I am currently reading a book by Nick Hornby, he wrote 'About a Boy' and 'Fever Pitch' which were films I thoroughly enjoyed, and his books tend to get very good reviews, so I thought I would have a go at one that did not have a film attached. In the wonderful local second hand book shop I found 'How to be Good.' I am enjoying it, although it can be a bit uncomfortable at times, I don't know if that is a good thing or not?
At the beginning of one of the chapters, the protagonist states 'I have to be Luke Skywalker because I don't know who else to be.' I though that was a brilliant line and a brilliant observation on the world as we know it, a world in which people are looking for answers, heroes, someone to follow, more out of life, something else. The world offers escapism into fiction. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge escapee, but in the words of the poet, I don't want dreams to become my master, they often do. I have now given up the ghost that I will be scoring the winning goal for Northern Ireland in the world cup final and yet I struggle to give up the fantasy of one day headlining Glastonbury even though I can't sing. Are dreams a form of envy, for another life? or are dreams what drive us on? Or are dreams somewhere to hide when it has not turned out the way we thought it would? What do we do with our dreams? I suppose we become Luke Skywalker?
The end of this specific chapter, ends like this...'When I look at my sins ( and if I think they're sins, then they are sins). I can see the appeal of born-again Christianity. I suspect that it's not the Christianity that is so alluring; it's the rebirth. Because who wouldn't wish to start all over again?'
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Nations
I often hear people talking about the UK as a Christian nation, or as other nations 'under God', it really makes me think what that means. What is a Christian nation? what does it look like? is there a Christian country?
Is it the UK a Christian country because the Queen is a Christian?
Is the US a Christian country because the president is a Christian and he has Christian spiritual advisors?
What happens if their successors are not followers of Jesus, does the nation stop being 'under God?'
Is the UK a Christian country in terms of an historical remnant of Christendom, just trying to keep things the way they were?
Or what about regionally? Is Northern Ireland more Christian? Or some of the Scottish Isles? Places which have held onto tradition, have retained who they are and are unmoving on certain issues. I read recently that there are no mosques in Northern Ireland, more Christ like? or more intolerant? Or more secure in who they are?
What about the Republic of Ireland, who this week have had huge protests about the death of a woman because she could not have an abortion in this Christian country?
What about France, one of the most secular countries on earth, who have had large protests this week against gay marriage?
What about Bhutan? Whose government believe that the peoples happiness is more important than their wealth?
What about Uruguay? Whose socialist leader, only takes a wage the equivelant to that of an average worker and gives the rest to charity and lives on his wife's farm rather than the official residence.
How are we known?
I suppose it is the same as personally?
Is it the UK a Christian country because the Queen is a Christian?
Is the US a Christian country because the president is a Christian and he has Christian spiritual advisors?
What happens if their successors are not followers of Jesus, does the nation stop being 'under God?'
Is the UK a Christian country in terms of an historical remnant of Christendom, just trying to keep things the way they were?
Or what about regionally? Is Northern Ireland more Christian? Or some of the Scottish Isles? Places which have held onto tradition, have retained who they are and are unmoving on certain issues. I read recently that there are no mosques in Northern Ireland, more Christ like? or more intolerant? Or more secure in who they are?
What about the Republic of Ireland, who this week have had huge protests about the death of a woman because she could not have an abortion in this Christian country?
What about France, one of the most secular countries on earth, who have had large protests this week against gay marriage?
What about Bhutan? Whose government believe that the peoples happiness is more important than their wealth?
What about Uruguay? Whose socialist leader, only takes a wage the equivelant to that of an average worker and gives the rest to charity and lives on his wife's farm rather than the official residence.
How are we known?
I suppose it is the same as personally?
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
A prayer
Prayer based on the armour of God
Lord, I pray this day that your truth will hold me up and I can rely on it, because my very being knows that I have been made right through what Jesus has done and I can walk forward today, at peace, secure, in your good news. I trust you to protect me, for you have saved me. I want to run in spirit and in truth, through my relationship with you, your word and the Holy Spirit. Help me to continue to share my life with you through prayer and shine you into the world.
