I am back from the time off for our wedding and honeymoon and there will be some blog posts on the way soon, particularly, I hope on South Africa, which I found a fascinating country. But for now I am just pointing in the direction of things that are catching my attention on the web today: Apple are having yet another product release event today (@6pm UK time), greatest anticipation is for the new Apple Laptop range with rumours of a sub£500 laptop and an upgraded line of MacBook Pro’s. I’m looking on with hopeful optimism as they are releasing what I hope will be my next computer purchase (though not until they have filtered into the refurb section!) There are also rumours that Microsoft is looking to buy out Blackberry (RIM) which would make sense as Microsoft...
Josiah is one of those great people in my life who I dont have to see for ages and we can still hang out and have a great time. Although he may not remember it, he very patiently taught me how to play my first song on the guitar, a worship song at that. Along with being a great guitar player, is also great with words and has a big heart.He has spent the last year in Coventry with Nexus, a Christian Music School and so I thought Id ask him to write a little reflection on his time there while Im away on the idea of worship and music:I’ve been excited about writing this blog since Liam asked me to. Over this last year, the subject of worship has been brought more and more into the central focus of my life. A chance to collect some of what I’ve learned into something (somewhat) concise...
“Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments and of never having kept any of them, and even though I am still inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without my deserving it at all, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me. All I need to do is to accept this gift of God with a believing heart.” - Pg. 60, Q/A
The Heidelberg Catechism: Christian Reformed Church: Books
HT: OFI...
Rachel and I sang this song together the other night and went over the lines to understand them properly, whilst making a decision about whether to use it in our wedding in just over 2 weeks time. It is a great song and the original author Robert Robinson penned the words at age 22 in the year 1757, I think you’d be hard pressed to find such an rich and mature articulation of Theology from many 22 years olds that have spent their entire childhood’s in the Church (me included, at 23). David Crowder has also arranged a good version of this song on a couple of his albums. We are planning on singing the following two verses at our wedding for 2 reasons, 1) for the sake of accessibility to the songs central theme for non-Christians which can be clouded by the religious imagery...
The love for equals is a human thing – of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles. The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing – the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the world. The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing –to love those who succeed where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is always bewildered by its saints. And then there is love for the enemy – love for the one who does not love you, but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured’s love for the torturer. This...
There will surely be a critique of his involvement and the contents of the prayer, but all in all I think it is very well written, with a balance on the political issues at hand and a recognition that it is Gods inbreaking into the lives and society of America. Father God, This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future. We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation. We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy. Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left. Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them....
I was perusing face (stalker) book yesterday morning and came across some photos of a friend who visited The Call DC when it was on recently. My first thought was, wow, that looks great, but I then I began to think ‘how much did it cost to put an event like that on? How much money was used to travel to that place? How much damage was done to the environment by the trucks that transported the gear, the flights people took, and the cars they drove?’ I began thinking, What if we could calculate how much that cost and send it somewhere where it would ‘really’ make a difference (a very subjective concept in itself). As I had these thoughts, and began climbing to my moral high ground, I was reminded of these words: Matthew 26:7-10 7a woman came up to him with an...
Though I wouldn’t self identify with the label Charismatic, I certainly believe in what are commonly referred to as the ‘gifts’ and have observed the tradition close up in recent years. With all this said, the recent events have highlighted to me once again that the charismatic tradition needs to take a long hard look at it’s self. Lakeland was not a one-off mistake and drop of guard but as with most things of this nature, a symptom of a wider mentality held within this corner of the church. With this in mind I found my way to the Ceruleum Sanctum Blog which has a two part series on the revisions which the charismatic church (and indeed all of us who would identify as believers in the gifts) need to look at, the full 2 part series can be found here (1) and...
