him and with Him in me all things are possible and I am free to be what He created me for. It means that I now accept that He did set me aside before conception for His delight and love and friendship and service and partnering and oh the list goes on!
Don't get me wrong I don't belive that I am this amazing superwoman or that I am better than everyone around me- NO! Rather I am beginning to grasp just how amazing I am because of Him and therefore, as a result of this awareness, I have a far greater understanding of who others (including YOU) areand how amazing you all are too! By the by I'm really over the false modesty thing we are amazing we do reflect God and He delights in us so...
This really has turned into a ME ME ME blog but hey - I'll post it for your interests sake if nothing else you may have a better understanding of how I tick =).
Monday, 28 May 2007
Define forgiveness please!
Doing my readings today on guilt, forgiveness and reconciliation I came across the following quote:
Of the great Christian or Jewish words—God, love, sin, guilt, forgiveness, reconciliation—none is a definition. They are all relational statements. That is, love is not a thing; it is a relation. Guilt is not a thing; it is a relation. Sin, too, is not a thing, it is a relation. In reconciliation, the prefix re- means conciliation reestablished, or harmony once broken put back together. This is terribly important. When I say you cannot find a definition of love, I mean that love becomes clear and recognizable only when you behold a relationship (Joseph Sittler 1986, 80).
This kind of struck me. The quote was in support of, and reference to, the way we define forgiveness etc today as opposed to the way it was defined in Jewish culture and context. While today the focus is all on self and individualism then the focus was more on unity and community. Forgiveness and reconcilation was about restoring the balance and the harmony of the entire community as a whole - not simply restoring the original relationships of the individuals involved. As such forgiveness could be seen as a process that occurs as reconciliation is achieved over time within the community.
Yet again this is a perception issue: Dispute resolution vs. restoration of community.
When we think about what forgiveness is what does that actually mean? Is it a single act that allows us to return to old feelings and relations? Is it a process that involves time and acts on the behalf of those in the 'wrong' restoring the balance? Does it mean we have to forget? Does forgiveness mean that the wrongs done to us become morally acceptable? Does forgiveness involve only the victim and perpetrator or an entire community? How do we forgive?
As I have studied this topic I have found that my understanding of biblical forgiveness and reconciliation has grown substantially. Likewise my understanding of others views of forgiveness has been broadened. We don't all think alike and so when told from the pulpit we 'must' forgive we respond very differently...
Funny how a topic we assume we understand can turn out to be a massive blob of grey confusion and miscommunication!!!
Of the great Christian or Jewish words—God, love, sin, guilt, forgiveness, reconciliation—none is a definition. They are all relational statements. That is, love is not a thing; it is a relation. Guilt is not a thing; it is a relation. Sin, too, is not a thing, it is a relation. In reconciliation, the prefix re- means conciliation reestablished, or harmony once broken put back together. This is terribly important. When I say you cannot find a definition of love, I mean that love becomes clear and recognizable only when you behold a relationship (Joseph Sittler 1986, 80).
This kind of struck me. The quote was in support of, and reference to, the way we define forgiveness etc today as opposed to the way it was defined in Jewish culture and context. While today the focus is all on self and individualism then the focus was more on unity and community. Forgiveness and reconcilation was about restoring the balance and the harmony of the entire community as a whole - not simply restoring the original relationships of the individuals involved. As such forgiveness could be seen as a process that occurs as reconciliation is achieved over time within the community.
Yet again this is a perception issue: Dispute resolution vs. restoration of community.
When we think about what forgiveness is what does that actually mean? Is it a single act that allows us to return to old feelings and relations? Is it a process that involves time and acts on the behalf of those in the 'wrong' restoring the balance? Does it mean we have to forget? Does forgiveness mean that the wrongs done to us become morally acceptable? Does forgiveness involve only the victim and perpetrator or an entire community? How do we forgive?
As I have studied this topic I have found that my understanding of biblical forgiveness and reconciliation has grown substantially. Likewise my understanding of others views of forgiveness has been broadened. We don't all think alike and so when told from the pulpit we 'must' forgive we respond very differently...
Funny how a topic we assume we understand can turn out to be a massive blob of grey confusion and miscommunication!!!
Generosity
I got out of the habit of blogging daily and now I'm struggling to get back into the flow of things... I'm sure theres a lesson in that!!!