Amen
Lord, I pray this day that your truth will hold me up and I can rely on it, because my very being knows that I have been made right through what Jesus has done and I can walk forward today, at peace, secure, in your good news. I trust you to protect me, for you have saved me. I want to run in spirit and in truth, through my relationship with you, your word and the Holy Spirit. Help me to continue to share my life with you through prayer and shine you into the world.
Amen
Saturday, 17 November 2012
Annie's Song
In about 1997 I went through a period of Monday night jamming with my best Paul, I say jamming, I don't play anything, Paul use to come round with his guitar and I would sing along, sometimes we would write stuff, sometimes we would do covers. It was a really good time, a couple of beers and a singalong.
One night Paul came round and we had heard that day that John Denver had died, so that night we decided to do John Denver covers in tribute to the man. Some absolutely fantastic songs. I love Country Road, but my favourite is the incredibly soppy Annie's Song.
That was a really good night and last night I was reminded of it when Annie's Song came on the radio and I started to sing along, in fact I found my self just speaking to God through the lyrics, of worshipping God in that Song, such great words, 'come fill me again', 'you fill up my senses', it is an amazing song of desire and pursuing, devotional, maybe even obsessional love.
I love it when I see God all over the place, I think it is an important thing to do, to search out, listen out and look out for God, it is a reminder of His closeness and greatness and seeing God everywhere is a reminder of the personal relationship I have with God.
One night Paul came round and we had heard that day that John Denver had died, so that night we decided to do John Denver covers in tribute to the man. Some absolutely fantastic songs. I love Country Road, but my favourite is the incredibly soppy Annie's Song.
That was a really good night and last night I was reminded of it when Annie's Song came on the radio and I started to sing along, in fact I found my self just speaking to God through the lyrics, of worshipping God in that Song, such great words, 'come fill me again', 'you fill up my senses', it is an amazing song of desire and pursuing, devotional, maybe even obsessional love.
I love it when I see God all over the place, I think it is an important thing to do, to search out, listen out and look out for God, it is a reminder of His closeness and greatness and seeing God everywhere is a reminder of the personal relationship I have with God.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
First Impressions
It just seems so easy to judge, it is something I do loads and something I don't want to do and something I certainly don't want done done to me.
Someone told me that if you type in 'why do Christians...' on Google, the predictive search will come up with 'judge.' I tried it, its not true. But Christians are extremely well known for doing something that Jesus was very specific about saying not to do. In fact the bit that worries me, is that Jesus said that I will be judged the same way that I judge.
So many situations, just coming into contact with people, judgements are made, first impressions, based on class, marital status, dress sense, sex, age, children, looks, voice, the list can go on and on and on. Where does an impression become a judgement? How do I approach people, with the attitude of a blank canvas? Should I? I have to be open to perceive, to try and understand, to notice maybe what is going on in someones life and yet not add my own bias.
Knowing people is key, relationship. Getting rid of internal bias is so important and yet so difficult.
Don't let your mind go there, stop before the judgement begins.
I have loads to say on judging, something that plagues me and something I'm battling through.
Someone told me that if you type in 'why do Christians...' on Google, the predictive search will come up with 'judge.' I tried it, its not true. But Christians are extremely well known for doing something that Jesus was very specific about saying not to do. In fact the bit that worries me, is that Jesus said that I will be judged the same way that I judge.
So many situations, just coming into contact with people, judgements are made, first impressions, based on class, marital status, dress sense, sex, age, children, looks, voice, the list can go on and on and on. Where does an impression become a judgement? How do I approach people, with the attitude of a blank canvas? Should I? I have to be open to perceive, to try and understand, to notice maybe what is going on in someones life and yet not add my own bias.
Knowing people is key, relationship. Getting rid of internal bias is so important and yet so difficult.
Don't let your mind go there, stop before the judgement begins.
I have loads to say on judging, something that plagues me and something I'm battling through.
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Temptation
Funny thing temptation, it can sneak right up on you nad can easily be about not doing as doing.
Things I want to be doing all involve making an effort, being organised, getting active. It is so much easier not to do, like not writing a blog, sitting here and having to think about what I am actually writing instead of just getting lost in another book or randomly browsing the internet. The reason I wanted to write a blog, involved having loads of thoughts and wanting to put them down somewhere, I still have the thoughts, but they just run around in my head and then end up getting lost.