I only had time to add the technology links from last weeks end of week round up, so here are a few that were left off but still deserve to be plugged. The Center for Barth Studies publishes a new version of the Shorter Romans Commentary Christian Audio are giving away Augustine’s Confessions as a free audio book. HT: Scotteriology Michael Patton at Parchment and Pen writes a long long post on the emerging church which acts as a very helpful and informed introduction. Trevin Wax has an interesting interview with Rabbi Derek Lemen who talks about a balanced hand when dealing with tradition before regarding all Jewish tradition within faith as pharisaic. Scot McKnight hammers ahead with Mission of God and I am not keeping up with the reading unfortunately.
The Mission of...
I was asked recently quite a common question so I thought I would share my two cents and see if any of you had any thoughts on the subject. The Question was really more of a statement which wanted an answer: "Sometimes I wonder what use theology is for real people in real churches" When seeing the enormous breadth and depth of Theology it is very easy to wonder what real use it is for the Church, when you hear of someone spending years studying the dialectic intricacies of deutero-Isaiah, the question can often be, "What does that do to build the Church?". In a world with pressing physical need, the need for Christians to live out the realities of Matthew 25:37-40 and the need for people to serve in local churches as teachers and pastors are very clear, but...
I was recently asked quite a common question so I thought I would share my two cents and see if any of you had any thoughts on the subject. The Question was really more of a statement which wanted an answer: "Sometimes I wonder what use theology is for real people in real churches" When seeing the enormous breadth and depth of Theology it is very easy to wonder what real use it is for the Church, when you hear of someone spending years studying the dialectic intricacies of deutero-Isaiah, the question can often be, "What does that do to build the Church?". In a world with pressing physical need, the need for Christians to live out the realities of Matthew 25:37-40 and the need for people to serve in local churches as teachers and pastors are very clear, but I...
I was asked recently quite a common question so I thought I would share my two cents and see if any of you had any thoughts on the subject. The Question was really more of a statement which wanted an answer: "Sometimes I wonder what use theology is for real people in real churches" When seeing the enormous breadth and depth of Theology it is very easy to wonder what real use it is for the Church, when you hear of someone spending years studying the dialectic intricacies of deutero-Isaiah, the question can often be, "What does that do to build the Church?". In a world with pressing physical need, the need for Christians to live out the realities of Matthew 25:37-40 and the need for people to serve in local churches as teachers and pastors are very clear, but I...
I received an official looking email from an organisation today saying that Todd Bentley has begun Canadian law divorce proceedings with his wife. I haven’t blogged at all about the Lakeland happenings or the subsequent Pentecostal excitement surrounding it primarily because I couldn’t trust myself to give a balanced account of it due to my distance from it and the self awareness that I am not inclined towards such events at the best of times. I have had serious reservations in it all, despite wanting to keep somewhat of an open and generous mind to the wider activity of the Holy Spirit. I give that background to say, it will be very easy for those who, like me have been either quietly pessimistic or even spoken out against the Lakeland ‘Revival’ to get...
“My dear brother, we must not mind a little suffering for Christ’s sake. When I am getting through a hedge, if my head and shoulders are safely through, I can bear the pricking of my legs. Let us rejoice in the remembrance that our holy Head has surmounted all His suffering and triumphed over death. Let us follow Him patiently; we shall soon be partakers of His victory.” —Charles Simeon, quoted in John Piper, The Roots of Endurance (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2006), 77 HT: Of First ImportanceSimilar Posts:None Found...
Believe it or not, its been a month since the last post in this series from Jamie Arpin Ricci who gave what were for me, some really insightful answers in the question of Missions funding. Here’s the second in the series from my good friend John Gillespie who interestingly enough, is also working for YWAM (you may see a pattern emerge soon) in Kona staffing Discipleship Training Schools and generally being a good guy, he is also getting married later this year to Miss Jenni Larsen. John used to blog here, but we wont hold that against him: In considering financial support for missionaries to what extent do you think it is important for both the supporter and supported to think about the support as theological endorsement? 1) I would venture to say that the emphasis of...