Generosity. Simon Moetara touched briefly on this topic during his sermon on
What is generosity?
| 1. | readiness or liberality in giving. |
| 2. | freedom from meanness or smallness of mind or character. |
| 3. | a generous act: We thanked him for his many generosities. |
| 4. | largeness or fullness; amplitude. |
To be generous we need first to believe we have something of value and secondly we need to believe we can actually spare some of that for the sake of others. We can't give what we don't believe we have. This comes back then to perception. Truth is we are all wealthy if we can sit down at a computer and read a blog let alone write one or comment on one. This means we have the money required to access a computer, the education required to use one, the time to use it (time being a huge luxury in the Western world particularly) and the time to study / think / pray about what we write about. However generosity is by no means limited to things of worldly value.
To me a big part of being a Christian and becoming more Christ like is wanting to spend time with others sharing, praying, consoling, encouraging, teaching etc etc. I really get frustrated when I see my friends unwilling and uncomfortable in offering to do the same things. To be honest it used to make me quite angry - their lack of apparent willingness to just 'get over themselves' and help minister to someone else.
Then I had somewhat of a revelation.
My friends were unwilling to pray etc not so much out of lack of will but rather out of poor perception. They were so focused on their own faults and failures and the struggles of their own walks with God that they could not see the comparable feast they had to share with others. Its a truly sad thing when we become so inward focused that we can't see the extreme poverty our neighbours are experiencing yet we are all guilty of this - both in terms of physical nourishment (eg Africa etc) and spiritual nourishment (our neighbours, our city, our nation and our world!).
When we hold back from mentioning God and offering to pray for someone experiencing hard times we are refusing to even offer scraps from our table to the starving. Even if we ourselves are only eating bread and drinking water this is a feast to those who have nothing! Comparison of ourselves with others can be a dangerous thing leading to pride and boasting however if we never even consider the condition of others we are guilty of turning blind eyes. Even if we are going through the hardest time and feel we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death God is able and willing to partner with us in reaching out to others. Its about our perception. If we believe that what we have is so little that it is not worth sharing or that we cannot afford to part with any of it then we won't share. If we believe that what we have is very little yet also know that this little amount has changed our lives and has the power to change others we will then share it with others in the hope that it might help someone.
As a leader I don't come to every Sunday service feeling incredible and amazing and in perfect relationship with God. However in spite of my situation I know that what I have is life changing and of incredible value. I pray and minister out of the assurance that God works with and through me and accordingly I ALWAYS have something to pass on to others. I have learnt that generosity of spirit is a mindset... do you have it?!?
Monday, 21 May 2007
Faith levels...
I can't recall which speaker made this statement at Pursuit - but it certainly challenged my thinking - 'maybe we need to reduce our faith to the level we have substance for'. I think the point he was making was that sometimes we have 'faith' for sooo much but we are incapable of following through on what we are believing for. Maybe its better to start focusing on and believing for our friends and family to come to Christ before we pour all our energy into believing for the city of Hamilton to come to Christ within the year. Now I'm not saying think small but I am asking do we have faith for what we can do in partnership with God, or just for what we perceive only God can do (thus requiring little or no identifiable sacrifice from ourselves)? Did anyone else who went to Pursuit pick up on this? Thoughts?
I must admit I'm not entirely convinced however its always nice to have a radical position cross my path and challenge me to question what I believe and why.
I must admit I'm not entirely convinced however its always nice to have a radical position cross my path and challenge me to question what I believe and why.
To be excellent and selective or prolific and second-best?
What a title! My darling little brother once said to me (he was 17) I could either be one of two types of people. I could be all things to all people, serve everywhere I wanted to, do everything I was interested in, wear myself out, but only do a second-rate job, and in the process prevent other people from stepping up and doing the things I was doing, half-heartedly, to the best of their ability. OR. I could be selective in what I do and choose to sacrifice some priorities for other ones and make space for other people to shine. What a choice.
