Mandy's Musings

Time to think

2008-02-24T22:55:00.002+11:00

It never ceases to amaze me how 'busy' I can become. Sometimes I'm busy because of poor planning - having left things un-done, there is now only 2 hours left in which to do the said 3 tasks, so a frantic wave of activity ensues. Sometimes it is just a timing thing: the people I want to catch up with can all do it, as long as it is on a Monday ... so you flit from one thing to the next, never really settling in to each event. Other times it is because I purely can't say no!

And it worries me when it means I become too busy to think. To busy to just sit and stare into space and wonder what the possibilities are. To mull over that verse in scripture that is troubling me. My mind is so filled with the minute details that the big things get crowded out. It can mean that I make decisions on a pragmatic basis rather than seeking God's wisdom. That doesn't just worry me - it scares me.

And when I do take the time to reflect, i wonder how much of being 'busy' is about finding my identity in what I do. I must be important: I'm busy!

So today when I read Luke 10 and was reminded of the story of Mary and Martha, I was challenged to be less like Martha in the way I live, and more lke Mary, eager to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from him. I was reminded also of Phil 4:7: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to him, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.'

My this next week be one filled with time to think, to reflect and pray.

Here's part of the passage:
Luke 10:38-42 (English Standard Version
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 4But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Witnesses to Jesus

2008-02-21T17:40:00.002+11:00

Today was the 3rd of our studies in Luke's Gospel, focussing on the witnesses to Jesus. We looked at Luke 1:5-79 as we considered the witness of Elizabeth, Mary and Zechariah.

I was really encouraged as we reflected on the mercy of our great God and his faithfulness to his promises to Israel in sending Jesus to save his people from their sins.

Zechariah really had it right:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

A bad day to start my MT&D diary homework

2008-02-18T22:58:00.002+11:00

In year 2 of the Ministry Training and Development 'After College Training' for those in full time ministry, one of the tasks we have to do is to log, in 15 minute blocks, how we spend our day for 7 consecutive days. I decided that there was no time like the present, so diligently pulled out my log this morning and began.

But with only 4 hours sleep, and a very busy Monday, I am beginning to think that it was a very bad day to start. There is no obvious code to describe: 'have a mini-meltdown because you are tired and stressed and if anyone else asks you anything else you will stop coping!'. And even more annoying when you realise that event fits within one of the 15 minute slots ... it doesn't even get a whole one to itself.

Note to self: God is in control. It is Jesus who upholds the universe. Take some time to stop and remember all the good things he has done and what a privledge it is to serve him. And work out who you need to call in the morning to apologise in person for your ungraciousness.

A passage I need to constantly remember is Col 1:15-20:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything, he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Viral Marketing

2008-02-13T20:06:00.002+11:00

I engaged in my first piece of Viral Marketing today - using facebook to create a series of events put on by Moore Partners (formerly Alumni & Friends) on the 26th of March. I was happy to do it because I think the events are great. If you'd like to come and hear Don Carson speak at MTC, then check out their website: www.moore.edu.au for more details. A real highlight will be dinner in the MTC dining hall followed by a 'chat' between Peter O'Brien and Don Carson.

It got me thinking about the different ways that we now communicate - in the past events like this would have a mass mailout, ads in Southern Cross and maybe an article in the Sydney Anglicans website. Yet nowadays with so much happening online, to not use this medium seems to miss out on so many people. It took me perhaps 30 minutes and I was personally able to make contact and invite about 300 of my Christian friends. The effect of the facebook feed is that friends of these friends, who I don't know personally, will also have been informed of the event. Like any advertising, it is incredibly hard to guage it's effectiveness. Yet for the time spent, if a few extra people get to come along and hear the bible taught, I think it is great.

What do others think? Is it offensive/annoying/unhelpful to get invitations like this? How do we be wise about how often to promote such things using these methods?

A new blog

2008-02-11T18:25:00.001+11:00

The Bible Talks has a blog!

Check us out at www.thebibletalks.blogspot.com

A Christmas Meme

2007-12-10T13:00:00.000+11:00

Ali tagged me for this Christmas Meme.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.

2. Real tree or artificial? No tree.

3. When do you put up your tree? See above - but with Mum & Dad it was always 1 December, their wedding anniversary.

4. When do you take the tree down? Hard to take down something you don't put up!

5. Do you like eggnog? Never tried it, but the thought of drinking eggs turns my stomach.

6. Favourite gift received as a child? I seem to remember birthday gifts more clearly than Christmas ones, although I am pretty sure my blue bike with the stremers coming out of the handlebars and basket on the front being a Christmas present from when I was about 8.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes. A hand-made one by my creative friend Karyn.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Mum & Dad - they have everything they need and don't like 'stuff'.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My brother - he can always use another Hawaiian shirt.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hotel stationary - you know, the complimentary stuff you get when you stay somewhere, all wrapped up!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, but probably won't get to sending them this year so an email might have to do.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? I cried during 'Miracle at Christmas' ... hopeless I know!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Generally start during the January sales. It's a habit I get from my mum, who delivered our extended family presents, all wrapped, in March. I think she has already finished shopping for next year.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.

15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? I don't really eat most of the traditional Christmas food - no pudding or cake for me, I don't eat turkey or seafood ... but I love the summer fruits, especially Mangoes and Cherries.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? No tree - but clear lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song? This year it is 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'. Although I'll have to say that Emma Pask singing 'The first Noel' with James Morrison on the piano was pretty impressive, but I'm not sure that your favourite song can be somthing you've only heard once.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? 3 yearly rotation with Mum, Dad and Kevin - a year in Qld (last year); a year off (this year, staying in Sydney); a year in Sydney (next year)

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes (embarrasing I know!).

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? These questions all presume you have a tree! But if I had one it would be a star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? I managed to convince Mum & Dad when I was about 18 that if I got home from church on Christmas Eve after midnight that we could each open one present, because it was actually Christmas day ... but really we do all the pressies in the morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? That people seem to have lost the sense that Christmas is actually all about CHRIST.

23. What is the "corniest" family tradition you do, or miss doing? We always got our stocking as a pillow case at the end of the bed, full of wrapped presents. Kevin and I always got an equal number of presents in total, and the often matched - when I got a book about Sam Riley, he got a hardcover Batman book. But we also always got an orange and chocolate coins. Mum & Dad kept up the tradition of the stockings even after we moved out for a number of years. I remember being most distressed when they forgot the orange one year (I think I was 26 at the time!)

24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? Reindeer made of lights that go on the top of the house.

25. Which looks the best, theme trees or homey trees? Homey trees.

26. What does Christmas mean to you? Matt 1:21 "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

I'll tag Byron; Michael and Ros

Hang in there

2007-12-07T06:57:00.000+11:00

I knew I hadn’t been good at blogging recently, but hadn’t realised that it had been over 2 months since I last said anything.

Of late, I’ve had a few ‘blasts from the past’ where I’ve reconnected with a few people I haven’t seen for years. And yes – Facebook is at least partly responsible! It’s reinforced to me how much we are influenced and shaped by the people around us. In a sleepless night while I was tidying up I discovered one of my ‘memory boxes’, full of letters and cards. One of the letters on top was written in about 1993, from someone who sadly today is not living as a Christian. Here’s what it said:

"Smile! God loves you

Mandy

Problem solved.

• When your anger gets to much and your gonna explode, say Galatians 5:22-23 in your head, even out loud
• Implement the stuff you learn at Youth Group and Church into your life
• Forget about pleasing your mum and dad, forget about pleasing your brother, friends, uncles, aunties, even yourself. Do what pleases the Lord. E.g. Mark 12:31, Luke 6:35, Luke 10:27, Matthew 5:43, Matthew 5:44, 1 Corinthians 13:8. Stuff the world! You’re “dead to sin” if you are a Christian, so live like it. Don’t just say it, do it.
• Friends, who needs them! They let you down, forget to call, don’t show up, cause petty arguments, steal boyfriends, borrow clothes etc. You’ve got the bestest friend in the whole entire universe in your corner who loves you beyond belief. Talk to him, draw close to him and he’ll craw close to you, submit yourself to him and things will fall into place. So be patient (James 5:6).

HANG IN THERE"

It was really hard to read, knowing where the person now stands before God. Here is someone who had a significant impact upon me as a Christian, who is now living in active rebellion towards him. As a result, I’ve been reflecting on the way that our gracious Father works through others to teach us more about himself, and the way that we have a role to play in spurring one another on to love and good deeds (I’ve been thinking about Hebrews and the warning passages a fair bit).

Let me leave you with Hebrews 3:12-4:13:
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. [1] 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God [2] would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Footnotes
[1] 4:2 Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers
[2] 4:8 Greek he

I recommend you read this ...

2007-10-03T12:11:00.000+10:00

Many of you may already read Byron's blog regularly, but in case you don't this is well worth reading and reflecting on.

What's on your mind?

2007-09-29T21:56:00.000+10:00

I've been thinking a lot recently about what it is that we think about, day dream about, get anxious about. What is it that our minds are fixed upon? As Christians, it is easy to know that there are things that are unhelpful, things that distract us from the truth, yet it is not as simple as not thinking about them. Instead, we need to put something else in their place.

I was reminded of this as I looked at Colossians this past week. I love Chapter 3 and the picture of Christians putting off the things of the world and putting on godliness. And how can we do this? The opening verses of the chapter set it up: 'If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.'

Notice that we are not just told to stop doing the things of this world FULL STOP and nothing else. Rather, we are told to replace these filthy rags with the clothing of Christ, the righteousness found in him and behaviour fitting of him. And it is by filling ourself with God's words that we can do this.

I'll ask of you the questions I've been asking of myself:
So what's on your mind? Are you fixing your eyes on Jesus or the things of this world? Are you feeding on God's word so that the cares and concerns of this world can be placed into proper perspective?

A Psalm a day

2007-09-19T15:17:00.000+10:00

I've been trying to read a Psalm a day this month as part of my regular Bible reading. It has been really encouraging (as was Sunday's sermon on Ps 73).

Today was Psalm 19:

The Law of the Lord Is Perfect
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above [1] proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice [2] goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, [3]
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules [4] of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Footnotes
[1] 19:1 Hebrew the expanse; compare Genesis 1:6-8
[2] 19:4 Or Their measuring line
[3] 19:7 Or blameless
[4] 19:9 Or just decrees

So much to ponder and be thankful to God about. Some random musings ...

* The clarity with which God testifies to his existence in this world by the sheer magnificence of creation is amazing. Yet it is also confronting to be reminded that the result of this revelation is that all who reject him are without excuse.
* How often do I reject God's law or think of it as burdensome rather than delighting in the way the law can revive me, make me wise and give me cause for rejoicing? How can I repent of this hardness and instead be shaped and molded by God's law?
* I wonder what the presumptuous sins which can have dominion over me are? Is it simply acting a failure to recognise God as God and carrying with me as King? Whatever they are, I am reminded of the power of sin to entangle and ensnare.

Map my run

2007-09-19T15:12:00.000+10:00

A friend put me on to this website earlier in the year. I love it that I can work out roughly how far I have run and alternative routes to keep my morning runs interesting.

This morning I did one of my favourite runs - it is nice and short at just over 5kms and takes in the highlights of the harbour around Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay. With the sun shining this morning, it was a wonderful way to start the day. This is where I went:

Darling Harbour highlights
Find more Runs in Sydney, Australia

Honouring our parents in the faith

2007-09-13T08:20:00.000+10:00

Justin has posted a couple of really interesting pieces over here and in the most recent asks 'is there anyone you would like to give honor that may have, in this world of celebrates[sic], lacked it?'

There are many people who I'd like to honour as my parents in the faith - that I am thankful to God for and look forward to spending eternity alongside. These are some of the people who God has used to shape me. Here's just a few:

* Jo Harris who prayed with me in January 1987 when I was just 10.5 sitting in the Big Marquee at Easts Beach Kiama as I asked God to forgive me because of what Jesus had done and to make him Lord of my life.

* But along with Jo there were many others who from 1980 to 1991 were on team at Easts Beach who loved me and told me about Jesus, wrote me letters to encourage me to continue to trust in Jesus. Most of the people's names I have forgotten, but I do not forget the way that you cared or the message you faithfully passed on. Some people I do remember are: Clay and Debbie Lovegrove, David Miles, Justin Moffatt and Roslyn Barker.

* Sandy Grant who taught me to love God's word and mine the scriptures to understand how to live. Thank you for teaching me the importance of regular quiet times that have fed and sustained me over the last decade.

* David Hohne who taught me to think theologically. Bible study in 2000 was the most challenging but also most rewarding group I've ever been a part of.

Who are you thankful to God for?

Early morning ramblings

2007-09-11T03:12:00.000+10:00

It is after 3 in the morning and I should be fast asleep, but instead my brain is still going at a million miles an hour and sleep seems a long way off.

I've tried watching episodes of Friends, reading Luther (normally a sure fire way of getting to sleep) and praying but nothing seems to be working. Thankfully there is nothing that absolutely has to be done in the morning, so I can have a slow start in the morning without it having too big an impact.

Sometimes I wish there was an off switch in my head, so that at times like this when I've had enough I can just pull the plug for a little while to get some rest. Running tends to work like that for me - I can't think too much when I'm out for a long run (concentrating on breathing is enough). But I don't think going for a run in the middle of the night is the solution.

Maybe I'll just log in to facebook again!

Thinking about the future

2007-08-28T15:41:00.000+10:00

I started reading a new book today '666 AND ALL THAT The Truth About The Future' by John Dickson and Greg Clarke. I'm only 2 chapters in, but have really appreciated the clarity with which it writes about an important topic - the content of the Christian hope.

Here's a teaser from Chapter 1 (pages 11-12)

Christian 'hope' is not wishful thinking. Nor is it the pie-in-the-sky longing some people feel about winning the lottery ... Throughout the Bible, hope is our eager expectation of God's promised future. It's the yearning, desiring, pressing forward part of Christian life - the part that makes everything here and now seem worthwhile.

It has been great to be reminded of where my focus is to be and how I need to ensure I am living in light of it. Looking forward to the rest.

If you are looking for a copy and in Sydney, it is available at the Cathedral bookstore at the moment for only $18.

Living Out Scripture meme

2007-08-09T14:56:00.000+10:00

I've been tagged by Byron to post "that verse or story of scripture which is important to you, which you find yourself re-visiting time after time".

As Byron said on his post, there are so many passages that I could list. In some ways I have books for 'seasons' - 2 Corinthians is a book I come back to time and time again when I need to be reminded of the comfort that comes from knowing God, whereas Philippians is a book that seemed to chase me for years (in 1997 it seemed that everywhere I turned - uni, church, biblestudy or cell group we were studying it). There are Psalms I love and passages in Deuteronomy about out great God that changed my thinking and continue to challenge me.

But in the end the passage that I turn to time and time again to remind me of who I am, who God is and how I should live is Romans 5:1-11.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we [1] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith [2] into this grace in which we stand, and we [3] rejoice [4] in hope of the glory of God. More than that, 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.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Footnotes
[1] 5:1 Some manuscripts let us
[2] 5:2 Some manuscripts omit by faith
[3] 5:2 Or let us; also verse 3
[4] 5:2 Or boast; also verses 3, 11

I'll tag Ali, Ros, BW and Andrew

The Kingdom of God in Luke's gospel

2007-08-04T16:59:00.000+10:00

Any of you greek guru's out there up for giving me a hand on Luke 17:21.