I am not writing this blog to say I will now be writing more blogs, I just had something in my head I wanted to put down.
The other thing I find with temptation though is what is going round my head, is that God always provides a way out, an exit strategy, sometimes we don't see it, but it is definitly there. A good example is the internet, how many clicks does it take to go somewhere you don't want to be, it still involves clicking, there is the exit, don't click. Sometimes easier said than done, or how about the tv, something on which you really know is not doing you any good and there is a remote control, we don't even have to get up to change the channel, but the channel stays on, the way out is there. I know the places that if I went to it would be easy for me to get dragged down or into something I shouldn't, so it is best for me not to go there.
Always look for the way out, it is there, it just involves making making a choice and actually doing. I know there is more to that, more about breaking cycles and making hard decisions, but I just wanted to get that out of my head.
Things I want to be doing all involve making an effort, being organised, getting active. It is so much easier not to do, like not writing a blog, sitting here and having to think about what I am actually writing instead of just getting lost in another book or randomly browsing the internet. The reason I wanted to write a blog, involved having loads of thoughts and wanting to put them down somewhere, I still have the thoughts, but they just run around in my head and then end up getting lost.
I am not writing this blog to say I will now be writing more blogs, I just had something in my head I wanted to put down.
The other thing I find with temptation though is what is going round my head, is that God always provides a way out, an exit strategy, sometimes we don't see it, but it is definitly there. A good example is the internet, how many clicks does it take to go somewhere you don't want to be, it still involves clicking, there is the exit, don't click. Sometimes easier said than done, or how about the tv, something on which you really know is not doing you any good and there is a remote control, we don't even have to get up to change the channel, but the channel stays on, the way out is there. I know the places that if I went to it would be easy for me to get dragged down or into something I shouldn't, so it is best for me not to go there.
Always look for the way out, it is there, it just involves making making a choice and actually doing. I know there is more to that, more about breaking cycles and making hard decisions, but I just wanted to get that out of my head.
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Reaction Time
I will be driving along sometimes and there will be someone waiting to pull out and I don't notice them in time to stop and let them through, or somebody is speaking and afterwards I think, I should have been concentrating more, I could have said...., the other week, driving to work, in my rush, I pulled out to overtake and then noticed a hitchhiker in a layby, that because of my rush, I missed being able to stop for.
It seems to me my reaction time is a bit slow, or maybe my eyes are not open enough, or even, I am not looking because, it is not natural for me to have my eyes open, ready to respond, I am looking internally, responding to what is in front of me and missing need on the periphary.
How do I get naturally wide eyed?
It says at the beginning of Ephesians 5 that I should be an imitator of God, how do I do that? Spend time with Him. His word, in prayer, in time. The more I know of Him, the more natural it is to respond because I am more aware of His heart, of His ways, of His view of things, He has a very wide aspect.
I want to be wide eyed and able to respond as naturally as breathing.
It seems to me my reaction time is a bit slow, or maybe my eyes are not open enough, or even, I am not looking because, it is not natural for me to have my eyes open, ready to respond, I am looking internally, responding to what is in front of me and missing need on the periphary.
How do I get naturally wide eyed?
It says at the beginning of Ephesians 5 that I should be an imitator of God, how do I do that? Spend time with Him. His word, in prayer, in time. The more I know of Him, the more natural it is to respond because I am more aware of His heart, of His ways, of His view of things, He has a very wide aspect.
I want to be wide eyed and able to respond as naturally as breathing.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Regeneration
I have a great book by a guy called Andrew Wilson called 'God Stories.' I hope it does not sound rude if I say it is a great toilet read, the chapters are really short and yet gets so much across, it is the perfect book for toilet concentration.
I was reading a chapter the other day on regeneration and what God does in and to our lives and it inspired this wee post.
It really made me think of Doctor Who, because he gets regenerated, when he gets mortally wounded or you think that is the end, or some actor does not want to be typecast, (even though they now already are), anyway, then Doctor Who gets regenerated.
New body, new voice, new habits, new characters in his life, new tastes and always a new dress sense. He becomes somebody completely new, yet, he has the same memories, the same knowledge, he is still the doctor.