Sometimes its so easy to get caught up in the 'If I don't do it nobody will' mindset. We think that we are irreplaceable, that we alone can finish the job or bring home the medal. Truth is God didn't call us to each be the entire body of Christ - to represent both the eye and the ear, the mouth and the nose, the arm and the leg, the toes and the fingers. He called us each to be individuals, each with different abilities and gifts. As 1 Corinthians 12:8-31 puts it:
Sometimes its so easy to get caught up in the 'If I don't do it nobody will' mindset. We think that we are irreplaceable, that we alone can finish the job or bring home the medal. Truth is God didn't call us to each be the entire body of Christ - to represent both the eye and the ear, the mouth and the nose, the arm and the leg, the toes and the fingers. He called us each to be individuals, each with different abilities and gifts. As 1 Corinthians 12:8-31 puts it:
8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
One Body with Many Members
(Cp Eph 4.1—16)
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989, S. 1 Co 12:8
Trying to be a prophet when our intended position is as an evangelist is as silly as trying to be a finger when our true role is to be a nose. Even sillier is when we try to be both at once and never quite work out how to bend or to smell because we try to smell with our knuckle and bend with our nostril. Ridiculous analogy I know but I hope you get the point!
We have been called into the body of Christ for a purpose and a reason. We are needed. We are necessary. However we also need to remember that just as we have a place so do our sisters and brothers and its not fair to them to try and do everything. Far better to have not enough people on the host team and have to ask a random member of the congregation to help out than to have the same old people getting worn out and resentful. Who knows they may like it! (The random - not the 'usual'!!!).
This is an area I constantly struggle with but hey I'd like to think I improve with age and exhaustion!!! Somehow I am always sheepishly amazed by how incredible things go when I delegate them to others and encourage them through it instead of steamrolling ahead myself...
So my question is what is your aim? To be excellent and selective or prolific and second-best?
Trying to be a prophet when our intended position is as an evangelist is as silly as trying to be a finger when our true role is to be a nose. Even sillier is when we try to be both at once and never quite work out how to bend or to smell because we try to smell with our knuckle and bend with our nostril. Ridiculous analogy I know but I hope you get the point!
We have been called into the body of Christ for a purpose and a reason. We are needed. We are necessary. However we also need to remember that just as we have a place so do our sisters and brothers and its not fair to them to try and do everything. Far better to have not enough people on the host team and have to ask a random member of the congregation to help out than to have the same old people getting worn out and resentful. Who knows they may like it! (The random - not the 'usual'!!!).
This is an area I constantly struggle with but hey I'd like to think I improve with age and exhaustion!!! Somehow I am always sheepishly amazed by how incredible things go when I delegate them to others and encourage them through it instead of steamrolling ahead myself...
So my question is what is your aim? To be excellent and selective or prolific and second-best?
Sunday, 20 May 2007
Pursuit in a word
Wow what a crazy crazy week! I can't believe that its only been five days since I posted my last blog - feels like an eternity ago! I, along with a large portion of the staff and leadership team (especially the music department), was up at CLCA South attending the leadership conference 'Pursuit of Excellence' from tuesday to friday and my mind and spirit combined are in revelation overload. So much so in fact that I can't even begin to unpack what happened - it would just take hours and screeds of writing and no-one would EVER read it all.
I think if I reduced everything to one word that word would be "GO". The details will come, it doesn't matter if you go in the wrong direction and have to keep changing course, the point is you are actually moving and doing something not locked up in a closet praying and never doing anything to help direct that prayer. As one of my amazing lifegroup leaders said today(and she hadn't been to Pursuit which makes her EXTRA brilliant to have reached this on her own - go BETH!) its much harder for God to push you in the right direction if you are stationary. At least if you are moving you already have some momentum up and going so its more of a gentle hand guiding the shoulder not a kick up the behind before direction can be given.
This has reinforced some of the opinions I held before the conference about the need to start serving even if you have no idea what your 'calling' is as well as challenging me as to what am I doing right now? Is everything necessary? Effective? Addressing the big commands - to love God, love neighbours and love self? Am I witnessing to my family? Is my family a priority? What does this all look like and what SHOULD it look like? How am I going to change so I am being most effective with the resources I have?
It is so easy to sit here with my list of resources and think I have so little - especially when my list of responsibilities (gosh there are a lot of 'i's in that word) and commitments is in my other hand. Truth is I am incredibly blessed just to have been born into this country let alone to have been given the talents and skills God has blessed me with and the ability to work and study. As James MacPhearson shared with us at camp - its up to us whether we view what we have as a famine or a feast and I choose to see my life through the feast mindset. I just have to determine what I am going to allow access to my feast and what is just going to have wait or be directed elsewhere.
