A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.
G. K. Chesterton in Orthodoxy
Monday, June 26, 2006
TOM WRIGHT on the pattern of incarnation
"I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." John 13:20
Those who go in Jesus' name, who get on with whatever work he gives them to do in his spirit and his love, are given an extraordinary status and privilege. Anyone who welcomes them, welcomes Jesus, and thereby also welcomes 'the one who sent him'. You probably won't recognise it at the time. You'll be too busy thinking of the people you're working for and with. But, as you look back, you may be startled by the joy of realizing that as you walked into that house, that hospital, that place of pain or love or sorrow or hope, Jesus was walking in, wearing your skin, speaking in your tone of voice. 'I've given you a pattern,' he said, and he meant it.
Tom Wright, in John for Everyone - Part 2
Those who go in Jesus' name, who get on with whatever work he gives them to do in his spirit and his love, are given an extraordinary status and privilege. Anyone who welcomes them, welcomes Jesus, and thereby also welcomes 'the one who sent him'. You probably won't recognise it at the time. You'll be too busy thinking of the people you're working for and with. But, as you look back, you may be startled by the joy of realizing that as you walked into that house, that hospital, that place of pain or love or sorrow or hope, Jesus was walking in, wearing your skin, speaking in your tone of voice. 'I've given you a pattern,' he said, and he meant it.
Tom Wright, in John for Everyone - Part 2
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
EVDOKIMOV on Vocation
"One's vocation is found exactly on the crest between necessity and creative freedom, along the line of faith, which reveals the direction as its free and strong confession grows... One's entire vocation is an option, an answer to a call that has been heard. It can simply be the present condition. It is never a voice that clarifies everything. The dimness inherent in faith never leaves us. "
Paul Evdokimov, quoted in 'Real Sex' by Lauren F. Winner
Paul Evdokimov, quoted in 'Real Sex' by Lauren F. Winner
Monday, June 12, 2006
Touch and see
Continuing my reflections on the Incarnation...
I was struck on Sunday to recall the story of Thomas at the end of John's Gospel and the nature of his declaration of faith, "My Lord and my God!"
Thomas' statement of belief, the first of its kind in the Gospels, reads as an almost immediate response to Jesus' appearance amongst the disciples and his invitation to Thomas to touch and see that his wounds are real. Thomas is the first person to declare that Jesus is God, and although this is partly a response to Jesus' resurrection and new life, it is significant to find it following a demonstration not of Godly power, but of human life.
Jesus invites Thomas to touch him and affirm his reality, his bodily life, his humanity - still showing the marks of pain and death. In this short interaction we find an illustration of some of the magic and the paradox of the incarnation. Thomas recognises Jesus divinity, not in spite of his humanity but through it. Jesus wants Thomas to know that he is real, that he has bodily life, and is not just a spirit. But in this very human demonstration, Thomas suddenly sees the fullness of who Jesus is, Lord and God.
I was struck on Sunday to recall the story of Thomas at the end of John's Gospel and the nature of his declaration of faith, "My Lord and my God!"
Thomas' statement of belief, the first of its kind in the Gospels, reads as an almost immediate response to Jesus' appearance amongst the disciples and his invitation to Thomas to touch and see that his wounds are real. Thomas is the first person to declare that Jesus is God, and although this is partly a response to Jesus' resurrection and new life, it is significant to find it following a demonstration not of Godly power, but of human life.
Jesus invites Thomas to touch him and affirm his reality, his bodily life, his humanity - still showing the marks of pain and death. In this short interaction we find an illustration of some of the magic and the paradox of the incarnation. Thomas recognises Jesus divinity, not in spite of his humanity but through it. Jesus wants Thomas to know that he is real, that he has bodily life, and is not just a spirit. But in this very human demonstration, Thomas suddenly sees the fullness of who Jesus is, Lord and God.
Friday, June 09, 2006
It's no turkey
"Warren stresses that he's not for the right wing or the left wing but for the whole bird. Amen to that as well. Just need to make sure the bird one is holistically endorsing is the Gospel bird, and not a turkey."
Ben Witherington praises Rick Warren as a model of faith on his blog.
It's great to see one Christian writer being so generous about another, and both Rick Warren (the author of The Purpose Driven Life) and Ben W come across very well. The USA Today article Ben cites on 'America's most influential pastor' is also well worth a read.
Ben Witherington praises Rick Warren as a model of faith on his blog.
