We were discussing anger tonight in Bible study, following the reading of Matthew 5:21-26. Here are some thoughts that came up, in no particular order:
Anger is frequently described in the Bible with the imagery of fire and burning. With the devastation of the Victorian bushfires recently, it's worth thinking about the collateral damage that unrestrained anger can cause, and also that fire can be fueled, or damped down.
The words 'slow' and 'anger' also go together in the Bible - most frequently talking about God and the speed at which he gets angry (ie. slowly).
We wondered if much of the anger that we express towards our children comes from us being inconvenienced. And is inconvenience a good enough reason for anger? God gets angry at injustice and rebellion.
We asked God to help us understand the source of our various angers this week. Facing our anger and its reasons will probably help us understand what is real anger, and what is hurt, bitterness or disappointment masquerading as anger.
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 09, 2009
Resisting the temptation to be moral
My husband gets this great journal entitled Journal of spiritual formation and soul care. I thought this article by John Coe in Volume 1, Issue 1 was worth quoting in some length. It may be helpful in my journey towards joy.
"I want to address a peculiar temptation, one especially relevant and think universal to those who are dedicated to the Christian life and to ministry. It is what I call the moral temptation.
The moral temptation is the attempt to deal with our spiritual failure, guilt and shame by means of spiritual efforts, by attempting to perfect one's self in the power of the self.
It is the attempt of the well-intentioned believer to use spiritual formation, spiritual disciplines, ministry, service, obedience - being good in general- as a way to relieve the burden of spiritual failure, lack of love and the guilt and shame that results.
It is the temptation to try to relieve a burden that Christ alone can relieve....
My thesis or concern... for those believers who want to give themselves to a life of growth and ministry but are struggling with their faith, is two-fold:
1. That no amount of spiritual effort on their part can ever relieve them of their burden of shame and guilt in the Christian life except Christ. No amount of effort or doing of spiritual disciplines can grow them or fix them.
2. That in fact, the Christian life is not fundamentally about being moral in itself or about being a good Christian boy or girl. It is not fundamentally about obedience to a set of principles or doing spiritual disciplines... It is not even about character formation or imitation of Christ as a model.
... As we grow older in faith, we discover that the Christian life is more about Christ and less about our efforts. It is about what he has done, and about our life "in Christ" and how to open the heart to this New Covenant life dependent on the Spirit.
"I want to address a peculiar temptation, one especially relevant and think universal to those who are dedicated to the Christian life and to ministry. It is what I call the moral temptation.
The moral temptation is the attempt to deal with our spiritual failure, guilt and shame by means of spiritual efforts, by attempting to perfect one's self in the power of the self.
It is the attempt of the well-intentioned believer to use spiritual formation, spiritual disciplines, ministry, service, obedience - being good in general- as a way to relieve the burden of spiritual failure, lack of love and the guilt and shame that results.
It is the temptation to try to relieve a burden that Christ alone can relieve....
My thesis or concern... for those believers who want to give themselves to a life of growth and ministry but are struggling with their faith, is two-fold:
1. That no amount of spiritual effort on their part can ever relieve them of their burden of shame and guilt in the Christian life except Christ. No amount of effort or doing of spiritual disciplines can grow them or fix them.
2. That in fact, the Christian life is not fundamentally about being moral in itself or about being a good Christian boy or girl. It is not fundamentally about obedience to a set of principles or doing spiritual disciplines... It is not even about character formation or imitation of Christ as a model.
... As we grow older in faith, we discover that the Christian life is more about Christ and less about our efforts. It is about what he has done, and about our life "in Christ" and how to open the heart to this New Covenant life dependent on the Spirit.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Questions or answers?
Usually I run my Bible study pretty conventionally. We sit around and read the passage. I ask pertinent questions and we have a discussion around each one.
This week, however, I decided to do something a little different. Instead of looking for answers, I was looking for questions. There was no discussion or answers allowed - only questions. I was the scribe while everyone in the group thought about the questions they could ask about the passage and its application.
The end result was more than 7ft of questions on a roll of continuous paper. It was more than I expected. The group felt perhaps a little more exhausted than usual, but they did feel that they had gotten a lot out of the exercise and had really examined the passage.
This week, however, I decided to do something a little different. Instead of looking for answers, I was looking for questions. There was no discussion or answers allowed - only questions. I was the scribe while everyone in the group thought about the questions they could ask about the passage and its application.