So that is my very condensed version of Pursuit and my response to it. Now I need to start to unpack each message and its relevance to me and apply them. Fun!!!
I think if I reduced everything to one word that word would be "GO". The details will come, it doesn't matter if you go in the wrong direction and have to keep changing course, the point is you are actually moving and doing something not locked up in a closet praying and never doing anything to help direct that prayer. As one of my amazing lifegroup leaders said today(and she hadn't been to Pursuit which makes her EXTRA brilliant to have reached this on her own - go BETH!) its much harder for God to push you in the right direction if you are stationary. At least if you are moving you already have some momentum up and going so its more of a gentle hand guiding the shoulder not a kick up the behind before direction can be given.
This has reinforced some of the opinions I held before the conference about the need to start serving even if you have no idea what your 'calling' is as well as challenging me as to what am I doing right now? Is everything necessary? Effective? Addressing the big commands - to love God, love neighbours and love self? Am I witnessing to my family? Is my family a priority? What does this all look like and what SHOULD it look like? How am I going to change so I am being most effective with the resources I have?
It is so easy to sit here with my list of resources and think I have so little - especially when my list of responsibilities (gosh there are a lot of 'i's in that word) and commitments is in my other hand. Truth is I am incredibly blessed just to have been born into this country let alone to have been given the talents and skills God has blessed me with and the ability to work and study. As James MacPhearson shared with us at camp - its up to us whether we view what we have as a famine or a feast and I choose to see my life through the feast mindset. I just have to determine what I am going to allow access to my feast and what is just going to have wait or be directed elsewhere.
So that is my very condensed version of Pursuit and my response to it. Now I need to start to unpack each message and its relevance to me and apply them. Fun!!!
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
2 Peter 1:3-7
Today in my daily email devotion my attention was drawn to the following passage of scripture:
2 Peter 1:3-7 (NRSV)
3 His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.
What an amazing passage of scripture!!! Peter teaches that every aspect of Christian living builds upon and supports the next. Faith allows goodness to develop and goodness supports faith. Likewise goodness allows knowledge to form and knowledge increases goodness. However not only does knowledge increase goodness it then therefore increases faith just as faith supports the development of knowledge. It continues in ever increasing circles to include self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection and love.
There is so much pratical advice to be gained from this passage. One of the first points I picked up on was that we can never develop one area of our walk in isolation. Trying to develop faith while deliberately not developing our ability to love or our knowledge of God is like trying to eat ten weetbix without anything else - it might start out ok but a little way in everything feels dry and uncomfortable. Nothing goes down easily, every mouthful is an effort and the last thing you want to be eating is weetbix. However add milk or any form of liquid/lubricant and it becomes a meal that is nutritious and palatable. Often trying to develop our faith leads to the very opposite thing happening - our doubts are increased. Adding bible reading, acts of goodwill and self-control however allows us to see that faith take action and supports its building naturally.
Another point of interest is that we have been given EVERYTHING we need - not only for life but also for Godliness! We are not going to be given, we haven't been given a few of the tools, oh no we already have everything we need. Wow. No excuses can be tolerated in light of t hat statement. So if we already have all we need then we need to be growing in godliness - NOW - no waiting for our 'calling' to be revealed or till we can enter into ministry or get to bible college or raise a family or any of the push-pause reasons that we love to wait on. Feeling challenged?
I could go on and on but its after midnight and bed is calling so the floor is open - what points come to mind for you out of this wee passage? I will be back after Pursuit so I look forward to reading your thoughts
luv Cat
2 Peter 1:3-7 (NRSV)
3 His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.
What an amazing passage of scripture!!! Peter teaches that every aspect of Christian living builds upon and supports the next. Faith allows goodness to develop and goodness supports faith. Likewise goodness allows knowledge to form and knowledge increases goodness. However not only does knowledge increase goodness it then therefore increases faith just as faith supports the development of knowledge. It continues in ever increasing circles to include self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection and love.
There is so much pratical advice to be gained from this passage. One of the first points I picked up on was that we can never develop one area of our walk in isolation. Trying to develop faith while deliberately not developing our ability to love or our knowledge of God is like trying to eat ten weetbix without anything else - it might start out ok but a little way in everything feels dry and uncomfortable. Nothing goes down easily, every mouthful is an effort and the last thing you want to be eating is weetbix. However add milk or any form of liquid/lubricant and it becomes a meal that is nutritious and palatable. Often trying to develop our faith leads to the very opposite thing happening - our doubts are increased. Adding bible reading, acts of goodwill and self-control however allows us to see that faith take action and supports its building naturally.
