Tuesday
30Jun
What is wrong with the world?
Tue, June 30, 2009 at 15:58 Check out this video-jam...
"What is wrong with the world?" - Voddie Baucham Sermon Jam from Wretched Sinner on Vimeo.
in Video
Video Tue, June 30, 2009 at 15:58 Tuesday
02Jun
Christian Ambition
Tue, June 2, 2009 at 08:24 I was asked by a student the other day if ambition is a right thing for a Christian to have. She was approaching a birthday and therefore reflecting (wisely) on who she was and what/where God might have her in 5 years time. It was interesting to hear her nervousness about expressing ambition or vision for her life because she sensed it was frowned upon by the Christian circles she was in. No doubt her friends viewed ambition as being primarily pride focussed, success driven and selfish. I told her that godly, Christian ambition is not only right, it is a necessity for growing Christians. Here is why.
- Philippians 2v13 states (which I was speaking on) that 'God works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure'. The idea is this - as he works in us (and we work hard to work out our salvation) the things we want will become the things God wants. His will works through us. In other words, his will works out through our ambition. Psalm 20v4 makes the same point - 'May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfil all your plans!' This only works if our will is moulded by his.
- Paul speaks of 'pressing on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus' (Phil 3v16). He has a goal, and so should we. And it should be a goal that we press on, strain and put effort in to attain. So often we are so content (a concept Paul speaks of - but in a totally different context!) with where we are that we have no ambition to 'live up to what we have already attained [in Christ]'
- This ambition works both for out own lives (see above) and the lives of others (Colossians 1v28-29). How about an ambition that is focussed on presenting others perfect in Christ - and working hard towards that end.
- The real question is, what am I motivated by. God is absolutely concerned with the people we are. His intention is that we 'shine like stars in the universe as we hold out (on to) the word of truth' (Phil 2v15) If I am also motivated by this concern then ambition is a powerful godly tool to be encouraged, nurtured and engaged with. The problem with ambition is when our ambitions are less than God's (nice house, decent car, visit Oz etc)
Lets be active in nurturing ambition and vision for our lives, ambition that is godly and Christ centred. It will lead to joy and rejoicing.
So, what is your ambition?
in Christ, Joy, Leadership, Philippians, Vision
Christ, Joy, Leadership, Philippians, Vision Tuesday
26May
Love and spiritual maturity
Tue, May 26, 2009 at 15:29 We were asked a question today. 'Do you love people because you want them to become spiritually mature, or do you want people to become spiritually mature because you love them?' It is a great question. So often our discipleship is process driven rather than person driven, and very often our acts of love are simply mechanisms to produce change in people. 'Surely their is nothing wrong with loving someone in order that they become spiritually mature?' I hear you say. The distinction is subtle, and important.
Motivation is crucial. What changes peoples behaviour is peoples attitudes and feelings. What determines what we feel and our attitudes is what we believe. If I love someone in order to bring about change in them (on the surface looking great) I am in danger of affecting change in behaviour on the outside, which will not affect feelings and attitudes or beliefs. If I love them because they are made in the image of God and are loveable which leads to spiritual maturity, I have affected something that lasts becasue it springs from faith and belief. I can not produce in someone else what has not been produced in me.
This is so important and central to our discipleship. So often we can think about discipleship as projects and programs. But is it about loving people with the love we have been shown. It is essentially about relationship. Maybe our approach to discipleship (and therefore evangelism) needs a rethink...
Monday
25May
Thoroughly fed
Mon, May 25, 2009 at 18:30 Lohn Lennox was speaking this morning on the first few chapters of the story of Joseph. It was totalz unconventional, completelz rivetting and painfully applied. It was fantastic. Their are many things that could be said. One thing that stands out was his statement about delegating responsibility. it was particularlz in the context of familz, reflecting on Joseph1s dysfunctional experience of family. God believes in delegation of responsibility. For us to be his people made in his image means he gives us responsibility. But how often we stifle this giving of responsibility. In business, we shy away from deélegating responsibility. In church life we hesitate or shy away from delegating responsibility (don't we know it! Where are our next generation of leaders, preachers, pastors etc going to come from if we donát delegate responsibility and allow them to feil and learn), but God does not shy awaz from delegating responsibility for the life of a child which is eternal, has eternal destiny and purpsoe and reflects the imag of God. He delegaters that responsibility to us. Wow!
The responsibility of parenting is huge, as it the responsibility for pastoring. We could learn from this!
in Conference, Family
Conference, Family Saturday
23May
News that makes me lift my arms in the air
Sat, May 23, 2009 at 08:05 Our luggage is supposed to arrive at 11am!!! Means I can lift my arms in the air again - washbag and deoderant about to arrive!
We popped into Mass yesterday evening - the cathedral here in Eger is beautiful, but Eatern European Catholic as you might expect it. A few people, sung mass in Latin, full gowns and a projected slide machine with the words...(slightly surreal). We didn't hang around - it felt dark.
I'm looking forward to things reallz kicking off. Was reading the first few verses of Titus this morning and wa reminded again of Pauls purpose being 'for the sake of the faith of the elect, their knowledge of the truth that accords with godliness and the hope of eternal life.' Of course the first thing he does in the letter is instruct Titus to appoint elders. To what end? To the end alreadz stated, which means our purpose is likewise. A helpful reminder of our purpose, and a context for the conference. He goes on in v3 to confrim that this is done through the passing on of the word that is 'preached'.
Their might be some pictures soon...