andrew barry's blogspot

This blog has moved

2010-06-17T23:31:00.001+10:00

After a period of silence that has been almost an age - this blog has moved to a new location: andrewbarry.me.

Blogging Problem

2009-11-22T08:48:00.003+11:00

I apologise to any readers of this blog who have been concerned about the far-too-often changes to the appearance of this blog. I'm having a problem that I am trying to rectify.

I recant, I do believe in human induced global warming

2009-11-21T11:17:00.000+11:00

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:8-10)

Old people don't really care about the environment as much as young people

2009-11-21T10:29:00.011+11:00

This came up in my Bible study group this week as we were talking about intergenerational differences.

Here are my first five replies? What do you think? Could you add some others?

1. They actually do care more for the environment than younger people. They turn off lights, use the dryer less, buy less disposable products and on the whole live more simply.

2. Many of them lived through the seventies, when the lastest fear campaign was global cooling. With perspective, they are a bit "over" the hype.

3. Most of them know that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant. Plants love the stuff.

4. Through experience, for good and for ill, most them know that they are not in a position to change the world. There are larger forces at work: perhaps the patterns of the sun is one such example. They also remember hotter days in the past.

5. They are less impressed by "edgy videos of hockey graphs" and are somewhat cynical of anything new. Some are also reactionary. The more the young are "into it" in unthoughtful ways, the more some older people buck against it.

BTW. I think we should care for the environment. I have just become cooler on human induced global warming over the last two years. And no, its not just my shift from Annandale to the Sutherland Shire.

I think that we need to use our brains judiciously, separated from politics and business. The best "religious" word that I have heard comes from someone with whom I don't often find myself in agreement. Also, BTW, he is also an old man.

We need to care for the environment: it has been entrusted to men and women to be protected and cultivated with responsible freedom, with the good of all as a constant guiding criterion. Human beings, obviously, are of supreme worth vis-à-vis creation as a whole. Respecting the environment does not mean considering material or animal nature more important than man.

Humanity today is rightly concerned about the ecological balance of tomorrow. It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions, and above all with the aim of reaching agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances.

Pope Benedict XVI, 1 January 2008

"King" sings "The Bethlehemian Rhapsody"

2009-11-20T15:40:00.000+11:00

h/t Gordon Cheng

Writing your own prayers

2009-11-19T15:37:00.007+11:00

A friend and I read through Psalm 55 last week. I wondered whether we should learn not just the content (of the rich theology) but also the method (of turning our thoughts to God and writing them down). We decided to each write out a prayer to God, like the Puritans used to do. Here is mine. It only took a couple of minutes. Let me say that I am no poet and I did not write it to be shared, but I found expanding my thoughts really useful. A particularly large financial decision looms behind this prayer.

Father, have mercy on me.
The fog overwhelms me
The burdens outweigh me
The sin infests me
But you are my light
And in you there is no darkness at all
Father, have mercy on me.

The lions are within me
The devil is against me
The accusations are inside me
But you are my comforter
And in Christ there is lasting peace
Father, have mercy on me.

Am I about to do something foolish?
Am I about to do something worldly?
Am I about to do something that will count against me?
Or am I doing what is right?
Am I being wise?
Am I providing for my own?
Guard my heart and my head
Father, have mercy on me.

Give me a love for your saints
Give me a love for the lost
And give me a love for you.

Fix my eyes on the one who calls me
Turn my ears to the one who teaches me
Use my hands for the one who died for me
And use my life for the one who gave me his.

Anything wrong
Anything I hold back
Anything hidden and secret that repulses you
Anything that turns my heart from you.

Painfully remove from me
Father, have mercy on me.

Self Image - part three (I really like this one, taken with kind permission from my wife's private blog)

2009-11-10T19:03:00.005+11:00

I realised that my plan revolved around good things - marriage, children... but not around the best thing - God.

Although there was lots of 'Christian' stuff in my plans, and what I desired were wonderful gifts from God - I had tried to understand my identity through what I was doing, not who I was.

I came to realise that I needed to see myself as God's child. That is who I am. I am His, I am forgiven, I am made in His image, I am redeemed...

I needed to realise that I couldn't make permanent a phase of life, just because I had never thought beyond that phase. My plans as an 8 yr old were totally flawed, because life continues, and I had never thought about it past a certain point...

I have since then come to understand that if I start with the mindset that I am primarily God's child, then everything else in my life falls into perspective, and into place.

So, yes, I am a mother. That's great... but I wont be a mother of young children forever - that is just the wonderful role God has given me at this time in my life - and because of my relationship with God - I want to do my best at living that phase for Him - teaching, loving, rumbling, feeding, caring for etc those precious little ones He has so blessed me with. But this is a stage.

I am a wife - yes. And I so dearly love my husband - but if I only see my identity as a wife, then if anything ever happened to him, I would no longer know who I was. I am first a child of God, and for this time, and hopefully the rest of my life (I want to die before AB), I will get to enjoy being a wife to AB - this is a God given gift - and because it's God given - I want to be the best wife for AB that I can be, for God - as well as for AB!

I have school aged kids - yes. And as God's child, I need to enjoy my school aged kids, and all that these older children need me for - part of which is starting to let them do much more than they did as younger children at home - I need to see this as a phase of my life too - with thanksgiving, because it is a God given phase for which I am thankful.

And when the kids leave home, or when I grow old, or whatever future I have - the dependable truth is that I am God's child. I will try and live with whatever phases of life God gives me, and be thankful for it.

I don't know if that makes sense to any of the readers of this blog - but it really revolutionized my thinking and self image. I live for God. I live for His plans. I don't worry about 'what next', because God is in control of that. And I live with great thankfulness for each wonderful gift or phase God has given me. Once I get that I am God's child, all the other things just fall into place, in the right perspective.

It's a very freeing realization.

Once that was sorted, I didn't have 'E' to somehow continue that gap of all my young ones being at school, therefore I'll have no role in life - we had 'E' because Buzz and I dearly love babies, and wanted another one. And I have in some ways enjoyed her more because of that difference. I still don't want this phase of my life to finish, and still long for each day with 'E' to go by slowly - but, I am no longer afraid of what's next. What's next is the same as what's now - I am God's child.... the other bits are merely details.

Self Image - part two (I really like this one, taken with kind permission from my wife's private blog)

2009-11-10T19:03:00.002+11:00

So, to summarise - things were going according to my eight year old plan...

Then, I turned 31.

I had four boys, Buzz was working as a minister... and I had two children at school...

But I was unhappy with so many things.

Wasn't this always my plan? Weren't things the way I wanted them to be?

My plans hadn't changed all through highschool. This was a plan I held for many many years... in fact - till I was 31! In fact - it was a 23 yr old plan...

But, as my children were going to school, and I was into my thirties, I found myself increasingly dissatisfied with my plan.

And it took me a while - but I realised the problem - my plan had no chapter after having young children at home. It didn't have a 'what next' section. It was a plan that only went up to young children - and as so many of us know - the young children phase is very short. Kids grow, and go to school.

My plan was limited, and I was limited by following this plan. And I felt empty and lost and confused and disappointed.

I didn't know what came next, as I had never thought about it - and I felt old and like I had no identity anymore.

Self Image - part one (I really like this one, taken with kind permission from my wife's private blog)

2009-11-10T18:59:00.003+11:00

I went to a morning tea last Friday for school mums.

It was encouraging.

I got into conversation with someone about kids and image and my understanding of life... after I told her what I thought, she told me I should write a book about it! (cute, but I can't even finish the one I started five years ago!).

But I thought I would share what I was talking about on my blog.

When I was 8 years old, I mapped out my plan for life. I remember doing it and being pleased with my plans.

I was going to finish school, go to Sydney Girls Highschool, and then do an Arts degree at UNSW. Whilst studying at university - English, history and music, I would meet a lovely Christian man - who was also doing an Arts degree. We would marry at the end of our degrees. We would both be teachers for a while, then he would go onto Moore College to train to be a minister. We would have six children - three girls and three boys after college, and I would stop working and spend all my days looking after them. The end.

That was my plan. Totally, that was it.

So - reality - I did finish school. I did go to SGHS. I did do an Arts degree in English and history, with a year of music as well. I did go onto do a diploma of education. I did marry a minister.

I met my husband at highschool not uni. He did a science degree not an Arts degree - although he also did a dip ed after his science degree. We married at the end of second year uni, not after we had completed our degrees. We had a handful of boys - well, four.... and then one girl, and it is unlikely we will have any more children. I never taught in a school, but continued as a piano, trumpet and music teacher for preschool age children. We had children during our time at Moore College - in fact, we had a baby three out of the four years we were there!

So, although there were a lot of differences between my plan, and what eventuated, actually there were also a lot of similarities. Things basically went according to my eight year old ideas.

.....next installment coming soon....

The throne of God

2009-11-06T05:30:00.004+11:00

I'm working on my talks for our first Saturday Church weekend away. The topic is the Throne of God. I'm mainly speaking on Revelation 4 and 5, but I'll be referring to the theme elsewhere. Can I say again how fantastic Spurgeon's sermons are? I stumbled on this one on Hebrews 4:12, about approaching the throne of grace. In one small section he says that because we come to a throne, we are to pray with:

lowly reverence
devout joyfulness
complete submission
enlarged expectations
unstaggering confidence
and deepest sincerity

I'm not normally a fan, but ...

