The Life and Times of an English Man

Jesus and the outsider

2011-10-08T04:26:00.000-07:00

Isn't it interesting that Jesus spent so much time with people who were on the absolute fringe of the religious establishment of the day. With the woman at the well (John 4), a Rabbi should of never been seen talking to a Samaritan woman, and the fact that she was there on her own taking water tells us enough about her situation. With the woman caught in adultery (John 8), the Pharisees simply used her to trick Jesus by mis-using the Deaturonic law regarding adultery, but Jesus spoke up for her. The blind man (John 9) was cast out because of his disability, and the sins of his forefathers were blamed, evidently something that Jesus didn't agree with.
It strikes me that he had no time for the rule keeping of the Pharisees and worked on the basis of inclusivity, treating those on the outside with absolute respect, having dialogue with the person. But that doesn't mean that he promoted their autonomy, far from it. With regards to the woman at the well, the conversation revolved around the number of husbands she had, and the fact that her current partner wasn't. To me this was only to highlight that her identity was found in relationships, not in God. Therefore he was offering her a better way (the living water), a chance to relocate her identity. A relationship based on grace, which involves the regeneration of the self and ultimate transformation. And I accept how imposing your own views on others is looked upon today, but if there is something that good, trans formative and positive it becomes wrong not to share it. So for those of us who are a part of a Christian community, it cannot be insular or inward looking, because it only becomes another form of tribal belonging which can be found anywhere. We have been given a wonderful and undeserved gift,and it therefore gives us no right to look down on anyone. Our community should be pointing people towards new life found in relatioship with God, nothing more or less...

The Problem of Pain...

2011-08-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

I was talking to somebody about suffering the other day, and could not help but be taken by how much they cared for the plight of human beings, particularly in terms of moral and natural evil. With regards to moral evil, we talked about how a God of love could allow murderer's to get away with so much? Why did a group of people loot shops and set cars on fire in the centre of London? Why are corrupt governments who filter aid money given by other countries for their own means allowed to prosper, amongst other things. Then we moved on to natural evil (or evil which seems to have no moral cause), which in terms of a Theodicy (a defence of the Christian faith in light of suffering) is so much harder to live with.. And we asked how do we really explain an Earthquake which has taken the lives of so many people? Can we really postulate a loving God when there are so many young children starving in Africa? And as if I wasn't already overcome by how much suffering we all observe everyday, I was hit with a rather simple, yet profound question. Why doesn't God just stop suffering? Isn't he able to do that? Well, it was hard to answer my friend then, and even with hindsight it still is. But while I write this I am reminding of a quote by CS Lewis, in his book the Problem of Pain and it goes as follows:

Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free will involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself.

So there comes a sense that this is the way it has to be, both in terms of moral and natural evil. There cannot be free will without a form of spontaneity, and you cannot have meaning to one extreme (Evil) without also having the other (Altruism). So as rational free human agents, we have the ability to bring innumerable good to the world, and as well as unspeakable evil. And in terms of some natural evil we could contend the same, there has been major destruction in the way the earth has formed (particularly in regards to the tectonic plates), but we also see great beauty in them.

But in regards to the original question, this doesn't seem enough, and I am so very aware of that. So there has to be an element of mystery, which as well as reason becomes the essence of faith. And the living hope (1 Peter 1:3) that underpins this comes from what I am now calling the Jesus movement, where God became flesh and came into time and space to reconcile and repair our world. Consequently Jesus' death on the cross began the dynamic process of what we call Redemption. Nonetheless, this doesn't mean that we don't live in a tension of anguish and hope, which seems to be accentuated every time we hear of a another disaster on the television.

Consequently doing this is hard, and it always reminds of Samwise the Brave's speech to Frodo at the end of the Twin Towers, when everything was falling down and there was no hope.

Please allow to repeat the lines again:

Samwise to Frodo:

It's like in the great story's Mr Frodo, the ones that really matter. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much has happened? But in the end it is only a passing thing, a shadow, even darkness must pass and the day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine the clearer, those are the story's that stay with you, that meant something even if your too small to understand why.

Scripture talks about that brighter day in Revelation 21, with heaven becoming earth..

Super 8..

2011-08-06T11:32:00.001-07:00

I don't post about films very often, but I had to say a little about the latest offering from JJ Abrams and Steven Spielberg. I have now found myself knowing what to expect from JJ Abrams, which seems to be a mixture of deep human interest regarding the existential issues of life, and great science fiction. And Super 8 didn't disappoint in either department...