This originally came up while in a Simply Christianity group with a few of people last school term. Someone in the group mentioned that they had read that Jesus had said that the Kingdom of God was 'within' and had taken it to mean that everybody had the kingdom inside of them, it was only a matter or realisation.

The problem was that until last week the person couldn't tell us where it came from, and as he'd described it I didn't recognise it as Luke 17:21, which in the greek is:

ουδε ερουσιν ιδου ωδε η εκει ιδου γαρ η βασιλεια του θεου εντος υμων εστιν

Variously translated:

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. KJV

nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you*." (*Or within you, or within your grasp) ESV

Now as far as I can work out Jesus is drawing a contrast here for the pharisees who are looking for the Kingdom of God in external signs. But he can not saying that the Kingdom is within or internal to the pharisees, because he has described the pharisees in Luke 11 and 16 as having wicked and evil hearts.

What do you think? Can you help me out in my ongoing discussion with our friend?

Random acts of kindness

2007-08-01T08:50:00.000+10:00

I've had a bit of a blah week but have been very thankful to God for the way that he has used other Christian brothers and sisters to encourage me.

From the generosity of a house guest in stocking the fridge full of gluten free food before she left, including a number of home cooked meals in the freezer and some home made icecream to passing conversations and lovely emails from people encouraging me to keep up the good work at The Bible Talks.

It is a great testimony to our gracious Father's love and care for his people and a reminder of the way that he works in and through us to achieve his purposes. I've seen God's love in action as his people having lovingly and self-sacrificially loved me.

It's 1 John 4:7-12 in action:

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Which Friends Character Are You?

2007-07-31T15:27:00.000+10:00

Always time for the important things in life. H/T to Ros for the link.

Which Friends Character Are You?

You are Monica. You have a go-all-out nature. Your friends better watch out, because you play to win. Also, when it comes to order and cleanliness, you're a bit obsessive compulsive. Your best trait, however, is your thoughtfulness. You go to great lengths to care for your friends.

Never alone

2007-07-24T19:49:00.000+10:00

I went to chick's chapel at MTC today ... BW was leading.

We sang this song called 'Never Alone' written by Simone who has commented over here once or twice. It was the first time I'd ever sung it and I was struck by the way it captures the truth of what Jesus has done for on the cross without feeling really individualistic. After some internet trawling this afternoon I was able to find the words in full. I'm hopeful I'm not breaking any copywrite laws by posting the words to it here ... I'll remove the words and just keep the link if I find out I'm wrong.

Never Alone

We’re not alone, for Christ is here
Immanuel our God come near
We’re not alone, for to our world
Jesus has come, eternal word.
And as he speaks, our souls laid bare
Naked, ashamed, sin is made clear
And yet he clothes us in his love
Never alone, Christ is with us.

The longest walk, earth’s darkest day
Noise from the crowd and mounting pain
His heavy load of grief and shame
Breathless that we should breathe again.
“Father forgive them,” comes his cry
Blackness descends filling the sky.
A creeping dread in every heart
Lost in the world now God departs.

The dawn will come, the sun will rise
Out of the grave we’ll see hope’s light.
Tomb opened wide, stone rolled away
Morning has come, a brand new day.
“He isn’t here,” the angel said.
“He is alive no longer dead.”
Our hearts are lifted, souls raised high
Christ is with us, Christ is our life.

Never alone is now our cry
In joy, in grief, in lonely sin.
Never alone for Christ is ours
He lives in us, we live in him.
And till we reach that final day
When fears are gone, cast far away
We live secure, trust in his love,
Never alone, Christ is with us.

SAR 2006

Some emerging thoughts

2007-07-03T17:38:00.000+10:00

I haven't spent much time engaging with the Emerging Church Movement (or conversation) but in a training session I've organised tomorrow for the Student Ministers at the Cathedral they will be talking about it so I've been doing a little bit of reading.

Scot McKnight in a Christianity today article describes one emphasis of the emerging church movement as orthopraxy (right living). Here's what he says:

A notable emphasis of the emerging movement is orthopraxy, that is, right living. The contention is that how a person lives is more important than what he or she believes. Many will immediately claim that we need both or that orthopraxy flows from orthodoxy. Most in the emerging movement agree we need both, but they contest the second claim: Experience does not prove that those who believe the right things live the right way. No matter how much sense the traditional connection makes, it does not necessarily work itself out in practice. Public scandals in the church—along with those not made public—prove this point time and again.

Here is an emerging, provocative way of saying it: "By their fruits [not their theology] you will know them." As Jesus' brother James said, "Faith without works is dead." Rhetorical exaggerations aside, I know of no one in the emerging movement who believes that one's relationship with God is established by how one lives. Nor do I know anyone who thinks that it doesn't matter what one believes about Jesus Christ. But the focus is shifted. Gibbs and Bolger define emerging churches as those who practice "the way of Jesus" in the postmodern era.

Jesus declared that we will be judged according to how we treat the least of these (Matt. 25:31-46) and that the wise man is the one who practices the words of Jesus (Matt. 7:24-27). In addition, every judgment scene in the Bible is portrayed as a judgment based on works; no judgment scene looks like a theological articulation test.

I found myself really disagreeing with this. While I'll agree that Christians should live differently, I'm convinced that our living flows out of our knowledge. It's been a favourite saying of mine for the last month or so - 'preach at the heart and changed behaviour will follow'. Like most things clever - it's not mine, I borrowed it from a friend (thanks Amelia!).

Throughout the Bible we see ethical commands couched in terms of theological understanding - Col 3:1-17 is just one example.

I'm convinced that it is because of who we are that we live a certain way - not living a certain way that makes us who we are. What do you think?

The depths of despair

2007-06-26T11:54:00.000+10:00

Some days I am so conscious of my own brokeness, weakness and sinfulness - such that it is eary to be overwhelmed and as Anne would say: 'In the depths of despair'. Yet it is so great to be reminded of the goodness and kindness of God and his mercy shown to us in Christ.

Very thankful to have some good friends who have reminded me in the last few weeks that everything I do in service of the Lord is in his strength; it is his work, not mine; and he has chosen to work in and through this broken vessel to proclaim his Son here in Sydney - my weaknesses do not necessarily hinder his work; rather my weaknesses point to his awesome power.

2 Cor 4:5-14:

5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants [1] for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

My Mum and Dad

2007-06-23T15:16:00.001+10:00

Mum just sent through one of their holiday snaps from Singapore.

I miss my Mum and Dad. While it is lovely to chat to Mum every week and catch up on what's going on for them, it's not the same as being able to randomly drop in and see how they are. We average about 4 visits a year - I try and go up to Qld a couple of times a year and they try and come down to Sydney a few times as well.

I'm excited because I booked my next trip to see them today. With all the conjestion and confusion expected for APEC I thought the best way to avoid it would be to get out of Sydney- so I'll head up to Qld on the Thursday afternoon and come back on the Saturday night.

Tricky women's passages

2007-06-11T14:19:00.000+10:00

The title of a seminar I'm presenting tomorrow for the MTS women from the Cathedral and ECOM.

I love the ambiguity ... is it the women who are tricky or the passages?

The plan is largely to raise some issues for the MTS'rs to think about about what the bible says about women and appropriate roles and responsibilities, drawing on some of the work I did on my project last year, and Claire Smith's EQUIP talks - available as a set of 6 from Matthias Media here.

I think it is a tricky issue that has the potential to be confronting and challenging ... please pray that I am wise in what I say, that we have productive and helpful discussion and are willing to submit our lives to the instruction of our loving heavenly Father.

It's good to remember ...

2007-06-09T12:59:00.000+10:00

Last Sunday night Phillip preached on Romans 12:1-8.

He said many good and helpful things, but about 2/3 of the way through he said something like this:

To all you workaholics out there, I want to remind you that you are not indispensable

As you can see from the photo of my notes (above) it seemed pretty important to me at the time (even if I can't quite spell)! So easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of life that you begin to think that things won't happen unless you do them ... yet sobering and humbling to be reminded that it is God who is at work in the world, and he will bring about his purposes. It really isn't all about me!

One year on ...

2007-05-26T13:48:00.000+10:00

Well this is my 99th post, and just 1 year and 1 day after my most controversial entry.

Do you remember 'Can somebody please remind me ...'

With 130 comments, it is by far my most popular post in terms of comments and interest that it sparked.

I've found it more difficult to post regularly of late - lots of half formed ideas and general busy-ness are part of the reason. I also feel like I don't have anything very profound to add, and there are already a lot of half-baked ideas out there!

Tomorrow's Half-Marathon

2007-05-19T19:00:00.000+10:00

Tomorrow morning from 7.30am I'll make my way around this course, twice! It's my fourth ever half-marathon and I'm hoping to crack the 2 hour barrier for the first time. Training has been going well and I'm injury free, so things are looking good.

It's a great course - I've been running it regularly during training, and the weather looks good. I'll let you know how I do!

What's the difference between spagetti and waffles?

2007-05-16T09:59:00.000+10:00

An interesting anecdote I heard this week to help us to understand the differences between men and women ...

What's the difference between spagetti and waffles?

Well, a woman's brain is like spagetti. Long strands that look like a tangled mess, but every bit is connected to the rest.

A man's brain is like waffles. Everything neatly compartmentalised, each box completely independent of the other.

Hence, as a generalisation, when men and women have a discussion, the woman will link everything together, while the man will not make the same connections between the numerous ideas.

Taste and See

2007-05-05T12:58:00.000+10:00

Last night was the women's event at mission a supper entitled 'Taste & See'. Another great night as we chatted, ate, made truffles, listened to live music and heard from God's word that Jesus is the only one who truly satisfies.

As usual for a women's event, we had lots of yummy food for supper:

The Upper Chapter House was completely transformed:

And making truffles was lots of fun:

Some went for the perfectly rolled ball, while others opted for the more 'rustic' look:

And to cap the whole night off, Naomi clearly explained to us from John 6 that it is only in Jesus that we can find the food that will sustain for all eternity. Here she is, mid-flight:

It was a great night!

Introducing God

2007-05-04T08:48:00.000+10:00

Last night was the introductory talk of Introducing God hosted by ECOM. It was a great night as we listened to Dominic Steele and enjoyed a great Italian meal.

It was very encouraging to see one guy who came because he had been handed one of the mission brochures earlier that day!

There was a great atmosphere and the building was completely transformed as we ate by candlelight with lovely music in the background.

Lively discussions were had over tables after the talk and many will be back next week for the first of a 6 week DVD series exploring more of the Christian faith.

There is still room for more people to come - unfortunately a few people who had been invited were not able to make it. So if you'd like to checkout who God is, come along next Thursday night at 6pm and be introduced to the God of the Bible

James' Surprise Party!

2007-04-29T16:46:00.000+10:00

Caught up last night with some good friends - members of the 2000 Hohne Bible Study Group at St Matthew's Wanniassa. The occasion was James' 26th Birthday and it was a great chance to have so many of us together again.

Sadly David and Amelia couldn't make it, but we had a picture to remind us:

Here's the gang that made it, Nathan, Yani, Skye, James, Bron, Pam, Michelle, Me, Luke, Dave:

And the cake we enjoyed (Yani helped to decorate it):

More stories to follow, but now I'm off to invite people to come to church tonight. Doing anything at 6.30pm? Why not join us at The Bible Talks, St Andrew's Cathedral, right near Town Hall. All welcome.

A Tale of Two Kings

2007-04-23T10:02:00.000+10:00

Last night Andrew preached on Mark 6:7-56. A great sermon that contrasted King Herod with King Jesus and demonstrated that Jesus is God's King, the Lord of Glory who is now sitting enthroned in heaven as the judge of all.

One of the things he pointed out to us about the crowds following Jesus was something I'd never really noticed before. He demonstrated the relentless pursuit by the crowds of Jesus and the disciples. As we looked through from the end of Mark 3 we saw the crowds continually coming to Jesus wherever he was. The pace and pressure was relentless.

It did give rise to my favourite line in the sermon:

The crowds make the paparazzi look like shrinking violets!

I'd never really thought about the way the crowds followed Jesus and his disciples and the way that must have been really draining as the pressure builds as they continue to impose on Jesus and the disciples. I guess I'd noticed the way that in some ways the crowds seem to distract Jesus from his 'main game' of declaring that the Kingdom is at hand so that people must repent and believe the gospel (See Mark 1:14-15, 38). But haven't ever really pondered the significance of the crowds.

What do you think?

Sword of the Lord

2007-04-20T16:29:00.000+10:00

Check out Dean Phillip Jensen's call to prayer in the pages of the Telegraph today here.

Why not join us on Sunday as we pray for service personnel, federal police and the families of those currently serving overseas.

Mission brochure

2007-04-19T16:38:00.000+10:00

The front of our mission brochure. Praying that lots of the people who get a copy will indeed stop and consider Christ

A day in the sun

2007-04-13T10:35:00.000+10:00

Monday was a lovely day off - I really felt like I needed it. I have photographic evidence, but my camera phone doesn't want to talk to my computer, so no can post. Instead, here's a blow by blow account of my day.

My day started with what could be descibed as 'tennis', although I fear to call it such it may be an insult to the sport. Nevertheless Alison and I had a good time as I attempted to run around every backhand :) and we managed the ocassional rally.

Then it was off to Manly with Jess. I had some simple goals for the day: a ferry ride, hot chips, chocolate and a walk on the beach, although not necessarily in that order. We wandered down to Circular Quay and hopped on the Manly Ferry, smiles as wide as kids as the sun beat down and we chugged over to Manly. Of course we were standing at the front of the ferry trying to get the best view, looking like complete tourists as we took photos of each other infront of the bridge.

From the ferry we headed straight to the beach for a paddle. The water was surprisingly warm for April, so with jeans rolled up to our knees we enjoyed the water. We then went for a walk along the beach - all the way to the North end and back again, ready for lunch.

Now, wouldn't you think that finding fish and chips in Manly would be the easiest thing in the world? Well, it wasn't. We decided to bypass the really trendy looking place in search of a more regular fish and chip shop. Heading north along the beachfront road, we were certain we'd find something ... although at one point Oporto's was looking like the best option! Finally we headed back south, past the plaza and found the Manly Fish Shop and ordered - fish and chips for Jess, just chips for me; no drinks, because they didn't have Fanta. So it was off to coles in seach of the orange fizzy drink. After checking out every reridgerator within the store and not finding any, Jess settled for orange juice - paid for it and walked out past the registers to discover bottles of Fanta! So after waiting at the customer service counter for what seemed like an eternity, a refund on the juice was obtained and the Fanta was purchased :)

Back to pick up lunch, then find a seat near the beach. We settled on the ledge at the south end of the beach with a lovely view of the rolling waves and squarks of the seagulls. The next bit of excitement for the day was watching a lifeguard in full sprint down the beach, picking up some kind of rescue type equipment and then run back the other way with 4 other lifeguards. We never did see where they ended up! The rest of lunch was uneventful as we ate and chatted and had a lovely time.

Last stop Max Brenner chocolate shop. I couldn't go past the dark chocolate suckao (a pile of dark chocolate buds and a jug of warm milk to be mixed at leisure over a tea light candle warmed cup then sucked through the stainless steel straw) while Jess had the chocolate souffle with icecream. I think we rolled out of the shop.

Then back on to the ferry for the trip home ... a lovely way to spend a public holiday monday, with all goals achieved!