2009-11-06T04:15:00.006+11:00

From the Country Music Awards, 1989.

The devil wears pride-a

2009-11-05T17:56:00.017+11:00

A few years ago I read part of Milton's Paradise Lost with one of my very valued MTS trainees. (I can be a bit random in my "training").

I am intrigued by Milton's take on Psalm 2. For Milton, as far as I could "see", Psalm 2 forms material for the fall of Satan.

Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.
“Let us break their chains,” they say,
“and throw off their fetters.”

“I have installed my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
He said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.
Psalm 2.1-3,5-6 (NIV)

Most of us take Psalm 2 to have at least two referents:
1. The nations rise up against the anointed one at Zion, King David, and he conquers them. (1000 BC)
2. The nations rise up against the anointed one at Zion, Christ, and he is/and will conquer them all (AD 33 until the judgment of the world)

But Milton adds a third referent. What happens on earth in people has already happened to an extent in the heavenly realms.
3. At the first revelation to them of God the Son, spiritual forces, including angels under the leadership of Satan rebel. They are "happy" to answer to God, but will not submit to his Christ. At the dawn of time, it was envy of Christ that led Satan to fall.

From book 5 of Paradise Lost. (Tip: It is so much easier to understand if you read it out loud and don't get bogged down on the details you don't understand)

Hear all ye Angels, Progenie of Light, [ 600 ]
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers,
Hear my Decree, which unrevok't shall stand.
This day I have begot whom I declare
My onely Son, and on this holy Hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold [ 605 ]
At my right hand; your Head I him appoint;
And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow
All knees in Heav'n, and shall confess him Lord:
Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide
United as one individual Soule [ 610 ]
For ever happie: him who disobeyes
Mee disobeyes, breaks union, and that day
Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls
Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place
Ordaind without redemption, without end. [ 615 ]
So spake th' Omnipotent, and with his words
All seemd well pleas'd, all seem'd, but were not all.

Satan, so call him now, his former name
Is heard no more in Heav'n; he of the first,
If not the first Arch-Angel, great in Power, [ 660 ]
In favour and præeminence, yet fraught
With envie against the Son of God, that day
Honourd by his great Father, and proclaimd
Messiah King anointed, could not beare
Through pride that sight, & thought himself impaird. [ 665 ]
Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain,
Soon as midnight brought on the duskie houre
Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd
With all his Legions to dislodge, and leave
Unworshipt, unobey'd the Throne supream [ 670 ]
Contemptuous, and his next subordinate
Awak'ning, thus to him in secret spake.

Satan and all his army leaves and plots for war. What happens next is truly astounding! I encourage you to read on. How could Satan think he could stand against God?

Although the details are missing in the Bible, what Milton offers is a godly imagining of the events - steeped in Biblical allusions. What do you like about Milton's treatment of the fall of Satan? What does the Bible say?

Does it make sense of Psalm 8 as well and Hebrews 2? Satan was envious of a man who would be placed over all the angelic beings?

Do you hate your clothes?

2009-11-05T16:59:00.011+11:00

Like half the population, I really hate clothes shopping. But unlike the other half of the population I don't really have a love/hate relationship with my clothes. But the Bible says that I should, somehow...

Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 22-23.

There is so much "clothing" imagery in the scriptures. We are clothed in Christ, the perishable will be clothed with the imperishable, we are to put off the old and put on the new etc... The most startling of all is the "white robe" passages in Revelation 6-7 given to those who overcome, who have washed themselves in the blood of the lamb. Perhaps someone could come up with a 2WTL outline based on the clothing motif!?!

So many different sorts of metaphors, but what is the sense here? I'm thinking out loud. What about the Old Testament?

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. (Zechariah 3:3-5; see also 3:1-2; Joshua is snatched from the fire by an angel just as Jude 22 commands us to do)

I'm still thinking it through, but I must hate my dirty, daggy, disgusting clothes more and more and love the righteousness of Christ that God puts on me. This is indeed a strong metaphor. I may dislike clothes shopping, but I am called to hate sin.

While I normally don't like the expression, love the sinner, hate the sin, in Jude 22-23 it takes on a new meaning. Show mercy to someone and yet fearfully hate the sin they are entangled in. We fearfully hate the sin, because it is not to be messed with.

Perhaps we are not only meant to hate our own clothes, we are meant to fearfully hate other people's clothes as well. These are just first thoughts. Any insights out there?

NB. I think it is important that we don't judgmentally hate other people's sin, but that we fearfully hate other people's sin.

The richest man in the world

2009-11-04T19:51:00.010+11:00

I recently shared with my church family one of my favourite memories.

I took my four boys to Mt Annan Botanical gardens earlier in the year. We didn't really look at the plants, but instead rode the scooters down the hills. They kept going higher, but wouldn't brave the highest hill. I took charge and showed them how it was done. It was my maiden trip. Halfway down the great slope there was a loud *crack*. The pin in the scooter snapped and I was thrown off. (Apparently there was a 25kg weight limit on the scooter).

I hit the concrete quite hard and rolled a couple of times, lacerating quite large sections of my back, shoulders and arms. I should have been distressed - but I was actually beaming about it all day. My four boys rushed over to me and cared for me. They were all asking if I was OK and were trying to help. I was just smiling. With my quiver full of boys all at an age when they can care about their dad and can actually do something about it, I felt like the richest man in the world. This was something new and something fantastic.

There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—a miserable business!

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:8-10)

Ten of the things I am thankful for

2009-11-04T19:46:00.003+11:00

1. My Creator, Defender, Redeemer and Friend
2. My wife, Ruth
3. My parents
4. My brother and sister
5. My kids
6. My church
7. My youth group leaders when I was young
8. My friends
9. My college, Moore College
10. My in-laws

The Fire

2009-06-12T13:47:00.005+10:00

Watch and pray.

We Must Focus on the Christian Poor

2009-06-04T13:17:00.011+10:00

I just submitted the following article to Sola Panel . Here is how it begins. You'll have to wait a few days until it comes out in full.

We should be generous with what we have and be willing to share with everyone, but God’s word gives us a focus. That focus is the Christian poor.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10)

This verse tells us to do good
• to everyone
• as we have opportunity (we can’t carry the burdens of the whole world on our limited shoulders)
• and especially to those who are of the household of faith (the focus)

Just as we are responsible for those in our immediate families, we have a natural responsibility for those in our spiritual family. If we cannot look after our own, how could we presume to look after others? Charity must begin at home. Complete the following sentence:

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for _____________. (John 13:35)

Even the famous Matthew 25, which some general aid groups insultingly call “the great omission”, is talking about caring for fellow believers.

And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:40)

Check out Sola Panel out for the full article in a few days time.

Don't Go to Moore College To Become a Theologian!!!!

2009-05-30T11:41:00.010+10:00

1. How do you become a theologian?

1. Read/hear God's gracious gospel.
2. Accept it in its entirety.
3. Pray to your heavenly Father, be obedient to Christ as Lord, and walk in the Holy Spirit.
4. Join with God's people as they do all of the above.

2. How do you become a good theologian?

Keep doing all of the above. Grow in the knowledge of God.

3. How do you become a discerning theologian?

Do all of the above as you engage with non-Christians and Christians with whom you disagree.

4. How do you become a well read and discerning theologian?

Do all of the above and read lots of books.

The Rich Life: Psalm 112

2009-05-29T07:41:00.004+10:00

This Psalm is surely a vivid image of the good life. In the first place it finds its expression in Christ and yet somehow also resonates with us. Although we ought to think: are the expressions of blessing, blessings of the Old Covenant?

Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.

Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.
The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

The Healing Service at the Cathedral

2009-05-26T16:36:00.003+10:00

Read Ali's experience. h/t Craig.

Jonathan Edwards on Hypocrites and Prayer

2009-05-25T21:52:00.008+10:00

I've just been reading through one of Jonathan Edward's (1703 - 1759) sermons with a young man. We talked about it briefly and prayed about it. We read "Hypocrites Deficient in the Duty of Prayer".

He has three points at the beginning
1. False Christians (hypocrites) call upon God for a time
2. After a while they stop private prayers
3. And he gives reasons why they do that

The reasons
1. False Christians never had the spirit of prayer given to them.
2. False Christians don't think they need anything from God
3. False Christians don't understand the force of God's commands for his people to watch and pray so that they will not fall into temptation
4. False Christians return to sinful practices which keep us from praying. Like Adam who hid from God when he knew he had done the wrong thing.
5. False Christians never counted the cost of perseverence.
6. False Christians don't value those kind means that God gives us to keep strong as Christians of which prayer is one of the most important.

If anyone wants to read through some Jonathan Edwards with me in a group at my church OR in an online discussion group - I would be count it a joy and a great honour and will make time for it.

Nametags

2009-05-25T09:43:00.004+10:00

It was this brief clip that has pushed me towards wearing handwritten sticker name tags at our new Saturday Church and for the next four weeks at Evening Church.

And it has been received really well. We love our brothers and sisters, we love those who are looking for God, but sometimes we just don't know their names. And this is the only thing that stops us talking to them.

