Bonus Breakfast

Verses that strike #001

2012-01-01T11:07:00.001Z

"For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God."
Romans 2:28-29

A reminder to seek God and his favour, not man's.

Jonah and Jesus

2011-05-23T22:08:00.001+01:00

Today I was reading Luke 11 and for the first time ever, I think, I understood that bit about Jonah: "for as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation."

Before I didn't have a clue what that meant; diddly-squat. How was Jesus like Jonah?

Jonah didn't really give any signs to the Ninevites (the whole fish thing was for Jonah not the Ninevites). They were an evil bunch, he came along and told them death was coming, and they repented. Simple. A simple warning from a foreigner changed the darkest city. So when the Ninevites hear that you heard the full blown Son of man talking, and still didn't repent, well... they'll condemn you. 'cos they were so much worse, and only heard Jonah, but you heard the Son of man.

Funky new (mobile) website

2011-05-16T20:40:00.000+01:00

This website hasn't had a funky new update, but a few big mobile sites have. I'm gonna talk about: Facebook, Twitter and Tugenda Bible (I know it's not popular, but I made it so I get to advertise it).

1) The facebook mobile website wasn't very good. There was no way to access events, no way to view a wall-to-wall, and overall, a cut-down experience. Instead was using the official app (on my HTC Desire), but my phone has limited storage space, so I was forever having to delete app-data! With the updated website I don't use the app, instead using the website; it's great! On the main page I can see: 1) any new (and recent) notifications, 2) my news feed and 3) if I have any messages. All on one screen.

2) Twitter. I've only just seen it today, but they've changed the mobile website. It feels less like a mobile website and more like an app. It feels much faster, and it should have me using it more.

3) Tugenda Bible. Up until the weekend there was no mobile version of this website, and I was contemplating making an Andoid App (no doubt inspired by The Apprentice). Realising the steep learning curve required, I decided to stick with HTML in the browser, particularly with the growth in HTML5. So if you have a mobile, have a look at: m.bible.tugenda.com. There are still a few bugs, I want to make it more app-like, but it works, and gets rid of those verse numbers which so often get in the way when reading the bible!

What do you think? Seen any good mobile websites?

Reminders

2011-01-03T23:25:00.000Z

Yesterday I was reminded by a friend of a dream I hadn't thought about for at least twelve months. It was great, yet I was shocked I'd forgotten about it for so long.

These two cycles overlap and stimulate one another:

Share dreams --> talk about dreams --> remind each other about dreams --> ...
Remember your dreams -->Fulfill your dreams --> ...

43 things is an online version of this. I've just remembered I have an account, and it hasn't helped much in fulfiilling them over the last few years (I haven't used it), but it has just reminded me about some of my dreams (/goals/plans).

Gospel "versus" miracles...

2011-01-02T23:59:00.001Z

...and how my thinking has been changing.

Start uni: weak gospel with an interest in miracles.
Uni years one and two: stronger gospel with an interest in miracles.
Uni year three: getting annoyed at gospel, wondering if ignoring miracles too much.
End of uni: confused.
Now: read a friend's post called "Olive Branch" (read it) and thinking about the following quote from the post:

No one, not even any of the apostles, is on record as having done greater miracles than Christ; if they had done, it would prove they had a higher relationship with the Father than Christ himself. But telling others of Christ is far greater than miracles; it is greater in importance and greater in value.

In thousands of years of Christianity a lot of fights "A versus B", "C versus D" have developed. When discussing these with friends, we'll normally finish with an unsatisfying (for me) "well, it's somewhere in the middle isn't it?"

Where is the middle on this issue? Is there a middle, or should I embrace the gospel and not seek miracles of healing, supply, demonic powers and nature? Is it one versus the other, or can both sides be valid at the same time?

--
Update 3rd January 2011: Dave Bish has blogged on a somewhat related topic

Counting on God

2011-01-01T20:33:00.000Z

My favourite song during second year of uni was Counting on God performed by New Life Worship / Desperation Band (Listen for free on Grooveshark). Over the last little while I've taken my eyes off the important things, and haven't been counting on God.

I'm off to count some of the good things he's done. See you tomorrow.

Where to look

2010-08-10T22:54:00.000+01:00

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?

2010-04-03T22:07:00.000+01:00

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

2010-03-25T11:21:00.000Z

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

2010-03-11T23:39:00.001Z

"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

2010-03-10T10:58:00.000Z

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...

2010-03-09T21:44:00.001Z

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

2010-02-02T10:15:00.000Z

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

2010-01-23T00:18:00.000Z

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?

Scared of the truth?

2009-12-22T23:44:00.000Z

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?)

2009-12-03T09:38:00.001Z

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...

2009-11-03T23:18:00.002Z

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

2009-10-20T09:38:00.000+01:00

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

2009-10-14T23:41:00.000+01:00

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

2009-10-08T22:37:00.001+01:00

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

2009-10-05T09:50:00.001+01:00

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

2009-10-04T00:51:00.000+01:00

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

2009-10-01T21:52:00.000+01:00

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 house 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

2009-09-29T21:11:00.000+01:00

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.