Of course, easy analogy time.
New Christian, new body in spirit, new voice, new tastes, new habits, probably some new characters, maybe not the new dress sense, new life. Still you, memories and knowledge and such like and yet made brand new, a new creation, regenerated.
I was reading a chapter the other day on regeneration and what God does in and to our lives and it inspired this wee post.
It really made me think of Doctor Who, because he gets regenerated, when he gets mortally wounded or you think that is the end, or some actor does not want to be typecast, (even though they now already are), anyway, then Doctor Who gets regenerated.
New body, new voice, new habits, new characters in his life, new tastes and always a new dress sense. He becomes somebody completely new, yet, he has the same memories, the same knowledge, he is still the doctor.
Of course, easy analogy time.
New Christian, new body in spirit, new voice, new tastes, new habits, probably some new characters, maybe not the new dress sense, new life. Still you, memories and knowledge and such like and yet made brand new, a new creation, regenerated.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Little Thoughts
I have lots of these little thoughts, little moments of clarity, or acknowledgement, or moments when I just notice God staring out at me in the most seemingly mundane or even worldly things, moments when God is apparent or makes himself known through the T.V. or driving or nature. Most of these thoughts disappear into the ether minutes after I have them, I am now attempting to make notes when I am inspired and hopefully just share something short and hopefully noteworthy which has caught my eye, or just started me thinking.
I was watching Film 2011 the other night, when I had a moment like this, they were talking about remakes, asking why people cannot be original, have to copy, or take something great and try and redo it when it does not need redoing or updating, or translating, it was fine the way it was, that is what made it a classic in the first place. Remaking stifles originality, yet of course in the film making world, it is all about the money, tried and tested may mean profit, rather than the risk of originality which can be hit and miss.
The church can sometimes act like this, somebody once referred to McChurch, the way services, ministries,etc.. are replicated in so many churches up and down the country, exactly the same service, same format, same ministries.
This can work.
If that is what God is saying to you.
But what if He is saying do something new? How easy is it to break the mould?
From Enoch to today, God has asked us to walk in new ways with Him, I bet Noah just wanted to be like Enoch and walk with God, but God wanted him to build an ark, I bet Abram did not want to go walkabout but would have preferred to build an ark, God had already asked someone to do that. How about Martin Luther? Or Wesley? Or countless others, who responded to God's originality, rather than just trying to make a dull remake.
I was watching Film 2011 the other night, when I had a moment like this, they were talking about remakes, asking why people cannot be original, have to copy, or take something great and try and redo it when it does not need redoing or updating, or translating, it was fine the way it was, that is what made it a classic in the first place. Remaking stifles originality, yet of course in the film making world, it is all about the money, tried and tested may mean profit, rather than the risk of originality which can be hit and miss.
The church can sometimes act like this, somebody once referred to McChurch, the way services, ministries,etc.. are replicated in so many churches up and down the country, exactly the same service, same format, same ministries.
This can work.
If that is what God is saying to you.
But what if He is saying do something new? How easy is it to break the mould?
From Enoch to today, God has asked us to walk in new ways with Him, I bet Noah just wanted to be like Enoch and walk with God, but God wanted him to build an ark, I bet Abram did not want to go walkabout but would have preferred to build an ark, God had already asked someone to do that. How about Martin Luther? Or Wesley? Or countless others, who responded to God's originality, rather than just trying to make a dull remake.
Monday, 21 November 2011
IPhone
This is me being very modern and attempting to blog from my phone. So this will be a very short blog as it is just a tester, but I still have something to share which has been on my mind now for a while.
There should be a difference between the living and the dead.
There is obviously a natural difference between a live physical body and a dead physical body. Should there not be a difference between a dead spiritual person and a living spiritual person?
Sometimes it is very plain to see when someone is saved the huge difference Christ has made in their lives and there are people I know who really shine differently from those around them because they are really alive in Christ, yet there seems to me, too many of us who there is no difference between us and the bloke down the road who has no idea who Jesus even is, in habits or deeds or way of life.
Surely there should be a difference.
There should be a difference between the living and the dead.