God looks at those who listen

2009-05-22T22:49:00.005+10:00

“This is the one I esteem [literally - "look at"]: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

The Saturday Church launch is only hours away

2009-05-09T08:50:00.007+10:00

What are some things I'm looking forward to about Saturday Church? (in no particular order)

Heading up a ministry that my family is a part of.
Working with such a theological solid, yet highly entrepreneurial leadership team.
Seeing men and women who would not normally go to church go to church.
Seeing people try new things for the sake of Christ.
Lifting up Christ and see him draw people to himself. I'm really looking forward to preaching today from Luke 15:1-10 about a welcoming God and a welcoming church.
Having Sunday mornings with my family.
Having more energy for Sunday Evening Church. Paradoxically (perhaps) I have been able to see things more clearly and have actually had more energy for people at Sunday night when I wasn't at church all day.
Seeing God's people show acts of kindness to each other and express real hospitality after church.
Already seeing Saturday Church to be a blessing to the other congregations.
Seeing prayers answered.

Saturday Church begins in 5 hours

2009-05-02T11:36:00.004+10:00

I can't wait. At 5:30pm today we have our small launch of Saturday Church. I am blown away by the way that God's people have been pulling together to make this happen.

My Interview on Sola Panel

2009-04-30T09:07:00.007+10:00

I've been wondering when my interview would pop up on Sola Panel. I actually dreaded doing it and put it off for a while, but when I started thinking I found it really helpful to turn back to my earlier days in the Lord. There were huge stretches of my life that I did not talk about and there were many that on reflection I wish I could mention - but God knows you and I thank you for your kindness, rebukes, encouragement and friendship.

I hope this interview doesn't sound like there have never been disappointments or discouragements in my life. There have been. However, when I wrote these answers and even now, I am all-consumed by what God has done for me. I am so thankful to him. Anyway, here it is.

A book about Britain, a bath and a birthday

2009-04-29T04:57:00.009+10:00

I woke up very, very early this morning on the rare convergence of my day off (now moved to Wednesday because of my responsibilities on Sunday Evening and Saturday Church) and my birthday (yes - the older I get the more I like to talk about it).

For the last hour I have been reading from a great book: Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World (apologies to my American readers ;) ). This morning I actually have been reading it in the bath. How very English!!!!!

So far I have been taken back and shown how Britain established its empire by stealing from the Spanish, copying the financial strength of the Dutch, winning against the French and exploiting the Indians. Their domestic economy was in part driven by a sugar rush - a huge consumer interest in sugar, tea, coffee, tobacco, silk and callico. On the way through this journey, I have picked up little gems like these:

1. The word "company" was actually a shortening for "company of adventurers". Like "The Honourable Company of Adventurers of England Trading into Hudson's Bay" aka "The Hudson Bay Trading Company". Perhaps in this sense our churches are "companies". ;) "The Daring Company of Adventurers in Jannali Caring for the Soules of the Saints and Reaching the Lost in the Westerly Partes of the Southerland Shire of Sydney". However I should say that these companies were not so honourable nor egalitarian. Spin doctors were alive back then.

2. Ye olde advertising was so quaint. Can you guess what very English product Thomas Garraway claimed in the 1650s could cure:
"Headache, Stone, Gravel, Dropsy, Liptitude, Distillations, Scurvy, Sleepiness, Loss of Memory, Looseness or Griping of the Guts, Heavy Dreams and Collick proceeding from wind" ? (It sounds like he's making up a few of these!)

I'm really enjoying my day so far (it is only 5am). Thank you Lord for days for refreshing and encouragement. I can't wait until the family wakes up.

Actions Rather Than Attitudes

2009-04-27T09:36:00.010+10:00

I was asked so many great questions last night! I love God's people here at Jannali.

I'll just tell you about two discussions. One was about remembering and one about loving.

1. Someone asked me why in the book of Exodus it says of our Lord:

"God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob." (Exodus 2:24; italics mine)

Why does God remember his promises - has he forgotten them? Did it slip his mind? Did it take the cries of his children to bring it back to the front of his mind?

2. Someone else talked to me about loving and wanting to be a more loving person and having a warmer heart and asked me about love.

And the discussions were related. Both were about the way the Bible thinks and the way we think. I think the Bible thinks much more in terms of actions and less in terms of attitude.

1. When God remembers - it is an action. He brings it to mind. Just like we can be commanded to "remember God" and it is a sin to "forget him", God brings us into his mind. It is even possible to deliberately forget (2 Peter 3:5). The more you actively remember (in a Biblical sense), the more you remember God in our sense of the word (he remains on your mind).

2. Love is also an action. We are commanded to love. It is the whole point of this life! We do not wait for the feeling. My advice for this person who wants to be a warmer, more loving person was: not to wait for the feeling, but to do the actions. You do loving things to people and you stoke the fire of the affections. Often really bitter and selfish people are that way because they do not actually love anyone in actions. If loving a dog can take away some of the rough edges of bitterness, how much more a human being in actions. How much more, when we love God himself!

The same principle could be said of joy. It is a command! The more you rejoice (in the Biblical sense), the more you have joy (in our feeling sense).

Remember God, love him and rejoice in him - and the attitudes and feelings will follow.

God can't stand our prayers if ...

2009-04-22T05:56:00.015+10:00

God will hear anyone's prayer to become a Christian, but he can't stand hypocrisy amongst those who claim to be his children. 1 Peter gives three (3) reasons God won't hear us when we ask for things (=pray) and one (1) reason we will not even be able to do it.

1. God hates men's prayers if they abuse or hurt their wives. You may be able to fool other people, but God will not be mocked.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder (lit. cut off) your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7)

2. God blocks his ears if we aren't repentant. Festering sin matters more than we think.
He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:11-12)

3. God will not listen to those who are proud. He loves hearing the humble.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:5-7)

(from the other side) 4. We will not pray if we are not clear minded or lack self control.
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. (1 Peter 4:7)

This is another motivation for Christian living. We have to fix up our lives so we can pray and so God will hear our prayers. Christ is NOT a safe place to hide our sin from God; he is only a safe place to confess our sins and hide in.

10 days to go

2009-04-22T05:53:00.002+10:00

... until our soft launch of Saturday Church. 18 days until our hard launch. Bring it on. I'm really looking forward to it.

Is it here we stand?

2009-04-19T05:34:00.011+10:00

Put on your prophetic hat and help me out with something. There were struggles in the early Church, stands in Reformation, scraps in the eighties and nineties and lots of fights in between. In reality, every generation has had to man up and contend.

Where do you think the next generation (those now in their 20s and 30s) will have to take a stand?

I want to write on Sola Panel about this - but I wanted to hear others thoughts first.

We are saved by knowledge

2009-04-18T08:48:00.010+10:00

But not our own. I absolutely love this verse of Scripture and I have pondered it for a while.

... by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)

Christ stands in utter contrast to the other people of Israel and their leaders.

The ox knows his master,
the donkey his owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand.” (Isaiah 1:3)

While the Israelites offered totally useless sacrifices that were ruined because of the corruption of those offering them (Isaiah 1), Christ offered a sacrifice that worked amazingly (Isaiah 53). He knew just what it would take to please God. Like a skilled surgeon, Jesus is a skilled saviour. Jesus knew exactly what medicine we needed. And even more foundationally, he truly knew God in a way that none of us ever did. Knowing God is also a moral category. We twisted and turned from our knowledge of God and yet Christ retained it.

The one who alone truly knew God,
knew how God wanted to be known like no one else did,
knew how to please God like no one was doing,
knew how to save people like no one else could do,
and gave up everything
to bring us to know God.

... by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)

I'm waking up

2009-04-18T08:45:00.003+10:00

The blogging slumber is over - see the reasons in the comments below.

A Strange (Mis?)Application of Haggai 2

2009-01-30T23:09:00.007+11:00

“These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the LORD’S house to be built.’” Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
“... my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. (Haggai 2:2-4,9)

You know I am not a consistent blogger, but I have just made a commitment to stop blogging until I ensure my church website is *very* good. Mission is more important than my private thoughts. (I'll will still blog on Solapanel occasionally because prior commitments trump present ones)

Here's the work site. Check out our church site ... it was great in its day but is now in need of an overhaul.

http://www.jannalianglican.org.au/modules/content/index.php?id=34

It may(?) have a new address when the work is finished. We hope to give it a new look, have downloadable resources and (hopefully) options for paying for things online. Will you keep me to my commitment? 'See' you when I'm done.

A 'Theologian' Saved By God

2009-01-29T11:11:00.019+11:00

Here are a couple of highlights from Eta Linnemann who as a Biblical Professor (!) put her hand up at a Christian meeting to pledge a commitment to Christ for the first time. It is a beautiful read. There would have been great rejoicing on that day.

When she started as a student ...

"I started attending when he [Bultmann] was at chapter 12, and I do not remember what he had said concerning chapters 12-14. But I still remember what he said when he came to chapter 15:1-5, where Paul said:

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some of them have fallen asleep.

When Professor Bultmann came to the next verse, he said, “Here Paul is not at the usual height of his theology because he is speaking of the resurrection of Christ as if it were a historical fact.” Thus I learned as a young student in my very first term that we were not allowed to think of the resurrection of Christ as a historical fact. This great professor had said it, so it had to be. After all, how could I, as a young student, know more than my professors!"

