I'm continually blown away by the girls I teach at Sunday school. They continue to surprise me with their insight and certainty, with the way that they challenge their own preconceptions on a minute by minute basis, their absorption of new information...after speaking to so many people stuck in their ways at the age of 18, after presenting evidence for Jesus to friends at uni and work and experiencing much more resistance to the gospel it is AMAZING to teach these girls.
I think I'm growing too an increasing appreciation for my co-leader Robbo. It's definately more appropriate to call myself his co-leader because his knowledge of scripture, succint delivery of complex theology and questioning skills are incredible. Today he gave a short spiel on leprosy which really gave the girls some insight into Jesus' miraculous nature and I had to make sure I didn't look too surprised at the flood of new information! I love having gun people like that around. I also feel very secure in the knowledge that he is watching what I do each lesson.
Lauren, who was the girl I wanted to do two ways to live with, is sprouting insight like you would not believe. (We DID actually do a two ways to live type thing with the whole group about a month ago now, which went really well) Today we began our lesson on thanking God with a short recap of last weeks lesson, which was on praying when we are in trouble. As part of it we prayed for two christian women in Iran who have been imprisoned for their faith. Lauren's head nearly bounced back "For REAL?" she asked and I assured her it was true. But a few minutes laster it was obviously still on her mind as I asked what we could be thankful for and she answered ' That we can live in a country where we're not persecuted for being Christian" I'd used the word persecution earlier but the rest is entirely her own articulation. Praise praise praise Jesus.
Later on as we were looking over the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers and only one coming back to thank him, I asked the girls if God expected us to thank him. Meryn piped up that God did not EXPECT us to, like he doesn't MAKE us to have faith or live well but he wants us to. That's hitting some serious theology right there, not all bang on the head but enough to understand the nature of a RELATIONSHIP with God. I'm so grateful to God for these girl's, this opportunity for ministry, these lessons and their responses. I hope he brings glory to his name through them.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
He was lifted up...
I don't think it should always be this way, but I know I grow in awe of God everytime I learn something really intricate about his plan. We should always be in awe really, as we watch everyday unfold because each moment God allows to unfold is a small miracle. A gift from him to us, a token of his love.
But sometimes he gives us icing on our proverbial cakes.
I was reading a passage in John 12 this morning where Jesus predicts his death, telling us that he was to be lifted up...
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
There's a few interesting ideas in this short piece- the concept of God's revelation to some people and not others (some perceived the voice as thunder, others as an angel), the concept of God's glory ( That even before Jesus God had been glorified, that He glorifies himself, and a total exploration of what that means and it's implications, of which I am duly interested and not even close to qualified enough to begin discussing...) and the inherent contradiction that Jesus proclaims he will NOT ask God to save him from this hour in the gospel of John, which is the only gospel to omit the prayer in the garden of Gethsamane for Jesus to achievelications his Father's will, not his own...
BUT all that aside, there's something else that's caught my attention. It's verse 33- He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
It's a strange little verse, the few commentaries I've looked at haven't even picked it up. CEV translates it 'Jesus was talking about the way he would be put to death' and the New KJV 'This He said, signifying by what death He would die'. In that respect I think the reading of it should be a revelation into how Jesus was physically to be put to death, rather then the quality or 'weight' of Jesus' death, though that is addressed in other passages.
So how was he to die? He was lifted up. Look at the preceeding verse... 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself. Jesus died on a cross. He was lifted up from the ground. He was not physically touching the earth when he left it. He wasn't stoned, or drowned or given a lethal dose of goodness knows what, he was HUNG-lifted up. Aside from all the theological connotations there's a physical presence to his words.
Mostly, this isn't read this way. The best note I could find on it was from a biblegateway commentary which addressed a reference to Isaiah...
The phrase lifting up echoes the description of the Suffering Servant in the fourth of the Servant Songs in Isaiah (Is 52:13--53:12; cf. Brown 1966:478). The description of the Servant being "raised and lifted up and highly exalted" is followed by a description of people being appalled at him because he was disfigured and marred (Is 52:13-14). This strange combination is seen in the lifting up of Jesus on the cross.
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/Jesus-Hour-Arrives
My Lord was always above the earth, but physically so in death. I don't think it matters hugely from a theological perspective. There's no great fireworks or light shed onto how we should live differently. But there is another tiny piece of the puzzle that God shares with me, which more and more brings me delight in his sovereignty and faith in his complete control.
I love God.
But sometimes he gives us icing on our proverbial cakes.
I was reading a passage in John 12 this morning where Jesus predicts his death, telling us that he was to be lifted up...
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
There's a few interesting ideas in this short piece- the concept of God's revelation to some people and not others (some perceived the voice as thunder, others as an angel), the concept of God's glory ( That even before Jesus God had been glorified, that He glorifies himself, and a total exploration of what that means and it's implications, of which I am duly interested and not even close to qualified enough to begin discussing...) and the inherent contradiction that Jesus proclaims he will NOT ask God to save him from this hour in the gospel of John, which is the only gospel to omit the prayer in the garden of Gethsamane for Jesus to achievelications his Father's will, not his own...