Another point of interest is that we have been given EVERYTHING we need - not only for life but also for Godliness! We are not going to be given, we haven't been given a few of the tools, oh no we already have everything we need. Wow. No excuses can be tolerated in light of t hat statement. So if we already have all we need then we need to be growing in godliness - NOW - no waiting for our 'calling' to be revealed or till we can enter into ministry or get to bible college or raise a family or any of the push-pause reasons that we love to wait on. Feeling challenged?
I could go on and on but its after midnight and bed is calling so the floor is open - what points come to mind for you out of this wee passage? I will be back after Pursuit so I look forward to reading your thoughts
luv Cat
Monday, 14 May 2007
You get out what you put IN
As per normal I attended church last night and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. This is a complete contrast to how I felt about church two and a half years ago. Then I would come slink in the side a couple of minutes late, stand and sing but never move from my standing position - even to clap. I'd sit through the service, maybe take a note or two but wouldn't open my bible, and then afterwards chat to maybe one or two people from cellgroup before disappearing home quickly. I'm so glad things have changed.
Back then church was something that was meant to fit in with me, to suit my tastes and meet my needs. I wasn't willing to put anything in until I received what I thought I needed. I would complain the church wasn't very friendly, but never greet anyone myself. I would complain the teaching wasn't very deep, but never take the time to read the bible and understand the teachings at a deeper level. I was trying to suck all I needed out of the tiny commitment I had made and wondered why I was getting so little!
A couple of weeks ago during the offering talk the point was made that what we give in offerings is returned to us tenfold. Last night Dave Artinian mentioned that what you receive back is often in a different form to that which you put in. This doesn't just go for money though - it goes for praise, time, commitment, service, friendship etc etc etc. By choosing to sacrifice my time and my fears of rejection and not being good enough and do things anyway I have been blessed beyond my wildest imagination. I think this is why I enjoyed last night so much. Last night the altar was filled with people, young and old, stepping out of their comfort zones and praising God. It was beautiful! This is also why I love inviting people to step out of their routines and join me in ministering to someone who's hurting, greeting someone new, or serving on a women's team. There are any number of ways to stretch people a little further and often all they need is a little encouragement or support - I know the benefits and I can't wait to see them break through and experience them too.
The most rewarding thing about church for me these days is seeing the people standing in my shoes of two and a half years ago starting to walk forward in their own paths - knowing there is more in store for them and helping them start to see it too by the grace of God =)
Back then church was something that was meant to fit in with me, to suit my tastes and meet my needs. I wasn't willing to put anything in until I received what I thought I needed. I would complain the church wasn't very friendly, but never greet anyone myself. I would complain the teaching wasn't very deep, but never take the time to read the bible and understand the teachings at a deeper level. I was trying to suck all I needed out of the tiny commitment I had made and wondered why I was getting so little!
A couple of weeks ago during the offering talk the point was made that what we give in offerings is returned to us tenfold. Last night Dave Artinian mentioned that what you receive back is often in a different form to that which you put in. This doesn't just go for money though - it goes for praise, time, commitment, service, friendship etc etc etc. By choosing to sacrifice my time and my fears of rejection and not being good enough and do things anyway I have been blessed beyond my wildest imagination. I think this is why I enjoyed last night so much. Last night the altar was filled with people, young and old, stepping out of their comfort zones and praising God. It was beautiful! This is also why I love inviting people to step out of their routines and join me in ministering to someone who's hurting, greeting someone new, or serving on a women's team. There are any number of ways to stretch people a little further and often all they need is a little encouragement or support - I know the benefits and I can't wait to see them break through and experience them too.
The most rewarding thing about church for me these days is seeing the people standing in my shoes of two and a half years ago starting to walk forward in their own paths - knowing there is more in store for them and helping them start to see it too by the grace of God =)
Saturday, 12 May 2007
'Nature'al Medication
Today has been another day of study - but with a twist. I can only handle sitting still so long - leave it too long and I start getting a little bit crazy. Just as I was getting the I can't cope point today I hit a new section in my course called 'Praying with God's "other" book'. The notes discussd how often in the bible people were praying and receiving revelation in the most random places, on mountaintops (Abraham as he climbed up to sacrifice Isaac, Jesus before choosing the disciples and again at his transfiguration), in fields (Isaac was meditating in one when his servant and Rebekah returned), in gardens (Gethsemane), watching potters (Jeremiah 18), at lakeside breakfasts (John 21:15ff). The point being that often it is in creation that God speaks to us.