And after she gave herself to Christ, she had a new perspective and is one of the feistiest anti-theological-establishment writers that I have read.

"The god of historical critical theology is like the statue of three monkeys: one is covering the eyes, the next covering the ears, and the third covering the mouth—seeing nothing, hearing nothing, speaking nothing—and as the hands are always occupied, doing nothing. But now I became aware of the living God! And in the same moment I became aware that I had been a blind teacher leading my blind students. I repented of my wrong teaching. I also realized that, despite all my years of study, I knew nothing of God. But through the grace of God, my reaction did not lead me to despair but to the conclusion that now I must get to work learning about this God."

Read her whole story ....

PS. Here is what Alex said on Gordon's Blog. Alex and Gordon, I hope you don't mind me repeating this.

Good ol' Eta Linnemann! She knows what she's talking about, having been a student of Bultmann and a famous professor of New Testament exegesis herself. Her [PhD thesis] "Gleichnisse Jesu" ("Parables of Jesus") received seven(!!!) editions and was translated into several languages (there were also at least two editions of the English translation). In the early 1980s she became a Christian, revoked everything what she had written before her conversion and forbade any further editions of her earlier works. Since then she writes one book after another on the failures of historical-critical exegesis. All her former German colleagues call her mad, of course.

A Sharp Word on Theology

2009-01-29T02:12:00.007+11:00

The concept of "theology" is not used univocally but equivocally. The word has a different sense in historical-critical theology than it has among evangelicals. We are accustomed to speaking of Bultmann's theology, or Barth's, or Moltmann's, or Jungel's. But which of us would speak in the same sense of Spenser's theology, or Wesley's, or Moody's, or Spurgeon's? Did the latter group somehow fail to make a theological contribution? Of course not. But they did not develop their own theology. That is, they did not construct a theology that could be named after them, containing specific, subjective divergences from the word of God.

It is only at the cost of a considerable independent divergence from God's word that a theologian's achievement wins renown in the current setting. The person who takes every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5) and loyally subordinates his thinking to God's revelation constructs no such theology. That person also no longer faces pressure to make a name for himself. For him it is enough if the Lord says to him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Eta Linnemann, Biblical Criticism on Trial (Grand Rapids: Kregel; 2001) , 117. The bold font is part of the original.

Biggest Pork Pies Told in Sermons #1

2009-01-25T12:10:00.005+11:00

There have been many of them. Leaving aside the theological dribble, it's the illustrations that can feel so right and yet be so wrong.

I remember being at a convention full of thousands of young people in the early nineties. We had Bobby Ferris' song , 'Don't Worry Be Happy' played for us. You know the one. Don't worry, be happy etc... After we all sang and whistled along with with the song we were told that Bobby Ferris, after making this song famous, killed himself. It was a powerful illustration of the unliveability of a 'no worries'-pollyanna attitude for people without God.

The illustration was brilliant - but it was not true at all!!!!! In fact Bobby Ferris is alive and well and still performing now.

Read the following http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/mcferrin.asp to find out more about how this world wide rumour perpetuated.

This has been pork pie #1 that I have heard in a sermon. I'm still haunted by how powerful the illustration was and yet how much bologne it was as well.

It was harder back then to verify the truth. We didn't have wikipedia. ;)

I'm sure we've heard plenty of porky pies in sermons now and then.
(nb. comments with names of offending preachers will be deleted).

Beautiful

2009-01-24T10:31:00.012+11:00

I spoke on physical appearance the other week at church. I only scratched the surface. One area I touched on was on how we all (and women in particular) should adorn ourselves with good deeds rather than expensive clothes, how we should seek our esteem from God and not others.

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. (1 Timothy 2:9-10 )

No less than six new women volunteered to teach scripture on that week alone! It may be a coincidence or it may be that God strengthened the decision they had already made. But it did remind me that people at our church serve God in so many ways and that (in particular) there are many truly beautiful women at our church.

May all God's people dress and accessorise themselves with good deeds as befits those who profess to worship God. There is great dignity for all human beings when we walk his way and not our own. Christian men grow stronger as their bodies grow weaker and Christian women grow even more beautiful.

Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

2009-01-24T09:33:00.007+11:00

Otis Redding's song, 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay' is one of the best songs ever written. I've probably heard it a hundred times but I haven't really reflected on the words. I find myself humming it when I'm enjoying myself with my family watching a sunrise, watching the storms roll across on a Sydney summer night, enjoying God's creation, delighting in life ...

I think I've totally misunderstood the song and confused its almost joyful tune for its miserable lyrics. But maybe that's the point.

Sitting in the morning sun
I'll be sitting when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
And I watch 'em roll away again

[Refrain]
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
I'm just sitting on the dock of the bay
Wasting time

I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the 'Frisco bay
'Cause I had nothin to live for
And look like nothing's gonna come my way

So I'm just...
[Refrain]

Look like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same

Sittin here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home

The song was released as a single in 1968 and went quickly to number one in the R&B and Pop charts. Sadly Otis Redding died a year before it was released. Apparently it was the first posthumous single released in the US charts.

Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises. (Ecclesiastes 1:4-5)

Back From Holidays

2008-12-19T07:05:00.010+11:00

... actually we've been back for almost a week, but it has taken me a while to get back to the blogging thing. Holiday highlights from Jimmy's Beach, Hawk's Nest, NSW ...

1. Seeing my whole family 'fall in love' with each other again and enjoy each other so much.
2. Spending time with Ruth and relaxing together.
3. Seeing my two older boys sneak away all through the day to read the first book of the Lord of the Rings together.
4. Reading through most of Julius Caesar with Ruth and my older boys taking parts. I got to be Marcus Brutus! My boys fought over who could be Antony. No-one really wanted to be Caesar.
5. Going to the beach almost every day.
6. Kayaking at Jimmy's beach.
7. Looking through the bookshelves in the holiday house we rented through the real estate agent and seeing about fifty copies of 'The Briefing'!!!!
8. Playing two french games - french cricket and boulles
9. Waking up at ridiculous-o'clock most mornings to get time to read the wonderful book of Proverbs and pray for my family (I got through 12 chapters in the original).
10. Having a friend, Meagan, join us for a day.
11. Writing a couple of Sola Panel articles.
12. Staying in a house with less stuff.
13. Getting and giving lots of hugs!
14. The kids not watching many DVDs.
15. Being disconnected from the internet world.

and so much more.

Exciting News

2008-12-01T07:22:00.006+11:00

I had privilege of addressing our four church congregations yesterday about our very exciting news. Neil interviewed Cameron and me about the news and we called them to turn to prayer for God's wisdom and blessing.

So, what's the news?

The story so far
1. Our 10am and 7pm services have been getting pretty full.
2. We are about to launch a serious evangelistic campaign next year. We've got be prepared for God to bring more people into his kingdom and at the moment we're not really equipped to bring them into our church family.
3. We have been talking about church/congregation planting for the last year or so.
4. We have made a big investment by buying another on-site adjacent property earlier this year (Praise God for the generosity of everyone!). We've leant towards a on-site plant to start with.

So what's the plan
1. We (the whole church) are planning, under God, to plant a new Saturday evening congregation next year at 5:30pm - 6:45pm. I'll be leading it and Cameron will be coming as well. This is hot off the press. It will be an all ages and stages of life congregation. This may be one of it's strengths.
2. We will be starting this new church two weeks after Easter.
3. We will be asking people to commit at the end of February and we'll have meetings with that team.
4. We're hoping that the group will not be too big (sixty adults max) so we can reach and include more people from the community as well.
5. We're hoping to find some key roles: a. lay pastor (male) b. lay pastor (female) c. gifted evangelist d. music director e. technical ops f. lay meeting leader g. kids team leader h. someone look after cooking dinner for the kids
6. It was brand new news to most people at church yesterday. We did not ask people to indicate what they wanted to do. We just asked them to pray. I matters how we do this. If you're reading this blog and you're a Christian could you pray for us too. Thanks.

A Passionate Plea

2008-12-01T07:14:00.003+11:00

We had a great sermon from Chris tonight. He spoke on putting to death our sinful nature and living as citizens of heaven. He spoke about two issues in particular that we must strangle and bury six feet under the ground: unholy anger and sexual immorality. He is a very gifted young preacher. In the middle of his talk he showed this clip. It was really well integrated into his talk.

This clip is about 'our shattered dreams as Christians', 'sexual shame', 'pornography' and 'our stupid attempts to deal with our shame' and 'middle class Christianity.' Don't watch this if you are a wimp.

Hospital or Hide-out?

2008-11-28T07:21:00.014+11:00

I've been thinking about one of the most powerful sermons in Jeremiah.

When we come to Christ as church, I think that two principles are essential.

1. Church is a hospital for sinners
BUT
2. Church should not be a hide-out for rebels

But, how can the two be held together when we - the people who come for healing - are by nature rebels against God?

Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.
(Jeremiah 7:1-11)

In Christ we find safety from our sins, not safety to continue in sin. This is why we welcome all people no matter what they have done; and this is also why we take discipleship and church discipline seriously.

Many people who have no regard for God and his ways go to church and essentially say: 'the church of Christ, the church of Christ, the church of Christ' and they say say 'we are safe-safe to do all sorts of detestable things.'