There is obviously a natural difference between a live physical body and a dead physical body. Should there not be a difference between a dead spiritual person and a living spiritual person?
Sometimes it is very plain to see when someone is saved the huge difference Christ has made in their lives and there are people I know who really shine differently from those around them because they are really alive in Christ, yet there seems to me, too many of us who there is no difference between us and the bloke down the road who has no idea who Jesus even is, in habits or deeds or way of life.
Surely there should be a difference.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Right Eyes
I am doing a degree course at the moment, which I am thoroughly enjoying and learning a lot from, there are a wide range of topics within this first course I am doing, ranging from Cleopatra to Michael Faraday to Cezanne. Out of all of these so far, the one I have enjoyed the most has been Cezanne and probably the biggest reason for my enjoyment is that my whole view of modern art has been changed as I have studied. As I was writing an essay on this artist I suddenly found myself defending him and understanding what he was doing, it was a wonderful epiphanal moment. The German poet Rilke, has a similar experience, he said he suddenly started seeing the paintings through 'the right eyes.'
The veil needs to fall away, because there is a veil in all our thinking, putting limits on God, putting God in a box, just not even getting who God is.
I find myself hearing more and more truth, I have to be discerning and I don't jump on everything I hear and run with it, but when I hear something which is truth and I meditate on it and think about what that means in my life then I start to see something new with the 'right eyes.'
I cannot force anyone to believe anything, I can only share truth and hope that something clicks, as it did and continues to do for me.
.
The veil needs to fall away, because there is a veil in all our thinking, putting limits on God, putting God in a box, just not even getting who God is.
I find myself hearing more and more truth, I have to be discerning and I don't jump on everything I hear and run with it, but when I hear something which is truth and I meditate on it and think about what that means in my life then I start to see something new with the 'right eyes.'
I cannot force anyone to believe anything, I can only share truth and hope that something clicks, as it did and continues to do for me.
.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Driving Again
Driving is something I do a lot of, it is also something I have blogged about on many occasions. The thing is, the way people act in their cars, it can be such a magnified reflection of people in real life.
The other night, on my way home from work, there is a place where there is a short piece of dual carriageway which then goes to down to one lane, it is a chance to get past any slow moving traffic, because after that, for the next 15miles, it is single lane traffic. Anyway, on this night, I overtook a lorry and then had a car overtake me, a bit ahead, I could see another lorry and wondered if I would get to overtake it or not and in my rearview mirror I could see another car in the overtaking lane that was going to overtake me.
As I got closer to the lorry, I kept my eye on the vehicle behind, which was still sitting where it was before, just behind me, in the overtaking lane, not overtaking and making me think, whether I would be able to or not, then as we got to the point of the road becoming one lane, I thought, well I won't bother overtaking, I can sit behind the lorry, it is ok. At this point the car behind notices that the road is becoming one lane and tries to overtake me and the lorry and fails miserably, and has to pull right in front of me. I flashed the driver in front, I was a bit peeved, this was dangerous, but the fella, put his hand up to apologise and I was happy to let it go. The driver was not finished though, he decided to overtake the lorry anyway, on a blind dip and nearly causes another accident, I don't know why he did it, maybe he thought I was an angry driver behind him. Lastly, 12 or so miles further down the road, the lorry is gone and I have clear road ahead when I come across this dawdling vehicle trundling along delaying me getting home and who is it? But my friend the dangerous overtaker.
My lesson, how many times do we do something stupid, dangerous or just plain wrong and follow that up by trying to escape the shame or truth and do something more stupid, more dangerous or more wrong and yet in the end, it all catches up with us.
.
The other night, on my way home from work, there is a place where there is a short piece of dual carriageway which then goes to down to one lane, it is a chance to get past any slow moving traffic, because after that, for the next 15miles, it is single lane traffic. Anyway, on this night, I overtook a lorry and then had a car overtake me, a bit ahead, I could see another lorry and wondered if I would get to overtake it or not and in my rearview mirror I could see another car in the overtaking lane that was going to overtake me.