Mission Logo

2007-04-04T11:14:00.000+10:00

I'm a bit excited - I think we have settled on the Logo for the Cathedral Mission with Moore College from 29th April - 6th May and I'm going to unveil it here.

Very thankful for Jess who designed it, and even more thankful for the opportunities we will have over the week to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.

Earth Hour

2007-04-01T15:47:00.000+10:00

What were you doing between 7.30-8.30pm last night? I was having dinner by candlelight at my place with friends as we participated in Earth Hour.

Here are two photos taken by Mike Bowers from SMH showing the bridge at 7pm and then again at 7.45pm. More photos are available here

So what was the point?
The aim was to draw attention to simple ways of fighting global warming. According to the website: 'It's a simple action if everyone takes part, sending a powerful message that we care about the future of the planet.' Across Sydney households, businesses and government departments turned off their lights for an hour in the launch of an ongoing campaign aimed at reducing Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions by 5% in 2007. The Coca-Cola sign in Kings Cross was turned off for the first time since it was installed in 1974!

For more details check out here

The myth of 'growing as Christian'

2007-03-31T09:40:00.000+10:00

I get to interact with lots of wise Christian women here at the Cathedral. A conversation I had with one of these women on Thursday has really had me thinking.

She said:

I don't understand why we always talk about growing as a Christian. Either you are a Christian or you aren't.

My first thought was - what about all the language in the Bible that talks about maturity, no longer being infants and being transformed into the likeness of Christ? Surely that is the language of growth.

But as she pointed out these are images that apply to those who are already Christian. We are not growing as a Christian, but growing in Christian maturity. By the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, the Father is transforming and molding us to be more like his Son. We are not becoming 'better Christians' which seems to infer that there is something lacking in us when we were converted.

It makes me wonder whether talking of growing as a Christian puts an emphasis on our work rather than God's work in us. Is it unhelpful? Does it make us think that somehow we've not yet made it and have to add something to the completed work of Christ?

Is it a fuss about nothing, or a helpful corrective to the way that we speak and think?

Photo by Alicia Jo McMahan; Burnsville, nc, United States; www.macphotostudios.com

Graduation

2007-03-20T11:24:00.000+11:00

Last night I graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity and Diploma of Ministry from Moore Theological College.

It was a great night as the college recognised 97 graduates - from the Bible & Missions Course, Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology.

Bill Salier, the new Vice Principal spoke from Romans 5:1-11 and reminded us that the chorus of the song that Christians sing is found in verse 8:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Too tired to think properly, so here are some more photos:

The Bible Talks Church Staff graduate - with Andrew Nixon

With Mum, Dad and Kevin

With Deb and Emma - MAC girls 2003-2005

With Amelia

Women and Self-Esteem (Part #4b)

2007-03-17T11:04:00.000+11:00

The Bible's Solution
... or maybe that is really The Bible's Promise

I ended last time with
The devastating impact of sin
The rejection of God by the first man and woman, created in God's image, has devastating consequences for them and us Gen 3. While we remain in God's image, sin impacts upon each and every aspect of our lives. Because of sin we are dead (Eph 2:1), alienated from God (Col 1:21), enemies of God (Rom 5:10).

The reality of sin in our lives means that we are living in a world that is far from perfect. We see the impact of sin in the world at large - poverty, hunger, war, terrorism, and cancer to name a few. Closer to home, we also see sin at work in our own lives, impacting upon and damaging relationship, seen in our sinful and selfish tendencies.

While we are still created in God's image and rule over his creation, we do so in a frustrated way, as creation groans and longs with us for the return of Jesus and the establishment of the new heavens and the new earth (Romans 8:18-25).

Sin also impacts upon our ability to see ourselves rightly. For some, sin will blind us to our faults and lead to us having an over-inflated view of ourselves, such that Paul exhorts us to think soberly about ourselves (Romans 12:3). Yet for others, sin will manifest itself in a self-loathing, despising themselves for past sin or perceived failures. These people need to be reminded again that Christ has died once for all sin (Hebrews 10:12-13, 1 Peter 3:18)

Christian identity is radically transformed in Jesus
As Christians, the reality is that sin has been defeated by Jesus, and as believers we are radically transformed. Not least, we have been made alive in Christ (Eph 2:5). Our union with Christ has given us a new identity, as Children of God, forgiven, redeemed, sanctified, justified. Who we are 'in Christ' cannot be underestimated. A quick skim through Romans noticing what we are in, through and by Christ reveals that we are justified, redeemed, have peace with God, have obtained access by faith into grace, have been saved from God's wrath, are reconciled, baptised into Christ's death, raised from the dead, live with Christ, will never die again, are set free from sin, have eternal life, have died to the law, serve in the spirit, having been set free from the law of Sin and death, will be graciously given all things.

It is this union with Christ that enables the Bible to talk about us putting off the old way of life and putting on the new way of life, walking in godliness and obedience to Christ (eg Galatians 5, Ephesians 4&5, Col 3, 1 Thes 2). The believer is a new creation (2 Cor 5:17:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

This is an amazing reality that is worth much reflection. In Christ, I am forgiven. My sin is dealt with, and God's Holy Spirit lives and dwells in me.

One thing this doesn't mean is that I no longer sin, which brings us to the fourth and final point of this section.

The tension of living in the now but not yet
1 John is a great book for reminding us of both the call for the believer to walk in obedience to Christ while recognising the reality of sin:

2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

While Christ has completely defeated Satan on the cross, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him, and will not see this until he returns. As such, the believer lives in the tension of the now and not yet. On the one hand sin is dealt with and she is a new creation, but on the other hand, sin is still in the world and plagues her.

Indeed, one area where Satan can seek to undermine the confidence of those who are in Christ is to use the focus of this world on self and self worth. We take our eyes of Jesus and focus upon ourselves and doubt whether we are truly redeemed and forgiven.

Speaking personally, I think that one of the dangers that faces us as believers is to know these great truths but somehow hold them 'out there' and instead of them providing comfort they act as a judge over us as we fail to live up to this standard that we think that we should (I think this was what Michael was referring to in a previous comment about the inward loathing that is sometimes felt). But more on this in the next post when we look at some practical tips (Post #5).

TAT Chat Interview - Introducing Mandy

2007-03-17T10:49:00.000+11:00

Thought some of you might enjoy this - I was interviewed by Debbie Teakle for the Term 1 TAT Chat (TAT is the Cathedral Women's Bible study groups that meet on Thursdays at Ten).

While interviewing Mandy Curley I not only discovered that she prefaced a lot of her answers with 'I'm the sort of crazy person that . . .', but I also discovered that she is warranted in doing so. Mandy enjoys a day off work by getting up early and jogging 4 kms to Newtown where she joins a friend to jog another 6 km before breakfast. Mandy also enjoys vacuuming the floor and cleaning her kitchen, her current favourite meal is lemon coriander lentils and here's the clincher - she enjoys the process of essay writing.

But this is not to say that she is not like the rest of us. Her more identifiable qualities include loving the beach, enjoying coffee with friends, hating bugs, loathing cleaning the bathroom* and being 'musically challenged'. (*for all you prospective guests this is not to say she doesn't clean her bathroom, just that she doesn't like it.) Her favourite book is Little Women, her favourite movie is Top Gun and her favourite dessert is passionfruit souffle. All these traits trail into insignificance however, compared to her most defining quality - her love for God's Word.

Mandy came to know Christ through beach mission. She grew up in Wetherill Park and every summer since she was 18 months old Mandy and her family would go to Kiama where there was a beach mission (her parents thought it was a great babysitting service). It was in Kiama that Mandy first heard that God loved her and that Jesus died for her. In year 5, after a bad year at school, Mandy saw that the mission people were different and she wanted to be like them. She told them 'you've got something I haven't got and I want it' and this is when she prayed to accept Jesus as her Lord.

Because Beach Mission was Mandy's only form of Christian teaching and fellowship, she would write down all her questions from the Bible and literally wait on the hill on Boxing Day for the beach mission team to arrive and hand over her list of questions. The team prayed for her year after year and wrote her many letters of encouragement. Along with her brother, Mandy joined a youth group at the end of year 11 and finally found herself a member of a church family. It was here that she understood what it meant to live with Jesus as her Lord.

After high school Mandy went to study at UTS and all of a sudden found herself knowing 30 or 40 christians her own age. For the first time she was taught from the Old Testament which further intensified her passion for God's Word. Mandy became a member of St John's Park Anglican church where she helped lead the young adults Bible Study Group.

While she loved being at university Mandy increasingly became aware that her chosen profession (Business Law) would demand more and more of her time and that it required a certain 'harshness' to get things done. At the same time she began to realise how much she enjoyed ministry on campus and so decided to free up time to do the Ministry Training Strategy while completing the last two years of her degree and working part time.

When Mandy had finished her degree and MTS, rather than progressing straight to Moore College, she decided to test her suitably to ministry by taking a job with the Tax Office in Canberra and join a church (St Matthews, Waniassa) where she didn't really know anybody. So she just did what came naturally and started meeting up with other women to read and study the Bible. Six months later her minister took her aside and asked her if she was considering going into ministry and if she wasn't-why not?

Mandy got increasingly involved with church over the next three years and then moved back to Sydney to go to Moore College in 2003. Mandy describes these years as the best time in her life because she just loved studying the Bible and writing essays alongside other like-minded people.

So now we have the pleasure of having Mandy on staff here at the Cathedral. She can't believe that it is her job to encourage other Christian women and study God's word because she loves it so much. If you want to know more about Mandy, why not introduce yourself? You could also check out her blog http://mandycurley.blogspot.com where her main topic of discussion is ... you guessed it ... God's Word. You're in the right job Mandy!

Women and Self-Esteem (Post #4)

2007-03-14T15:45:00.000+11:00

The Bible's Solution

In contrast to the view of the world that looks within for an understanding of ourslves, the Bible's response is that the key to Self-Esteem is found not inwardly but outwardly!

We'll look at the bible's solution in four sections:
1. Our concept of self or identity is fundamentally tied up in who God is;
2. The devastating impact of Sin
3. Christian identity is radically transformed in Jesus;
4. The effect of the overlap of the ages.

So firstly,
Our concept of self or identity is fundamentally tied up in who God is
Human beings play a special part in God's creation - we are created in God's image and are specially tasked as his vice-regents here on earth. In Gen 1:26-28 we read of the special dignity and rule that the first man and woman are given in the world while Psalm 8 celebrates the glory of man created in God's image.

There is a high honour given to man that comes not from within but from without, with reference to the one who created us in his image, who is himself the creator and sustainer of the whole universe.

In radical contrast to the world that tells us to look within to find identity and security, the bible tells us to fix our eyes outside of ourselves, on the God of the whole universe and to ground all of our thinking about ourselves in the Character and Nature of the one who created us in his image.

The devastating impact of sin
The rejection of God by the first man and woman, created in God's image, has devastating consequences for them and us Gen 3. While we remain in God's image, sin impacts upon each and every aspect of our lives. Because of sin we are dead (Eph 2:1), alienated from God (Col 1:21), enemies of God (Rom 5:10).

more to come ...

Women and Self-Esteem (Post #3)

2007-03-14T09:37:00.001+11:00

The World's solution

Do you remember the ad campaign? I can't remember what it was advertising, but I definitely remember the slogan:

The most important person in the world ... YOU!

Our world tell us that we really are the centre of the universe, that the sun does revolve around me.

And when it comes to the concept of self, the world tells us that we are worthy and valuable and must look within ourselves to find strength. The world commonly tells us that we can determine our identity and destiny - if only we make good and right choices. Even the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is premised on the idea that inwardly we are all beautiful and strong and a healthy self-esteem will come from looking within ourselves in a positive way.

And in the view of the world, our concept of self is inevitably tied to what we do. Once we know someone's name, is it not the next logical step to ask 'and what to you do?'. How many times have you heard someone say 'I'm just a stay at home Mum' Parents boast of their sucessful child who is excelling at school or sport or music.

So how does the world's solution work? For most of us, not really that well at all. For when we look within, we can't help but see imperfection for the reality is that we are not perfect. Rarely is success achieved simply by setting our minds to the task ahead - disappointments and frustrations abound. Furthermore, the world's solution encourages competition, as we measure ourselves in relation to another. As Jane Tooher has said: 'the world's view is unrealistic and unhelpful'

So if the world's solution disappoints, what is the Bible's solution? Stay tuned for Post #4

Women and Self Esteem (Post #2)

2007-03-13T17:31:00.000+11:00

The presenting problem

Issues of self-esteem are prevalent in the world in which we live. Kasey Chambers 2001 chart hit 'Not Pretty Enough' from the album: Barricades & Brickwalls struck a chord with many as she sang:

Am I not pretty enough?
Is my heart too broken?
Do I cry too much?
Am I too outspoken?

Don't I make you laugh?
Should I try it harder?
Why do you see right through me?

She expresses the cry for acceptance that many share. Here is a talented recording artist expressing concerns about her place in the world. And it seems that she is not alone.

Who hasn't ministered amongst women who seem to be godly and mature yet express a lack of belief in their own abilities to take on a new task? Who's never heard a woman express doubts about her worth or value? Who's never heard a woman compare herself to others around her and come up short?

We live in a world that is marred by the effects of sin. Pain and suffering are a reality that we will all face in this world. Failure (of at least some kind) is guaranteed. One expression of that is seen in what we call low Self-Esteem.

Next: The world's solution

Women and Self-Esteem (Post #1)

2007-03-13T17:14:00.000+11:00

I'm giving a seminar next Tuesday at our MTS Women's Training entitled: 'Women and Self-Esteem' and wanted to enlist your help. The plan is to post in sections what I'm hoping to cover and get your input to help me refine what I'm going to say.

The plan:
The presenting problem (Post #2)

The world's solution (Post #3)

The Bible's solution (Post #4)

Living in light of a right view of the self - practical tips (Post #5)

Satan loves it when Christians argue

2007-03-12T16:28:00.000+11:00

A wise woman pointed out to me yesterday that Satan loves it when Christians argue, when those who are united in Christ become drawn into arguing with one another and are distracted from the task of loving and serving each other as well as our great and glorious God.

Then this morning I read Ephesians 4:1-3:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

I was rebuked at how easily I let my sin and pride get in the way of restored relationships and at the way that distracts me from serving God wholeheartedly because so much of my energy gets tied up in feelings of anger, disappointment and hurt which often leads to bitterness and resentment. I felt the need to pray and ask the Lord to work in me by his Spirit to be more humble and gentle, patient and eager to bear with others in love as well as asking that I would be generous and gracious in my dealings with others, being quick to forgive when sinned against as well as ready and willing to ask for forgiveness when I am in the wrong.

The Cross of Christ

2007-03-07T11:16:00.000+11:00

I've begun reading The Cross of Christ by John Stott (again) with one of the women from The Bible Talks.

There are many reasons that I love this book, not least for the clear outline of the meaning and impact of Jesus death. We see how our theology changes how we think and drives our actions.

