Do you hate your clothes?

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.

The richest man in the world

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).

Ten of the things I am thankful for

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

Watch and pray.

We Must Focus on the Christian Poor

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!!!!

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

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

Read Ali's experience. h/t Craig.

Jonathan Edwards on Hypocrites and Prayer

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

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

“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

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

1. Heading up a ministry that my family is a part of.
2. Working with such a theological solid, yet highly entrepreneurial leadership team.
3. Seeing men and women who would not normally go to church go to church.
4. Seeing people try new things for the sake of Christ.
5. 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.
6. Having Sunday mornings with my family.
   
7. 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.
8. Seeing God's people show acts of kindness to each other and express real hospitality after church.
9. Already seeing Saturday Church to be a blessing to the other congregations.
10. Seeing prayers answered.