BUT all that aside, there's something else that's caught my attention. It's verse 33- He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
It's a strange little verse, the few commentaries I've looked at haven't even picked it up. CEV translates it 'Jesus was talking about the way he would be put to death' and the New KJV 'This He said, signifying by what death He would die'. In that respect I think the reading of it should be a revelation into how Jesus was physically to be put to death, rather then the quality or 'weight' of Jesus' death, though that is addressed in other passages.
So how was he to die? He was lifted up. Look at the preceeding verse... 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself. Jesus died on a cross. He was lifted up from the ground. He was not physically touching the earth when he left it. He wasn't stoned, or drowned or given a lethal dose of goodness knows what, he was HUNG-lifted up. Aside from all the theological connotations there's a physical presence to his words.
Mostly, this isn't read this way. The best note I could find on it was from a biblegateway commentary which addressed a reference to Isaiah...
The phrase lifting up echoes the description of the Suffering Servant in the fourth of the Servant Songs in Isaiah (Is 52:13--53:12; cf. Brown 1966:478). The description of the Servant being "raised and lifted up and highly exalted" is followed by a description of people being appalled at him because he was disfigured and marred (Is 52:13-14). This strange combination is seen in the lifting up of Jesus on the cross.
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/Jesus-Hour-Arrives
My Lord was always above the earth, but physically so in death. I don't think it matters hugely from a theological perspective. There's no great fireworks or light shed onto how we should live differently. But there is another tiny piece of the puzzle that God shares with me, which more and more brings me delight in his sovereignty and faith in his complete control.
I love God.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
10 things I've learnt this year
This isn't very 'biblical' per say but I felt it belonged here...
1. Many situations are best handled as though adults are small children.
2. Intelligence is responding to the world, not pre-empting it.
3. Irrespective of circumstance, our character shines through. Therefore it is ALWAYS worth working on our character, and never worth neglecting improvement of our character for our circumstance.
5. Answers are always mostly right, or mostly wrong, but rarely black and white.
6. Sleep is the best form of procrastination.
7. Speaking honestly is an art, and one of the most worthwhile things you can learn.
8. We are not obliged, neither are we expected to do anything, except love our God.
9. Forgiveness is not pretending that everything is ok, but making everything ok.
10. Our words not our actions sculpt and define us- our prayers, promises, songs, conversations and reports are the greatest insight to us as people. Fighting to define ourselves means upholding them to a standard we are proud of every single day.
1. Many situations are best handled as though adults are small children.
2. Intelligence is responding to the world, not pre-empting it.
3. Irrespective of circumstance, our character shines through. Therefore it is ALWAYS worth working on our character, and never worth neglecting improvement of our character for our circumstance.
5. Answers are always mostly right, or mostly wrong, but rarely black and white.
6. Sleep is the best form of procrastination.
7. Speaking honestly is an art, and one of the most worthwhile things you can learn.
8. We are not obliged, neither are we expected to do anything, except love our God.
9. Forgiveness is not pretending that everything is ok, but making everything ok.
10. Our words not our actions sculpt and define us- our prayers, promises, songs, conversations and reports are the greatest insight to us as people. Fighting to define ourselves means upholding them to a standard we are proud of every single day.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Biblegateway has failed me!
I want to find a passage that supports the idea that the Spirit will not convict us of something outside of scripture...
Any suggestions?
Or thoughts on what the Spirit convicts us on?
Any suggestions?
Or thoughts on what the Spirit convicts us on?
Friday, November 6, 2009
On a tall tall cliff
For those of you who don't know, presently 2 days a week I'm working as an assistant at a preschool. Childcare is full on work, but kids can be incredible to work with and can teach you tons and tons about anything and everything. My friend Georgie says that kids are just little people who haven't learnt to act as though they aren't selfish yet.
Plus how could anyone be unhappy while cutting squares of coloured papaer into tiny pieces?
But today I read a book called 'On a tall tall cliff' which trumped even that. The story is about two friends, Puffle and Busby who live on the edge of a tall tall cliff. One day Puffle approaches Busby and asks him if he can borrow some things out of his garden, actually the entirity of his garden, including the plants. The story continues as Puffle asks Busby to 'lend' him everything he owns, from each section of his house, until nothing is left. After each request an illusive but insistant Puffle pronounces 'I know it's a lot to ask, but it will REALLY help'.
Just after Busby has given his entire house over the edge of the cliff collapses and where his house stood falls into the sea below. Puffle turns around and says 'See Busby, I've been studying our cliff for some time now and I knew what would happen- you have really helped Busby, you've really helped me to help you.'
The message is profoundly simple, but it still took me completely by surprise the first time I read it. See God doesn't ask us for everything for himself- he asks it so that we might be saved and grow in him.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
My family
Recently I had a discussion with a friend about the nature of Christian family. I think there's something really beautiful about the body of Christ being referred to as a family- the source of our first ideas and habits, where unconciously we learn how to act and react to our world. For those who are blessed with loving parents, honest sibings and the odd family pet it can be a place of encouragement, expression and growth into the person God wants you to be- yourself.