The end result was more than 7ft of questions on a roll of continuous paper. It was more than I expected. The group felt perhaps a little more exhausted than usual, but they did feel that they had gotten a lot out of the exercise and had really examined the passage.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Trivial bits and pieces
1. My friend bought me a donut machine. They make great tasting little gluten free treats. Hopefully I'll be able to sneak some vegies or supplements into the batter without anyone seeing.
2. I'm 35 and I still bite my nails.
3. Dreams. Lately I've been having night-long sagas with quite good stories, and lots of emotional range. Interesting.
4. Bought a book for my mother in law's birthday, but I'm too tempted to read it myself in the non-creased page way before I give it to her. It's called the 19th wife - about polygamy in Utah. I'm so interested in that stuff.
5. Can't stop eating cake.
6. This year is the year of wearing summer skirts rather than cropped pants. Felt like a change.
7. I'm going to really really miss my little girl next year. We've decided it's probably best for her brother (and therefore for us all) if she goes back to school and we focus on his therapy. But I feel so so disappointed about it.
8. I'm daydreaming about getting a huge book contract from Zondervan in the US, selling up, buying an RV for a year and travelling the States promoting it and speaking.
9. The other daydream is moving to the bush, building my own house, getting a horse and working the vegie patch. I like the idea - just not the work involved!
10. Great Bible study on the Body of Christ and how people are necessary for growth. I love that God 'wears us as his clothes' as he dispenses grace.
2. I'm 35 and I still bite my nails.
3. Dreams. Lately I've been having night-long sagas with quite good stories, and lots of emotional range. Interesting.
4. Bought a book for my mother in law's birthday, but I'm too tempted to read it myself in the non-creased page way before I give it to her. It's called the 19th wife - about polygamy in Utah. I'm so interested in that stuff.
5. Can't stop eating cake.
6. This year is the year of wearing summer skirts rather than cropped pants. Felt like a change.
7. I'm going to really really miss my little girl next year. We've decided it's probably best for her brother (and therefore for us all) if she goes back to school and we focus on his therapy. But I feel so so disappointed about it.
8. I'm daydreaming about getting a huge book contract from Zondervan in the US, selling up, buying an RV for a year and travelling the States promoting it and speaking.
9. The other daydream is moving to the bush, building my own house, getting a horse and working the vegie patch. I like the idea - just not the work involved!
10. Great Bible study on the Body of Christ and how people are necessary for growth. I love that God 'wears us as his clothes' as he dispenses grace.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Friendships in the Bible III: Onesimus and Philemon
Of all the stories of friendship in the Bible, I love Onesimus and Philemon most. Philemon is such a tiny little book in the New Testament but its meanings and implications are profound and drastic.
Philemon is a book that must shake us to our core if and change our relationships and social life if we take it seriously.
It centers, appropriately enough, around Philemon, a wealthy man of good social standing, who becomes a Christian possibly through Paul’s ministry, and his rebellious, runaway slave, Onesimus.
In those days, masters owned slaves. It was not an equal relationship by any means. In ordinary circumstances, Philemon and Onesimus were certainly not relating to each other as people, peers or equals. They would not have been friends.
Onesimus stole money from Philemon and ran away. We’re not told more than that except that in some extraordinary way, he ended up with Paul in Rome and became a Christian. He could have stayed there and begun a new life, but Paul was keen to see Philemon and Onesimus reconciled -- and in a bigger way than just a master and slave.
Paul writes his short letter to Philemon and asks them to accept Onesimus back – as a brother. Not as a slave, but as a child of God like himself, in fact a friend.
Philemon is being called on to give up all the social expectations of his day. Accepting Onesimus back as a slave would be a scandal, even with a suitable punishment. But to welcome him into his house as an equal and friend and valued human being would really turn things upside down! Philemon would probably find himself on the outside amongst his peers.
This is Christianity that really makes waves. To go against social norms, class and race lines or socioeconomic status and make friends with people who are considered ‘lesser’ is a very courageous thing to do.
Philemon is being asked to do it and to demonstrate the character of God in a beautifully scandalous way – a very costly way to himself.
This is what God saving love brings us to do – to break down the man-made barriers of hatred of difference that we create and maintain at the cost of people’s lives. Social scandals are as real today as they were in Philemon’s time. But Christian friendship goes across money, status, and social acceptance. Christian friendship is radical and beautifully scandalous.