Many others come as broken sinners and look for healing from Christ. We come clean to God with our failures. He covers our sins, we don't.

Church can be a safe place to come to God, but a most dangerous place to hide from him. Look at the last eight words of the quote above.

exam today

2008-11-26T05:55:00.002+11:00

i have an exam today at 1pm. you can read my post from a couple of days ago to see what i'm studying. i'm not that confident about passing today. i actually have no idea if i've done enough work and i haven't done an exam in five years. i want to do my best and honour God and his word in the process.

even if i fail i have three serious consolations:

1. my hebrew has improved dramatically.

2. i have really enjoyed the privilege of a taking a bit of time around my other work to delve into God's word and prepare for this exam this last week or so. i've found it refreshing.

3. it doesn't matter so much how i please my marker; what matters is that i please my Lord.

i'll let you know how it was.

Jesus is our father

2008-11-25T14:27:00.014+11:00

I've just seen another one!!!

I've been making a list of the places in the Bible which describe the Son of God, the Messiah, as the father of a new people. It is a profound theological point. He is our brother and in another way he is our father or ancestor. He is the new Adam after all for all who put their faith in him. Here is where I'm up to

1. Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

2. Isaiah 6:13
And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste.
But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down,
so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.
(This is part of remnant theology. If Christ is the true remnant of Israel, all new Israel is his progeny).

3. Isaiah 8:18
Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.
(Hebrews 2:13 puts these words in Jesus' mouth)

4. Isaiah 50:1-2
Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the LORD:
Look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many.
(I think this verse is setting up God to bring the many from the one again!)

5. Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the LORD’S will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring (lit. seed) and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

6. Hebrews 2:13-15
And again, “I will put my trust in him.”
And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
(Jesus is both brother and father in this passage)

7. New Adam Typology / Remnant theology in the New Testament

8. (the one I just found) Jeremiah 33:22 (ASV - much more literal; NIV obscures this one)
As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured; so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
(I think that the remarkable thing is that the seed of David and the new Levites are one in the same in Christ)

If Jesus is our ancestor ... this puts a profoundly new emphasis to the sometimes maligned word 'Christian' - one who belongs to and follows Christ. We are Christians not just because we follow him in faith and obedience but also because we come from him. We are his spiritual progeny after all.

Exciting News

2008-11-24T22:20:00.004+11:00

I just went to Parish Council as their guest tonight to put before them a proposal. They were really behind it! They are a very godly and gospel minded group.

I can't tell you what it is yet - but I can tell you after we tell all our church congregations this Sunday. All I can say is that it will need a lot of prayer.

Abortion Makes Me Mad

2008-11-24T16:48:00.009+11:00

I want to know how to respond to abortion. I want to care for those who decide to keep their babies ... but whenever I think about it I have one overwhelming response: anger. I get so angry that I can't think rationally.

I am angry at the women who terminate their children. I'm angry at the fathers who are so often absent and just as culpable (if not more so). I'm angry at the medical workers who don't take a stand and kill, cut up, suck out and dispose of these little ones. I'm angry at the law that turns a blind eye to so much illegal activity. I'm angry at the politicians who do not protect the rights of the unborn. I'm angry at christian leaders who say nothing. I even get angry at Christian leaders who speak on the topic but couch it only in terms of women's rights and do not call it for what it is. I even find myself angry at the video that is doing the rounds about free money for new lives because it couches abortion in terms of a subjective harm on the mothers. But over all this I'm angry at myself for not doing enough. On this topic I have nothing else in me but anger.

This doesn't seem right. But I want to know - should I be angry? Is it wrong to be so angry? Because if it is I need to stop being so infuriated. But at the moment I can't help it.

PS. I think that fathers, mothers and health professionals who have been involved in abortion can find complete forgiveness and a new start in Christ (just like every other sinner) as many have done as they confess their failure before God. His arms are welcoming to everyone who wants to come home to him.
PPS. There is sin in my life that (if I'm honest) I'm not angry with at all. Is that just hypocrisy? Maybe it is.

A great weekend of preaching

2008-11-24T11:41:00.007+11:00

God seems to be raising up some very capable new preachers at our church. This weekend I heard a very hard hitting word at Fight Club (men's b'fast) by Bero, the best talk I have ever heard on Colossians 2:6-23 by Tim at Evening Church and I keep hearing reports on how good Dr Phil's talk at SNL (youth church) was. A hat-trick!

And Neil's talk on Sennacherib was a powerful reminder that God is God and there is no other.

Turning

2008-11-24T11:31:00.005+11:00

I have seen this little phrase in Jeremiah in my readings the last few days ...

"They have turned to me the back of their necks and not their faces" (Jer 2:27; 32:33)

If only all people
If only God's people
If only I would live with my face towards the LORD always.

What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable.

2008-11-22T13:56:00.005+11:00

h/t Anglican Church League

What are the big lessons our churches need to learn? Can we come up with five?

Studying Again

2008-11-21T20:11:00.009+11:00

I spent a full day studying today at Moore College. I haven't done that in almost five years. There were two or three of us in the library at any given time with about five staff on hand serving us. (My hat goes off to the staff for running a first rate library.) With Thai Times Nine for lunch - I really, really enjoyed my day.

I'm studying for an exam next Wednesday on Jeremiah for my MTh. This exam is set just for me. I have to know the Hebrew of Jeremiah 1-8; 25-26; 30-36; 42; 50-51 and have read about 20 books and articles on it.

I preached a ten week series on Jeremiah and wrote some Briefing bible studies a couple of months ago, but have done the studying in the last week around the edges of my work. I'm not sure whether I should have done the exam before preaching the sermons... maybe next time I'll do that.

I've learned quite a few things today and my Hebrew is getting better. Most of the tomes I have been reading have been struggling with why Jeremiah seems so mixed up - why his message seems to have so many threads and tensions. It's almost like the structure of the book itself reflects the times, the relationship of Yahweh to his people and Jeremiah's own psyche - tormented, conflicted, hopeless and yet still hopeful. Yahweh was bringing about the suffering, crucifixion and burial of Israel and pointing to its resurrection to come.

If I pass this exam - which I may not, considering how little work I've done on it - I'll do another subject next year. Next year I want to look at Resurrection Power in Paul's thinking. You know, the power of Jesus' resurrection in the present lives of all of us who believe. I'm not sure as a Christian community we have grasped that one enough.

So next year I will probably preach a series on it ... but I'll do so after and not before my exam. I hope it will be a blessing to both me and my wonderful congregation.

Actually my study day is not over ... just had a break to eat with the family and jot down some thoughts. Back to work.

The Charge I Took

2008-11-21T07:58:00.006+11:00

I was ordained four years ago as an elder (ie. presbyter) in the the Anglican Church of Australia. This commission has always stuck with me. With slight modification, the same charge holds true for anyone who holds an office as pastor, elder, youth leader, Bible study leader, husband or parent. The language is old. It comes from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

Have always there printed in your remembrance, how great a treasure is committed to your charge. For they are the sheep of Christ, which he bought with his death, and for whom he shed his blood. The Church and Congregation whom you must serve, is his Spouse, and his Body.

And if it shall happen that the same Church, or any Member thereof, do take any hurt or hindrance by reason of your negligence, ye know the greatness of the fault, and also the horrible punishment that will ensue. Wherefore consider with yourselves the end of the Ministry towards the children of God, towards the Spouse and Body of Christ; and see that ye never cease your labour, your care and diligence, until ye have done all that lieth in you, according to your bounden duty, to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your charge, unto that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left among you, either for error in religion, or for viciousness in life.

Please pray for me and for all those in leadership.

The Fountain Opened (old obscurantus post)

2008-11-20T11:46:00.006+11:00

"Let the water and the blood, from your wounded side which flowed be for sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power."

The song gets it right, but the commentaries miss it. I've looked at a huge amount of commentaries on John and Zechariah and have not found this link.

When water comes out of Jesus side, the water and the blood are not primarily a medical evidence. They are a fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy and symbolically the end of the temple!. John's gospel says ..

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water ...

These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” (John 19:34-37)

He is obviously thinking of Zech 12:10:

They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son...

A few verses on in Zech 13:1 ...

On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. (13:1)

The key is the two terms used here. They are sin (hattah) and impurity (nidah).

1. How do we deal with sin (hattah)? Blood - universally in the scriptures.
2. How do you deal with impurity (nidah)? Water of cleansing - consistently in scriptures (eg. Numbers 19:13,20,21)

The temple has the function of dealing with sin (blood) and impurity (water). Now instead of daily sacrifice, a fountain is opened up in Jerusalem forever ... not from a temple of stone, but from a temple made from flesh ... out of our Saviour's side. Sin and impurity are now dealt with!

Let's get back to singing (perhaps with even more meaning) ...
"Let the water and the blood, from your wounded side which flowed be for sin the double cure, cleansed me from its guilt and power."

Sola Panel

2008-11-20T11:39:00.003+11:00

Just become a solapanelist. My first post was an old one from my former Obscurantus blog. Check it out.

The simple message for my friends who don't know Christ and read this blog

2008-07-12T00:13:00.005+10:00

We are all big sinners; but Christ is a bigger Saviour.