As I got closer to the lorry, I kept my eye on the vehicle behind, which was still sitting where it was before, just behind me, in the overtaking lane, not overtaking and making me think, whether I would be able to or not, then as we got to the point of the road becoming one lane, I thought, well I won't bother overtaking, I can sit behind the lorry, it is ok. At this point the car behind notices that the road is becoming one lane and tries to overtake me and the lorry and fails miserably, and has to pull right in front of me. I flashed the driver in front, I was a bit peeved, this was dangerous, but the fella, put his hand up to apologise and I was happy to let it go. The driver was not finished though, he decided to overtake the lorry anyway, on a blind dip and nearly causes another accident, I don't know why he did it, maybe he thought I was an angry driver behind him. Lastly, 12 or so miles further down the road, the lorry is gone and I have clear road ahead when I come across this dawdling vehicle trundling along delaying me getting home and who is it? But my friend the dangerous overtaker.
My lesson, how many times do we do something stupid, dangerous or just plain wrong and follow that up by trying to escape the shame or truth and do something more stupid, more dangerous or more wrong and yet in the end, it all catches up with us.
.
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Church Leaders vs. football managers
Just a mixture of conversations I had between one of my brothers and my Dad, led me to start thinking about football managers and church leaders and some similarities.
A team I really struggle with talking about is Man U, horrible, horrible team, I will not say anymore, except, my dad, father in law and 2 of my brother in laws all support them and me being a Liverpool fan, is sometimes not pretty. The thing is, at man U at the moment, they will be at the top of their game for a long while, they are and will probably continue to be successful, and the probable biggest reason for this is the manager.
He is consistent, stable , innovative and some not very nice things as well, he has the support of his team and of the fans, he is building for the future and has done plenty, but if I remember rightly, at one point he was one game away from being sacked, I wonder what way Man U would have went if they had of sacked him?
I look at how some managers are treated and it is wrong, they never get the chance, things are handled badly internally, there is divisiveness, there is a lack of support, destined to fail. Yet as well, there are those that should not be in the job, those that fail and carry on regardless and cause more damage to their club, not knowing when to walk away, or to notice that things are not working, or the club does not handle the situation properly, fails to act and once again causes more damage.
All of these things have plenty to do with church leaders, especially new church leaders. How many times does a new leader come in and people are against him from the off, not supportive, decisive, not even willing to give someone a chance, a church leader walking into that situation is being set up to fail.
There are leaders that maybe should never have been appointed and are maybe in the wrong place, but an awful lot of the time, it is the support that is lacking, look what can happen if they do get the support, the backing, the chance to lead effectively, if they do get the support from their team and their congregation.
I was told that something like, out of the 20 biggest churches in the world today, 18 have had the same leader for the last 20 years, Man U moment!
Also, it does seem to me that if the support is not united, then that runs all the way up.
When Jesus was talking in Revelation about churches he had a problem with, He didn't tell anyone to leave and go somewhere else, he told them to sort it out.
Support, not divide, a divided house will fall, supported, we will win.
.
A team I really struggle with talking about is Man U, horrible, horrible team, I will not say anymore, except, my dad, father in law and 2 of my brother in laws all support them and me being a Liverpool fan, is sometimes not pretty. The thing is, at man U at the moment, they will be at the top of their game for a long while, they are and will probably continue to be successful, and the probable biggest reason for this is the manager.
He is consistent, stable , innovative and some not very nice things as well, he has the support of his team and of the fans, he is building for the future and has done plenty, but if I remember rightly, at one point he was one game away from being sacked, I wonder what way Man U would have went if they had of sacked him?
I look at how some managers are treated and it is wrong, they never get the chance, things are handled badly internally, there is divisiveness, there is a lack of support, destined to fail. Yet as well, there are those that should not be in the job, those that fail and carry on regardless and cause more damage to their club, not knowing when to walk away, or to notice that things are not working, or the club does not handle the situation properly, fails to act and once again causes more damage.
All of these things have plenty to do with church leaders, especially new church leaders. How many times does a new leader come in and people are against him from the off, not supportive, decisive, not even willing to give someone a chance, a church leader walking into that situation is being set up to fail.
There are leaders that maybe should never have been appointed and are maybe in the wrong place, but an awful lot of the time, it is the support that is lacking, look what can happen if they do get the support, the backing, the chance to lead effectively, if they do get the support from their team and their congregation.
