Gratitude abounds
with blessings beyond number
when Jesus is near.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Promises
It's been pointed out to me that people use the term "the promises of God", and assume that everyone knows what that means. I wonder if anyone has ever made a full list of "the promises". I guess they have, but I think I'd be a bit disappointed to read it - it would suggest that God is somehow limited only to those matters that are recorded and set down.
I'd much rather think of it in terms of "the promise" of God - that there is in fact one key focus in God, and that is for everyone to be brought into an awareness of God's abiding care. The care is expressed in many ways, (almost unique to the needs of each person), but always expressed in terms such as those in Isaiah 61:1 - bringing good news, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty and release to those who are unfree. And the awareness is necessary both for those who are broken (so they become conscious of God's expectation for everyone - including themselves - to be healed) and for those whom God uses as agents of release (so they will see and respond in God's name to the needs of the people around them).
In this way the one Promise is expressed in many ways, and understood and described by people according to their circumstances.
And ultimately, of course, the life and ministry of Jesus, and his death and resurrection, are the absolute expression of God's Promise. For nothing 'will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.' (Romans 8:39)
I'd much rather think of it in terms of "the promise" of God - that there is in fact one key focus in God, and that is for everyone to be brought into an awareness of God's abiding care. The care is expressed in many ways, (almost unique to the needs of each person), but always expressed in terms such as those in Isaiah 61:1 - bringing good news, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty and release to those who are unfree. And the awareness is necessary both for those who are broken (so they become conscious of God's expectation for everyone - including themselves - to be healed) and for those whom God uses as agents of release (so they will see and respond in God's name to the needs of the people around them).
In this way the one Promise is expressed in many ways, and understood and described by people according to their circumstances.
And ultimately, of course, the life and ministry of Jesus, and his death and resurrection, are the absolute expression of God's Promise. For nothing 'will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.' (Romans 8:39)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Being a friend
Reading peppermint-filled piatas, by Eric Bryant, I've been reminded that the story of the lame man let down through the roof (Luke 5:17-26) has held a fascination for me since I was a child. But I've never worked out why, and I'd set it aside so long that I'd almost forgotten about it.
It's a joy to be called back to the story - to hear again about the commitment of the friends who wouldn't let anyone or anything stop them from bringing their friend into Jesus' presence.
Isn't this the key to discipleship: being so concerned for another (it doesn't have to be a stranger, or friend a friend for that matter! - just someone who has a need) that we will to do that one thing that will bring them comfort, healing, hope, peace ...
Our own experience should tell us that once we are in Jesus' presence, he will do all that is necessary. Ours is simply the task of being a friend.
It's a joy to be called back to the story - to hear again about the commitment of the friends who wouldn't let anyone or anything stop them from bringing their friend into Jesus' presence.
Isn't this the key to discipleship: being so concerned for another (it doesn't have to be a stranger, or friend a friend for that matter! - just someone who has a need) that we will to do that one thing that will bring them comfort, healing, hope, peace ...
Our own experience should tell us that once we are in Jesus' presence, he will do all that is necessary. Ours is simply the task of being a friend.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Reflection on Flooding
I wrote this poem during prayer-time at Brighton UC, following the Queensland floods.
Water is life,
and water is death;
Water is gentle rain,
torrent and flood;
Water is calmness,
and anger and violence;
Water is cleansing,
but filthy, disease-ridden;
Water creates,
it also destroys;
Water baptises,
so must wash away
all that destroys -
the filth and disease
the anger the violence
the torrent and flood -
to make us whole
and bring new life
in showers of grace.
Water is life,
and water is death;
Water is gentle rain,
torrent and flood;
Water is calmness,
and anger and violence;
Water is cleansing,
but filthy, disease-ridden;
Water creates,
it also destroys;
Water baptises,
so must wash away
all that destroys -
the filth and disease
the anger the violence
the torrent and flood -
to make us whole
and bring new life
in showers of grace.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Reviewing a chapter of my study on Ignatius Loyola and John Wesley last night, I was reminded that both men had a dual focus - the development of personal Christian spirituality and an encouragement to participate in the fellowship, liturgy and ritual of the church.
And so I am reminded that the significance of "the church" lies in its capacity to support people in discipleship to Jesus. Any activity that does not have that as its fundamental purpose must be examined. This means that the church has to focus on teaching about who Jesus is, on providing guidance about how to grow in relationship with Jesus, on encouraging people to share experiences of Jesus' presence, on celebrating the blessings that come from God's loving hand, on serving the wider community in Jesus' name, on inviting others to learn about Jesus' way. When its activities fail to do these things, the church will be rightly criticised as being simply another organisation where people gather for mutual admiration.