Unfortunately though, even in Christian circles, this model of family is marred by sin now more then ever. Some of us have never had the opportunity to know our biological mother or father for one reason or another, and for more of us perhaps it would've been easier if indeed that had been the case. Feuds between parents, grandparents, extended family and the like can affect not only our perception of relationships in general but our relationship with God. I don't think that we should underestimate how a lack of trust, lack of support, lack of generousity or lack of attention in our earthly relationships can affect the way we approach trust, support, generousity or attention from God. One of the hardest leaps we are called to make is to give as GOD gives, love as GOD loves, re-write the unhelpful conditioning of the world and see relationship in light of the gospel, as God created it to be.
I think too a challenge lies in seeing our earthly friends, acquaintances, elderly church members, visiting foreign students, ministers, sunday school students, biblestudy leaders and uni group members as BROTHERS and SISTERS, and relating to them accordingly. I know for myself, the challenge is to let people in, to share with them as closely as I do my family, and not to expect that just because we're not biologically related they won't go out of their way to help me, because that's what family do. Some other people have a problem going out of their way for other people. Some people have a problem communicating with people on an entirely different wave length to them...and the list goes on. I think sometimes our view of family can be jaded by large evening church congregations, or uni faculty Christian groups where getting to know people is relatively easy because of the amount that we can have in common. We can be lured into a false sense of understanding by operating in environments which in essence are very similar to our 'original' family- where many character traits, interests and activities are mutual. The struggle is treating like a grandmother that eldery woman from the 8am service whom you've only met once and are sure suffers from memory loss- of which both the awkward nature of the relationship as well as the lack of common grounding are ample reason for us to keep a distance- "besides, surely she gains support from someone more like herself?"
If we really want to body of Christ to look like a family it's going to take work to get it that way. Nearly two years ago when I joined my current church, I mentioned to a friend that I felt the congregation was quite diseparate and that I didn't have anything in common with the other girls there. She responded that relationships were mostly work, not common interest, and that indeed relationships where you were required to work could be richer then those that came more naturally. I appreciated her approach, and found it to be true.
Another helpful comment I use often is one from my old saxophone teacher- Fake it 'till you make it. The muso's out there will understand what I mean, basically if you aren't to the point where you feel you can be family or ask people to be your family, pretend that it is that way, and you'll be surprised at how soon the pretence becomes genuine. It is very hard to feel indifference towards someone you are trying very hard to love.
And again and again we are reminded of how God, while we were in sin, loved us first and continues to hold onto us wherever we go.
Unfortunately though, even in Christian circles, this model of family is marred by sin now more then ever. Some of us have never had the opportunity to know our biological mother or father for one reason or another, and for more of us perhaps it would've been easier if indeed that had been the case. Feuds between parents, grandparents, extended family and the like can affect not only our perception of relationships in general but our relationship with God. I don't think that we should underestimate how a lack of trust, lack of support, lack of generousity or lack of attention in our earthly relationships can affect the way we approach trust, support, generousity or attention from God. One of the hardest leaps we are called to make is to give as GOD gives, love as GOD loves, re-write the unhelpful conditioning of the world and see relationship in light of the gospel, as God created it to be.
I think too a challenge lies in seeing our earthly friends, acquaintances, elderly church members, visiting foreign students, ministers, sunday school students, biblestudy leaders and uni group members as BROTHERS and SISTERS, and relating to them accordingly. I know for myself, the challenge is to let people in, to share with them as closely as I do my family, and not to expect that just because we're not biologically related they won't go out of their way to help me, because that's what family do. Some other people have a problem going out of their way for other people. Some people have a problem communicating with people on an entirely different wave length to them...and the list goes on. I think sometimes our view of family can be jaded by large evening church congregations, or uni faculty Christian groups where getting to know people is relatively easy because of the amount that we can have in common. We can be lured into a false sense of understanding by operating in environments which in essence are very similar to our 'original' family- where many character traits, interests and activities are mutual. The struggle is treating like a grandmother that eldery woman from the 8am service whom you've only met once and are sure suffers from memory loss- of which both the awkward nature of the relationship as well as the lack of common grounding are ample reason for us to keep a distance- "besides, surely she gains support from someone more like herself?"
If we really want to body of Christ to look like a family it's going to take work to get it that way. Nearly two years ago when I joined my current church, I mentioned to a friend that I felt the congregation was quite diseparate and that I didn't have anything in common with the other girls there. She responded that relationships were mostly work, not common interest, and that indeed relationships where you were required to work could be richer then those that came more naturally. I appreciated her approach, and found it to be true.
Another helpful comment I use often is one from my old saxophone teacher- Fake it 'till you make it. The muso's out there will understand what I mean, basically if you aren't to the point where you feel you can be family or ask people to be your family, pretend that it is that way, and you'll be surprised at how soon the pretence becomes genuine. It is very hard to feel indifference towards someone you are trying very hard to love.
And again and again we are reminded of how God, while we were in sin, loved us first and continues to hold onto us wherever we go.
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