Scared of the truth?

I was reading Tim Chester's blog and having read about a line of a post was pretty worried. The line was: "There is a summary of the gospel message which runs like this:..." But you knew there was a 'but' coming. "This version of the story is true. But it is not the whole truth."

Now, this widening/reclarification/... of the gospel seems helpful for those hearing, as we're being self-centered if we make it all about our individual selves. Yet sometimes when I read things that start similarly, or talk about the gospel I get so confused. I fairly recently listened to Mike Reeves' four part series on Justification, and it was great, yet I'm still confused, maybe more confused. Maybe I need to concentrate more and listen again.

I know works plays no part in justifying us. It can't. It doesn't work. But are works a natural consequence of a repentant and saved person? I guess it comes back to: I screw up, on varying levels for different periods of time, and yet God welcomes be back. How long and serious can these screw-ups be? I think that's the wrong question - an answer, if there was one, would be to "look at Christ...", keep fixed on him. But yet the question remains.

Where will you go? (Or will you stay?)

I just read a great post on pastoring, large churches, and small churches. As I'm beginning to contemplate what to do post-graduation, it really encouraged me to get involved with a very local church. More than that however, it reminds me of stories I've heard where some English parishes are allocated vicars who don't necessarily believe in the authority of the bible, and that's a really sad place to be. But that doesn't mean they should be abandoned. :)

He struck it three times and stopped...

I have Mark Batterson to thank for getting me into reading blogs - his was the first I stumbled across. I no longer subscribe (trying to learn more by reading less), but today I had a look and read keep on keeping on which I recommend.

In 2 Kings 13, Elisha is about to die, and Jehoas, king of Israel, goes to see him. A few things happen, and then Elisha tells Johoas to "take the arrows," and later to "strike the ground." Jehoas struck the ground three times and stopped. Elisha then says "You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times."

So, keep on keeping on. Sometimes I find it hard in times of sung worship at church on Sundays, but this week I kept on trying, and then, by the penultimate song, something seemed to change.

Have you stopped doing something which God told you to do?

Murderers can be Christians

When you're working in marketing - people are always looking at your USP - Unique Selling Point.
What is it for Christianity?

Maybe it doesn't quite meet the definition, but maybe we could use: "Murderers can be Christians". Perhaps "Paedophiles can be Christians" would get across our point better.

I almost can't stomach thinking about hitting 'publish' on this post: murders and paedophiles, what's gone wrong? But that's the way the gospel is. Good news for all - 'cos all have gone astray.

When You're Between a Rock and a Hard Place

My friend shared this on facebook. Read.

Isaiah 43:1-4 (The Message)

When You're Between a Rock and a Hard Place

 ^1-4 But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
   the One who got you started, Israel:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
   I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
   When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
   it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
   The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
   all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
   That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
   trade the creation just for you.

Jesus is crazy

I realise this isn't the day after my last post, as I suggested my next post would be. I won't make such empty promises next time.

In the second half of chapter eight of John, Jesus is chatting with the "Jews who had believed in him". They then go on to argue - it reads like a slanging match!

• "we were not born of sexual immorality"
• "are we not right saying you are a samaritan and have a demon"
• "you are of your father, the devil"

In verse 31 they believe in Jesus, and by verse 59 they're trying to stone him. Not normally how I react when I meet someone who has believed in Jesus.

Why does Jesus do this? Please comment. All I can think is that he really dislikes lukewarm "disciples" (Revelation 3:14-21).

Breakfast Buffet

Welcome to the breakfast buffet. A selection of links for you to feast on.

• Freshers' week isn't Brideshead Revisited [Telegraph Newspaper]
  I've never read or watched Brideshead Revisited, but this article talks about the drinking culture of Freshers' week. Here's an excerpt:
  

  London is probably not as badly affected by the Freshers' Week phenomenon as some provincial cities: there is a healthy leavening of overseas students, for whom binge-drinking is a badge of shame, not a sign that you are cool and part of the in-crowd. But the scourge of Freshers' Week – that bitter-sweet rite of passage, which is never quite as good as you drunkenly imagine it to be – is everywhere.
  

• Conflict resolution requires Spirit-filling [Adrian Warnock]
  A solution to the problem highlighted above - the Holy Spirit. This post is mainly a quote from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Here's an excerpt:
  

  The world is characterized by divisions, by clashes, everybody wanting to be first, everybody wanting to be important. That is, of course, the main cause of all the problems and the difficulties that are confronting the world at this present time. Now the Apostle’s statement asserts that there is really only one solution to that problem, and that is, that men and women be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.
  

• Seven reasons we need small groups [Dave Bish]
  I haven't been part of an official small group for a few months now, and life's harder. After church I spent a while chatting to a good (older) friend and it was really encouraging, but here are seven reasons we need small groups to keep going. Here's point three:

  Listeners in a big group can more easily evade redemptive crises. If tears well up in your eyes in a small group, wise friends will gently find out why. But in a large gathering, you can just walk away from it.
  

That was your first breakfast buffet. Tomorrow, more regular breakfast.

Waiting

So today there were some hungry people trying to get food. The food was being prepared- less than ten minutes and they'd be able to eat... yet they crowded round the food. They were informed don't worry about queuing, we'll call you when the food's ready- but then different people crowded.

How often do I sing "oh no I'll never let go"? Then how many times do I let go of God's promises to me and believe lies? What about you?

Full and empty of energy

This evening I narrated a sketch of the prodigal son and gave a gospel talk afterwards. Total rush of adrenaline - hope I spoke slow enough, (it was for international students). I was on such a high for almost two hours afterwards, but now have crashed.

Fluffed words and couldn't read my own handwriting - but that just reminds me of what I knew but had forgotten: I don't like reading from scripts, but like bullet point notes.

Mp3 I liked

I was listening to David Stroud kick off a series at Christ Church London with a talk entitled God Mission: The Vision, the blessing, the world [mp3/m4a].

Getting me fired up about the church and reminding me of possibly my favourite passage: Genesis 11:27-12:4.