I know that creation and nature are essential to my spiritual wellbeing. When I haven't made the time to stop and reflect, to re-examine, and to just be in nature - particularly in the bush or at the beach - I start to lose focus and begin to sweat the small stuff. So today - in spite of the myriad of things I need to get done - I went for a walk. I didn't stride it out or hurry, in fact I kind of meandered a bit. I didn't drive to the gardens or the lake, I just walked out my front door with nothing in my hands and no bag on my back. I walked with no destination in mind. The only thing I took with me was one thought: I am a part of this creation. I am not an observer. This is my environment and I am a part of it - it was made for me and I was made for it.
I can't say that it was a particularly spiritual walk or that I received an amazing revelation, but I did take time to pause and reflect and enjoy. I took a photo of an amazingly purply coloured plant. I stood in awe staring up the trunk of a massive massive pine tree. I thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine on my face and back. I listened to a band practice in someones home and admired the drumming. I kicked the autumn leaves and smelt the fragrance of rotting foliage. I smiled. It was great and it only took 34minutes.
We live in an amazing world. It is incredible how even in the city we are surrounded by insects and green green grass and extremely large trees as well as totally diverse people, weird and wonderful architeture and constant movement. As nice as it is to 'get away from it all' its great to simply choose to enjoy and marvel at the environment we live in day by day and still come away feeling refreshed and free.
I know that creation and nature are essential to my spiritual wellbeing. When I haven't made the time to stop and reflect, to re-examine, and to just be in nature - particularly in the bush or at the beach - I start to lose focus and begin to sweat the small stuff. So today - in spite of the myriad of things I need to get done - I went for a walk. I didn't stride it out or hurry, in fact I kind of meandered a bit. I didn't drive to the gardens or the lake, I just walked out my front door with nothing in my hands and no bag on my back. I walked with no destination in mind. The only thing I took with me was one thought: I am a part of this creation. I am not an observer. This is my environment and I am a part of it - it was made for me and I was made for it.
I can't say that it was a particularly spiritual walk or that I received an amazing revelation, but I did take time to pause and reflect and enjoy. I took a photo of an amazingly purply coloured plant. I stood in awe staring up the trunk of a massive massive pine tree. I thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine on my face and back. I listened to a band practice in someones home and admired the drumming. I kicked the autumn leaves and smelt the fragrance of rotting foliage. I smiled. It was great and it only took 34minutes.
We live in an amazing world. It is incredible how even in the city we are surrounded by insects and green green grass and extremely large trees as well as totally diverse people, weird and wonderful architeture and constant movement. As nice as it is to 'get away from it all' its great to simply choose to enjoy and marvel at the environment we live in day by day and still come away feeling refreshed and free.
Friday, 11 May 2007
Motivation
The past few months I have been constantly confronted with motivation - and not in a positive way. It seems that most people I talk to are struggling with it. Either they have never had motivation in a particular area and are struggling with it, they have had motivation and now have lost it and are struggling, or the motivation they have has changed and they are wondering whether to stick with the original or go with the now... Motivation seems to have a lot to answer for!
So what is it?
Motivation (the word) is a noun referring to:
Motive (the word) can be used as a
–noun
–adjective
–or verb (used with object)
To me this indicates that motivation comes back to the cause / value / reason behaind we are doing something. If we have no motivation for a particular area is it because our reasons for doing what we are doing are no longer valuable or important to us?
An example of this would be the student who started out her degree with such high hopes and expectations. She was motivated by attaining a credential, by gaining skills to help her get a good job, by wanting to make a difference in the world, by the sheer joy of learning and growing. Two or three years in the necessity of a degree and the usefulness of a degree is not so important to her - it seems that practical experience is what is valued most. Her belief that what she is doing will make a difference is gone, eroded away by cynicism and an awareness that learning alone is never enough. The daily slog of little money, hard work and late nights struggling to understand meaningless information have destroyed her enjoyment of what shes doing. She's left wondering where did my motivation go? Why am I bothering to study? Why not quit and start working?