The film begins with the two main characters (Joel and Jackson Lamb) in the midst of what could only be described as extreme loss. Where the mother/wife was killed in an industrial accident, however, life had to go on for the father and son. Both had their own particular way of doing this, with the father burying himself in his work and the son (Joel) finding some form of escapism making Super 8 movies with his friends. It was then that they witnesed a catastrophic train crash, which was the beginning of some very strange disappearances in their small little town. However, I won't say anymore, and let you enjoy the film for yourselves.

All I would say is that in Super 8 we have something which is almost as good as ET, but not quite....

Fundamentalism

2011-07-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

So it turns out that the man who bombed the embassy in Oslo and gunned down 68 teenagers was a Christian fundamentalist with the far right extremist views which accompany it..But it's the extreme nature of the man's actions which first and for most makes one mourn the senseless loss of life, but secondarily reflect on how much the notion of fundamentalism has departed from its original purpose..

Fundamentalism itself came from the Southern Baptists in the early 20th century, with the sole purpose of defending conservative Christianity from its more liberal and modernistic counterparts. As the name suggests, the movement sought to re-introduce the fundamentals of scripture into common parlance, with the aim of bringing Christianity back to its truest form.
However, fundamentalism now seems to revolve around a state of mind rather than correct doctrine, a sense of superiority as opposed to humility. And this sense of elitism is only really based on a form of absolutism, with the under current pride. But the more I think about fundamentalism, the more it occurs to me that it is yet another humanistic way of coping with the complexities of life. And as a Christian and a counsellor, it is my opinion that fundamentalism is both a spiritual and pastoral issue. To me, faith is the belief in something you cannot fully understand or see, and it remains dynamic, not static or absolute. And in terms of therapy, absolutism is typical coping behaviour for those who could be described as having a insecure attachment.

A life lived two thousand years ago that changes everything..

2011-06-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

I've been reading the Gospels lately, and find myself marvelling at the revolutionary nature of Jesus' time on earth. He showed us how to be fully human in the way we are, particularly when he spoke of the upside down kingdom in the Sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7; Luke 6). In this he tells us that when we truly have nothing in the world's eyes, is the time when we really meet God.

In regards to suffering, when faced with the anticipation of the worst kind of punishment possible (The Garden of Gethsemane) he completely surrendered his will to God, and the result was true Redemption. Something amazing came out of the worst possible suffering Imaginable. To me that becomes formative for our personal suffering, because God works the best out of what seems like the worst (Romans 8:28).

But I wonder how much we take this on board? Or more specifically live in the light of...I know for myself that I don't, and deep down think I know better than God by getting despondent about my future. Losing sight of the fact that the God who brought about his redemptive purpose in Jesus can work my life for its best ends. Instead I can only look at what is front of me, which is the direct antithesis of faith.

But what is truly transformational is that God doesn't get impatient with me, or drop me because I continually get things wrong, or misunderstand the Gospel message...He will be with me until the end of the age...

Panorama

2011-06-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

What an awful program to sit through yesterday evening, seeing such vulnerable people beeing bullied.And in this we got to see some rather brainless people strutt around the home like they were king of castle, and when it comes to vulnerable people who need support in almost every aspect of their lives. they probably were. But it goes without saying that if they were to come up against people who could handle themsleves, they would come up short and shrink back into their.

However what interested me as well, were the dynamics in which the extreme dysfunction sprilled and increased. And like with most group dysfunction, there is always the strong and in someway charismatic leader (pictured above), where by the very force of their personality impose their own deviant way of doing things. Also there becomes a form of heirachy in the overall dysfunction, with people who become like a second in command to the main leader (like the woman who planned to throw the client to the floor). And it's through this form of structure, maybe not named, where the dysfunction descends throughout the whole staff team. Subsequently those who are not confluent with the overarching approach become victims themselves.

So we are only left with what could be called a toxic organisation...

Human Relationships

2011-05-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that we could all agree that when relationships are at their best, they become the most nourishing and for filling things we have. The great existential philosopher, Martin Buber, once said that 'all real living is meeting'. This is to say that being in contact with another, whether it be the transcendent, a fellow human being or even nature can bring meaning and purpose to our lives. And subsequently stops the trend towards harmful introspection, which makes us miss all sorts of possibilities in the 'here and now'.