“There is no deep and stable spirituality that does not acknowledge what an utterly profound privilege it is to know God and be reconciled to him by the crucified Messiah.” - D. A. Carson, The Cross and Christian Ministry (Grand Rapids, Mi.: Baker Books, 2003), 52. HT: Of First ImportanceSimilar Posts:None Found...
Here’s a great place to find free religious audio books of a catholic persuasion TheologyForum have written an interesting post on the nature of Apologetics IPSUM ESSE has written some useful reflections on Aberdeen’s Francesca Murphy’s book "God is not a Story" which cannot be purchased for any less than £60 according to my research whilst trying to find it. Brian Brock was right, he does write the cheaper books at the faculty in Aberdeen (just kidding Brian) faith and theology writes a review of Engaging the Doctrine of God which Aberdeen’s John Webster contributed to.New Kid on the Blog: theological scribbles from Robin Parry takes on a big one, Israel and the Church in his quest to lose his friends. Here is a well balanced review of The Shack,...
Scotteriology asks a good question: "We are entering a time where it is very probable that we will be asked to bring the Kingdom of God into North Atlantic areas in ways that will be challenging and unique. How do you minister to the “least of these” that are still among the world’s elite? If a family has lost the ownership of a house and their nest egg, but still has their health, food, and a roof over their heads (which makes them very rich by global standards) how do you minister to the broken heart of those experiencing relative poverty?"Similar Posts:None Found...
Scot McKnight draws out this useful bit of Exegesis from The Mission of God Phil 2:9-11 needs to be read alongside Isaiah 45:22-23, so I want to put them both down right here. Here’s Isaiah: “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow;by me every tongue will swear.” Here’s Phil 2: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! Therefore God...
I am keen to encourage creativity and creative endeavours, and am quick to scorn historical attempts of the Church to limit scientific creativity, but I wonder when does inquisitiveness become sin, when does our research become Eve’s reach for the fruit?Thoughts in the comments.Similar Posts:None Found...
John Piper quotes Adoniram Judson who has some good things to say regarding missionaries - that is wherever we are called (yes, that means you), Some of these points are interesting in light of the missions series I have been running. it was so engaging I have posted it in its entirity:(Author: John Piper)
As I was working on the fifth volume of The Swans are Not Silent series about the lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John G. Paton, I found a letter written by Judson from Burma on June 25, 1832 with sobering counsel to missionaries.
Actually, these are hard and good words for all of us. Here are four of his points:
Fourthly. It may be profitable to bear in
mind, that a large proportion of those who come out on a mission to the
East die within five years after...
Due to our annual leave being used up with our honeymoon and a trip to see my good friend John get married, along with buying our flights for both of those occasions we weren’t expecting to be able to go to the New Wine Scotland event this year CLAN Gathering. Well due to some fortunate re-jigging of national holidays and someone generously helping us out with some of the finances we are going for a long weekend for the first few days of CLAN Gathering 2008 (sat,sun, mon) So I wont be back online until Tuesday. Like last year we will be helping to lead some worship times in the CLAN Community venue, which is the stream for student/20-something’s which will be good fun as the band haven’t really played together for 6 months until last year where we had a rusty yet...
“If you know what He has done at infinite cost to himself - He’s put you into a relationship with so that you’ll never be rejected by Him - then your motivation when you sin is to go get Him. You want fellowship with Him. When the thing that most assures you is the thing that most convicts you, you’ll be okay because when you’re convicted of sin in a gospel way it drives you toward God. Without the gospel we hate ourselves instead of our sin. Without the gospel we’re motivated through all sorts of awful fear and pride to change and it doesn’t really change our hearts it just restrains our hearts.” - Tim Keller, How the Gospel Changes Us (message given at Redeemer Presbyterian Church) - HT: Of First ImportanceSimilar Posts:None Found...