This is just one example - it happens to those with specifically 'Christian' aspirations too - but the questions are always the same. Why bother? What purpose is this serving? Should I change direction because the passion is gone? Is God telling me something by 'removing' my motivations?
I don't really have many helpful answers at this point. I struggle with motivation too. I do know that unless my motivation is of God in the first place or changes in the course of things to be of God then my motivation will naturally leech away till I am left with sand...
So what is it?
Motivation (the word) is a noun referring to:
| 1. | the act or an instance of motivating. |
| 2. | the state or condition of being motivated. |
| 3. | something that motivates; inducement; incentive. |
Motive (the word) can be used as a
–noun
| 1. | something that causes a person to act in a certain way, do a certain thing, etc.; incentive. |
| 2. | the goal or object of a person's actions: Her motive was revenge. |
| 3. | (in art, literature, and music) a motif. |
| 4. | causing, or tending to cause, motion. |
| 5. | pertaining to motion. |
| 6. | prompting to action. |
| 7. | constituting a motive or motives. |
| 8. | to motivate. |
To me this indicates that motivation comes back to the cause / value / reason behaind we are doing something. If we have no motivation for a particular area is it because our reasons for doing what we are doing are no longer valuable or important to us?
An example of this would be the student who started out her degree with such high hopes and expectations. She was motivated by attaining a credential, by gaining skills to help her get a good job, by wanting to make a difference in the world, by the sheer joy of learning and growing. Two or three years in the necessity of a degree and the usefulness of a degree is not so important to her - it seems that practical experience is what is valued most. Her belief that what she is doing will make a difference is gone, eroded away by cynicism and an awareness that learning alone is never enough. The daily slog of little money, hard work and late nights struggling to understand meaningless information have destroyed her enjoyment of what shes doing. She's left wondering where did my motivation go? Why am I bothering to study? Why not quit and start working?
This is just one example - it happens to those with specifically 'Christian' aspirations too - but the questions are always the same. Why bother? What purpose is this serving? Should I change direction because the passion is gone? Is God telling me something by 'removing' my motivations?
I don't really have many helpful answers at this point. I struggle with motivation too. I do know that unless my motivation is of God in the first place or changes in the course of things to be of God then my motivation will naturally leech away till I am left with sand...
Thursday, 10 May 2007
Hebrews!!!
Ahhhhh I have done it... I have given in to myself and have entered the blogging world finally. Somehow its so much easier to comment on other peoples thoughts than to write down my own. Its not that I have no thoughts to write down its simply now I have to try and be organised and process rather than read and respond.
Currently I am processing through Hebrews, specifically the Christology of the author and the audience and how Christ is revealed both in person and in purpose. It is fascinating reading the various perspectives on this topic. Commentaries tend to focus on the High Priesthood of Christ and the meaning of this both at the time of sacrifice and subsequently since. I can't say that I have ever really thought about this aspect of Christ before in any depth so much of what I have read has gone over my head. Some commentaries consider this teaching to be 'new' to the audience of the time. They see it as the same message of the gospel reillustrated to emphasise new points. This perspective however is revealed as extremely limited in light of other commentaries whose writers have taken the time to consider the probable audience of the epistle/homily. The audience seems to be, most likely, converts from Judaism (possibly even the priests under the old covenant). They would have been extremely comfortable with the concepts of sacrifice and atonement for sin but would likely have struggled with the idea of one sacrifice atoning for all sin past present and future. In this light the emphasis on the sovereignty of Christ, his complete humanity and divinity, his role as high priest, and his current role as intercessor at the right hand of the father, makes sense in a whole new way.
I think both types of commentary provide insights but attempting to understand context and intent allows a much deeper insight to be attained. I can only imagine how the early Christian converts from Judaism must have felt. Initially expecting to be reunited with Christ anyday and living in that hope only to fall into sin and feel dirty with no clear way to attone for that sin. Knowing that the old ways were no longer appropriate and yet not understanding that Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient both for the sins of their past and for the ones since his death and resurrection. No wonder it seems as though they were tending to be heading back to the old ritualistic patterns of Judaism!