Philemon is a book that must shake us to our core if and change our relationships and social life if we take it seriously.
It centers, appropriately enough, around Philemon, a wealthy man of good social standing, who becomes a Christian possibly through Paul’s ministry, and his rebellious, runaway slave, Onesimus.
In those days, masters owned slaves. It was not an equal relationship by any means. In ordinary circumstances, Philemon and Onesimus were certainly not relating to each other as people, peers or equals. They would not have been friends.
Onesimus stole money from Philemon and ran away. We’re not told more than that except that in some extraordinary way, he ended up with Paul in Rome and became a Christian. He could have stayed there and begun a new life, but Paul was keen to see Philemon and Onesimus reconciled -- and in a bigger way than just a master and slave.
Paul writes his short letter to Philemon and asks them to accept Onesimus back – as a brother. Not as a slave, but as a child of God like himself, in fact a friend.
Philemon is being called on to give up all the social expectations of his day. Accepting Onesimus back as a slave would be a scandal, even with a suitable punishment. But to welcome him into his house as an equal and friend and valued human being would really turn things upside down! Philemon would probably find himself on the outside amongst his peers.
This is Christianity that really makes waves. To go against social norms, class and race lines or socioeconomic status and make friends with people who are considered ‘lesser’ is a very courageous thing to do.
Philemon is being asked to do it and to demonstrate the character of God in a beautifully scandalous way – a very costly way to himself.
This is what God saving love brings us to do – to break down the man-made barriers of hatred of difference that we create and maintain at the cost of people’s lives. Social scandals are as real today as they were in Philemon’s time. But Christian friendship goes across money, status, and social acceptance. Christian friendship is radical and beautifully scandalous.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Friendships in the Bible I
For years I thought that God was inefficient. It just didn’t seem to make sense that the Bible is so big and so full of complicated stories. Surely if God really wanted us to know what he was like and how to live, he could have done it in less space and with the use of a few well-placed bullet points.
Thankfully, as I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate efficiency less and relationships more. Now that I understand that God operates in relational ways, it makes sense that his story is told with in the rough-and-tumble of relationships in history.
The Bible is full of friendships – between God and people and between people themselves. We can learn a lot about ourselves and our own relationships by looking at theirs.
The beginning of the book of Ruth tells the story of a woman who had lost everything.
Naomi and her family had left Israel because of famine and had tried to make a life in Moab. But things did not run smoothly. First and probably disappointingly, her two boys grew up and married women who were not Israelites. Next and tragically, Naomi’s husband died. The final horror came with the death of both her sons; the sting in the tail was that both of them had failed to have any children.
Naomi was left with no means of support and no hopes for a family to continue into the future. She had nothing in the present and nothing to look forward to. She returned to Israel low, bitter and more than likely depressed.
But for all her losses, she did have something and that something was a friend. Naomi’s daughter-in-law Ruth came back to Israel with her.
I’ve sometimes wondered if Ruth stuck with Naomi only out of loyalty to the in-law relationship they both had. I wondered if she felt she was doing a duty by the older woman. I think this may have been the case at the beginning, when both daughters-in-law began to start home with Naomi. However, Naomi released them of whatever duty they had when she tried to send them home.
“I can’t give you anything,” she said. “Go back to your homes and families.”
Having been freed of her responsibility, Ruth was then free to choose to go with Naomi. She stuck with her mother-in-law by choice. And a beautiful friendship grew from that free choice.
Ruth was very good for her older friend. Her presence meant that Naomi was not alone in the shame of returning home in failure and tragedy. Ruth was the one who went out to work and provided for them both. Their lives were tied up together.
Ruth was different from Naomi – in language, age, culture and understanding. She was probably not the ideal friend that Naomi would have envisaged for herself if she had thought about it. Naomi would probably have chosen someone who was of the same background, or who spoke the same language fluently. She probably would have wanted someone closer in age to herself, or who had experienced famine and the same things she had gone through. Yet Ruth loved both God and Naomi and she had chosen to be there. That was enough for the relationship to go ahead on.
As Ruth looked after Naomi and supported her, Naomi started to feel a little better. Better enough anyway, to start to have Ruth’s own interests at heart. You know you’re really depressed when all you can think about are your own problems. You know you’re starting to come out of it when you can take a real interest in other people’s issues.