It's great to see one Christian writer being so generous about another, and both Rick Warren (the author of The Purpose Driven Life) and Ben W come across very well. The USA Today article Ben cites on 'America's most influential pastor' is also well worth a read.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
CS Lewis on Time
We are so little reconciled to time that we are even astonished at it. "How he's grown!" we exclaim, "How time flies!" as though the universal form of our experience were again and again a novelty. It is as strange as if a fish were repeatedly surprised at the wetness of water. And that would be strange indeed; unless of course the fish were destined to become, one day, a land animal.
CS Lewis in Reflections on the Psalms
CS Lewis in Reflections on the Psalms
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Chilled out Crazy
While driving down today I caught Jo Whiley interviewing Nelly Furtado on Radio 1. The interview was dull, but her cover of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy is worth a listen!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Words for Life
Further to a conversation last night, the Wycliffe Words for Life magazine has some fascinating stories about using spoken translations to provide God's Word to communities with a strong oral tradition... I'm sure Seymour will be pleased to hear this!
Wycliffe are also adamant about the need for Scripture translation in a community's native language - but this is something I'm sure we all agreed on anyway!
Wycliffe are also adamant about the need for Scripture translation in a community's native language - but this is something I'm sure we all agreed on anyway!
Gapminder
Gapminder is a new acquisition for Google Tools, a brilliantly executed interactive graph "visualising world development".
Well worth a look!
Well worth a look!
Friday, May 26, 2006
Why you should sit still in church
Dave read me this excerpt from The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass (aged 37 3/4) last week and it made me laugh out loud! I haven't met any Doreen Cooks in Kings yet, but the near-familiarity of this story made it all the funnier!
Sunday December 15th
Our church is getting like an auction room. One blink and you get ministered to. Sit still and keep your eyes shining - that's my motto. This morning was Edwin Burlesford's fault. Forty-five minutes on 'sin'! A record nine-fruit-gum talk. Halfway through, I was checking supplies when Edwin suddenly shouted 'LUST!', and made me drop the packet under my chair. Put my head down between my knees to locate it, then couldn't get up because Doreen Cook pressed her hands down on the back of my head. She prayed that 'our despairing brother would move from darknes to light'. I was all for that - I couldn't see a thing. When she let me get up she had one of those roguish Christian smiles on her face. Came very close to really giving her something to forgive me for. Everyone thinks I've got a big lust problem now. At coffee time they all smiled reassuringly at me. Leonard Thynn hugged me. I signed Edwin's carol-singing list for next Saturday to show that I'm not all bad.
Sunday December 15th
Our church is getting like an auction room. One blink and you get ministered to. Sit still and keep your eyes shining - that's my motto. This morning was Edwin Burlesford's fault. Forty-five minutes on 'sin'! A record nine-fruit-gum talk. Halfway through, I was checking supplies when Edwin suddenly shouted 'LUST!', and made me drop the packet under my chair. Put my head down between my knees to locate it, then couldn't get up because Doreen Cook pressed her hands down on the back of my head. She prayed that 'our despairing brother would move from darknes to light'. I was all for that - I couldn't see a thing. When she let me get up she had one of those roguish Christian smiles on her face. Came very close to really giving her something to forgive me for. Everyone thinks I've got a big lust problem now. At coffee time they all smiled reassuringly at me. Leonard Thynn hugged me. I signed Edwin's carol-singing list for next Saturday to show that I'm not all bad.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The Sheep Market
There's some crazy stuff out there!
The Sheep Market is quite unique...and the execution is sweet.
I was a little concerned that #4012 looked more like the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing.. and what manner of thing is #3930?!
The Sheep Market is quite unique...and the execution is sweet.
I was a little concerned that #4012 looked more like the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing.. and what manner of thing is #3930?!
Monday, May 22, 2006
Feel it?
'Worship is like love: the more you do it the more you feel it.'
Jesus said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34) I've heard this amusingly referred to as "where your investment is, there your interest will be also." There's so much truth in this - in the same way we closely follow the fortunes of our material investments, our hearts are also interested in our investments of time and energy. Jesus is talking about storing up treasure in heaven, making the point that if we invest more deeply in God's kingdom, then our eyes and hearts will inevitably follow.
When we worship, as when we love, we make an 'investment' in something other than ourselves. It's a mysterious truth that when we invest time and energy in a relationship, when we give our focus and attention to someone else, we find ourselves caring about them more than when we begun. That seems backwards to most people - why would you want to invest in someone you didn't care about? Why would you show love to someone that you didn't feel love towards?