Here is an excerpt from the first chapter (page 40):

The third and most important reason why he knew he would die was because of his own deliberate choice. He was determined to fulfil what was written of the Messiah, however painful it would be. This was neither fatalism nor a martyr complex. It was quite simply that he believed Old Testament Scripture to be his Father's revelation and that he was totally resolved to do his Father's will and finish his Father's work. besides, his suffering and death would not be purposeless. he had some 'to seek and to save what was lost' (Luke 19:10). It was for the salvation of sinners that he would die, giving his life as a ransom to set them free (Mark 10:45). So he set his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem. Nothing would deter or deflect him. Hence the reiterated 'must' when he spoke of his death. The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected. Everything that was written about him must be fulfilled. he refused to appeal for angels to rescue him, because then the Scriptures would not be fulfilled which said that it must happen in this way. Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer before entering his glory? He felt under constraint, even under compulsion: 'I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am (RSV 'constrained', literally 'hemmed in') until it is completed!' (Luke 12:50).

So then, he knew he must die, it was not because he was the helpless victim either of evil forces arrayed against him, or of any inflexible fate decreed for him,. but because he freely embraced the purpose of his Father for the salvation of sinners, as it had been revealed in Scripture.

Given this, how would you respond to the charge that Jesus was on a suicide mission?

Two lies about sin

2007-03-03T13:22:00.000+11:00

We looked at 1 John 1:1-2:2 in Bible Study on Thursday night and discovered that there were two lies we could believe about sin.

The first says that sin doesn't matter:

1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

The second says that sin doesn't exist:

1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

How easily we fall into the trap of believing either of these two lies - trying to deny the seriousness of our sin or pretending that it's not real.

Yet the truth of the situation is that while Christians do sin, we don't continue to live in sin. Jesus' death on the cross pays the penalty for our sin and the Holy Spirit at work in us transforms us to live a holy life. As we see in 1 John 2:1-2:

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

How great are those comfortable words?

more photos

2007-02-27T10:28:00.000+11:00

Some amazing photos of the storm clouds that closed in on us in the afternoon.

Canoeing - the photographic evidence

2007-02-27T09:20:00.000+11:00

Sharon has entrusted me with the photos, so here's a selection.

Canoeing in Kangaroo Valley

2007-02-25T14:20:00.000+11:00

Yesterday I went Canoeing in the Kangaroo Valley with 5 of the girls from The Bible Talks (the trip I was invited to here).

It was a fun filled adventure, with quite a few silly moments. The aim was to be at Ali & Karyn's by 8.30am ... I was the last to arrive at 8.45. Then we had to work out who was going in who's car ... How to choose? Hair colour of course - so Sam, Fiona and Sharon went off in one car, leaving the blonde's in the other car.

First stop was Kenso cafe for coffee - it was an early start and we needed our caffeine boost before heading down the M5 to Kangaroo Valley. By all reports one car chatted the whole way while in the other car at least one passenger caught up on some sleep. Delayed a little by the road works near Mittagong, we arrived in Kangaroo Valley a little after 11.30am along with lots of others keen for a day of paddling. The weather was fantastic - sunny and warm, but not overbearing. We were hopeful that the predicted possible thunderstorm or late afternoon showers would not eventuate.

So with the money paid and instructions to get down to the river, we set off. Left out of the driveway then right at the first street, which would turn into a dirt road for about 4kms. When not far down the road we saw a sign saying 'no access, private property' we were concerned but not alarmed, we'd followed the directions. After contemplating turning back because this must be the wrong way, we forged ahead continuing up the road... until we came to a gate equipped with security camera's having arrived at someone's house. So we turned around and headed back down the narrow road while phoning for directions. Yes, we had turned onto the first street on the right as instructed, but we actually needed to turn into the second street on the right! Eventually we found the right street and headed to find our canoes.

We had a quick snack to fortify us before heading out on to the water. Karyn & Fiona in one canoe, Sharon & Sam in another with Ali & I in the third. We managed to find our rhythm and paddled out enjoying the beautiful valley, spotting birds and ducks. Sharon took lots of photos (that I'll post soon). There were some rumblings of thunder in the distance, but it still looked quire fine. A bit after 1pm we spotted somewhere on the shore to pull up for lunch - Sam predicted that it would start to rain in about an hour. Karyn, Fiona, Ali and I made it on to the shore, but Sharon & Sam decided to stay in the canoe near the shore to eat. We had a lovely picnic lunch and ate far too much as we played 2 truths and a lie. Who would have thought that one of us was questioned by the police about a murder in Nepal or that another had auditioned for Nida?

As we tried to reload everything into the canoe's to paddle back, the thunder was closing in and the rain began to fall. About to head off, we were warned by someone on the bank that the storm was close and if the lightning was less than 14 seconds apart to get to the shore or else we could be in trouble. So we set off to paddle back down the river. Ali & I decided to swap places in the canoe - a move that was to prove to be a bit of a disaster as we literally zig-zagged our way back down the river, with me unable to get the steering right from the back. It provided lots of amusement for Karyn & Fiona who thought we were trying out some new technique!

Eventually we made it back to shore. Trying to get the canoe out of the water I managed to break my blue flip-flop, then let go of the canoe and have to wade into the water to rescue it. In attempting to pull it out of the water, it had to go under a rope and for some reason it didn't occur to me that I could go over the rope and pull the canoe under, so I went down and pulled the canoe under the rope with me.

Not ready for the adventure to end, we headed into Kangaroo Valley in search of the fudge shop. We turned up just after the power had gone out and so were unable to have a nice warm drink. So it was off to Berry before taking the coast road home. After running in to some of the second year MTC girls, we sat down for coffees, smoothies and cake in a lovely Berry cafe. They had experienced a black out as well, but the power had come back on by the time we arrived. With a discussion about whether the bathroom was in fact quite pleasing or really rather ordinary, we headed for home along the South Coast. We didn't make it to the coast road near Wollongong - it was raining pretty steadily by that point anyway.

It was a great day - lots of laughs and fun.

Photo's from Kangaroo Valley Canoe's website

The supremacy of Christ

2007-02-21T10:08:00.000+11:00

One of the joy's of my week is Tuesday mornings where I meet with Emma to read Colossians from the Greek. It's our attempt to use what we learnt at college and doing it together is an encouragement to make it happen. We've discovered that we are getting quite good at looking things up in the dictionary!

Yesterday we looked at Col 1:15-23 a great passage that tells of the supremacy of Christ and his sufficiency for our salvation. It was great to be reminded that all things were created by him, through him and for him (v16). And why did the firstborn over all creation take on human flesh? To reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (v19).

I was really struck by the movement in verses 21-23. The key words in this section are: 'once', 'but now' and 'if'

Once you were dead
But now you have been made alive in Christ
If you continue to hold on to the hope that you have

A great reminder that Jesus has indeed rescued me from a helpless state and won forgiveness for me on the cross, so that the only appropriate response is to continue to hold on to him in all that I do.

Maybe this Greek caper is not so bad after all ...

Luther on Hermenuetics

2007-02-14T10:11:00.000+11:00

Recently started reading through my set of the 'Complete Sermons of Martin Luther'. It's 7 volumes, and each sermon is long ... the first has 100 points. Maybe it will have me thinking Phillip's sermons are short when he gets back next week!

He made some really interesting comments on the evangelists use of the OT:

First, we must keep in mind that the Evangelists do not quote the prophets word by word, it is enough for them to have the same meaning and to show the fulfillment, directing us to the Scriptures so that we ourselves may read, what they omit, and see for ourselves that nothing was written which is not richly fulfilled.

And again:

It seems to me that the Holy Ghost led the apostles and evangelists to
abbreviate passages of the Scriptures for the purpose that we might be kept close to the holy Scriptures and not set a bad exemple (sic) to future exegetes, who make many words outside the Scriptures and thereby draw us secretly from the Scriptures to human doctrines. As to say: If I spread the Scriptures verbatim everyone will follow the example and it will come to pass that we would read more in other books than in the holy writings of the principal book, and there would be no end to the writing of books and we would be carried from one book to another, until, finally, we would get away from the holy Scriptures altogether, as has happened in face. hence, with such incomplete quotations he directs us to the original book where they can be found complete, so that there is no need for everyone to make a separate book and leave the first one.

I don't know that I'd ever quite thought about it like this before, but I love his emphasis on driving people back to the Scriptures. What do you think?

Amazing Grace: The William Wilberforce Story Movie Trailer

2007-02-13T16:17:00.001+11:00

Click here for the trailer to this new movie

HT: Ali. Thanks for this.

I did a bit of reading on Wilberforce last year while I was writing my essay on the Eclectic Society. Not sure if The Eclectic society will get a mention in the movie, but it is one that I'd definitely like to see.

New Principal for Oak Hill

2007-02-12T11:17:00.000+11:00

Oak Hill has announced herethat Mike Ovey has been appointed as the new Principal.

I had Mike (along with Garry Williams) in the Doctrine of God unit I studied last year and think that it is great news. Of course, Mike did cut his teeth lecturing at the best theological college in the world, Moore!

Ministry and Meals

2007-02-10T10:13:00.000+11:00

I was describing my week to a friend the other night and was struck by how much of the ministry I did was around meals. From lunch at my place with the Student Ministers, to a BBQ with the Elders of The Bible Talks, coffee with the wife of one of the ministry team, Bible Study launch with dinner, dinner with some of the women from The Bible Talks, to afternoon tea at my place. That's all this week!

Thus it always makes me laugh, although I realise it is slightly inappropriate, when I read Romans 14:17 and other passages like it. For although gospel ministry is not about eating and drinking, as Christians we seem to be unable to get together without eating. Yet on the other hand, breaking bread and eating together was characteristic of the early followers of Jesus (see Acts 2). Food and fellowship go hand in hand.

In a culture where we see the prevalence of two extremes, where people either don't eat, obsessed with diets and the perfect body, or overindulge such that obesity is a growing problem in Australia even amongst children, how can we as Christians be distinctly different in the way that we live?

image ©Michael Bretherton

One word

2007-02-05T09:16:00.000+11:00

At a dinner party on Saturday night, we were trying to think of one word that described ourselves. It's quite a hard task.

I struggled to know whether my word would be argumentative or determined. The other two I remember others coming up with for themselves were obstreperous and saved.

It then lead on to a discussion of words that should be words and my favourite was from Emma: telepathetic (defn: hopeless at telling the future).

If you could only use one word to describe yourself, what would it be?

A well spent 35 minutes

2007-02-01T13:13:00.000+11:00

I don't think I realised how expensive moving was .. all of those connection fees add up. So when one organisation billed me $299 for about 20 minutes of work, I was outraged. I rang customer service and politely but insistently explained the predicament and my unhappiness. The officer listened and then placed me on hold. Thankfully I have a hands free phone at work, so I got on with some admin while I was waiting. About 10 minutes later she got back to me and said she was going to speak to the technician who did the work, but that I needed to stay on the line. Back on hold for another 10 minutes or so, whereupon I was told - the technician says it should only be $59, would you mind holding again while I fix that up. um, NO, I'll happily wait. Another 5 minutes on hold. The officer comes back on the line. I've changed that in your account now, so the total owing by 15th Feb is $59.

35 minutes later, I'd saved $240. So glad I didn't just pay the bill assuming the charge was right!

The promise of eternal life

2007-01-29T09:26:00.000+11:00

Yesterday at the cathedral Rob Smith finished off the summer series on John 3:16: 'Does God really love the world?'. I only heard the last two in the series, but they were fantastic. They haven't yet been uploaded onto the website, but should be available soon here

The contrasts seem to be really hitting me at the moment - last night I was really struck by the contrasting futures facing those who believe in the Son and those who reject him. For one, the promise is of eternal life - not just life that goes on and on, but transformed life with a transformed relationship with our creator at the centre. For the other, condemnation. They are perishing because the wrath of God remains upon them.

In John 14:6 Jesus tells us that he is the only way to the Father, the only possible way of salvation: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." My prayer is that many will join with me in believing in the Son.

Contrasts

2007-01-25T15:28:00.000+11:00

On my walk to work this morning I was confronted by a contrast. Walking through the QVB I was struck by its opulence and how busy it was, even at 9 in the morning, with people walking out of stores clutching their bag of goodies, purchased on sale. Then I entered Sydney Square, just outside the cathedral, and saw others clutching their bags. But these bags were full not of the latest special, but of all the worldly possessions of someone who lives on the street.

It was humbling. The contrast reminded me that I have much to be thankful to our gracious heavenly Father, not least for the salvation won on the cross by Jesus, and the provision of a great job and a home to live in. It brought me to my knees in prayer.

A question about female missionaries

2007-01-15T10:18:00.000+11:00

I spent last week at CMS Summer School in the beautiful Blue Mountains. It was a fantastic, if challenging week, but more to come on that later.

The question I wanted to ask is: Why do we think it is OK to send out female missionaries, especially to Africa, to do things on the field like theological education that we do not let them do in Sydney? I heard greatly encouraging tales of women teaching in bible colleges, training the future leaders of the church and people growing in their love and knowledge of our heavenly Father.

But it did raise for me the question: why is it appropriate to go overseas and do these things if it is not appropriate in Sydney?

Is it that gender roles are a second-order issue, so the important thing is getting people out on the field and teaching and training others? Is it that we are wrong not to have more women in theological education in Sydney? Is there something else I am missing?

Migration complete

2007-01-15T10:16:00.000+11:00

I'm a bit slower than others, so I've only just managed the migration over to Blogger Beta. Hoping that it has worked OK - I'm not sure I will bother to go back and label all my old posts, but you never know, in this last week before I start work I might feel compelled to!

Holiday's with Mum & Dad

2007-01-02T20:12:00.000+11:00

I had a lovely time in Qld with Mum & Dad. Beautiful Qld didn't quite live up to the reputation of 'beautiful one day, perfect the next' but we did have some lovely sunny days.

I really enjoyed not having to do much of anything - I read lots of airport novels, went for a swim a couple of times, chatted with Mum & Dad lots and ate lots of good food. It was great to visit Stu and Cathy at church in Brisbane the first Sunday. A real highlight was getting back into running. The first day I struggled to run 3.2kms, but by the end of the 2 weeks I was running 6kms, getting faster each time. I love running along the broadwater, with water on one side, skyscrapers on the other, with the path marked every 50metres so you can tell how far you have run and what your pace is like. The little things keep me amused.

Christmas day was lovely, if quiet with just the 3 of us, although it was fun (if a bit strange) listening to Kevin open his presents over the phone. One last thing we did was go up to the viewing platform of Q1, the tallest residential tower in the world (80 stories). Here's my favourite picture of the view:

Welcome to 2007!

2007-01-02T19:59:00.000+11:00

Well, the New Year has begun.

2007 will be full of lots of new things for me.

New apartment - still in the process of moving, but spent my first night there on NYE, on an airmattress in the spare room. So far, so good. Furniture arrives from Canberra on Friday.

New job - begins 21st of January. Truth be told, I'm scared. But also excited about the possibility of serving our great God amongst the people at The Bible Talks and the Cathedral, meeting with women to read the bible and pray as well as having opportunities to talk to people about Jesus.

Living alone. No more college. Being 'on staff' at church.

Grateful that the one constant is our loving heavenly Father, his Son Jesus and the life giving Spirit.

Below are some photos from NYE at Polly's taken by Brad Pasley. I object to the $4mil spent, but did really enjoy them!

Limited posting ... I'm on holidays

2006-12-12T11:17:00.000+11:00

I head off to Qld on Thursday to see my Mum & Dad and spend Christmas with them, before moving, CMS Summer School and a week to finish unpacking before work starts.

I'll have limited access to a computer during this time, so won't be posting much.

I'll be back in the new year.

Next year begins to take shape ...