However , with every good thing, there has to be an opposite, or in short, a bad thing. So when one is talking of bad relationships, the only real motif one could use is the word toxic. And in any context, toxic means harmful and injurious to other people. Therefore, not only do toxic relationships drain one of energy,and make them constantly defensive and hyper vigilant, they become hurtful and damaging in the long term. To the point where the only lens a person can look at the world through is one of their own pain.

And for myself, as a Christian, one of the biggest underlying causes of toxic relationships can be found in the most insightful polemics about human nature (Genesis 3:16), or better known as the fall. Which for me highlights all our tendency's to think that we know best, and that our own rights need to be respected whatever the wider consequences. Now there are many forms of this behaviour, and it could be put on a continuum, which is to say that there are some extreme forms of selfishness that have greater consequences (the distribution of wealth). And then we could think of our daily lives, with even our best efforts to portray a positive projected image of ourselves are always underscored with issues of self interest. But even though the consequences of our self interest can be vastly different, it all comes from the same place, or our own falleness.

Now I'm sure this will be offensive to some people, particularly those from a humanistic standpoint, who would go as far to say that man is inherently good and we must learn to evolve as a human race. Or the wave of Postmodern pluralism which permeates more of our culture then we would like to admit, who claim that everything is a relativistic social construct, highlighting the need to rid ourselves of all 'oughts' and 'shoulds' ... With the result being a new and spacious place for human kind to live in without the constraints of overarching world views, rather aptly sang about in the John Lennon song 'imagine'. But as much as I like John Lennon, and alot of what our culture brings us today, denying the root of the problem achieves nothing. And points to the fact that our humanness needs to be redeemed by something beyond ourselves and all our ideologies, something which has been made possible by our Lord and Saviour (John 14:6), Jesus Christ.

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-30T01:51:00.000-07:00

I think we all new that the Royal Wedding was going to be a rather regal affair, with all the pomp and ceremony that goes with it. And there is no doubting that we all brought into that, with some of us arranging community street events (which in itself is good), while others like me were looking out for points of interest, such as what was in the service and which sports stars turned up...

But as much as the service was unapologetically Christian, the undertones to this event were purely nationalistic....Yesterday I read many posts about being 'proud to be British', and to some degree I'm with them (I'm proud to be British as well).... However, for me, the wedding amplified a rather large cultural shift in our country, where our almighty God, the creator of all the good things we enjoy is somehow sidelined...And the notion of faith has become a rather abstract concept that can only be attained by a few special people. So to counteract the deep void which is left by faith, we attach ourselves (and I include myself in that) to something more tangible like Royalty (Prince and Princesses) or following our national sports team..Our own deepest needs for importance and meaning are projected onto to people and events like this, and as a result we make them pseudo saviours.... In short, we are looking for a form of Redemption from something other than God ( which was brought to my attention in a sermon by Timothy Keller)....

Now don't get me wrong, Royal weddings and street parties are not a bad thing in themselves, I'm all for community. But when they become the be all and end all, it would be fair to say that we've missed the point.

Rob Bell- Love wins

2011-04-21T01:41:00.000-07:00

I went to listen to Rob Bell at the Methodist hall on Monday evening, and have to say first off that I've never heard such an effective communicator... One couldn't help but be drawn in by his rather adept way of communicating the truths we cling so tightly to, and done in a way which draws on an array of stories and theological insight, which subsequently refuses to let one box the Christian message into the confines of their own understanding...
And in light of this, one could ask whether this was a good thing? Or was I merely being led astray by a gifted communicator? Well, it's difficult to answer straight of the bat, and as a theologian I feel that it should be an ongoing dynamic process. However, this is not to say that there isn't any credence to what he's saying.. I jotted down a few points which really hold true for me:

The good news of God is unapologetically great, based on a love we will never know anywhere else... (Something which should be at the for front of our minds this Easter)..

The story of God's redemptive purpose is better than we first thought...

The singular uniqueness of Christ goes hand in hand with the vast, wide love and grace of God.... (which goes with my own inclusivist views on God's redemptive activity).

The last point is particularly pertinent, because I've had all sorts of strange tests of orthodoxy from other Christians, based on a wild variety of hang ups. But Bell's reminder that God's choices/judgement are his own, not ours, is a timely reminder that the subject of salvation must be approached with humility. I really do think that there has been too much second guessing of God, and any preacher who condemns people who think differently to them to eternal punishment, is only speaking from their own insecure need for certainty.

