A Wee Cough

Or a week off?

Or both?
But despite some hacking and with the help of large doses of cake/icecream we had a brillant week relaxing just south of Kendal last week.

I really enjoyed reading 'Who Made God?' by Edgar Andrews. The best 'sciency' book I have read concerning science and the Christian faith. I always feel out of my depth in this kind of thing (as a non-scientist), but despite being a very bright scientist he provided a good. unpatronising, range of floatation aids ranging from great illustrations, everyday scenarios and continual reminders about 'woods and trees'! Sometimes those trees can seem so impressive, complex and their white coats gleam just so brightly that I get blinded to the more obvious 'shape' of things.

I'd like to blog some of the book .. as I am still not 100% I can't promise this will be immediate.

That was the 'meaty' book I managed. On the edge of Yorkshire and feeling ropey, what to read? Imagine my delight to find James Herriot on the shelves:

Joy!

Luke 1:39-45

He tells me everything

As the son grows older, and if mother has a hard time maintaining a good relationship with her son through parental discipline, she may attempt to compensate for it through developing an emotional closeness with him. ‘I know he can be a real pill, but we have had some really good talks. I think he is really opening up to me.’ What may actually be happening is the son is learning how to manipulate his mother. In other words, if he tells her how his day at school went and talks with her just a little bit, a great deal of disobedience and disrespect will be overlooked.

Emotional closeness or intimacy which ignores sin is not a sign of better things to come; it is an unmarked package ticking ominously.

(Ch 10 - Future Men)

I think this is a challenge for Dads. We need to back up our wives, to love them and and to work at discipline so that our sons respect Mum and obey her, gladly, first time (knowing as we do first hand the way that guys sin or are tempted to sin in this way from our own sin as young men towards our mums!).

But more than that, it is a huge challenge for single mums who don't have that back up.

Do you know of anything written (book or blog) or any mp3 resouce that is helpful on this one?

Thought for Half-Term

So do you think we live in a 'Christian' nation?
Should we?  Yes! Jesus is Lord of all.

But do we?

I hope this is a very isolated incident.

The police round us are excellent in all the dealings I have had with them.

But this 'state' who write & enact this kind of clumsy legislation also recruit and pay the teachers too.
Something to think about over half-term!

Luke 1:26-38

Below is a highlight that is wonderful.

Here is a summary: single men - do not overlook a wonderful life marrying a single mother and adopting her child / chidlren.

But only the best men need apply!

This makes me wonder about my ambitions for Simeon.
I wonder what Joseph's Dad was like.

Was he thrilled to be a Grandad THIS WAY?
But he had raised a young man who courageously took on this role the Lord called him to. That is quite something.
I long for Simeon to be a grace filled man of courage. But what 'shape' does that take in my mind?

'Lord may it be to me as you will'

why can't I change?

It came out yesterday.See here for details.

And the rest...

Gary North describes the 4th Commandment as 'one of the most difficult of all exegetical and application problems in the Bible'. On a par with tithing!

Several questions must be considered he says:
1. What is the meaning of 'rest'?
2. What is the meaning of 'sabbath'?

3. Is the Lord's Day the same as the sabbath?

4. What was the focus of the sabbath in the Old Testament times: rest or worship, or both?

5. How extensive were the restrictions against working in Old Testament times?

6. Are these same restrictions still required by God in New Testament times?

7. Who or what agency is to enforce (any) sabbath requirements in New Testament times (if there are any)?

8. If the Old Testament's prohibitions had been enforced throughout the history of the West, could the mordern, industrialized West ever have come into existence?

(p72)

These seem sensible questions to ask. Certainly a good start. Though there are tons more in application. I'd love to see a list of those.

 Almost a nice touch to have seven! And 8. is an interesting one. Though I am not sure why he asks it (I haven't read a lot of his work as yet). Is he presupposing that industrialization is a 'good thing' which should shape our interpretation {that would be strange} or is he suggesting that those who want to maintain the OT prohibitions also want to have instant hot water and light ... but that they can't have both? In which case where does he come down on that?]

I am still am 'at work' on this whole 'rest' business!

How not to have smelly feet

25 of us got together on Saturday for a fine breakfast.
It was superb to see the men from St Lukes and we were very glad to have Colin Tamplin with us speaking.

The title for the event came from Romans (10:9-15):

9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

So the topic was our witness to unbelievers.

Colin spoke from Acts 11:19-21

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

I found myself taking notes on a post-it note that I had already written on (oops!). So this may not be a brilliant recollection of Colin's excellet talk! But he had five points & I can only make out 4!! Anyway...

Assuming that we depend on God's Spirit in prayer living grace filled lives then we need these other 5/4 things to be effective (by this I mean faithful) witnesses:

1. Be Ordinary Men [these men in v19 were not 'professional' which after all the focus in Acts on Philip (8), Paul (9) and Peter (10) is significant. God has to do a lot to get the professionals going, yet these guys got on with witnessing to Jews in v19 and then Gentiles in v20. In the great story of the gospel Colin suggested that it will be the witness of ordinary people more than the 'great' evangelists and pastors, which will be seen to be the 'majority' of the work under God]

2. Willing to Pay the Price [they had been scattered by persecution that had arised to the gospel in the wake of Stephen's murder...end of ch7... Colin reminded us that sometimes, though we are patient, loving and kind, our 'feet' will smell. Some people hate the gospel and so will hate us.]

3. Willing to Take a Risk [it is tempting to keep your head down when you see the cost and even when you have paid it too ... once burnt, twice shy ... But they didn't]

4. Speaking about Jesus Christ [many people lives have been changed by many things. AA, Boxing, giving up smoking, drying out, 'anger management' course, a change in diet, Islam, Buddism, 'green living' etc. Why is Jesus different to any other transforming 'power'? We need to speak of his uniqueness. He is Lord. Of the cross, of eternity, of our sin, of judgment, of wrath and mercy, of God's Spirit.  Without speech (the whole 'preach the gospel and use words if necessary') people will think 'nice bloke...that is nice for him' but they will not understand the good news. v20 'the good news about the Lord Jesus' has to be spoken].

In the course of the talk Colin gave a nice short Trinitarian apology for speaking the good news:

The World began with Speech.

The eternal Son came into the world speaking. In fact he was called the Word.

The Spirit 'exhales' God's Word (Old and New Testament), and equips a speaking church.

God's work has always been done by speech.

Thanks to Pauline, Yvonne and Liz for a superb breakfast (the works!) and a special mention to Ann who was injured in the line of duty. We wish her a speedy recovery!

Carol of the Week - No More Disgrace!

no-one on youtube does the full version. And my 'Mission Praise' only has 5 verses.
Perhaps lung capacities have to be taken into account?

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow'r to save;
Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Tune: Veni Emmanuel
1st Published in: 1854
Translated: John Neal, 1818-66

Luke 1:5-25

What I am preparing for this afternoon!

To rest or to burn?

Now

incarnate

Bit by bit we are getting ready for our eXcel weekend away.
Bookings have opened! John Young will be joining us and speaking on the incarnation.
We'll be having a Christmas theme and quite frankly, I can't wait!