2006-12-01T16:47:00.000+11:00

I've met many of the leadership team of The Bible Talks at a weekend away last weekend and am excited about the opportunity to serve along with them next year.

I've signed a lease on an apartment in the CBD so I know where I'll be living.

A few more pieces fall into place. Being challenged to continue to trust in God's good provision, knowing that he will place opportunities to serve him before me.

Looking forward to some down-time first catching up with friends and family.

What will you do?

2006-11-24T10:25:00.000+11:00

Last night was the exiting students dinner. A great night to catch up with people before we all head off, if tinged with sadness - hard to believe that 4 years of college is really over.

John Woodhouse posed the question to us in the leaving address: When you leave this place, what will you do?

He reminded us that it was all to easy to answer that question really quickly, full of the tasks that are ahead of us in the exciting ministries we are heading into. But he challenged us to stop and think - for our time here at college had not been about learning the bible better or getting better equipped to serve God first and foremost. Rather, we had the privilege of growing in our love and knowledge of our great God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

He took us to Colossians 1:28 'Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.' Knowing God, through His Son and by the Spirit is the only thing that will sustain us for life. Growing in our love and appreciation of Him is what should characterise us. Am I a person who is characterised by my proclamation of Jesus because of my relationship with Him?

I am so thankful for my time here at college, where I have been taught by godly men who have shared their lives with us as they have taught us to know more about our great and gracious God. I am thankful for the pastoral heart of the lecturers, not satisfied for us to know more but wanting us to live out what we know, radically transformed by the love that the Father has shown to us in His son.

I will miss college.

Today's lessons

2006-11-21T16:56:00.000+11:00

Forgetting to return library books on time at MTC is expensive.

Studying in an air-conditioned room set to 22 degrees when it is 38 degrees outside means that you will boil when you go outside with a cardigan on.

Paying more attention in first and second year Greek would have been a good idea (nouns do not have tenses, verbs have tenses).

In Hebrews 1:10 the writer of Hebrews attributes the words of Psalm 102, which in their original context are about God, to God's lips in a declaration about His Son.

The writer of Hebrews likes to be descriptive about God's nature, so talks about him as 'the majesty on high' or 'the throne of grace'.

Jesus is the great high priest - who is qualified as one appointed by God and also as one who is also subject to weakness. However, Jesus was without sin, and is therefore superior to priests of Aaron's line, for he was able to offer the perfect sacrifice which brings salvation.

Off to learn a little more ...

What's in a name?

2006-11-16T19:34:00.001+11:00

Byron noticed the name change. Safetygirl has become Mandy's Musings.

I've been thinking a bit recently about names and what they say about people, especially reflecting on names in the Bible. I love the way that God sometimes changes people's names to reflect the task he has for them (think Abraham). Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.

While safetygirl is a nickname that a few dear friends were responsible for coining and I have used it as an email address for the last few years, I've never really liked it when anyone apart from them called me 'safetygirl'.

So I thought I'd go back to the name my parents gave me (well, what they have always actually called me even if they put Amanda on the birth certificate). As an interesting aside, Amanda means worthy of love, while my brother Kevin's name means beloved - something Mum & Dad didn't realise when they named either of us.

So from now on when you encounter me in cyberspace, I'll be plain old Mandy, just as I am face to face. And if you read my blog, you'll find me musing about God, life and everything else.

So welcome to Mandy's Musings.

Giving thanks to the Father ...

2006-11-15T09:36:00.000+11:00

who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Col 1:12-15

God's word did not return empty - one woman indicated that she had placed her trust in Jesus last night, and a number of others expressed interest in attending a Simply Christianity follow up course.

Praise be to our great God!

A Fabulous Night!

2006-11-14T11:13:00.000+11:00

Anyone want to guess where I was last night?

No, I wasn't at home studying hard (I did that during the day);

I wasn't speaking at an evangelistic event (that's tonight - thanks for your prayers)

So where was I you ask?

I was at the U2 concert!

It was fantastic. A phonecall on Sunday afternoon sealed the deal, with Emily inviting me to come along with her as Luke stayed at home with the baby (who was meant to attend the concert in April in utero!).

Lots of funny moments - Elevation turned into a parody of 'spining around' in the middle as a tribute to Kylie, who also featured as the angel in Angel of Harlem. Bono singing I Should Be So Lucky in falsetto towards the end was also memorable. Old favourites played a big part, with a good run of my favourites back to back. Highlight for me was Beautiful Day, with With or Without you in the first encore a close second. Only downside was that Emily's favourite - Yahweh didn't make the playlist for the final concert.

It was a great spectacle, the sound was fabulous and their was heaps of energy. I enjoyed the ad-libbing, with 'Sydney' and "Telstra stadium' making it into more than one song, as did 'Party Boy'.

A wonderful break in the middle of stuvac! Still plugging away slowly at Matthew and Hebrews - I'll get there by next Thursday.

For those who are interested, here's the play list:

City of Blinding LIghts
Vertigo
Elevation
I Will Follow
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Angel of Harlem
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride in the Name of Love
Where The Streets Have No Name
One

Until the End of the World
Mysterious Ways
With or Without You

The Saints Are Coming
Party Girl
Kite

Grasping at the wind

2006-11-09T11:25:00.000+11:00

Taking a break from studying today to work on an evangelistic talk for next Tuesday night. Yes, I'm speaking at a Gingerbread House night!

I'm speaking on John 14:1-6. I've spoken evangelistically from the passage before, but am not really happy with that talk and am trying to rework it (and it's too late to change the passage). Wondering why I picked a section of discourse rather than a story, a passage that doesn't directly mention the cross and would be far too easy to use to promise 'pie in the sky when you die'???

Finding it difficult to work out what I'm going to say and how I'm going to say it - like I'm reaching for something that is just beyond me. Thankful that God's word never returns to him empty and that the Father will draw his people to himself through his Son in the power of the Spirit.

Audience of One?

2006-11-03T12:48:00.000+11:00

I've been reading through Matthew of late, and was really struck when I got to the beatitudes about how much I really don't understand them!

One thing that stood out in chapter 6 was the whole idea of seeking to live a righteous life for God's approval alone. It made me think of an old song that I'm pretty sure was called 'Audience of One' where the chorus goes something like: 'when all is said and done, I want to hear well done, from the audience of One'.

I've realised that it is so much easier to seek the approval of those around me whose feedback is immediate than it is to do things for the glory of God. Given that it is His opinion alone that matters, it is a foolish thing to do. So I've been challenged to seek not man's approval but God's, knowing that it is Him alone who sees the heart and knows my true motives anyway.

My project

2006-10-31T12:11:00.000+11:00

A few people have expressed interest in reading what I came up with.

Dani has offered to 'host' it on her site, so if you are game, click here

For the next week I really only want to hear 'good job' but after that if you'd like to discuss anything, fire away.

Last things

2006-10-31T11:32:00.000+11:00

Today was my last ever undergraduate Moore College Lecture.

And what a way to finish - with the delightful Peter O'Brien looking at Hebrews in NT 4.

As we reflected on Hebs 9:13-14 I was reminded again of the amazing sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf.

PTOB's pastoral heart shone through as we finished the lecture being exhorted to press on in the words of Hebrews 10:19-25.

These past four years at college have been such a privilege. I am greatful for the people I have studied with, the lecturers who have taught us and the amazing things I continue to learn about our great God and saviour.

I can't believe it's over.

It's in the box!

2006-10-30T11:01:00.000+11:00

I'm done.

Handed in at 9.30am this morning - with 7 hours to spare. I arrived at Officeworks Carlton at 7.15am to have it bound. Hard to believe it is all over. Still feeling the adrenaline pumping.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement.

The end is in sight

2006-10-27T16:31:00.000+10:00

I had another slight change in direction last week - added a new chapter 1 being more explicit about the egalitarian's I am arguing against, then the biblical section for chapter 2, and the theological section in chapter 3 before drawing some implications in the conclusion. I've finished the editing of the intro and chapters 1&2. I'm now in the middle of editing the new Chapter 3 - 'gender in theological context'.

I'm battling with how to compare the gendered nature of humanity with the triune nature of God. Not really sure if I am just trying to draw an analogy between humanity as gendered but yet human as the more fundamental reality like God is three persons but one being or whether I am trying to say something else entirely. Also trying to work out if it is here I dip my toe into the debates about the eternal subordination of the Son to the Father, because I want to say that the egalitarian argument that you can't say that someone is equal in being but different in function without saying they are inferior is bollucks!

Some other tweaking of the sections on sin and redemption and bodily resurrection in that section to do as well, but it is getting there. Then to tidy up the conclusion.

All going well by tomorrow night I will have a completely rewritten project. It will still need a bit more work, because at this stage I am heading for about 1000 or so words over the word limit.

Stop. Keep breathing. Remember the 4.30pm deadline on Monday is managable.

All prayers greatfully appreciated!

Spoke to 3 guys today who have already finished ... happy for them but wishing I was in their shoes!

Up for air

2006-10-17T14:43:00.000+10:00

Update: Drafts of chapters 1 & 2 are done. 10,500 words written. Chapter 3 - some implications of gendered humanity are due by Friday. I'm tired :)

But continue to be reminded of God's goodness and faithfulness. Read Deut 32 this morning and was greatly encouraged as Moses reflected on our perfect, just and faithful God.

Here's a taste (ESV):

Deut 32:1 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,
and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2 May my teaching drop as the rain,
my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
and like showers upon the herb.
3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
ascribe greatness to our God!

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.
5 They have dealt corruptly with him;
they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
they are a crooked and twisted generation.
6 Do you thus repay the Lord,
you foolish and senseless people?
Is not he your father, who created you,
who made you and established you?
7 Remember the days of old;
consider the years of many generations;
ask your father, and he will show you,
your elders, and they will tell you.
8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
when he divided mankind,
he fixed the borders [1] of the peoples
according to the number of the sons of God. [2]
9 But the Lord's portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted heritage.

[1] or territories
[2] Compare Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Masoretic Text - Israel

A new beginning

2006-10-10T13:02:00.000+10:00

After a weekend of slight panic, I forced myself to sit down on Sunday night and being the task of re-writing my project.

Here is what I am now trying to do:

The theological significance of gender
In the opening chapter of the bible we read: ‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.’ (Gen 1:27). The gendered nature of humanity is part of the creation that God affirms as being ‘very good’ (Gen 1:31). Yet this positive view of gendered humanity is juxtaposed with Paul’s claim in Gal 3:28: ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ To what extent does gender have any theological significance?

The dimorphically sexed body is the basis of an understanding of gender. Human beings are embodied as either male human beings or female human beings – sexual differentiation is the norm. The Bible unambiguously affirms this differentiation of the sexes. It is the embodied nature of this differentiated humanity that provides the basis for gender differentiation, for gender is a facet of sexuality, predicated on sexual differentiation. Humanity is found to exist in two genders – male and female.

In the current context there is substantial controversy over the implications of humanity’s genderisation. For some, gender has little theological significance. While humanity is created as male and female, there is nothing inherent in our gendered nature that is significant about who we are or what we can do. Whether male or female matters little – our humanity has priority over our gender. On the other hand, it is argued that gender is fundamental to our humanity, for every human being is either male or female. Rather than gender being an accident of history or culture, as irrelevant to our humanity as whether we speak English or French, whether we are male or female is essential to our existence. Furthermore, the bible then assigns roles or functions based upon gender distinctions, thus affirming the theological significance of gender.

In this project we will seek to disprove the view that gender has minimal theological significance and sketch some of the implications that gender has for us as human beings created in the image of God. It is beyond the scope of this project to articulate a comprehensive view of maleness and/or femaleness, manhood and/or womanhood. Its task is more preliminary. Before the distinctive features of either gender can be explored, the establishment of the significance and essential nature of gender is an important and more primordial step.

In establishing the significance of gender this work will begin by examining the biblical data, firstly outlining the case that gender is of limited significance, secondly examining some of the key biblical texts (Gal 3:28; Gen 1&2 and 1 Cor 11) to establish what they say about gender and thirdly outlining the general biblical patterns about gender.

The second section will then seek to set the discussion of the theology of gender in its wider theological context. By examining the doctrines of the trinity, sin and redemption, and the bodily resurrection we will see that these provide a framework for coming to terms with the gendered nature of humanity.

In the final section, having established the theological significance of gender, we will then seek to draw out some of the implications of the gendered nature of humanity.

Counting Sunday as day 1, have to write approximately 1000 words a day for the next 15 days. This will give me a week to edit and tidy up before submission. Scary.
It is half way through day 3 and my draft currently sits at 2,500 words. Progress.

I had almost 10,000 words ...

2006-10-05T16:56:00.000+10:00

After a helpful meeting with my supervisors earlier today, it looks like I still have a lot more work to do.

Unfortunately I've fallen into the trap of saying lots of interesting things that don't really addresss any one question in particular - I got a little bit lost along the way. It didn't come as a surprise really (I knew that I'd lost sight of what I was trying to achieve as I was writing, but couldn't work out what else to do but keep writing in the vain hope that an argument would fall out of the sky!). The encouraging thing was as they asked me questions about why I had included certain things I was able to articulate a reason much more clearly than I had expressed it in what I had written. And they thought that I had obviously done a lot of reading and thinking and had a good solid base to work from.

What I need to do now is clarify what I am trying to achieve and then set out to rework the material I've already written. It seems that I have a couple of options - some of which will involve largely starting the writing process again (although building on all that I have thought about so far) in order to try and do what I originally set out to do, although there is an option to change my original aim, reshape the question and use most of what I have written with some substantial changes. I'm meeting with Mark again tomorrow afternoon to try and work out a structure to progress things, but he and John are confident that I will be able to hand in something that is helpful.

I still have 3 weeks to go, so all is not lost, and I have learnt a lot along the way which is the important thing. If I am honest I am feeling a little fragile and not really sure I will be able to pull it off, but I'm sure something will get handed in even if it is not as I'd hoped.

Why I'm not an egalitarian

2006-10-04T15:26:00.000+10:00

Been re-reading Rebecca Merrill Groothuis' book Good News for Women: a biblical picture of gender equality

Here are some of the things she says that I find myself disagreeing with:

God revealed himself and his plan for his people by means of patriarchal cultures, adapting his revealed Word to fit the understanding and limitations of its original recipients [...] God allowed the subjugation of women and other social groups because people's hearts were not ready to recieve the fullness of God's good news with all its sociocultural implications. But throughout biblical revelation God progressively made known his redemptive plan, whereby the essential equality of all people would ultimately be restored and he practice of gender heirarchy brought to an end. (21)

When many of the roles that require higher levels of spiritual maturity, understanding, and giftedness are the roles from which women are excluded - as is the case in the trditionalist agenda - it is something of a stretch to insist that the essential spritual equality of women is not being violated thereby. The implication that femaleness is spiritually inferior to maleness cannot be avoided when femaleness alone provides sufficient grounds to deny a person the opportunity even to earn the right to fill certain spiritual roles, and when maleness does not restrict a person from performing any ministry he may be quaified to do. (29)

It stands to reason that onyone who is deemed permanently unfit to occupy the superior position must be inherently incapable of performing that function satisfactorily. (53-54)

Underlying her reasoning seems to be an assumption that to be made subject to another must be done on the basis of superiority/inferiority. To say that a woman is subject to a man is to say she is inferior to the man. And this goes to the heart of what it means to be a woman, because 'traditionalists' [to use her term] say that by virtue of being a woman certain roles are not available to her. I struggle with the use of terms like 'deserve' and 'higher status' and 'greater role' for it seems to me to miss the servant nature of our saviour, who did not lord it over anyone but humbly sought to serve.

