Friday, May 04, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
I'm a saint!
1 corinthians 1v2 "to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy (literal translation: have been made holy), together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - their Lord and ours"
Mike Reeves:
How would you feel if I said, "I'm a saint!"?
You'd think, "that's an arrogant thing to say".
That's because we associate being a saint with doing good. So if I say I'm a saint, you think I'm saying a good person.
But Scripture says being a saint is quite the opposite - it is absolutely nothing to do with what we do, but it is something given to us, regardless of what we do. It is something available to anyone who calls on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So if I trust in Christ, God considers me a saint!
http://thebluefish.blogspot.com/2007/03/uccf-south-east-leaders.html
Mike Reeves:
How would you feel if I said, "I'm a saint!"?
You'd think, "that's an arrogant thing to say".
That's because we associate being a saint with doing good. So if I say I'm a saint, you think I'm saying a good person.
But Scripture says being a saint is quite the opposite - it is absolutely nothing to do with what we do, but it is something given to us, regardless of what we do. It is something available to anyone who calls on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So if I trust in Christ, God considers me a saint!
http://thebluefish.blogspot.com/2007/03/uccf-south-east-leaders.html
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
erm, hi...
thanks to andy and amanda I've decided to keep this blog going. only because they both read it, but that makes my day!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Friday, January 05, 2007
Thursday, December 07, 2006
mobile clubbing
How cool is this?!
A couple of weeks ago a circular email went out with words to this effect:
"30/11/06 @ 7.18pm @ Paddington Station. Arrive at location at given time. Start dancing to your personal stereo to the music of your choice. Please utilise the whole space, spread out - this will prevent us from being moved on. Don't worry clubbers you will be one of many."
So about 3500 people turned up to Paddington Station, and at precisely 7.18pm turned on their ipods and started dancing like nutters - in silence, apart from the occasional whoop from the crowd. Anna's brother (above) was there for about 2 hours and got his photo in the next day's Evening Standard!
Postmodern clubbing - what a cool phenomenon!
Go here for a slideshow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yappa/sets/72157594399493225/show/
and here for a movie
http://www.stevendiffey.co.uk/2006/12/mobile-clubbing-in-paddington-station.html
A couple of weeks ago a circular email went out with words to this effect:
"30/11/06 @ 7.18pm @ Paddington Station. Arrive at location at given time. Start dancing to your personal stereo to the music of your choice. Please utilise the whole space, spread out - this will prevent us from being moved on. Don't worry clubbers you will be one of many."
So about 3500 people turned up to Paddington Station, and at precisely 7.18pm turned on their ipods and started dancing like nutters - in silence, apart from the occasional whoop from the crowd. Anna's brother (above) was there for about 2 hours and got his photo in the next day's Evening Standard!
Postmodern clubbing - what a cool phenomenon!
Go here for a slideshow
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yappa/sets/72157594399493225/show/
and here for a movie
http://www.stevendiffey.co.uk/2006/12/mobile-clubbing-in-paddington-station.html
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
a summary of the past 500 years
by Marcus Honeysett:
Reformation stated knowledge is available because of revelation
Enlightenment removed God from the equation
Morality became based on utalitarianism
Christianity responded by creating liberalism
Naturalism brought feelings back
Science denied it which led to materialism
Materialism demanded to be purely personal - leisure versus work
World War One denied scientific materialism
The Great Depression led to World War Two and ended modernism
Communism failed to deliver
Truth claims were automatically suspect
Hence postmodernism was born.
So Trisha says, personal choice is the ultimate value.
Reformation stated knowledge is available because of revelation
Enlightenment removed God from the equation
Morality became based on utalitarianism
Christianity responded by creating liberalism
Naturalism brought feelings back
Science denied it which led to materialism
Materialism demanded to be purely personal - leisure versus work
World War One denied scientific materialism
The Great Depression led to World War Two and ended modernism
Communism failed to deliver
Truth claims were automatically suspect
Hence postmodernism was born.
So Trisha says, personal choice is the ultimate value.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
baptism, anyone?
I've been thinking about baptism lately, and I've reached a stalemate. Below is my dilemma. I'd appreciate comments, thoughts, opinions on any of the questions below - if anyone's up for it let's discuss! Coffee bible club interested? Thanks
"What I find confusing about the subject of baptism is not who should get baptised – I’m pretty confident that is open to believing adults and their children – nor what is it – it’s a covenantal sacrament, and at the very least I know it’s a good thing, with power attributed to it. The big question for me is, what happens at baptism? After pondering this question for the best part of a year I am still no clearer what the answer is. It is certainly not just a public witness of faith. That is what it’s been reduced to in some circles, but the Scriptures attribute more power to it than that. When someone is baptised, something spiritual happens. It has spiritual power. Which concludes that a baptised believer is more blessed than an unbaptised believer. That makes sense, because the Scriptures encourage us to do it. Is it not then a work? This brings us back to probably the most simple question asked of baptism today: if I am saved by grace, why do I need to get baptised?"