I was told that something like, out of the 20 biggest churches in the world today, 18 have had the same leader for the last 20 years, Man U moment!
Also, it does seem to me that if the support is not united, then that runs all the way up.
When Jesus was talking in Revelation about churches he had a problem with, He didn't tell anyone to leave and go somewhere else, he told them to sort it out.
Support, not divide, a divided house will fall, supported, we will win.
.
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Forgiveness
In my time I have wanted to lash out so much, I have done on occasion, there is so much that is not fair, so many that hurt others with no comeback and yet I am called to forgive.
The lord's prayer says ' Forgive me my trespasses and help me to forgive those that trespass against me.' Jesus goes on to say, if you forgive you will be forgiven, in Mark 11, Jesus says again when you stand praying 'forgive.'
More importantly, and in example, as Jesus was dying horribly on the cross, he asked his Father, 'forgive them..' Not 'when', not 'if', just forgive.
As a parent, I have wanted to hurt those that have hurt mine, yet the biggest truth and greatest example of forgiveness comes from God, when he saw his own son tortured, abused and murdered and forgave.
So hard, yet true, difficult, but the example has been set, and ultimately, beyond that forgiveness, beyond vengance and bitterness, anger and pain, lies freedom and life
.
The lord's prayer says ' Forgive me my trespasses and help me to forgive those that trespass against me.' Jesus goes on to say, if you forgive you will be forgiven, in Mark 11, Jesus says again when you stand praying 'forgive.'
More importantly, and in example, as Jesus was dying horribly on the cross, he asked his Father, 'forgive them..' Not 'when', not 'if', just forgive.
As a parent, I have wanted to hurt those that have hurt mine, yet the biggest truth and greatest example of forgiveness comes from God, when he saw his own son tortured, abused and murdered and forgave.
So hard, yet true, difficult, but the example has been set, and ultimately, beyond that forgiveness, beyond vengance and bitterness, anger and pain, lies freedom and life
.
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
The Pursuit Of......
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is one of the most famous phrases from the U.S. declaration of independence, I like the idea of pursuit, to chase after something, to try to attain, it involves an effort, although it does not mean that the thing pursued is attained.
I am involved in an accountability group, based on a model from the Organic Church book by Neil Cole, in it there is a question, am I pursuing freedom from strongholds/patterns of behaviour?
I am challenged by this, it involves making choices and decisions which lead me into freedom and yet it encourages me in its pursuit, rather than its goal. I mess up, sometimes I really don't get it, but I am willing to chase, to keep running the race and keep pursuing.
Paul said in Philippians 3:12
'Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.'
I intend to keep following
I am involved in an accountability group, based on a model from the Organic Church book by Neil Cole, in it there is a question, am I pursuing freedom from strongholds/patterns of behaviour?
I am challenged by this, it involves making choices and decisions which lead me into freedom and yet it encourages me in its pursuit, rather than its goal. I mess up, sometimes I really don't get it, but I am willing to chase, to keep running the race and keep pursuing.
Paul said in Philippians 3:12
'Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.'
I intend to keep following
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
A Good Song
On the video bar down the side of this blog I have set the song 'You Never Let Go' by Matt Redman. It is a great song and one I find myself singing to myself during the week, it has some basic truths in it that really inspire and comfort me, mainly that whatever I am going through, God has promised to never leave me nor forsake me, never, ever, no matter what hole I find myself in, or put myself in, no matter how much I get caught up in what I am doing and forget Him, He will never forget me.
I love the fact that in the middle of this song, is a battlecry 'And I will fear no evil, for my God is with me, and if my God is with me, who then shall I fear? Speak that into every situation, it is true.
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I love the fact that in the middle of this song, is a battlecry 'And I will fear no evil, for my God is with me, and if my God is with me, who then shall I fear? Speak that into every situation, it is true.
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Tuesday, 26 July 2011
A good book
One of my favourite books is 'Loving the God who Loves You' by Floyd McClung, a book full of some real truths to really grasp.
The other day at work I quoted him, this was the quote;
'It is Jesus who came to bridge that great chasm. Religion is man's way of searching for God, but Jesus is God's way of searching for man.'
Love it.