After some very insightful words regarding missions and finance from Jamie earlier this week, I thought Id try and pick up on some topics he mentioned and hear what he has to say. Thanks again to Jamie for contributing to this, if you don’t already subscribe to his blog at http://missional.blog.com I certainly recommend it. — Jamie, You said in one of your answers: "Missionaries are often on the front edge of theological and missiological thinking and practice, growing out of the necessity of their work. Many Christian donors, on the other hand, often engage theology in a more theoretical context, affording them the luxury of idealism" I thought this was a very interesting idea, do you think that there is a way to overcome this, or is it an inevitability...
Thanks to Zach Neilsen for pointing to this:The body of my friend Tim Eimer is weakened by what may be a fatal cancer. His spirit is finding strength in the gospel. Recently he wrote this practical exhortation:"In recent years, God has taught me not to hold on to my life so dearly. For what we cling so desperately to, we soon begin to fret and worry about. Fretting and worry lead to fear; fear results in poverty–poverty of spirit and heart and hope. I have been struck this week with the thought of living life generously, of spending my life like the wealthy man that I am because we cannot hoard our days in a bank account or investment. This week I have been writing letters of encouragement, writing furiously in the journals I am leaving to my boys (I’m up to page 115 for...
Today we get into the first responses to the questions I asked last week and begin with Jamie Arpin Ricci who in his own words is "a missionary/church planter and writer, serving
with Youth With A Mission for nearly 15 years. He lives and serve in
the inner city of Winnipeg, share life alongside his neighbours, trying
to love God and others along with his community. He writes and speaks
on issues of missions, missional community and urban ministry. He
blogs at www.missional.blog.com."So here are Jamie’s thoughts on the questions I asked, feel free to leave your own thoughts in the comments: In considering financial support for missionaries to what extent do you think it is important for both the supporter and supported to think about the support as...
I was hoping to continue the 21st Century Missions series earlier this week but I have had no time to get the responses together. Thanks to everyone who has responded so far though, there are some great thoughts and it will be well worth the wait. Theologian Douglas Knight shares some interesting Barthian thoughts on Marriage from CDIII.4. Do you know of any other theological treatments of marriage? Also there is a sample chapter available from the new edition of the Church Dogmatics which will include translations of all Latin and Greek texts, presented alongside the original texts. Tom Smith at SoulGardeners writes a great reflection on how as Jesus-followers, University education should not be primarily motivated by money-making or getting the advantage but by being equipped to...
I read this quote today and thought it would be a good preface to our discussion on mission. Sometimes the technicalities and practicalities of missiology seem to eclipse the focus of mission instead of serve it. In Mission we must always be motivated by the fact that we cannot be silent because of the things we have seen and heard: “Mission begins with a kind of explosion of joy. The news that the rejected and crucified Jesus is alive is something that cannot possibly be suppressed. It must be told. Who could be silent about such a fact? The mission of the Church in the pages of the New Testament is like the fallout from a vast explosion, a radioactive fallout which is not lethal but life-giving.” —Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,...
With my theological premises somewhat laid on the table, I want to move on to the first topic.I
have found it very useful in the last few years to think through things
in conversation with those from my own and other traditions, and as I
was considering mission in the ways described in my earlier post,
I realised I have not thought at length or at depth about ideas
relating to mission. Neither did I have a suitable missional vocabulary
on which to call on in order to ‘bat the ideas around’ so to speak, and
so I decided to enter into a conversation on the first subject in the series. A
conversation I am planning to hold here on my blog with people I am
connected to personally or through blogs who write well or have significant experience in the area of missional thinking and...
Yes, only one post since last weeks round up and I have a plethora of posts for you. I am wondering if these round ups are overkill, but I do enjoy cataloging the finds for my own use at any rate. Andy White has re:launched his site with a fancy new design and lots of ‘:’s. Andy is a great blogger and I’m looking forward to reading more of his technology, blogging and Big Life words. I’m starting a new blog series on Missions in the 21st Century, it will focus on responses from guest bloggers and I’ve had some great responses already which I am excited to post over the next few weeks, so keep checking in for that. Cool Tools is a great blog that I keep bookmarked, it features reviews on great books, gadgets and software and always picks up on...