"What I find confusing about the subject of baptism is not who should get baptised – I’m pretty confident that is open to believing adults and their children – nor what is it – it’s a covenantal sacrament, and at the very least I know it’s a good thing, with power attributed to it. The big question for me is, what happens at baptism? After pondering this question for the best part of a year I am still no clearer what the answer is. It is certainly not just a public witness of faith. That is what it’s been reduced to in some circles, but the Scriptures attribute more power to it than that. When someone is baptised, something spiritual happens. It has spiritual power. Which concludes that a baptised believer is more blessed than an unbaptised believer. That makes sense, because the Scriptures encourage us to do it. Is it not then a work? This brings us back to probably the most simple question asked of baptism today: if I am saved by grace, why do I need to get baptised?"
Saturday, September 30, 2006
children of men
I thought this film was terrifying. I felt challenged about how much I take for granted the fact that I live in a peaceful country and how grim it must be for people in Iraq or Sudan right now.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
a good whodunnit
"this year's donnie darko" total film
"one of the most original and entertaining movies of the year" empire
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
hallo there!
yup it been long.
summer good but quick: bournemouth, aberdeen, drive south, soul, prep prep prep. currently considering the morality of blogging. i may just stick to emailing - old school, but better communication clearly! soon there'll be broadband and then I'll decide.
i need my bed man
summer good but quick: bournemouth, aberdeen, drive south, soul, prep prep prep. currently considering the morality of blogging. i may just stick to emailing - old school, but better communication clearly! soon there'll be broadband and then I'll decide.
i need my bed man
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
ethical query
I still have three student loans to pay off, and each year I defer them because I still don't earn enough to have to pay them back. On the one hand, I will probably never earn enough to have to pay them back, so I could keep deferring them until after 25 years they are written off. Or, I could actually set a bit aside and start paying them off. I am unsure which is wiser stewardship. What should I do?
suffering v healing
Had an interesting conversation with a student friend this week about suffering. Why does God allow it? Why doesn't God always heal? Isn't it contrary to his character not to heal? Here are my thoughts:
1. It is right to pray for healing
2. We must accept that sometimes God chooses not to heal - not because we haven't enough faith, nor because we deserve to suffer - but so, therefore, because he decides it is best.
3. It isn't necessarily outside of God's character not to heal. If we are his, we will be healed one day, which may come sooner or later, and God is sovereign in his timing. To stick to his perfect timing is the most loving thing God can do.
4. We must allow God the right to decide when suffering begins and ends. The more I think about it, the more I think that a lot of good can come out of suffering. A friend of mine recently blogged, "Adversity reveals the reality of the human heart." One reason I don't like the fact that Anna is still ill is because it has revealed how impatient I really am. Whilst that is painful, it can only be a good lesson. And it is better that I suffer and learn that than not suffer at all.
So with Paul, "we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5) Or at least, I do this on my less sinful days!Also, if we must allow God the right to make the decisions on suffering, that is a sharp rebuke to those of us who don't like to think about the possibility of healing. So let's get praying for it!
1. It is right to pray for healing
2. We must accept that sometimes God chooses not to heal - not because we haven't enough faith, nor because we deserve to suffer - but so, therefore, because he decides it is best.
3. It isn't necessarily outside of God's character not to heal. If we are his, we will be healed one day, which may come sooner or later, and God is sovereign in his timing. To stick to his perfect timing is the most loving thing God can do.
4. We must allow God the right to decide when suffering begins and ends. The more I think about it, the more I think that a lot of good can come out of suffering. A friend of mine recently blogged, "Adversity reveals the reality of the human heart." One reason I don't like the fact that Anna is still ill is because it has revealed how impatient I really am. Whilst that is painful, it can only be a good lesson. And it is better that I suffer and learn that than not suffer at all.
So with Paul, "we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5) Or at least, I do this on my less sinful days!Also, if we must allow God the right to make the decisions on suffering, that is a sharp rebuke to those of us who don't like to think about the possibility of healing. So let's get praying for it!
Monday, July 03, 2006
God's grace in a box, but not boxed in
I had a massive tangible reminder of God’s generous grace recently when a rather substantial cheque came through the post from a friend, completely out of the blue. It soon became clear that God was providing this money specifically for me to buy a laptop – and a very nice one at that! It taught me a number of things:
- As Christians we don’t have to avoid material things - God wants us to enjoy them.
- God provides generously for our needs – not just so we scrape by, but so we can enjoy him.
- We can use material things to enjoy God.
- We can use enjoyable material things to serve God.
- And, surprisingly, I have artistically creative gifts that God wants me to enjoy, develop, and use for his kingdom!
My prayer is that each day I open my laptop, I remember God’s grace. It's right there sitting in front of me!
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
[ ]
Life can be tough. I've just been looking at a photo of Anna from when we were going out and remembered that there was actually a time when she didn't have chronic fatigue. For several weeks now I feel like my patience with this thing has been run ragged and dry. I'm still here though.
Bits of Psalm 42
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Bits of Psalm 42
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
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