Where to look

This summer I spent two weeks in a tent camping in a different town each night. Without a usual place to put all my 'things' I often couldn't find them, much to my frustration!

After about 11 days I realised that things were almost always where I thought they were, only I hadn't looked quite hard enough. I would have a quick look in the right place, not find it, so look around the rest of the tent, and outside the tent, before finally returning to the place I thought they were and find them almost straight away!

Looking for longer in the place you think your keys are might help you get out on time this week, but I think the idea goes further too.

Too often I turn to God, nothing seems to be happening, so I search in other places around the tent (reading a Christian book, a blog, 'praying',...), and maybe even outside the tent (sin things), before eventually turning back to God and the bible, to find what I wanted all along.

Do you?

No breakfast today - why not try Honey's?

I don't have any breakfast treats today, but Marcus Honeysett wrote something I wanted to share straight away.

Go to his blog and eat your honey on toast: mission training 1.

Quackers Question Number 1

If you could only do one of these, which would completely exclude the other which would you do?

• Pray
• Read the bible

It might seem contrived and ridiculous (both are great), but the question remains.

Obey

"Obey". So often I don't; yet it's so much better if I do.

I've recently enjoyed seeing reflections of the gospel in every day life, but sometimes the gift isn't accepted. The offer of a biscuit or sweet to someone you know (or don't know) is a reflection of the gospel. Something undeserved, something good for free. Yet some people reject the offer.

I don't want to miss an opportunity to display a reflection of or infact the full gospel to people who don't see it; as I think about it now there are little opportunities dying everyday. I'm reminded of a passage a friend of mine quotes regularly.

[...] for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:12-16 (ESV)

Why not read some more of Romans? I will.

Recommend just One

This is where I recommend one person to follow on twitter, and one blog to subscribe to.

Blog: Christ the Truth

Twitter: Rick Warren

The reason is simple. They point me to God and to the bible.

If you only follow one person on Twitter, or read one blog, I'd recommend these.

Experience...

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

As Piper writes, "Mission exists because worship does not."
But missionaries exist because worship does.

"Missional" will always be a program or a buzzword if you have not experienced the power of the gospel in your own life. The deeper it has exploded in your heart, the more confident in its fruitfulness you will be.

Gospel Driven Church - Isaiah and Gospel Wakefulness

So why not look at God now?

Breakfast Buffet

Here is my latest selection of breakfast buffet items which I implore you to read.


Adrian Warnock writes on the resurrection 

At the cross we learn true humility, our hopeless sinfulness, and our need of God. At the empty tomb we fully appreciate what Christ has achieved for us and receive power to live for him. A deeper, fuller insight into the truth of Jesus’ resurrection will cause our lives to be radically transformed. 

http://www.theologynetwork.org/christian-beliefs/creation-and-new-creation/starting-out/resurrection-neglected.htm

 Terry Virgo writes on our status as saints not sinners

When Christians deplore their sinfulness to the degree that they actually argue that their essential identity is ‘a sinner’ they shoot themselves in the foot! 

If I insist on teaching that Christians are still essentially sinners, what is the Good News? Has anybody got some better news? 

http://blog.terryvirgo.org/?cat=59 (The first article is lower down the page) HT: Dave Bish 

Glen Scrivener writes on Trinity - the difference between slaves and sons

The Father is father of the Son and sends the Spirit.  The Son is son of the Father and possesses the Spirit.  The Spirit is sent by the Father and belongs to the Son. 

Every time I forget I’m a son, I start praying like a slave and it kills my prayer life.  I pray like I’m a slave and He’s a slave-master, like I’m a soldier and He’s a commanding officer.  But Jesus didn’t teach us to pray ‘Our Sergeant-Major in Heaven’ or ‘Our Line Manager in Heaven’  – instead: Our Father in Heaven.

http://christthetruth.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/trinity-the-difference-between-slaves-and-sons/ 

I've also been reading Philip Yancey's Where is God When it Hurts? which is going well. An explanation about the physical benefits of pain starts the book, I may let you know about the rest when I've finished. Thanks to Sam for the encouragement to read a chapter of a book each night before I go to bed.

This morning I had the time to do this because I set my alarm... on the other side of the room. At least that was the plan. I might have woken up before it, but it always gets me out of bed on time rather than the within-arms-reach of the bed approach.

What have you been munching on?

Walk by faith

I needed to be reminded to Walk by faith. [Marcus Honeysett Entry]

I still do.

Having read the article a friend came into my room having just been encouragingly reminded to do the same by his parents.

I see a pattern developing.

Any other resources you would recommend?