Difference in role and function does not equal lesser being - an argument that leads straight to the Doctrine of God. Groothuis and other egalitarians stridently argue that the Son was only functionally subordinate to the Father in the incarnation, claiming that to claim an eternal subordination of the Son to the Father is to deny his full deity and make him a lesser being than the Father. But this is not the 'self-evident case' that they claim it is. For the revelation of the Son in the incarnation to be a true revelation, it must not be of something other than what is true of the eternal, triune God. As Rahner's dictum tells us "the immanent trinity is the economic trinity". There is not some hidden God behind that revealed in the Son by the Spirit. The Son's submission is not merely temporal, but eternal and not indicative of a lessening of his being.

More reflections on Gendered Humanity

2006-10-03T07:46:00.000+10:00

Humanity is created by God, in his image and likeness as male and female (Gen 1:27; 5:1-2; 9:6). This image and likeness to God is rightly located in our capacity for relationship - our relationship with God and our relationship with one another. As the triune God is being-in-relationship, so too humanity is being-in-relationship. This image and likeness then makes humanity fit for the task it is given - as God's vice-regents to rule over the creation and fill it, in a God-like manner. Thus humanity, who is made in God's image, is to care for and love the creation, for God has declared it to be very good.

Genesis 1:26-30 considers humanity corporately - as both male and female mankind is created in the image of God and given the mandate to fill the earth and have dominion over it. Before God and over the rest of creation, the man and the woman are equal. In the second creation account in Genesis 2:4-25 we zoom in on the details of the creation of the man and the woman. In this account, we see the two-stage creation of humanity - man is created first, immediately after the formation of the heavens and the earth. He is the firstborn (c.f. Romans 5), placed in the garden to tend and keep it, commanded by God not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:16). In the same way as the animals, the man is formed out of the earth and is to tend to it. By way of contrast, the woman is the final thing created in this account, made not from the earth but out of the rib of the man (Gen 2:21-2). She is created specifically as the helper for the man (ezer kenegdo - Gen 2:18). Her creation is for the man - she is a helper for him, relieving the problem of him being alone: 'the presence of the woman rescues him [Adam] from his debilitating solitude'*1 She is designed to complement him and meet his need for companionship. Humanity as male and female are designed in such a way that they fit and complement one another, and the man cannot exist independent of the woman.

The creation of the woman as a helper for the man does not imply inequality of inferiority. The term helper is used in the scriptures of God (Ex 18:10; Ps 10:14; 30:10; and 54:4) and so is not a derogatory term, but rather one of dignity and value. There is nothing in the word 'helper' itself that implies superiority, equality or inferiority. In the context of Genesis, the woman is designed not simply as a helper, but specifically as a helper for the man (cf 1 Cor 11). In the act of creating the woman, God had the man in mind and created the woman for the specific role of helping him. As Grudem expresses it:

Eve was created as a helper, but as a helper who was Adam's equal, and one who differed from him, but who differed from him in ways that would exactly complement who Adam was.*2

The gendered nature of humanity and the creation of woman for man finds its most intimate expression in the relationship of marriage. In Genesis 2:24-25 the communal nature of humanity is highlighted as the man and woman delight in one another. The man recognises the woman as the one who is fit for him and expresses joy in her. His naming of her, while also an appropriate recognition of who she is, is a dominical act.

Furthermore, human marriage points forward to the union of Christ and the Church and highlights the communal nature of our being (Eph 5). The gendering of humanity is not accidental, but a part of God's good design in creation. In marriage, the two genders come together and become one. As male and female in God's image humanity are relational beings, and our being in the image of God is the basis for our relationship with God. Eschatologically, marriage points forward to the union of Christ and the church.

*1. Stanley Grenz, 'The Social God and the Relational Self'<
*2. Wayne Grudem, Evangelical Feminism

For those who are interested: 9,500 of 15,000 words are with my supervisors for comment. All going well, just 1 chapter and a conclusion left to write and 27 days to do it in!

Image of God and Gender

2006-09-13T15:06:00.000+10:00

It is Karl Barth who said that the image of God consists primarily gender - that is, we express our humanity in our identity as human beings that are either male or female in relationship with one another and God (see CD III/1.41.2, 1.41.3 and III/4.54). In so doing, Barth seeks to move away from describing the image and likeness of God in terms of attributes such as rationality and argues that our being is being-in-fellowship, and that fellowship is not just of two persons who are essentially the same, but rather male and female. To describe humanity as in the image of God (ie in Gen 1 and 2) thus affirms gender and gender differences, while not spelling out what those differences are.

How does this relate to the triune God? Moltmann argues in God in Creation:

'The one God, who is diffentiated in himself and is at one with himself, then finds his correspondence in a community of human beings, female and male, who united with one another and are one.' (218).

This is not to say that God is gendered, but rather demonstrates that within the triune God's eternal relations of Father, Son and Spirit that their is a being-in-fellowship between three persons who are other than each other. The Father is not the Son, nor is the Son the Father. Their is a differentiation within the persons of the trinity but not a separation.

In the same way, their is a differentiation in creation between male and female. When God observes Adam in the garden alone, he says it is 'not good'. In creating woman, he does not make a second Adam, but creates woman, out of the man, for the man, fit for the man - one who he is other than, but related to. Of the same substance, but not collapsing into him and loosing all distinction. And this difference is built into humanity being fit for the task for which they were created - together to rule over creation, to subdue it and to fill it.

Event-based evangelism

2006-09-08T16:58:00.000+10:00

Well I survived (not sure that is the right word) my 4th year rite of passage today - the issues paper presentation. The very last issues paper of the year looked at event-based evangelism and its role, if any, in evangelistic strategy.

I enjoyed the process of spending some time reflecting on the gospel and our role in proclaiming it in the world, and didn't even mind the question time afterwards. Thanks guys for being gentle in your questioning!

So what did I say? this will make for a long post, but I can't work out how else to do it...

Should we hold evangelistic gingerbread house events?
An examination of the place of event-based evangelism in evangelistic strategy

In the last 10 years or so, Gingerbread House events have taken Sydney by storm. Every November/December, Churches across Sydney run events where up to 250 women come and make gingerbread houses. At many of these events, held on church property, there is also a talk, where the gospel is presented and women are called to respond to Jesus. These events are deemed to be a great success because they are attended by large numbers of women who are not christian and would not otherwise come to church. Many of these women are prepared to return year after year. However, many of them are hardened to the gospel and remain so. Those who know that there will be a talk may come and ‘endure’ it so that they can get on with making a gingerbread house. Others come not knowing that there will be a talk at the event. Yet we persist with these events – I’m already booked in to speak at 3 of them this year.

While this example focuses upon an evangelistic event targeted at women, it stands as an example of ‘event-based’ evangelism that is very common. Run a themed/specialist event, get members to invite people along, then congratulate them for having succeed at the task of evangelism. A characteristic feature of these event-based activities is that the event itself often has little or nothing to do with the gospel message. We run craft events, shed nights, men’s breakfasts, chocolate tasting and ‘basketball for Jesus’ events. Ken Moser argues that these activities may be employing the old ‘bait and switch’ method, advertising one thing to lure people in, then changing tack in moving to a presentation of the gospel. He argues that this method is deceptive and underhanded and in light of 2 Cor 4:2 should not be done. This paper will seek to examine what place, if any, event-based evangelism should have in an overall evangelistic strategy.

The gospel – the power of God for salvation
As Christians, we are convinced that the cost of our sin and rebellion against God is death (Romans 6:23). We are rightly under God’s judgement, not merely because we were born into a race living in rebellion to God (Romans 5:12-21), but because we actively in our lives sin against our God and saviour (Eph 2:1-3). The scriptures constantly remind us that ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Rom 3:23). The only way to be saved is through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ: ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation of all who believe.’ (Rom 1:16) and ‘there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12)

In 2 Cor 2:5-6 Paul writes that we preach ‘Jesus Christ our Lord’. Knowledge of God is found in Jesus Christ – ‘God’s enlightening work is only done through the gospel message of Christ’. It is Jesus who reveals the Father to us (Matt 11:27, John 14:7). He tells us: ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.’ (John 14:6).

God’s people as his witnesses in the world
Somewhat amazingly, the Father chooses to involve his followers in the proclamation of this message. God equips his followers with the message of Jesus and transforms them by his Spirit to be ambassadors for Christ (Eph 6:20). In their weakness, they hold forth the gospel message, demonstrating that it comes not from them but from God (2 Cor 4:7).

Indeed, from the very beginning, God’s people Israel were to be a light to the nations (Is 49:6). God is the one who gives his people victory in conquering the nations (Joshua 1:2), he relents from judging Israel so that the nations may see that he is the all-powerful, almighty Lord (Ex 32). As God’s chosen people, they were to live holy and distinctive lives, different from the nations around them. This difference was designed to attract the nations to God. We see a few examples in the OT where they fulfilled this role: while we do not see the reason why, Ruth turns to follow the God of Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17). Yet in their constant rebellion against God, Israel ultimately failed to fulfil this role. When Jesus comes, he accuses the religious leaders of causing people to fall into sin rather than to come into a living relationship with the God of all (Matt 23).

As the author of salvation, Jesus is much more than merely an example for us to follow, however, it is instructive to look at how Jesus conducted himself on earth as a guide for how we should live. In the incarnation, God himself becomes Man. Humbling himself, Jesus took on human flesh in order to bring about salvation (Phil 2:6-11). Jesus was known as the friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matt 9:10). Jesus went to the people and proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God (for example, Matt 3:17, 23). He performed many signs and miracles to point to his identity as the Lord of all (9:4-6). Many came to him because they wanted to be healed (Matt 14:35-6). Yet, even while performing these miracles Jesus made it clear that his role was to preach the good news. As Jesus brought physical healing, it pointed to his greater work of bringing eternal life for those who would trust in him (see for example John 9).

The apostles were particularly tasked with sharing the good news: ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’ (Matt 4:19), ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation’ (Mark 16:15), ‘You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:7). Paul describes his approach to evangelism in 1 Cor 10:31 – 11:1. Dickson observes:‘ Notice the logic spelled out here by Paul: just as I (the apostle) follow Jesus in seeking the salvation of others, so you (Corinthians) should follow me in the same task: ‘Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.’’

Indeed, we see that the task of proclamation of the gospel does not stop with the apostles. In Romans 10:14-15 Paul writes: But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”’ As Packer says: ‘God’s way of saving men is to send out His servants to tell them the gospel, […] the church has been charged to go into all the world for that very purpose.’

This said, it must be remembered that the church is God’s people gathered together around His word, and so the task of evangelism rests not with ‘the church’ per se, but with individual believers who comprise the church.

Always being prepared vs active evangelism
It is sometimes argued that there is no imperative for every christian to be engaged in active evangelism. In 1 Peter 3:15 the believer to be prepared to give an account for the hope that he/she has which is in response to a question or challenge from a non-believer. Similarly, the charge for the believer in Col 4:6 is a responsive one - to know how they ‘ought to answer each person’. While the need to be prepared to respond to challenges or questions from non-believers is acknowledged, to argue that the task of the christian in evangelism is purely responsive is to miss the thrust of the NT teaching.

Throughout the NT Christians are called God’s witnesses in the world (Acts 1:8, cf Jn 4:14, 7:37-39). In Philippians Paul says that they are to ‘shine like stars’ (Phil 2:15). The assumption in the NT is that Christians are sharing the good news of the gospel – that as the Spirit works within them, they live transformed lives which are attractive to the rest of the world (Tit 2:3-10, John 13:34-35, 1 Pet 2:9-10). Thus while recognising that there are those particularly gifted as evangelists (such as Phillip in Acts 21:8, Eph 4:11), all Christians are given the privilege of being his ambassadors and holding out the word of truth to a world that is dying. Those set apart by God for His glory will be different, and this difference will attract outsiders and be used by God to draw people into relationship with Him. As Stott says:

Not that the Christian witness has any warrant to be brash, indiscreet or discourteous. His witness is to be spontaneous and refreshing, the natural outflow of an interior spring (cf John 4:14; 7:37-39). Such testimony is expected of every believer. We cannot keep the gospel to ourselves. It has been committed to us for others, We are stewards of it, We hold it in trust for the world.

The triune God is sovereign in salvation
While God uses his people to bring others into his Kingdom, he remains sovereign over salvation, as indeed he is sovereign in all things. When God calls people to himself, they come (Romans 8:29-30). Only by the work of the Holy Spirit can one confess Jesus as Lord and be drawn into a relationship with the Father (1 Cor 2:10). Packer is insightful here: ‘Evangelism is man’s work, but the giving of faith is God’s’. In 1 Cor 3:6-7 we see that God is always behind the growth of his kingdom: ‘I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.’ God is the one who will bring an increase in numbers in his Kingdom and he calls those whom he wills. While we have a role in preaching the gospel, it is God who saves those who believe (1 Cor 1:21).

The glory of God
Furthermore, the proclamation of the gospel is motivated by a desire to glorify God. God is a jealous God – he alone is the one true God who is to be worshipped and glorified. Stott argues that our motivation for evangelism is a love for his name, a ‘concern for His honour in the world’. As the creator and sustainer of the entire world, God has the right to demand that we put him first. While we do not see this now, we know that all things will be put right in the last days, when every knee shall bow in worship. Until then, we proclaim his nam, eager to glorify him and give him the rightful place as Lord of all.

Doctrine of Humanity
Additionally, those who are outside of Christ are unable to do anything themselves to remedy their situation. Without Jesus we are dead (Eph 2:1), slaves to sin (Rom 6:6) and under a curse (Gal 3:10). God’s restraining hand and common grace mean that while humanity as not as bad as it could possibly be, that there is no part of our being that is not corrupted by sin. Indeed, Satan is actively at work, blinding mankind to its rebellion against God: ‘the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor 4:4). Coekin observes: ‘Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers so that, even though they hear familiar words, they cannot understand the spiritual meaning. We need to realise that this is why so many don’t believe the gospel.’

However, we also remain creatures made in God’s image (Gen 1:26). God has designed us especially for relationship with him. He does not delight in the death of a sinner (Ezek 18:23, 32, 33:11) but eagerly desires that people will turn back to him (2 Peter 3:9). This is what motivates us in evangelism to have a genuine love for the other person – they are created in the image of our creator, and thus are to be loved and valued as they are. Packer notes:
‘if we love our neighbour, we shall muster all our initiative and enterprise to find ways and means of doing him good. And one chief way of doing him good is to share with him our knowledge of Christ. Thus if we love God and our neighbour, we shall evangelise, and we shall be enterprising in our evangelism.’

Love of our neighbour will mean that we respect their personhood and individuality, that we will seek to not be manipulative in our dealings with them. However, love of our neighbour will also mean that we are eager to share the good news with them for we eagerly want them to share in our relationship with Christ. Union with Christ means they will avoid the judgment that comes from rejecting him. And as we play a part in bringing people into submission to the one and only God, we bring God and honour.