The two halves of Isaiah

2008-07-11T23:41:00.005+10:00

Standard Critical Approach (change in authorship)

Isaiah 1-39 written in the context of the Assyrian threat; Isaiah 40-66 written in the context of the Babylonian threat.

Standard Evangelical Approach (change in audience)

Isaiah 1-39 applied to those under the Assyrian threat; Isaiah 40-66 applied to those under the Babylonian threat.

My Problems with the Standard Evangelical Approach (no change in audience)

1. Surely the intended audience of chapter 1 is the same as that of the intended audience of chapter 66. They are engaged in the same types of sin; they are called to hear God's word and they both await the renewal of Jerusalem.

2. The hinge chapter, Isaiah 40, makes no reference to an exile whatsoever and no mention of Babylon. God returns to Jerusalem after their suffering. While other prophets focus on the movement of exiled people, Isaiah seems to focus on the renewal of Jerusalem.

3. While Babylon and the return from exile do feature in chapters 40-66 (albeit in a smaller way - see above), surely the message could still be for Isaiah's contemporaries to live in the light of God's future punishment and salvation.

4. Exile appears in Isaiah 1-39. (Is. 5:13) 'Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of understanding; their men of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched with thirst.' Return from exile also appears in Isaiah 1-39. Isaiah 35 paints the picture of the redeemed returning to Jerusalem.

4. There is no indicators in the text whatsoever that the intended audience has changed when you read Isaiah 40-66. It is just as future as passages like Isaiah 9, 11 and 35.

5. Surely the commendation of those who 'tremble at God's word', unlike everyone else who offer meaningless sacrifices (Isaiah 66), is a word to Isaiah's current generation? Or is it a word that only those who in the distant future have been exiled and now return to the land need to hear? I hope you can see that I don't think very highly of this convoluted standard evangelical position.

Pray For Me For Guidance

2008-07-05T06:03:00.003+10:00

When people ask me to pray for guidance, I don't. I pray that God would give them wisdom. When people ask me to pray for an issue that they are struggling with. I pray for guidance.

"And this is my prayer:
that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
so that you may be able to discern what is best
and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ
—to the glory and praise of God." (Phil 1:9-11)

Holy Smoke

2008-07-05T05:59:00.004+10:00

I am convinced we need ashtrays in our church buildings (or at least outside our buildings). What do you think?

Wow

2008-04-19T18:45:00.005+10:00

Who would have thought you could listen to a Spurgeon sermon podcast on your ipod while vacuuming your car? That's what I did this afternoon.

Apostle's Greed

2008-04-19T18:42:00.004+10:00

Does anyone have a copy of the Apostle's Greed that was found in 'How to get really rich' by Brian Rosner. When Matthias media re-released the book as 'Beyond Greed', they added some really good material, but removed some amazing poems and parodies. It started like this ....

"I believe in Gold Almighty ..."

A Very Post-Modern Form of De-mythologising

2008-03-27T10:02:00.010+11:00

It was popular in the 19th and early 20th Century to de-mythologise the Christian message and remove anything that could be construed as miraculous. I think the same thing happens now, particularly by pundits under the guise of names like Karl Barth and Tom Wright. It is a de-mythologising from within the evangelical camp.

This new de-mythologising is more a de-offensivisation. It's the removal of anything that our modern ear does not want to hear, that we think is unpalatable: the clear and terrifying judgment of God that will fall on many, and the call to repent (Karl Barth totally avoided that expression and actually argued against using it!). It is the failure to talk about anything negative as if it would actually happen, but only affirm what we deem to be 'good' and 'kind'. It pretends to do this in the name of grace and Jesus Christ, when as we know grace saves us from judgment, and Jesus warned about wrath.

Modernism hated the un-scientific, post-modernism hates the offensive.

The flood is coming. This de-offensivisation says:
In the end, no one will get hurt.
Or
At least I hope no one will get hurt. Let's not think about those things.

(I was going to write an apology for anyone who hasn't heard of Barth or Wright. But I'm not sorry for you. You're not missing much)

The Missionaries Looked After Us Better

2008-03-27T09:59:00.004+11:00

Check out Gordon Cheng's Blog.

Between the Resurrection and the Ascension: From Galilee to the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem

2008-03-25T22:12:00.024+11:00

Where did Jesus appear to his disciples? Where was he when he ascended? How do the gospels fit in with each other and the book of Acts? Are there reasons for Jesus' geographical choices?

The Evidence:

1. The disciples keep being called 'men of Galilee' in and around the resurrection / ascension / and early days of the church. This designation seems important.

2. The disciples are told several times that they will see Jesus in Galilee after he rose from the dead.

(by Jesus) But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee. (Matthew 26:32)

(by the angel) Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7)

(by the risen Jesus) Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:10)

(by Jesus) But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee. (Mark 14:28)

(by the young man at the tomb) But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' (Mark 16:7)

3. At the end of Matthew, Jesus gives the great commission on a mountain in Galilee.

There is a translation question in the NIV Bible that I just noticed. It could be that they were to go to the mountain that Jesus appointed or the mountain where he had appointed them (ie. Lk 5:12-16; maybe the same mountain as the sermon on the mount)

(NIV) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. (Matthew 28:16)

(GNT) Oi˚ de« eºndeka maqhtai« e˙poreu/qhsan ei˙ß th\n Galilai÷an ei˙ß to\ o¡roß ou∞ e˙ta¿xato aujtoi√ß oJ ∆Ihsouvß

(ASV) But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

4. At the end of John's gospel, Jesus appears to his disciples at Lake Galilee and at a near-by location recommissions Peter.

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. (John 21:1-4)

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:7)

5. And yet, none of the gospels say that Jesus ascended in Galilee.

6. Luke/Acts does not record any mention of Jesus going to Galilee and yet very clearly that Jesus ascended near Jerusalem, on the mount of Olives.

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. (Acts 1:11-12)

7. A reconstruction is not impossible, because Jesus appeared to his disciples in many ways and times over a forty day period.

After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25)

8. Luke emphasises, 'remain in Jerusalem' whereas in the other gospels, the disciples are told to go to Galilee.

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (Acts 1:4)

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ (Mark 16:7)

A proposed reconstruction:

1. Jesus rose from the dead
2. He met some of his disciples in Jerusalem
3. Jesus wanted all of his disciples to go to Galilee
4. Jesus met them at Galilee
5. They returned to Jerusalem
6. He met them in Jerusalem
7. He urged them to stay in Jerusalem after he departs until they receive the Holy Spirit
8. He ascends in the clouds just outside Jerusalem at the mount of Olives
9. They now begin to witness to Jesus throughout the world

A theory I've just thought about:

Why Galilee? Why Jerusalem? Why the mount of Olives?

I wonder whether post resurrection, Jesus is taking the disciples on the same journey they have already been on (or more particularly - that he had already been on).

1.He takes them back to Galilee, to the mountain where perhaps he commissioned them. He recommissions Peter at Galilee, calls them to be fishers of men, and calls them to feed his sheep.

2. He takes them to the mount of Olives which is the location of the night before Jesus died, he cried in agony to his father. It was also the mountain on which most of his disciples deserted him. Now they did not want him to desert them.

3. Then he tells them to remain in Jerusalem, where he was killed and rose again. And where all scripture had to be fulfilled in Jesus' betrayal, death, resurrection and where forgiveness of sins would now be preached.

What an amazing journey to go through a second time. From Galilee to the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem again.

I had these thoughts on the train today as I was preparing my youth church talk for Sunday. I'm leaving these all out of my talk for Sunday - I think they'd all thank me for that. ;)

Love to hear your thoughts.

My Prayerful Hope for My First-born

2008-03-20T14:02:00.002+11:00

I wrote this on the day he was born:

Be courageous in the Lord
Fear not hell, nor fear the sword.
Joshua, my son:
Be not afraid.
For you another path is laid;
Paved with gold that looks like clay
Hidden 'till that glorious day.
A wide open gate that looks so small
Stands now open unto all.
The little door that looks so plain
Is God of Ages, and man of shame.
Joshua, my son:
Ignore the others and seek the best
And enter His eternal rest.

Sex and Companionship

2008-03-20T08:43:00.010+11:00

Most men wouldn't think at the end of life: 'I'm glad that my wife and I had such great sex.' Wouldn't they be more likely to say: 'I'm glad I had such a good friend and companion'?

If its true, I wonder how this insight affects the question below. Perhaps a deeper human need than sex is friendship and companionship.

Singleness and Sexuality?

2008-03-20T08:39:00.003+11:00

Here's a question from a good friend of mine.

If desire for one’s husband/wife is a good gift from God, but lust is sinful (and in danger of sending us to hell), how can single people express their sexuality and desires in a Godly manner?

Any ideas? (beyond get married - they really want to)

Matthew 5: Jesus on adultery

2008-03-18T09:08:00.003+11:00

Read Matthew 5:27-30.

I think Jesus wants us to link two words together: adultery and hell. If we think of adultery the first word that should come to our minds is hell.

If we ever think, "will I commit adultery?" (of the heart or otherwise)then
we should ask ourselves, "do I want to go to hell?"