The other day at work I quoted him, this was the quote;
'It is Jesus who came to bridge that great chasm. Religion is man's way of searching for God, but Jesus is God's way of searching for man.'
Love it.
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Something to share
Just felt I really wanted to share this, been on my mind, it is the beatitudes, from Matthew 5, this is from the Message paraphrase.
"3'You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4'You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5'You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6'You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7'You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8'You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9'You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10'You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
11-12'Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."
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"3'You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4'You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5'You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6'You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7'You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8'You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9'You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10'You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
11-12'Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."
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Sunday, 17 July 2011
Something Older
When speaking last year, I used this analogy,
I was watching a football match about six years ago, between a certain liverpool F.C. and one A.C.Milan. At half time, Liverpool, the team I have followed since a small child were 3-0 down in the final of the European Champions Leaugue Final. It was easy to give up, it was hard to see any way back, any chance of Liverpool being able to contribute, to even be in the game, let alone a chance of them coming back and winning. Some believed, had faith and when the players came out for the second half, it was the Anfield anthem, 'You'll never walk alone' that was being sung. Liverpool went on to win, in the most dramatic fashion, scoring three and taking it past extra time to win on penalties.
In life, we often view things at half time, at the point when we are three nil down. I believe that God is sovereign, knows and rules over all, and he knows the full time score, there is no situation that is too dire or too far gone, redemption is open to all and all those situations can be turned around, every one, don't give up, when all is said and done, before we even get to extra time and penalties. Jesus has already won.
I was watching a football match about six years ago, between a certain liverpool F.C. and one A.C.Milan. At half time, Liverpool, the team I have followed since a small child were 3-0 down in the final of the European Champions Leaugue Final. It was easy to give up, it was hard to see any way back, any chance of Liverpool being able to contribute, to even be in the game, let alone a chance of them coming back and winning. Some believed, had faith and when the players came out for the second half, it was the Anfield anthem, 'You'll never walk alone' that was being sung. Liverpool went on to win, in the most dramatic fashion, scoring three and taking it past extra time to win on penalties.
In life, we often view things at half time, at the point when we are three nil down. I believe that God is sovereign, knows and rules over all, and he knows the full time score, there is no situation that is too dire or too far gone, redemption is open to all and all those situations can be turned around, every one, don't give up, when all is said and done, before we even get to extra time and penalties. Jesus has already won.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Moods
Time is going so quickly, I am an horrendous blogger. I am also aware that I am constantly saying that I am busy or tired, I have time I probably don't use well enough and I do get tired but it is not an excuse for behaviour or not doing something, I am getting to the point now where if I say I am tired, I feel like I have just swore or something, because the next thing that will come out of my mouth will be an excuse for that, or me saying I'm tired will be the excuse for something else.
I need to eat healthier and exercise more frequently, sorry, let me be honest, I need to start exercising, I have a lot on, but it is all manageable, and it is great to be alive in so much, I have spent so much of my life doing nothing, sat in front of a tv, drunk, every night, dreaming on what ifs. Now I don't mind having a beer and watching a bit of telly, but I do not want that to be my life and for so long it was. I am now busy in other things, which is not the thing that drives me, but I want to be able to do, and yet I have so many bad habits still, that seem to affect my moods and fatigue and these are mainly lifestyle choices that I need to get a grip on.
My lifestyle probably needs a bit of a health check and I could do with a break, which fortunately, this month, we all will have, it will be nice to recharge and a good oppurtunity when we come back to start behaving a bit healthier.
I need to eat healthier and exercise more frequently, sorry, let me be honest, I need to start exercising, I have a lot on, but it is all manageable, and it is great to be alive in so much, I have spent so much of my life doing nothing, sat in front of a tv, drunk, every night, dreaming on what ifs. Now I don't mind having a beer and watching a bit of telly, but I do not want that to be my life and for so long it was. I am now busy in other things, which is not the thing that drives me, but I want to be able to do, and yet I have so many bad habits still, that seem to affect my moods and fatigue and these are mainly lifestyle choices that I need to get a grip on.
My lifestyle probably needs a bit of a health check and I could do with a break, which fortunately, this month, we all will have, it will be nice to recharge and a good oppurtunity when we come back to start behaving a bit healthier.
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