The temptation to return to the old tried and true methods is often so strong in our lives. Kindof like the quantity maths problems where you have to measure certain quantities with a limited array of measuring cup sizes. Sometimes its possible to work out the quantity one way but it takes twice as long as another new way that would not have worked with previous puzzles - trouble is we see that the old way still works and forget to consider other alternative patterns. Its only when we come up against a puzzle that doesn't work with the old strategy that we consider trying new methods. I wonder if thats why we get so comfortable with the status quo. We know it works, we have no reason to question it or try something new so we don't move out of it until we hit a problem. Trying new methods for the sake of trying new methods isn't habitual so our ability to deal with changes is not increased and thats why we then struggle so much with problems that land in our path... leading us to avoid changing even more and settling with the status quo as the cycle repeats itself!
I do believe I'm rambling =)
I am curious to know what happened to the first audience of Hebrews though. Did they return to Judaism? Did they understand what the author was trying to share and begin to grasp the enormity of Jesus' sacrifice and intercession on their behalf? Were they divided or united? I also wonder about Christians today. How many fail to grasp this concept of complete and utter freedom from sin in Christ? How many still feel unable to attone for their sins not realising they don't have to - its been done for them? Or is it better to ask how many truly understand this truth - that we are completely and utterly redeemed! I have always loved Hebrews 11 and 12 but now as I study the book as a whole I am beginning to grasp just how important it is and how much there is yet to learn. Now if only I could write my essay as if it were in blog form!!!
Currently I am processing through Hebrews, specifically the Christology of the author and the audience and how Christ is revealed both in person and in purpose. It is fascinating reading the various perspectives on this topic. Commentaries tend to focus on the High Priesthood of Christ and the meaning of this both at the time of sacrifice and subsequently since. I can't say that I have ever really thought about this aspect of Christ before in any depth so much of what I have read has gone over my head. Some commentaries consider this teaching to be 'new' to the audience of the time. They see it as the same message of the gospel reillustrated to emphasise new points. This perspective however is revealed as extremely limited in light of other commentaries whose writers have taken the time to consider the probable audience of the epistle/homily. The audience seems to be, most likely, converts from Judaism (possibly even the priests under the old covenant). They would have been extremely comfortable with the concepts of sacrifice and atonement for sin but would likely have struggled with the idea of one sacrifice atoning for all sin past present and future. In this light the emphasis on the sovereignty of Christ, his complete humanity and divinity, his role as high priest, and his current role as intercessor at the right hand of the father, makes sense in a whole new way.
I think both types of commentary provide insights but attempting to understand context and intent allows a much deeper insight to be attained. I can only imagine how the early Christian converts from Judaism must have felt. Initially expecting to be reunited with Christ anyday and living in that hope only to fall into sin and feel dirty with no clear way to attone for that sin. Knowing that the old ways were no longer appropriate and yet not understanding that Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient both for the sins of their past and for the ones since his death and resurrection. No wonder it seems as though they were tending to be heading back to the old ritualistic patterns of Judaism!
The temptation to return to the old tried and true methods is often so strong in our lives. Kindof like the quantity maths problems where you have to measure certain quantities with a limited array of measuring cup sizes. Sometimes its possible to work out the quantity one way but it takes twice as long as another new way that would not have worked with previous puzzles - trouble is we see that the old way still works and forget to consider other alternative patterns. Its only when we come up against a puzzle that doesn't work with the old strategy that we consider trying new methods. I wonder if thats why we get so comfortable with the status quo. We know it works, we have no reason to question it or try something new so we don't move out of it until we hit a problem. Trying new methods for the sake of trying new methods isn't habitual so our ability to deal with changes is not increased and thats why we then struggle so much with problems that land in our path... leading us to avoid changing even more and settling with the status quo as the cycle repeats itself!
I do believe I'm rambling =)
I am curious to know what happened to the first audience of Hebrews though. Did they return to Judaism? Did they understand what the author was trying to share and begin to grasp the enormity of Jesus' sacrifice and intercession on their behalf? Were they divided or united? I also wonder about Christians today. How many fail to grasp this concept of complete and utter freedom from sin in Christ? How many still feel unable to attone for their sins not realising they don't have to - its been done for them? Or is it better to ask how many truly understand this truth - that we are completely and utterly redeemed! I have always loved Hebrews 11 and 12 but now as I study the book as a whole I am beginning to grasp just how important it is and how much there is yet to learn. Now if only I could write my essay as if it were in blog form!!!
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