Scripture (SRE) in Schools

2008-03-11T16:38:00.007+11:00

I coordinate the Scripture teaching at six schools in the area. In reality - that doesn't mean much. God has answered all our prayers and has provided wonderful teachers for the schools. At the moment I teach/train in six classes.

This is what struck me ... I taught two classes on Thursday (both year 1) and none of the kids knew what happened on Good Friday and Easter.

Teaching Scripture in Australia is front foot, gospel ministry to an unreached people group. And it is really fun as well.

Whatever Church you are part of - please consider being involved.

(If you are in America or Europe and you don't understand. Local churches can teach about Christ in public schools - usually about 1/2 hour a week.)

J. I. Packer, Anglicanism and Homosexuality

2008-03-11T09:04:00.003+11:00

Please watch this video ... it's a sequel to one I saw on Gordon Cheng's blog. It is good to see an old man who has fought for the truth with all the strength of his youth, continue to fight for the truth into his old age.

Quote of the Week

2008-03-10T19:21:00.005+11:00

The Puritan, John Flavel commented, "The providence of God is like a Hebrew word - it can only be read backwards."It is much easier to see how God has used providence in the past than to figure out how he will use it to lead us in the future. And, in any case, we can rightly interpret providence only through the spectacles of Scripture. (John M Frame, A Theology of Lordship: The Doctrine of God, 286)

There are things that happen in my life that I cannot explain: including successes, failures and things that really hurt. But I know that I will be able to see why God has planned them in my life. In part I will see the reasons much later, but at judgment it will all make sense. He works all things together for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)

PS.
Providence = his preserving of all creation, ordering of all things, including their actions, (often with particular emphasis on his people) to his own glory.

Introducing God

2008-03-05T22:11:00.006+11:00

I really love running small groups of Introducing God (8-14 people). This group started a couple weeks after Christmas and is about to finish up. We discussed the prodigal son tonight. We've come a long way. People are really starting to understand God's grace and the way he works through Jesus.

Catholic Church ... the board game?

2008-03-05T17:32:00.011+11:00

Vatican: Unlock The Secrets Of How Men Become Pope
I stumbled upon this board-game being advertised as educational at www.catholic.org. I wonder when the online version will be available...

Does God like us?

2008-03-04T23:19:00.006+11:00

We had the question asked in our Bible Study group...

"God loves us, but does he like us?"

The room was split 50/50. A very provocative discussion ensued...

I think the answer to that question is extremely important.

Matthew 5:Jesus and the Law

2008-03-03T19:41:00.000+11:00

One thing that I have found very helpful in my thinking is this:

Jesus did not come to show us what the Mosaic law really meant

BUT

what the Mosaic law really pointed to.

Matthew 5: Be Perfect

2008-02-26T22:10:00.000+11:00

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48)

Be perfect as God is perfect can sometimes be used to undercut the whole teaching of Jesus in chapter 5. Jesus has called me to this new way of living - but 'Oh - I can't be perfect.'

I wonder if that is what Jesus is saying. I think that Jesus' call for perfection (or complete in Greek) has a focus of being like God in loving your enemies. I think this makes sense because:

1. The only other comparison that is made between our conduct and our Father's conduct in the whole of the sermon on the mount is found in verse 45, and is about loving enemies.

2. We will be called sons of God if we love our enemies. ie. we will be 'chips off the old block'. (Australian expression) If we want to be like God (perfect) we should love our enemies.

3. This is probably the last thing on the Pharisees minds. Jesus again challenges the norm. You want to be complete or perfect - love your enemies.

If this view is right - the command to be perfect is not just 'wishful thinking', 'a nice thought', 'an burden of guilt' - but it becomes a way forward and a real command. 'Love your enemies.'

Matthew 5: The So Called Moral Law

2008-02-25T04:13:00.000+11:00

I'm not convinced that the law of Moses can be easily broken into moral, ceremonial and civil components. But what I am ever more convinced of is that none of the OT law is the reality. It is a shadow. The reality is found in Jesus Christ.

The laws relating to temple, sacrifice and worship that Moses gave the people are a shadow. That is without dispute. What I am also becoming convinced of is that the laws that we sometimes call moral - do not lie, do not murder, do not steal - are also a shadow. Christ casts an even brighter light on God's expectation and calling of his people. We are under Christ and not under Moses. We obey Christ's commandments for Christ's sake. Christ shows us what God wants - not what the OT law always meant - but what it was pointing towards - the reality only ever found in Christ.

"You have heard it said, but I say to you .... "

(see the post below)

Matthew 5: The Newness of the Sermon on the Mount

2008-02-25T03:50:00.000+11:00

I'm preaching on the sermon on the mount for the next few weeks. I've been ruminating on a thought - and it has probably hit everyone else before - but it hit me hard this morning.

The Sermon on the Mount is full of OT allusions but is fundamentally new - because it is about Jesus (and therefore relating to God as Father).

He never calls people back to the OT Law. He calls people to obey Him. His implicit message is in line with that of the apostle Paul - 'Don't follow Moses, instead follow me.' Don't follow the morning star when the sun has just risen. His last words to his disciples before his ascension reflect his last words in his sermon.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)

Remember it is Jesus who gives us clearer calling than the OT law (see my next post).
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27-28)

The last beatitude is actually the punch-line ... the first seven are the expectations of OT hope. The eighth is explicitly about Jesus - and focused the other seven to be about Jesus. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." (Matthew 5:11)}

It is Jesus' disciples (and no one else) who are the light of the world, the salt of the earth, the blessed ones, the wise builders, the good tree etc...

It is this Jesus' focusedness of the sermon on the mount that explains His need for its most difficult verses (the ones I'm preaching about on Sunday). Why else would he need to allay their fears?

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-20)

My take home. This is not mere continuity with the OT. The true light has come into the world - listen to him.

Life lesson #1

2008-02-18T05:42:00.000+11:00

I haven't gone kayaking for a couple of weeks. I made a mistake a couple of weeks ago that scared me off. I'm up this morning (now about 5:45) to get back into it ... so this post won't be long.

Lesson #1: 'Don't leave your car remote key in your pocket when you go kayaking. I will NEVER do that again.'

I can't stand it ...

2008-02-18T05:30:00.000+11:00

I can't stand it ... it really annoys me ... the approach to leadership, especially in marriages, that says: 'be a leader'.

I think it is 10,000 times better to say to a young man about to get married, to preach to myself when I have to teach a Scripture lesson, lead a church camp, or pick up my game in marriage ...
(where was I?)

I think it is 10,000 times better to say:

'you are are a leader. make sure you are a good one.'
'you are the leader in this class room.'

God has appointed you, he has appointed me to this role. Let's not get existential, or introspective, or debating it ... there is too much at stake. There are souls to be saved, lives to be re-oriented, kids to be moulded, examples to be set ....

The question for every husband, every teacher, every Bible Study leader, every boss, every father is not

'Am I a leader?'

But

'God has made me the leader. Will I be a good one?'

(This is a reality statement and not a command. husbands are not to become the heads of the family. They are the head of the family).
Eph. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

(This is the choice. What sort of head will I be?)
Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Jude 22-23: Be Merciful to those who doubt

2008-01-26T21:41:00.000+11:00

Jude 22-23 and Zechariah 3:1-5 have so much in common. The relationship. We are called to imitate God's attitude towards sinners and sin. Have a look ....

Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 22-23)

and

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.

The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” (Zechariah 3:1-4)

Australia Day Weekend

2008-01-26T21:35:00.000+11:00

Here's something I had to leave out. I wanted all of tomorrow's illustrations to be Australian - but I couldn't quite pull it off. Ah well. There are bigger issues to fight.

I'm really looking forward to speaking on 'be merciful to those who doubt.' (Jude 22-23)

Jude 20: And Pray in the Holy Spirit

2008-01-16T11:03:00.001+11:00

On Sunday I preached on praying in the Holy Spirit. I tried to show that praying in the Holy Spirit is the wonderful blessing of praying as a child of God - calling out 'Abba, Father' (Romans 8). I think all Christian prayer is prayer in the Holy Spirit. I have been thinking about it and I wonder whether I should take one more step:

Since Christian living is 'being what we are' in Christ, then when we pray - we pray in the power of the Holy Spirit and so we should acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit.

We always pray in the Holy Spirit because we pray as children of God, who want to walk his ways etc... , but the command gives us a 'be what you are sense'. We should pray as children, who are humble, confident, wanting to serve Christ and want to see God honoured.

Jude 20: Build Yourselves in Your Most Holy Faith

2008-01-07T14:40:00.001+11:00

I handed out the following suggested reading list at church on Sunday. I'd love to hear what people think should be added. (Remember my main point was not that we read lots of books ... but that we do everything in our power, convinced that our faith is most holy, to build ourselves in that faith.)