Do not lie, do not steal, do not deceive one another …
Furthermore, as God does not lie (Tit 1:4), Christians are also called not to lie (Lev 19:11, Col 3:9). Indeed, Christians should have such integrity that they are beyond reproach (Tit 2:8). Paul says in 2 Cor 4:2: We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

The message of the gospel is the fragrance of life to those being saved and the stench of death to those who are perishing. Proclaiming the gospel is not like an ‘Information Night’ for a timeshare company, where the primary reason for inviting people along – to sell them timeshare is subordinated to the secondary, attractive reason, a free holiday. The gospel is not amway and we don’t need to throw in the free steak knives, or offer one thing and deliver another. God is sovereign in salvation and will achieve his plans. While the message of the cross is foolish, we do not need to be ashamed of it and cannot water down the message of salvation (1 Cor 2, Rom 1:15-16).

Evangelistic Strategy
All of the preceding suggests that our evangelistic strategy must be gospel centred, aware of human sinfulness, God’s sovereignty and our need to trust in Jesus for our salvation. We can conclude that there are elements of an evangelistic strategy that are obviously inappropriate. An evangelistic strategy that minimises the cross, denies the total depravity of humanity and/or undermines God’s sovereignty must be rejected. On the other hand, a strategy that includes training, ensuring that Christians are grounded in a correct understanding of the gospel and the God of that gospel would be not only appropriate but should be encouraged.

A strategy that is aware of where people are at and addresses those needs, without changing the message proclaimed, is also appropriate. As Paul in Athens (Acts 17) saw the religiousity of the people and their striving to worship without knowing the true God and proclaimed that God to them, so too are we to make connections with people, to understand their perceived need and point them to the gospel which will answer their deepest need. God’s sovereignty does not make careful, prayerful strategy redundant. While God’s purposes will not be thwarted by our disobedience, we are nevertheless accountable for our actions.

Christians are called to live in the world but not as the world does. As such, it is right and good for them to be interacting regularly with non-believers. Recognising the dignity of the individual created in God’s image, we should rightly desire deep friendships with those around us. Important as this is, it is not ‘evangelism’ to spend social time with non-christians. This is not to say that we shouldn’t do it – we should be doing it, but don’t call it what it is not. Rather, pray that as you spend time with them, transformed by God’s spirit, saved by his son’s death and brought into relationship with the Father that you will live such a good life of love that they will want to know the reason for the hope that you have.

So what place in an overall strategy should event-based evangelism have?
Some forms of event-based evangelism must be questioned. Events that are advertised as one thing, with no indication that there will be a gospel talk are deceptive and underhanded. If Christians are embarrassed to tell their friends that the gospel will be presented they either don’t understand it properly, don’t care about their friends eternal destiny or don’t think that God is powerful to change peoples lives. This indicates the importance of gospelling our congregations, ensuring that they know Christ crucified and the significance of his death.

On the other hand, as we live godly and obedient lives in this world, and our friends and families are impressed by what God is doing, sometimes it can be helpful to be able to invite them along to an event where they will hear someone other than you present the gospel. The regular church gathering is the ideal place for this to happen, for it is as we worship the one true God and hear from his scriptures that those who are living in rebellion can be challenged and changed by the Spirit. However, it is also true that for some people, the idea of coming to church can be threatening or scary. Thus in an overall evangelistic strategy, a number of event-based activities that are attractive to the outsider can be an appropriate way of introducing people to the chrisitan community and may be used by God to bring them into relationship with him. However, we should also note that events can be isolating – the turn off for a women’s craft night may not be the gospel but the craft for women without any creative ability.

So should we hold evangelistic Gingerbread House events? Yes, if we are clear about what we are doing, if we are prayerful about building our relationships with those who don’t know Jesus and are spending time with them, living our godly and obedient lives of love. No if we measure their success on the number of people that turn up, if all our effort is put into organising the event so that we are too exhausted to talk to our friends about Jesus or invite them along to church or if people are being deceptive and not telling their friends that their will be a gospel talk given.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us

2006-08-15T17:17:00.000+10:00

Lecture 4 covered what Dr Bray described as 'perhaps one of the most difficult passages in the NT'.

In the first instance he demonstrated that the context shows that 'debts' and 'trespasses' mean 'sins'. The passage refers not just to mainly ritual sins, concerning purity and keeping of the law, nor just small errors or faux par, but rebellion against God that we, as descendants of Adam, actively participate in.

He spent a long time outlining exactly what sin is. Interestingly, he again made the point that sin is not natural and was not intended by God. In this regard he echoed what he had said the other day, that Jesus would not have stood out as being unnaturally human. His sinlessness would have stood out, but not as something abnormal, rather as being the most normal and natural thing, for he was behaving in the way that humans were originally created to behave. I found his point that the human nature refers to the physical being of humanity and his observation that Adam and Eve were mortal beings, protected by God and thus sustained an interesting notion. He was using this to demonstrate that the human nature was not sinful in itself, but it left me wondering what that means for our anthropology. Does this not mean that the new life we have in Christ, indeed that eternal life is of a fundamentally different character?

I was really encouraged to think through what it would mean for me to focus less on self and more on Christ as I approach the kingdom, and to think through how a growing awareness of Christ will help make me more aware of my sin and have a greater appreciation of God's goodness as a result.

The final section dealing with the need to forgive others recognized how hard this could be and acknowledged that at times this can be almost impossible. He distinguished between forgiveness and reconciliation, arguing that because we are sinful, that our forgiveness of another would not guarantee a reconciliation of relationship, but it should be our goal. This is different to God's forgiveness, which always achieves its end. It was on this point that in question time he argued necessitated belief in limited atonement.

Worst church signs ever

2006-08-15T17:14:00.000+10:00

I went past a church today and saw what I think must be one of the worst church billboards ever ...

Feeling Ugly?
God thinks you are to-die-for!

Give us this day our daily bread

2006-08-14T12:32:00.000+10:00

Talk 3 on Friday morning continued tis excellent series of lectures, focussing on God's provision for us in our daly lives. Dr bray observed that we move in this clause from praise and adoration of God to intercession.

Dr Bray observed that the pattern of request does not include the niceties of 'please', but is indicative of a beggar who is completely dependent. God is not someone who can be cajoled into giving us what we want - rather he is our Father from whom everything comes - we are utterly dependent upon Him. We can be bold in our approach to him, directly calling to him for help. He distinguished between God as a friend and a Father. Friendships in this world can be fragile, yet God is utterly unlike earthly friendship - he remains our Father and we never cease to be dependent upon him. I found his observation that our prayers are collective really challenging - we are taught not to pray in a self-focussed way, but collectively, as we ask of our Father on behalf of others.

Time also played a big part in the lecture. As he addressed what it meant for our requests to be for 'this day' he spoke of God being outside of time because he lived in 'the eternal present'. One of the things that really struck me was when he said 'This day must be our immediate concern because this is where we are.' A timely reminder, especially given the uncertainty of where I will be once college finishes.

'our daily bread' reminds us that our livelihood in this world is in his care. Praying for our daily bread is a trest of our faith and shows that we are living one day at a time. Not that we are not looking forward, but that we trust that God's provision will not fail. He looked at the connection between daily bread and the eucharist. They are coonnected but not to be confused. The eucharist shows the connection between the spiritual and physical life. The broken body of CHrfist has given us all we need, our sins are paid in full

Question time was again interesting. I was struck by his argument that being in the image of God is what gives us the capactity to know God. What is the image and likeness? It is personhood - as God is personal, 3 in relationship. A person is a being with capacity for relationship. Indeed a person is a being in relationship with God, for whether regenerate or unregeneration they have that relationship, it is just a question of whether the relationship is healthy or not. He argued that person and individual are not synonomous - person is a relational word that indicates our connectedness, whereas individual is a separational word, referring to a thing that can no longer be reduced any further.

Looking forward to lecture 4!

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heave

2006-08-11T10:05:00.000+10:00

Last night was Dr Gerald Bray's second lecture, focusing on the second part of the Lord's Prayer. Again, it was an engaging, thoughtful and pastorally sensitive call to obedience as we explored the nature of God's kingdom and his will. I was particularly struck when he said 'the spiritual battlefield starts in our own hearts and lives.' As he spoke about Jesus' task on earth, he reminded us that he came not to esablish a new empire that is of this world, but rather to bring in a totally new kingdom - he overthrows Satan's kingdom in one afternoon, where on the cross he becomes sin for us, destroying sin and the power of sin in one move. the stark challenge for us is whether we will seek after the praise and glory of this world, or whether we will listen to God's word and believe that he has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and seek after the heavenly kingdom.

There were a few interesting thoughts to ponder further. Dr Bray put forward the view that when Jesus descended to the dead that he preached to the dead, and seemed to imply that there were people who were converted by his preaching and rose to heaven with him. I have heard this before (ie it is not novel and draws on 1/2 Peter) but I'm not quite sure what I think of it.

The second thing that came out again was the dual natures of Jesus. In reflecting on the need for God's will to be done, Dr Bray indicated that while God does not have 2 wills, that Jesus did - one according to his divine nature and one according to his human nature. He was conscious of not being Nestorian at this point and sought to hold the two together by way of the single person of Christ. While this one person has two natures, the natures do not exist separate of the person. Thus he argued that at Gethsemane Jesus according to his human nature expressed the very natural human will to live, but in submission to his Father's will learnt obedience and chose to die. it was only by surrendering that he learnt obedience. This for me raised another set of questions that we did not get to explore which goes to the nature of the Father/Son relationship in eternity. Is it necessary to have a contrary will and submit to that will to learn obedience? Was not the eternal son always obedient to the Father, but virtue of their relationship? Is there not something about the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son that made it entirely appropriate and for the Son to come and submit in obedience to the Father here on earth? Is this not the way that we can truly have access to the Father, because what the Son reveals to us in the economy is true of his very nature?

Lots to ponder, be encouraged by.

Our Father ...

2006-08-09T13:37:00.000+10:00

Last night was the first of the Annual Moore College Lectures (AMCL) for 2006. Dr Gerald Bray is delivering five talks on the theology of the Lord's Prayer. For more details, click here

Last night he spoke on the first clause of the prayer 'Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name' and delivered a clear, pastorally sensitive and encouraging message that taught us about the nature of prayer and particularly the nature of the God whom we address as Father.

He helpfully observed that the Lord's prayer was not a mantra for us to repeat over and over, but was a pattern to be followed and adapted. It's simplicity belies the depth of theology contained within it.

He reflected on the difference between God and humanity. While Jesus invites us to share with him and enter into his relationship with the Father by addressing him as 'Our Father' we remain different to God. We do not naturally share in God's nature. While we are in God's image, this refers not to our sharing of God's nature (something that only the Son and the Spirit share) but to our personhood. Bray argued that we image God in our ability to create and sustain relationships with others. These relationships exist at a horizontal level, with other persons and at a vertical level with God himself. Our relationship with the Father is not contractual, but familial. To pray 'Our Father' is to confess the trinity and obtain access into the divine being. There was much to mull over and be encouraged by.

Much discussion was generated about the transcendence and imminence of God. If God is wholly other, and different to us, how can we relate to him? How can this wholly other God come into the world and what light does the incarnation shed on our understanding?

Dr Bray's answers to these questions reminded me of some of the discussions we had in Doctrine of God classes at Oak Hill as we grappled with the humanity and divinity of Jesus. If I understood correctly, he observed that we must remember that on the cross Jesus died according to his human nature, thus we can say in one sense that 'God died on the cross' but we must remember that it was the son who died and not the father (we are not patri-passianists ). I think he tried to tie together the dual nature of the son by saying that we must remember that it is Jesus' divine nature that is in control of all things and sustains the world - and thus remains in control of his human nature. I'll be interested to see how he develops this further in the later lectures.

Why I love Sydney

2006-08-07T20:28:00.000+10:00

I've been home for 3 weeks now, and last Friday was reminded of some of the reasons why I love Sydney.

On Friday morning I rolled out of bed at 5.45am asking myself why??? Why do I persist in trying to get in to Newtown by 6.15am for a before class run? But as I dragged myself into my runners and into the car to make the 12km journey in from Gladesville, found a park on Carillion Avenue and jogged up Little Queen St at 6.14am I was beginning to think it was maybe not such a crazy idea. And when the others agreed that we could do a long, slow run down the back of Pyrmont, through Darling Harbour, into the city a bit then back up to Newtown via Chippendale, I knew it was going to be a good day. I think I am definitely a little faster than when I left and being able to run away from the cars with a view of Sydney Harbour is fantastic.

Listening to 4 of my year present their Issues Papers was also a real treat. Great to see the hard work they had put in and their clarity of thought - lots of encouraging 'this paper is moving in the right direction' from our lecturers commenting on them. I'm so excited to see where God will use my classmates to grow His kingdom next year and beyond.

On the way home from college I dropped in at the video store and saw my big brother, Kevin. Lovely to be able to just pop in and see him. We never really managed the whole phone call thing while I was away, so I think I spoke to him twice in six months!

Then on Friday night I joined a group celebrating with 'Lovely Emma' at the Opera Bar. Michelle and I had to get in to the city from Gladesville, so we decided that we would drive the 10 minutes to Woolwich and catch a ferry directly to Circular Quay. Sydney Harbour really is spectacular - I'm not sure I will ever tire of seeing the Harbour Bridge or Opera House. Even Luna Park all lit up is pretty special. Great conversations and catching up with friends topped the night off really.

The only downside was that I forgot to take my camera, so I don't have any pictures of this spectacular city to share!

Created in the image of God

2006-08-03T13:34:00.000+10:00

I've been trying to write the first section of my project today, focusing on humanity as created in the image of God and looking at the way that theologians over the years have interpreted what it means to be in the image of God. Here is a summary and some of my thoughts on proposals by W. Sibley Towner in 'Clones of God: Genesis 1:26-28 and the Image of God in the Hebrew Bible' published in Interpretation, October 2005 pages 341-356.

'Can it be that all of us alike - the saints, the sinners, the able, the differently abled, Christians, jihadits, atheists - are in some limited way "clones of Go", who, to those who have eyes to see, display God's likeness? Of course, to speak of a "limited clone" is to use an oxymoron. "Clone" is incorrect. But "image" is exactly the startling theomorphic and indubitably powerful claim of the Bible. Not only angels or demi-gods, not only pharaoh and Caesar, but also every peasant, pauper and person possess the gift of God's image.' (341-2)

W. Sibley Towner identifies some 11 proposals regarding the meaning of image of God in human beings - some of which include: the image being manifested in our ability to make moral decisions, to the unique human capacity for self transcendence, to the image consisting precisely in the division of humankind into male and female.

As an OT scholar, he identifies seven exegetical issues raised by the foundational texts. Many of these I found quite helpful.