Naomi saw that Ruth who had been so good to her really could do with a bit of a life. She saw an opportunity to provide for her and she took steps and solved one of their biggest problems by getting Boaz to marry Ruth.
It’s almost as if Naomi went from saying “I’m completely empty and God is completely against me” to being able to recognize the things God had given her in Ruth and the opportunities God was providing in Boaz.
By the end of the story, Naomi was no longer empty, bitter and tragic. She was a different woman, and it was because of what God gave her in her friend Ruth.
God gives us people who are good for us, even if they aren’t the people we would choose. He often shows his love for us and his blessings through the love of other people, and he can turn around tragic situations through the friendship and support of our friends.
Thankfully, as I have gotten older, I have come to appreciate efficiency less and relationships more. Now that I understand that God operates in relational ways, it makes sense that his story is told with in the rough-and-tumble of relationships in history.
The Bible is full of friendships – between God and people and between people themselves. We can learn a lot about ourselves and our own relationships by looking at theirs.
The beginning of the book of Ruth tells the story of a woman who had lost everything.
Naomi and her family had left Israel because of famine and had tried to make a life in Moab. But things did not run smoothly. First and probably disappointingly, her two boys grew up and married women who were not Israelites. Next and tragically, Naomi’s husband died. The final horror came with the death of both her sons; the sting in the tail was that both of them had failed to have any children.
Naomi was left with no means of support and no hopes for a family to continue into the future. She had nothing in the present and nothing to look forward to. She returned to Israel low, bitter and more than likely depressed.
But for all her losses, she did have something and that something was a friend. Naomi’s daughter-in-law Ruth came back to Israel with her.
I’ve sometimes wondered if Ruth stuck with Naomi only out of loyalty to the in-law relationship they both had. I wondered if she felt she was doing a duty by the older woman. I think this may have been the case at the beginning, when both daughters-in-law began to start home with Naomi. However, Naomi released them of whatever duty they had when she tried to send them home.
“I can’t give you anything,” she said. “Go back to your homes and families.”
Having been freed of her responsibility, Ruth was then free to choose to go with Naomi. She stuck with her mother-in-law by choice. And a beautiful friendship grew from that free choice.
Ruth was very good for her older friend. Her presence meant that Naomi was not alone in the shame of returning home in failure and tragedy. Ruth was the one who went out to work and provided for them both. Their lives were tied up together.
Ruth was different from Naomi – in language, age, culture and understanding. She was probably not the ideal friend that Naomi would have envisaged for herself if she had thought about it. Naomi would probably have chosen someone who was of the same background, or who spoke the same language fluently. She probably would have wanted someone closer in age to herself, or who had experienced famine and the same things she had gone through. Yet Ruth loved both God and Naomi and she had chosen to be there. That was enough for the relationship to go ahead on.
As Ruth looked after Naomi and supported her, Naomi started to feel a little better. Better enough anyway, to start to have Ruth’s own interests at heart. You know you’re really depressed when all you can think about are your own problems. You know you’re starting to come out of it when you can take a real interest in other people’s issues.
Naomi saw that Ruth who had been so good to her really could do with a bit of a life. She saw an opportunity to provide for her and she took steps and solved one of their biggest problems by getting Boaz to marry Ruth.
It’s almost as if Naomi went from saying “I’m completely empty and God is completely against me” to being able to recognize the things God had given her in Ruth and the opportunities God was providing in Boaz.
By the end of the story, Naomi was no longer empty, bitter and tragic. She was a different woman, and it was because of what God gave her in her friend Ruth.
God gives us people who are good for us, even if they aren’t the people we would choose. He often shows his love for us and his blessings through the love of other people, and he can turn around tragic situations through the friendship and support of our friends.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
2008
This year I would like to:
- complete my book and find a publisher
- improve my ability to teach and guide Bright Eyes in his therapy.
- learn more about the way people learn and/or teach
- read a lot of books
- read more of my Bible
- have relaxing days off (child-free) with my husband
- talk to lots of people
- lose 3kg and start Pilates again
- stay in Mittagong (but that's not really up to me)
- complete my book and find a publisher
- improve my ability to teach and guide Bright Eyes in his therapy.