Let the church focus its activities on calling people to become followers Jesus and providing for Jesus-followers to be better equipped to share the story of his involvement in their lives.
And so I am reminded that the significance of "the church" lies in its capacity to support people in discipleship to Jesus. Any activity that does not have that as its fundamental purpose must be examined. This means that the church has to focus on teaching about who Jesus is, on providing guidance about how to grow in relationship with Jesus, on encouraging people to share experiences of Jesus' presence, on celebrating the blessings that come from God's loving hand, on serving the wider community in Jesus' name, on inviting others to learn about Jesus' way. When its activities fail to do these things, the church will be rightly criticised as being simply another organisation where people gather for mutual admiration.
Let the church focus its activities on calling people to become followers Jesus and providing for Jesus-followers to be better equipped to share the story of his involvement in their lives.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Solitude
A month has passed since I last came here.
Why should it be so long?
There's a yearning for muse,
but too many thoughts
leads to shallow thought
as too much activity
makes all activity
haphazard.
Oh to find again the solitude
that lets the mind join the heart
join the soul
and makes me free to ponder the things of God
who longs for me, and us,
to enjoy the delight of grasping an insight
before it dispels.
Why should it be so long?
There's a yearning for muse,
but too many thoughts
leads to shallow thought
as too much activity
makes all activity
haphazard.
Oh to find again the solitude
that lets the mind join the heart
join the soul
and makes me free to ponder the things of God
who longs for me, and us,
to enjoy the delight of grasping an insight
before it dispels.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Intuitive response
Thanks to the comment on http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/weekly_wellsprings/year_c/sunday_28.htm about the Samaritan leper who was healed by Jesus (Luke 17:11-19).
But one cannot simply go to the priests to be allowed back - he is a Samaritan and would only meet with contempt from any Jewish priest. Unable to take the route laid before the others, he returns to the One who healed him and praises God for the great thing that has been done for him.
Here is an intuitive response to Jesus' ministry. When our circumstances are such as preclude us from attending at church, what then? Jesus is still available - even if not within the religious culture. The same outcome that is assumed for the 9 lepers - that they would re-enter by the blessing of the priests the community they were barred from - is available to this one. Jesus has made him whole, and he longs for recognition; Jesus has restored his dignity, and he can celebrate life. But not in a religious form that is foreign to him - rather in a development of personal relationship with the One who has set him free.
The present-day church, then, has to learn once more that its structures are not able to relate to all who desire nurture for and celebration of their the relationship people have with Jesus. It may do so in 9 cases out of 10. But not always. Even since Jesus' time, there has been one who does not fit the mould. And for that one, Jesus was available.
Now, however, comes the interesting questions: Who stands in the place of Christ in today's world? It has been declared that the church (in which the Word of God is truly proclaimed and the sacraments rightly administered) was the presence of Christ in the world. But while it retains its exclusive culture (as the Jewish priests did), how can it fulfil Jesus' ministry to the ones who are excluded?
But one cannot simply go to the priests to be allowed back - he is a Samaritan and would only meet with contempt from any Jewish priest. Unable to take the route laid before the others, he returns to the One who healed him and praises God for the great thing that has been done for him.
Here is an intuitive response to Jesus' ministry. When our circumstances are such as preclude us from attending at church, what then? Jesus is still available - even if not within the religious culture. The same outcome that is assumed for the 9 lepers - that they would re-enter by the blessing of the priests the community they were barred from - is available to this one. Jesus has made him whole, and he longs for recognition; Jesus has restored his dignity, and he can celebrate life. But not in a religious form that is foreign to him - rather in a development of personal relationship with the One who has set him free.
The present-day church, then, has to learn once more that its structures are not able to relate to all who desire nurture for and celebration of their the relationship people have with Jesus. It may do so in 9 cases out of 10. But not always. Even since Jesus' time, there has been one who does not fit the mould. And for that one, Jesus was available.
Now, however, comes the interesting questions: Who stands in the place of Christ in today's world? It has been declared that the church (in which the Word of God is truly proclaimed and the sacraments rightly administered) was the presence of Christ in the world. But while it retains its exclusive culture (as the Jewish priests did), how can it fulfil Jesus' ministry to the ones who are excluded?
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