Reading the Bible
The Daily Reading Bible, Matthias Media*
Search the Scriptures, IVP
For the Love Of God, Don Carson
Table Talk + XTB, The Good Book Company (Family Devotions)

Biography
The Billy Graham Story, John Pollock
The Cambridge Seven: A fire in Chine – C.T. Studd and Friends, John Pollock
The Life and Diary of David Brainerd, edited by Jonathan Edwards
Tested by Fire: the fruit of affliction in the lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper and David Brainerd, J Piper

Christian Books
Life’s Big Questions, Vaughan Roberts*
God’s Big Picture, Vaughan Roberts*
The Pilgrims Progress, John Bunyan*
Knowing God, J I Packer
Desiring God, John Piper
Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper
The Last Word on Guidance, Phillip Jensen
The Cross of Christ, John Stott
A Call to Spiritual Reformation, Don Carson
Is the New Testament History, Paul Barnett

Websites
www.desiringgod.org *
www.biblicalpreaching.org *
www.sydneyanglicans.net
www.biblicaltraining.org
www.ninemarks.com
www.christiansinthemedia.org

I know what I'm doing this summer

2007-12-22T16:50:00.001+11:00

Over summer, across the three Sunday meetings, I'm preaching on four verses in Jude. They will be self contained and yet form a series (preachers will understand). I am really looking forward to it.

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 20-23)

I'm speaking on four of the commands...
1. Build yourselves in your most holy faith (Growing in 2008)
2. Pray in the Holy Spirit (Prayer in 2008)
3. Keep yourselves in God's love (Assurance for 2008)
4. Be merciful to those who doubt (Ministry in 2008)

Questions From Matthew 4

2007-12-22T10:14:00.001+11:00

I answered nine written questions this week from last week's talk. I got back to a few of you on Monday - but rest were a bit late. Sorry. Here is one of the questions with my first thoughts.

Why did the devil bother tempting Jesus even though he knew God would protect and guide him?

My first thoughts:
1. The devil is a liar and sometimes believes his own lies.
2. The devil is not an idiot and yet he doesn't know everything in God's plans.
3. The exact plans for the sending of God the Son into the word were actually kept secret from the angels. Angels longed to look into these things (1 Peter 1:10-12)
4. The devil had a 100% success rate with every other human being - particularly one called 'the son of God' - Adam, Israel, David
5. The devil knew that God would protect and guide the one who trusted in God (Psalm 91). Therefore the devil's only weapon was to get Jesus at this point - his trust in God. Therefore .... food, testing, worship.

The fourth dimension of singing

2007-12-22T08:14:00.000+11:00

I think the three-fold understanding of singing is fantastic. Have you heard it? It is based on Colossians 3:16.

1. Let word of Christ dwells in us richly as we sing (downward)
2. We sing to each other to encourage each other (sideways)
3. We make music in our hearts to God (upwards)

Every time we sing in church - all are involved. This has been represented in a triangle. (I'd love to find an electronic copy).

As I was kayaking (at 7am this morning), I thought of a fourth dimension that I should keep in the front of my mind.

4. We also sing in the presence of God's enemies. This is one of God's ordained ways to silence the the evil one and the world who will not accept Christ. For me this is a huge motivation to praise God. We shut the devil's mouth.

From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger. (Psalm 8:2)

I thought this was serendipidous

2007-12-22T08:08:00.000+11:00

Matthew 4: The Devil's Psalm

2007-12-22T05:45:00.001+11:00

Psalm 91 seems to be a favourite of Satan. He quotes verses 11 and 12 at Jesus during the wilderness temptation.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (91:11-12)

The next verse seems to predict Satan's own downfall. He does not quote verse 13 to Jesus. ;)

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent. (91:13)

God's enemies quote scripture - they just do it selectively.

Matthew 4: Affirmation before Temptation

2007-12-22T05:35:00.000+11:00

Last week someone very helpfully reminded me that before Christ was tempted, God affirmed his love for his Son at his baptism. This got me thinking. Knowing God and knowing his love seems to be part of the arsenal of anyone who will do battle with the Satan .... and yet .... it is not enough ...

The three prototypical sons of God--Adam, Israel and David--in real ways were all assured of God's love. But the devil had seen them all fall before not long after they knew God's love.

I think that God's affirmation of Christ was important - but it was not enough to make Christ stand firm.

Matthew 4: Men are weak

2007-12-11T01:50:00.000+11:00

I'm getting a bit type cast for using 'nerdy' illustrations for my talks - Starwars, Spiderman etc... Maybe I should leave this Lord of the Rings quote on the cutting floor? It fits in really well with Matthew 4:1-11. So I'll avoid the nerdiness and just put it on my blog! ;) ;)

It reminds me so much of the history of humanity's failure when it comes to Satan. (Christ stands out so clearly from the rest of us).

Gandalf: It is in Men that we must place our hope.
Elrond: Men? Men are weak. The Blood of Numenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of Men the Ring survives. I was there, Gandalf. I was there three thousand years ago. I was there the day the strength of Men failed.

Matthew 3: High and Low in Isaiah

2007-12-09T22:36:00.000+11:00

Isaiah 40:4 says that every valley will be lifted high and every mountain laid low. When I was at college I did a search on high and low in Isaiah and here is what I found:

In general there are two that are raised high in Isaiah.
1. God himself. Lots of times. Clearest: 'I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.' (6:1)
2. Human sinners are said to exalt themselves. This is one of the chief sins in Isaiah. 'The Lord Almighty has a day in store for the proud and lofty, for all the exalted and they will be humbled ... for all the towering hills and lofty mountains ... the arrogance of man will be brought low.' (2:12-18)

Perhaps this is what is meant by the highway of God. The arrogant will be brought low. This was certainly part of John's ministry. The humble are also a theme in Isaiah ... they will be lifted up.
I'd prefer to be a valley made high rather than a mountain laid low.

PS. There is one other who is said to be rightly lifted up - and he is the suffering servant. Three times it is said: 'See my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.' (52:13)

Matthew 3: What is the message of John the Baptist?

2007-12-09T22:27:00.001+11:00

Isaiah says that the voice (ie John) should call out
'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are as grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.' (Isaiah 40:6-8)

Two thoughts:
* Maybe this is why John lives out in the desert and doesn't care about what he eats and drinks. He is a living statement that we don't need the 'things' around us ... they will fade. Jesus certainly went into the desert and told the devil that we don't live on bread alone.
* If this is the undercurrent of John's teaching then this may explain why the prostitutes and tax collectors repsonded to him ... why we must live for the kingdom, for the promise.

Matthew 3: Know Your King: Know His Protocol

2007-12-09T22:24:00.000+11:00

I preached on Matthew 3 tonight and had some great questions from the church. I also recieved some written questions that I have never thought about before. I've written some first thoughts to those who wrote them. I might post some thoughts on them after a couple of days of reflection and discussion.

Matthew 3: Why did Jesus himself get baptised?

2007-12-09T15:05:00.001+11:00

I'm not going major on this at church tonight - but I have a few thoughts on this one. Has anyone done some thinking on this one?

Mattthew 2: Who ruled before Herod?

2007-12-04T06:59:00.000+11:00

It's worth finding out more. It explains:
* who Herod was and why he was insecure.
* his relationship with Rome.
* why many of his family wanted to prove themselves Jewish.
* a bit about the relationship between the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians.

Find out who ruled before Herod. It was not a glorious time. Before Herod there was a short lived rule of a family who also claimed the priesthood. They were corrupt and their kingdom was prone to civil unrest. Sinful human beings cannot establish a theocracy. In my opinion, their reign highlights again why Jesus needed to come.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean

(If you can't read the whole article start at Hasmonean expansion and civil war.)

Matthew 2: Balaam and the Magi

2007-12-03T17:15:00.001+11:00

Read Numbers 24

* Both Balaam and Magi are magicians.
* Both are a bit mysterious.
* Balaam prophecies that a 'star will rise out of Jacob; a scepter out of Israel'.
* The Magi follow a star that leads to the king.

One of the best training resources online

2007-12-03T14:47:00.000+11:00

It's all free but you must register.

http://www.biblicaltraining.org/index.php

If you use it - let me know what you think. I really enjoyed the Church History and Other Religions classes.

Matthew 2: A New Motivation For Worship

2007-12-03T14:40:00.001+11:00

One thing that really hit home to me was that there is a new motivation for worship in the story of the Magi. Herod tried to kill him and the people of Israel were disturbed, but not interested in him. The magi were the only ones who understood the value of this child.

It is similar today - most of our world does not care about Christ; if he came to earth he would probably be killed; and his name is an 'acceptable' swear word in this nation.

If we who know Christ as King don't rejoice in him, worship him and open our treasures before him - no one else will.

Matthew 2: Your Comments and Questions

2007-12-03T14:33:00.000+11:00

Maybe things you also noticed about Matthew 2. Post them here.

Matthew 2: Rachel's Tears

2007-12-03T14:24:00.000+11:00

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18)

This passage from Jeremiah is one of the turning points of the whole Bible. Not long after these verses in Jeremiah 31 a new covenant is announced. God says that it will be a new deal with the people of God. God will be their God, they will be his people. He will forgive their sins.

It seems as though before this covenant is announced there will be sadness: Rachel will weep for her children. Read Jeremiah 31 - and yet God will comfort her. Rachel is one of the Matriarch's of Israel. Married to Jacob, she bears him children. Rachel's tomb was thought to be be near Bethlehem. (Ramah however is thought to be North of Jerusalem)

I think ultimately this sadness that precedes the new covenant is the horror of the death of Christ. At his death the mothers of Israel mourn (which actually happens in the gospels). However the slaughter of the chidren of Bethlehem is like a pre-tremor ... there will be sadness, but very soon there will be comfort.