- learn more about the way people learn and/or teach
- read a lot of books
- read more of my Bible
- have relaxing days off (child-free) with my husband
- talk to lots of people
- lose 3kg and start Pilates again
- stay in Mittagong (but that's not really up to me)
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Investment or relationship?
“I made sure I invested in a few really good friends so that I would have enough support.”
“Those people are really good value.”
“These people are leaving our group? Oh well, they didn’t do anything anyway.”
If you hang around my circles you would have heard expressions like these frequently in the last couple of years.
I understand what the expressions mean, but they make me feel uncomfortable. They use the language of money, possession, acquisition and price for people and relationships.
It shows me that our culture continues to commodify people. We link value to achievement. We use friends for our own ends instead of enjoying a person for their own sake.
I scoured Proverbs recently, looking at its language of friendship. ‘Be’ a friend occurs many times. It’s the language of existence, identity and relationship.
On the other hand, the language around the concept of wealth and money brings up the ideas of deceitfulness, hoarding and never being satisfied.
I’m interested in the language of friendship you use.
“Those people are really good value.”
“These people are leaving our group? Oh well, they didn’t do anything anyway.”
If you hang around my circles you would have heard expressions like these frequently in the last couple of years.
I understand what the expressions mean, but they make me feel uncomfortable. They use the language of money, possession, acquisition and price for people and relationships.
It shows me that our culture continues to commodify people. We link value to achievement. We use friends for our own ends instead of enjoying a person for their own sake.
I scoured Proverbs recently, looking at its language of friendship. ‘Be’ a friend occurs many times. It’s the language of existence, identity and relationship.
On the other hand, the language around the concept of wealth and money brings up the ideas of deceitfulness, hoarding and never being satisfied.
I’m interested in the language of friendship you use.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Depressed? Try expressing yourself
The Bible was not written by Australians.
If Australians are depressed, they might say something like, "Mate, I've been, you know, a bit low... yeah."
In contrast, the Bible paints vivid word pictures to describe Job's depression.
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden,
whom God has hedged in?
For sighing comes to me instead of food;
my groans pour out like water.
What I feared has come upon me;
what I dreaded has happened to me.
I have no peace, no quietness;
I have no rest, but only turmoil.
Job 2: 23-26
I like it that the writers of the Bible are not afraid to express sadness and fears in their fulness. I often try to minimise my own sad feelings because I think I'd be just 'going on' and having a whinge. So it's an encouragement to have words and thoughts bigger than my own when it comes to talking about how I feel.
If Australians are depressed, they might say something like, "Mate, I've been, you know, a bit low... yeah."
In contrast, the Bible paints vivid word pictures to describe Job's depression.
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden,
whom God has hedged in?
For sighing comes to me instead of food;
my groans pour out like water.
What I feared has come upon me;
what I dreaded has happened to me.
I have no peace, no quietness;
I have no rest, but only turmoil.
Job 2: 23-26
I like it that the writers of the Bible are not afraid to express sadness and fears in their fulness. I often try to minimise my own sad feelings because I think I'd be just 'going on' and having a whinge. So it's an encouragement to have words and thoughts bigger than my own when it comes to talking about how I feel.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Answers
I've been enjoying reading the book of James for the last few days. It's had some answers for a few of my anxiety problems.
*******
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
James 1:9-11
I've been thinking about how to accept my little autistic son as he struggles through life without the ability to read social nuances that most people have. At the same time I've been concerned that I'm not getting to do my 'projects', which seem all important in my mind. This passage puts both those problems together and turns worldly wisdom on its head.
*********
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
James 2:5
'Poor in the eyes of the world' can take many forms. In the end, it's not about how well my son can work a room, but how much faith he has in God.
********
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
James 4:13-17
This is so me. I have all these big plans that seem so important. But the older I get, the more I realise I just don't know what's going to happen next. Putting myself in the same category as 'mist' is a little deflating if I see myself as all important. But if I see my life as God-given, God-supported and God-directed, that's a whole lot better. The last verse stands out too. I do know the good I ought to do right now and that's to be the very best parent with God's grace I can be right now. So that will keep me going today.
*******
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
James 1:9-11
I've been thinking about how to accept my little autistic son as he struggles through life without the ability to read social nuances that most people have. At the same time I've been concerned that I'm not getting to do my 'projects', which seem all important in my mind. This passage puts both those problems together and turns worldly wisdom on its head.