1. Location in the text: 'from its position in the overall order of creation on God's sixth and final working day, after the creation of all other land animals, it appears that for the Priestly narrators, humankind is God's crowning work.' (344)
2. Plural subject. According to WST the plural "Let us" (Gen 1:26a, see also Gen 3:22, 11:7) are not a specific reference to the triune God, nor is it a plural of majesty. Rather he argues that 'critical scholarship has settled on the notion of the Divine Council as the best explanation for this unexpected use of the plural by the Creator.'(344) He concludes that the implication of this is that 'whatever it is in human beings that mirrors God mirror the divine realm as a whole.' (344) [I am chasing up his primary sources here, but I was not completely convinced by this point]
3. Adam as a collective concept: He argues that there is a collective sense that inheres in the form of the noun (adam in hebrew rather than the more usual word for man ish). He argues that Gen 1:26-28 conveys a collective sense, particularly given the plural imperative in 1:26b 'let them have dominion' and the remark in v 27c 'male and female he created them'. (345)
4. Significance of male and female - 'The disclosure that both male and female are included in adam have implications that extend in two directions. Intrinsic to both the divine prototype and the human counterpart are fellowship and relationship, though sexuality is not intrinsic in both.
5. Semantics of image (selem) and likeness (demut) - he notes that image is most often used to refer to physical representation, although not in Ps 39:6 and 73:20 where image seems to be a mere semblance of a person. He questions whether the tendency towards physical resemblance in most uses of the term should tilt us towards viewing image as a physical resemblance or whether the two uses in the Psalter are to help us to see that' the imago dei is not a physical thing at all, but some other kind of semblance?'. He notes that likeness generally means resemble, liken, although is more abstract than selem and 'can refer to similarities other than visual ones'. He concludes here that the linkage of image and likeness seems to draw together the physical and a mirror or reflection, such that: 'For those who have eyes to see, something about us is reminiscent of God and the heavenly beings!' (347).
6. Connection with 'dominion' in Gen 1:26b - the third-person imperative 'let them have dominion' defines the role of the newly created adam. 'clearly it means that God is conferring a kingly status upon adam and invites humankind to rule over the rest of the living creatures as God's viceroy.' (347). The syntax demonstrates that the force of the sentence is that we are in God's image so that we can have dominion, not that the image of God consists in having dominion.
7. Sexuality - the text raises the question of the relationship of human sexuality to the divine image - God created adam in the binary form of male and female. WST argues that the text 'strongly implies that sexuality is conferred n humankind as a separate blessing (1:28 and 9:7), as a kind of seperate implementing action.'(348) He goes on 'if we see the image of the divine in the maleness and femaleness of humankind, it is not in their sexual conjunction per se ... "image" is manifested in their very plurality and consequent fellowship.' (347-48)

In the final section, WST addresses some systematic issues, having concluded that Barth's approach, in seeing the image of God expressed precisely in the division of humanity into male and female and its relational emphasis as being the 'best track of any toward understanding and making good contemporary theological use of imago dei.' (349). He argues that Gen 1:26-27 and Gen 5:1-2 and 9:6 point human relationships in three directions:
1 Humans are related to God and the proper response is worship and obedience
2 Humans are related to each other, beginning with the fellowship of male and female, expressed in love and loyalty (possibly sexually)
3 Humans relate to animals, plants and the created world, and have dominion and stewardship over it.

Thus he concludes: 'All biblical anthropology turns out to be theological anthropology, which means that a human is defined by his or her relationship with God and God's other creatures.

The image inhering in use does not make us divine or somehow absorb us into the wholly other God. Primarily, being in the image of God refers to our status as God's friends and partners, created by him and in relationship with him, given the task of ruling over the rest of his creation (351).

The image is not smashed or defaced in the fall so as to change human nature: 'The problem with these antithetical juxtapositions of Gen 3 with Gen 1 is that nothing in either Genesis text suggests that a basic change in human nature, a new anthropology, as it were, could or did occur in the Garden.' (351). Indeed he speaks of the image of God as being an inalienable gift.

'If "image" is an innate propensity toward relationship, that capacity would, in the priestly view, presumably always be resent from childhood to maturity as a fundamental element of biblical anthropology.' (352). Thus we can speak of being conformed to the likeness of Christ and a sense of development in the life of the Christian as they more fully live out who they are made to be as humanity in relationship with God.

The concept of 'image of God' presents a high view of humanity, for they alone are the ones who are not only created by God but also invited into a personal relationship with him, a relationship that enables them to exercise rule on earth (354).

Overall I found much of what WST said helpful and insightful, particularly the recognition that the syntax of Gen 1 pushes towards an understanding of image as a relational concept and hat dominion over the earth and other creatures is an expression of that image rather than consisting of the image itself.

Particularly challenging is the role that the fall plays in our understanding of humanity. I'm still processing what the fall means. I think the implications of WST's presentation is that that the image is not defaced or destroyed because our capacity for relationship to God still exists.

Which muppet are you?

2006-08-01T11:58:00.000+10:00

For some light relief, have a look at this quick test and reveal which muppet you are. I've always loved the muppets, and Miss Piggy was my favourite.

You Are Miss Piggy

A total princess and diva, you're totally in charge - even if people don't know it.
You want to be loved, adored, and worshiped. And you won't settle for anything less.
You're going to be a total star, and you won't let any of the "little people" get in your way.
Just remember, piggy, never eat more than you can lift!

The Muppet Personality Test

One book

2006-07-31T21:24:00.000+10:00

I was hoping to avoid this for fear of being shown to be an uncultured philistine, but since Tim tagged me, here goes...

1. One book that changed your life:
The Bible.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
The Firm, John Grisham

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
Something that would teach me how to survive on a desert island .. how about The Swiss family Robinson by Johann Wyss

4. One book that made you laugh:
Eats, Shoots and Leaves, Lynne Truss

5. One book that made you cry:
Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson

6. One book that you wish had been written:
A well argued, comprehensive and sensitive account of a biblical understanding of what it means to be a woman in the image of God, celebrating our distinctiveness without accepting cultural stereotypes.

7. One book that you wish had never been written:
At the risk of being shot down in flames for suggesting it, Lord of the Rings so i don't have to keep defending myself for never having read it.

8. One book you’re currently reading:
Like Father Like Son: the trinity imaged in our humanity, Tom Smail

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
The first of the Harry Potter books - because I just never got around to any of them.

10. Now tag five or six people:
Still can't work out how to do html links, but I'll go the Oak Hill crowd who are currently on summer holidays and should be doing heaps of leisurely reading and have time to tell us about it: Ros, Dawn, Helen, Marc Lloyd, Big Pete and Andrew Towner.

theological anthropology and gender

2006-07-30T17:28:00.000+10:00

This is the current working title of my 15,000 word MTC project. While I was in London I did a fair bit of reading, but not much writing. But the rubber is about to hit the road - I must start writing soon.

I spent some time today re-reading Tom Smail's new book 'Like Father Like Son: The Trinity imaged in our humanity'. I love what he is trying to do, but mainly it just makes me mad - I thought I'd try and share some of my reflections on what he says with you all. In his intorduction he states: 'This book is an attempt to discover what it might mean for our humanity that God is Trinity.' In chater 1 he goes on: 'This book is about what it means for men and women to be made and remade in the image of god, which is, of course, one of the main ways in which Christian theology has tried to understand our humanity in its relationship to God' (pages 1-2).

Smail makes some insightful comparisons between anthropology and christology (57-62) where he distinguishes between humanity in general and Adam in particular as being made 'in' the image of God in contrast to Jesus Christ who is said to 'be' the image of God (Col 1:15). 'Adam reflects God as his creature, his imaging is coincident with his creating; Christ on the other hand, images God as being himself integral to the life and being of the God he images.'

In the next section, Smail critiquest western trinitarianism, from Augustine to Barth, arguing that the western focus on the one-ness of God has obscured the triune nature of God and has, unintentionally, collapsed the Godhead into a self-loving monad. As Mike Ovey would say, he is perpetuating the grand meta-narrative that western trinitarianism took a wrong turn at Augustine and has never really recovered until in he 20th century the west discovered and appreciated the discoveries of the east. On Barth: 'Does not that love that Barth wants to assert require the personal otherness of the lover and the beloved which the strong assertion of God as the one persoal subject in threefold repitition throws into doubt? Are we not, in the end, left wondering whether, despite all the other elements in Barth's exposition that procalim the opposite, this is a God who loves himself and who models for our imaging an ultimate self-love?' (Page 90).

In the end Smail is pushed by Moltmann and eastern thinking to conclude that it is necessary to embrace first the threefold nature of God and then move to the one (which is OK as far as it goes I think). At 93: 'If God is a community of persons, then from our knowledge of him we are able to see that those made in his image are themselves to be understod as persons in community.' Smail seeks to avoid a socail trinity based simply on a union of wills. Whilke the plurality has primacy, the unity is grounded in the sharing of the divine nature (96) and the perichoretic union of father son and spirit (97). While I appreciate these inghts I am not sure I agree with his social trinity and whether he has fairly presented Augustine, Barth and the western tradition.

More thoughts to come ...

Dublin

2006-07-21T07:42:00.000+10:00

I was actually only in Dublin from the evening of Sat 1st to Tuesday 3rd, but had lots of fun while I was there.

On Saturday night after checking ot Kiliney we went to Johnny Foxes - the highest pub in Ireland. It was fairly touristy, but lots of fun as we listened to a traditionial irish band. We met a very strange Irish lady and her stranger son who seemed to want to make friends with us in a big way. It was a good laugh, although Dorothy was a bit worried about what I must think of the Irish.

On Sunday we went along to Irish Bible Mission (IBM) (Dorothy's Church) and Grosvenor Road Presbyterian (where Daire Killian is about to start). It was great to get a taste of what church is like in Ireland. The evangelical church is small, and much prayer is needed that evangelical ministers will continue to preach the gospel, that Christians would persevere in the faith and that the millions of people in Ireland that don't know Jesus would be convicted of their sin and repent.

In the afternoon we headed up to Malahide Castle - I'm still impressed by castles and stately homes - you just don't see anything like them in Australia.

And while it was too cold to go for a proper swim, i didn't want to leave without putting my feet in the Irish Sea, so we drove down to Sandimount and took a picture to prove it!

On Monday I spent the day in Dublin city. I checked out trinity College, some of the parks and wandered around temble bar. I met Susan for lunch, then we headed off to Dublin Casle and looked at their collection of ancient biblical manuscripts. A bit dissappointing that after 3.5 years of greek I still can't read them, but I do appreciate them much more now than before I went to college.

County Wicklow

2006-07-21T06:58:00.000+10:00

I was in County Wicklow from Thursday 29 June to Saturday 1st July. I helped out for a few nights on a camp for adults with special needs with my friend Dorothy. it was lots of fun, especially seeing the special campers delight in God's love. On the Friday we went for afternoon tea at Avondale House, which is a lovely stately home.

We stayed in the village of Avoca, which is where Ballykissangel is filmed - some of you might recognise Fitzgerald's pub.

On the way home we had quite an adventure. First a bus side-swiped Dorothy's car and kept driving. Thankfully some Polish people in the car behind the bus had seen what had happened, got Dorothy to jump in the car and chased the bus driver to the next town! He claimed that he didn't realise he had hit us, but took full resonsibility and the bus company has now paid to fix the car. Check out the dent -

We had a lovely time in Castleknock and I was especially impressed to find we were in St Kevin's territory. The scenery was just amazing, especially the twin lakes.

Home sweet home

2006-07-21T06:45:00.000+10:00

It's been a while since I have sat down at the computer properly. Over the next few weeks I will try and up-load some more photos of the last few weeks and update you all on my travels - Dublin was great fun and Italy with Zoe, Rod, Sachy and Gelato was just amazing.

I arrived back in Sydney at 5.15am on Saturday morning. While I have left London sweltering in my wake, Sydney is cold and wet. It was about 11 degrees when I arrived, and hasn't got much above 14 since. I've packed all my summer clothes away and dragged out the winter woolies for another season.

I'm settling in well to my new home - living with Michelle at Gladesville. I have far more stuff than I remember - still in the process of sorting it out and finding spaces to put it all. Should get started on that for today really ...

The Giants Causeway

2006-07-05T21:35:00.000+10:00

Last Wednesday I did a day trip to The Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, Dunluce Castle and the Old Bushmills Distillery. It was a fantastic day - the scenery was spectacular.

An Irish legend about the creation of the Giants causeway focusses on Finn MacCool. Here's a version of it I gleaned from my trip to the causeway. Finn was reputed to be the leader of the Fianna, the guardians of the King of Ireland. One day, Finn was going about his daily duties on the north coast when a Scottish giant started to shout and ridicule his fighting prowess. Finn was very angry and he lifted a lump of earth and pelted it to Scotland as a challenge to this giant. The Scottish giant retaliated, throwing a rock back to Finn shouting that if he could get his hand on him, he would make sure that Finn would never fight again but adding that unfortunately he could not swim the short distance across the Channel, so Finn would be spared that fate. Finn was so enraged by this he tore large pieces from the cliffs, pushing them into the ocean bed and making a sturdy causeway to Scotland. When he had finished he shouted 'Now you'll had no excuse'. Fearing to lose his own reputation and pride the Scottish giant had no alternative but come over the causeway. As the Scottish giant began to approach, Finn saw how big he was, and was a little afraid, for the Scottish giant was much bigger than he was. He thought quickly and came up with an ingenious plan. He made a large cot disguised himself as a baby and climbed inside...... and waited. The Scottish giant arrived at Finn's house shouting, 'Where is that coward MacCool', and noticed the crib and the baby inside it. His eyes widened with fear as he thought to himself - 'My goodness if this is the size of the baby, how big is the Father?'. The Scottish giant, terrified of meeting the father of this child turned on his heels and ran like he had never ran before, back across the causeway to Scotland destroying it as he went, leaving just the crumbled stone that remains today.

Belfast

2006-07-05T21:26:00.000+10:00

I was in Belfast from Tuesday - Thursday last week. It is an amazing city. I wasn't quite sure what to expect not really knowing very much about 'the troubles' except for what I've seen in movies like 'In the name of the Father'.

First stop was city hall - a very impressive 100 year old building. I even got to sit in the Mayor's seat and pretend to be mayor for 5 minutes, reliving all those political dreams I harboured when I was 13-14.

On Tuesday night my host Ruth (the sister of a friend ...) took me on a tour of the murals that are painted on buildings all around the city. On Tuesday morning I was reading Ephesians chapter 2 and had been reflecting on the way that Christ has brought down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, to be confronted with the immense hostility between Loyalist and Republicans. At one stage we were in a republican area trying to get across to the loyalist side, only to be confronted by a bricked in street with barbed wire, for the protection of all concerned. There were also lots of references to Catalonian freedom from Spain and the middle east conflict, with different groups aligning themselves with the stuggles of others. I've never seen anything like it before.

I was also impressed by Queens University, the C.S. Lewis statue and the botanical gardens.

Holidays

2006-06-26T20:54:00.000+10:00

Deep theological reflection is off the agenda at the moment as I enjoy being on holidays. I got my Oak Hill results yesterday and passed both my subjects, so now I can really relax and enjoy the next few weeks before I head home.

I spent last week in Oxford and Cambridge. I refuse to enter into debate about which of the university towns is better – I didn’t study at either so my care factor is zero!

In Oxford I caught up with the Jensen's and enjoyed wandering around the university parks. It was lovely and relaxing, not having to be anywhere at any particular time.

The rest of the week was in Cambridge - lots of fun but a bit less relaxing as I spent 3 days/2 nights caring for 3 children (3,6 and 8) while David and Amelia had a break in London. I have a whole new respect for parents - it is just so constant. I think I got a bit of an insight into what it means to pray continually - I so often felt a little bit out of my depth that I did a whole lot more praying than normal (perhaps something that should change). I did enjoy it - managed not to kill anyone and haven't been put off the whole idea of parenthood, but would definitely not choose to start with 3 at once! Was nice to have David and Amelia back on Friday night and relax for the rest of the weekend.

Tonight is my last night in London - off to have dinner at Parliament with Libby and if the rain clears, a trip on the London eye.

Revive '06 - the photos

2006-06-26T20:36:00.000+10:00