I've been reflecting on the way we often seem to have that same sense when we come to worship God. But it would be a poor show if we only worshipped when we felt like it. Yes, our worship should be true and more than mere words, but my sense is that - like love - it ultimately springs from a decision, rather than an emotion. We ultimately worship, not because we feel like it, or even because God feels particularly real to us today or He's answered our prayers (although these are all good reasons!), but because He is overwhelmingly worthy of praise.
We sung Tim Hughes' song Almighty God last night, which reminds us that "If we did not praise, the rocks would cry out". There's obviously a lot more that could be said on the majesty and awesomeness of God, but I hope you'll be able to fill in the gaps...
My current reflection, however, is based on my initial statement. It is my experience, and I imagine I am not alone, that worshipping God, whether it started as a 'natural' response, or a conscious decision, tends to make us more worshipful. I apologise if this seems completely obvious to you; it is the first time I have articulated it this way. I notice in myself, particularly in singing songs of worship, but also in reading worship in scripture, that my feelings of wonder and thankfulness and, well, worship, tend to increase with use. In general, the more I worship, the more I feel like worshipping.
My cynical self wonders if this is in some way related to the way we often worship in groups, encouraging each other, or the way in which music tends to improve our mood generally. But since both of these aspects feature heavily in worship throughout Scripture, I can't help but conclude that any positive effect they have is altogether intended. In fact, both seem almost designed for worship. The Church is foremost a worshipping community, and if any creative expression has supernatural dimensions, it is surely music.
Jesus said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34) I've heard this amusingly referred to as "where your investment is, there your interest will be also." There's so much truth in this - in the same way we closely follow the fortunes of our material investments, our hearts are also interested in our investments of time and energy. Jesus is talking about storing up treasure in heaven, making the point that if we invest more deeply in God's kingdom, then our eyes and hearts will inevitably follow.
When we worship, as when we love, we make an 'investment' in something other than ourselves. It's a mysterious truth that when we invest time and energy in a relationship, when we give our focus and attention to someone else, we find ourselves caring about them more than when we begun. That seems backwards to most people - why would you want to invest in someone you didn't care about? Why would you show love to someone that you didn't feel love towards?
I've been reflecting on the way we often seem to have that same sense when we come to worship God. But it would be a poor show if we only worshipped when we felt like it. Yes, our worship should be true and more than mere words, but my sense is that - like love - it ultimately springs from a decision, rather than an emotion. We ultimately worship, not because we feel like it, or even because God feels particularly real to us today or He's answered our prayers (although these are all good reasons!), but because He is overwhelmingly worthy of praise.
We sung Tim Hughes' song Almighty God last night, which reminds us that "If we did not praise, the rocks would cry out". There's obviously a lot more that could be said on the majesty and awesomeness of God, but I hope you'll be able to fill in the gaps...
My current reflection, however, is based on my initial statement. It is my experience, and I imagine I am not alone, that worshipping God, whether it started as a 'natural' response, or a conscious decision, tends to make us more worshipful. I apologise if this seems completely obvious to you; it is the first time I have articulated it this way. I notice in myself, particularly in singing songs of worship, but also in reading worship in scripture, that my feelings of wonder and thankfulness and, well, worship, tend to increase with use. In general, the more I worship, the more I feel like worshipping.
My cynical self wonders if this is in some way related to the way we often worship in groups, encouraging each other, or the way in which music tends to improve our mood generally. But since both of these aspects feature heavily in worship throughout Scripture, I can't help but conclude that any positive effect they have is altogether intended. In fact, both seem almost designed for worship. The Church is foremost a worshipping community, and if any creative expression has supernatural dimensions, it is surely music.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
A real rest
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
(Matt 11:28-30 in The Message)
(Matt 11:28-30 in The Message)
Saturday, May 20, 2006
A letter from Cyprian
This seems a cheerful world, Donatus, when I view it from this fair garden, under the shadow of these vines. But if I climbed some great mountain and looked out over the wide lands, you know very well what I would see-brigands on the high roads, pirates on the seas; in the amphitheatres men murdered to please applauding crowds; under all roofs misery and selfishness. It is really a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. Yet in the midst of it I have found a quiet and holy people. They have discovered a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasures of this sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians - and I am one of them.
St. Cyprian, c. 258, a letter
St. Cyprian, c. 258, a letter
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