*********
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
James 2:5
'Poor in the eyes of the world' can take many forms. In the end, it's not about how well my son can work a room, but how much faith he has in God.
********
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
James 4:13-17
This is so me. I have all these big plans that seem so important. But the older I get, the more I realise I just don't know what's going to happen next. Putting myself in the same category as 'mist' is a little deflating if I see myself as all important. But if I see my life as God-given, God-supported and God-directed, that's a whole lot better. The last verse stands out too. I do know the good I ought to do right now and that's to be the very best parent with God's grace I can be right now. So that will keep me going today.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Head spin
Note to self: don't even try to have Bible readings when you're sick!
I sat down this morning, on my second day of recovery after a night in emergency with a vomiting bug, ready set to have my quiet time. Turned aimlessly to Zechariah and started a head-spinning read about Zerubbabel, Joshua the high priest, women in baskets and fast horses.... what????
Words were floating all over the page so I finished up with a quick "God-help-me-today-I'm-going-to-need-it" type prayer. As it turns out, I did, and he did.
I sat down this morning, on my second day of recovery after a night in emergency with a vomiting bug, ready set to have my quiet time. Turned aimlessly to Zechariah and started a head-spinning read about Zerubbabel, Joshua the high priest, women in baskets and fast horses.... what????
Words were floating all over the page so I finished up with a quick "God-help-me-today-I'm-going-to-need-it" type prayer. As it turns out, I did, and he did.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Beyond my ability
I never thought of the Apostle Paul as ever being at his wits end. I imagine him as the guy who copes through it all, his faith miraculously sustaining him, with always a smile or the right thing to say.
So I was a little surprised to read in 2 Corinthians this week when he wrote that “we were hard pressed beyond our ability to endure”.
Sometimes I feel hard pressed beyond my ability to endure. It’s at those times I tend to sink into little emotional pools of mud. I forget to pray and feel completely hopeless. I guess Paul may have felt like that too.
I love the words that he wrote next, “...but God delivered us”.
There’s a lot of comfort to be had from the fact that God knows what we can endure, and he will deliver us if we ask him.
And from those very difficult times and that deliverance come a wealth of strength which we can use for others.
I love the difference in tone between 1 and 2 Corinthians. The second letter is clearly written after Paul has suffered great wounds. Every word is love and comfort and comes deep from his heart which is sunk deep into God’s heart.
So I was a little surprised to read in 2 Corinthians this week when he wrote that “we were hard pressed beyond our ability to endure”.
Sometimes I feel hard pressed beyond my ability to endure. It’s at those times I tend to sink into little emotional pools of mud. I forget to pray and feel completely hopeless. I guess Paul may have felt like that too.
I love the words that he wrote next, “...but God delivered us”.
There’s a lot of comfort to be had from the fact that God knows what we can endure, and he will deliver us if we ask him.
And from those very difficult times and that deliverance come a wealth of strength which we can use for others.
I love the difference in tone between 1 and 2 Corinthians. The second letter is clearly written after Paul has suffered great wounds. Every word is love and comfort and comes deep from his heart which is sunk deep into God’s heart.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Kind of true
My seven year old daughter's teacher told her that you don't have to believe in Jesus to get to heaven - you just have to be kind to people.
I guess strictly speaking, that's true. But as I said to my daughter that means you'd have to be 100% kind to 100% of the people 100% of the time, with 0% mean-ness or apathy ever in your whole life.
The whole problem is not whether people are kind to others - it's what to do with the sin and the unkindness and the meanness and the selfishness and the everything else that mucks up all of our lives all of the time.
All of that stuff just doesn't go away, or get cancelled out by extra kindness. It's not like some people believe - that our goodness cancels out our badness. Badness and its effects still exist no matter how much 'penance' is done for it.
The only way badness gets eliminated is by forgiveness. And who's going to forgive us if not God? As my daughter said, "To get forgiven you actually have to say you're sorry first." And if you think your levels of kindness are ok enough, you're not going to say you're sorry!
God's method of forgiveness for our badness is through Jesus. So to get to heaven, we have to accept his sacrifice and his forgiveness for all our sin.
So although Mrs F is right, if we're kind we'll go to heaven, she's only got the first half of the story right. She doesn't have a framework for the second half of the story, or a solution for it.
I guess strictly speaking, that's true. But as I said to my daughter that means you'd have to be 100% kind to 100% of the people 100% of the time, with 0% mean-ness or apathy ever in your whole life.
The whole problem is not whether people are kind to others - it's what to do with the sin and the unkindness and the meanness and the selfishness and the everything else that mucks up all of our lives all of the time.
All of that stuff just doesn't go away, or get cancelled out by extra kindness. It's not like some people believe - that our goodness cancels out our badness. Badness and its effects still exist no matter how much 'penance' is done for it.
The only way badness gets eliminated is by forgiveness. And who's going to forgive us if not God? As my daughter said, "To get forgiven you actually have to say you're sorry first." And if you think your levels of kindness are ok enough, you're not going to say you're sorry!
God's method of forgiveness for our badness is through Jesus. So to get to heaven, we have to accept his sacrifice and his forgiveness for all our sin.
So although Mrs F is right, if we're kind we'll go to heaven, she's only got the first half of the story right. She doesn't have a framework for the second half of the story, or a solution for it.
Friday, March 30, 2007
And for another thing...
Here's something completely unrelated to what's gone before.
I just read the story of the garden of gethsemane today, in preparation for Easter, and came across the part where Peter, the disciple hacks off an ear.
But why was he carrying a sword anyway? It's not part of the picture I have in my mind of the disciples.
Perhaps some of you theologians can answer for me?
I just read the story of the garden of gethsemane today, in preparation for Easter, and came across the part where Peter, the disciple hacks off an ear.
But why was he carrying a sword anyway? It's not part of the picture I have in my mind of the disciples.
Perhaps some of you theologians can answer for me?
Monday, March 12, 2007
Succumbing
I've had a lot of trouble managing to do my regular (won't say daily) Bible readings recently. For the last few years I would get the children ready and in front of Sesame Street by 8am, so I could sit down and read and pray.
But getting three of them ready takes a lot longer than two! And at 8am most mornings I am still running around in my PJs, packing lunches, writing notes, putting washing on... the list goes on. Even when the TV goes on, there still seems to be a lot of urgent business to attend to.
Time is a factor, but so is concentration. I seem to be more and more distractible these days.
So I have succumbed to something I have always eschewed in the past: using a daily devotional book for my Bible readings.
I've never really liked them much. Either they seemed too simple and not worth my while, or I would read ahead obsessively and do 15 in one day, not really getting anything from any of them.
Ideally, my preferred option is to take a book of the Bible, and work through it over days or weeks, noting themes and connections and really thinking through the words.
But now I'm desperate, distracted and devoid of time. So a daily devotional is suiting me just fine. My aim is to take one thought into the day and chew it over. If I can keep focused on that, I'll be doing better than having no thoughts at all.
So far it's working.
Yesterday's devotional focused on Jesus' words about not worrying, taking the birds of the air as an example. The writer used a picture of geese on a lake in the middle of a storm. Rather than panic, flap about or run away, the geese, together, faced calmly into the storm and held their position.
Some days I feel like I'm in the middle of a storm. If I can just face into it, with God's help and keep my position, I'll come out the other side.
But getting three of them ready takes a lot longer than two! And at 8am most mornings I am still running around in my PJs, packing lunches, writing notes, putting washing on... the list goes on. Even when the TV goes on, there still seems to be a lot of urgent business to attend to.
Time is a factor, but so is concentration. I seem to be more and more distractible these days.
So I have succumbed to something I have always eschewed in the past: using a daily devotional book for my Bible readings.
I've never really liked them much. Either they seemed too simple and not worth my while, or I would read ahead obsessively and do 15 in one day, not really getting anything from any of them.
Ideally, my preferred option is to take a book of the Bible, and work through it over days or weeks, noting themes and connections and really thinking through the words.
But now I'm desperate, distracted and devoid of time. So a daily devotional is suiting me just fine. My aim is to take one thought into the day and chew it over. If I can keep focused on that, I'll be doing better than having no thoughts at all.
So far it's working.
Yesterday's devotional focused on Jesus' words about not worrying, taking the birds of the air as an example. The writer used a picture of geese on a lake in the middle of a storm. Rather than panic, flap about or run away, the geese, together, faced calmly into the storm and held their position.
Some days I feel like I'm in the middle of a storm. If I can just face into it, with God's help and keep my position, I'll come out the other side.
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