However, as much as I wanted to be totally convinced by everything, there were some times where I felt rather short changed, particularly with the lack of robustness of some of his points. And one particular example is the way he started both his book, and the talk he gave before the question and answer session. It revolved around a woman at his church who was abused, and therefore self abused. And as a counsellor, I'm aware of this cycle and have tried to work with it. But what was particularly emotive about this story was how she handed him a note with a number on it, which turned out to be the number of days she had gone without cutting herself. Sometimes it could be up to a year, another a few days, but as touching as it was, I struggled to see the link in terms of Salvation... Was he saying that because there is so much pain in the world, everybody deserves to be redeemed? Or merely that God loves you, whoever you are, or what you struggle with, and there is also hope. Judging by the placement of story, I would guess it was the latter, but I don't remember the doctrine of salvation being about how much we suffer, as sad as it must be. Neither did I hear too much about God's refining work in our lives, although it has to be said that he did a wonderful job of that in 'Drops like Stars'..

Also, in the question and answer session, he payed a lot of attention to the proof texts of universal salvation (1 Tim 4; Colossians 1:20) ..But I would have to say that I don't know enough about the context of these verses to comment. However, what I could say is that there are a number of texts which indicate both an exclusive and inclusive view of salvation, which one needs to hold in tension.

But with all this being said, I still have a great deal of time for Rob Bell, both as a thinker and a communicator... And look forward to hearing him again at Greenbelt.

The spacious way (Part 1)

2011-04-08T02:28:00.000-07:00

What a paradox it is that true living is found in what Jesus called the narrow gate (Matthew 7).....Which leads to the gift of Grace, from an all loving God who chooses to bless those who turn their back on him and choose to live the so called automous lifestyle (which in my opinion is a myth). As I've always said, Grace is something which is beyound ourselves and challenges the part of our ego which works to get recognition or reward. It turns upside down our own convention so much, that we choose to avoid it and rely on our own efforts, subsequently making it the narrow gate. But the more I come into contact with secular paradigms, the more I become convinced that the narrow way, is the only true way. Now one could say that as a Christian, of course I should be thinking that way. But there is much credence to the fact that modernistic enligtenment thinking and postmoden pluralism, if fully embraced, is the wide road leading to destruction (or the opposite to the narrow gate). And this will be dicuseed in part 2...

How Stupid!

2011-04-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

Of all the myopic things one could do, burning a copy of the Koran has to be at the top of the list..But this is what former hotel owner turned so-called pastor Terry Jones has done to further the Kingdom of God. And his reason? That the Koran incites violence! As a result, one cannot help but react against the shear hypocrisy of both his statement and actions, and as a counsellor can only conclude that he is stuck in ever increasing circles of denial, which are evidently needed to keep such a toxic approach to relations going.

But In my opinion, there is something more going on here, because what we are seeing is the extremes of religion. Which in short is to take away the notion of transforming grace, which I believe should be at the centre of any Christian message.. To a message which is based around Mr Jones' ego, and a rather damaged one at that! And for those who have paid only a little attention to the ministry of Jesus in the Gospels, they would see that the people he got angry with the most, where those who thought they were set apart by their own actions. With a rather misguided notion that keeping their own rituals gave them the right to look down on, and judge others who were different to them.

And with all this said, one would have to say that the real issues here is the need for people to pay attention. And I'm a little reticent to do that, even on a blog whom hardly anyone reads, lol..But I write this in order to say that his actions have nothing to do with the Christianity which has, and still is, transforming my life.

Living with the tension

2011-03-19T02:25:00.000-07:00

This year has already brought us all a great deal of suffering, with all the uprising in the middle east and the catoshrophic events in New Zealand and Japan. With the former, we are left with the more understandable notion of human nature, and how it can only look to its own interests. But the problem of natural disasters causes a great deal more discomfort, and forces one to live with the tension of an all loving God and all the human suffering which just seems to be so unfair.

But one has to live with the tension, or risk going to the extremes to find some form of certainty, where we find both militant atheism and I'm sad to say, theism. And one could say that there is a cost to this so-called certainty (which isn't actually certainty at all) , because in my opinion, fundamentalism is only really based around egotism, or the need to have everything in order so you don't need to live with the tension.

So I will carry on in my uncomfortable place, with the following perspectives:

My college lecturer wrote a wonderful article about suffering, with the premise being that God created us with a sense of spontaneity, with ability to be a free agent in terms of their decisions. The same principle could be applied to that of creation, where all the natural beauty is a result of spontaneity. But with that beauty, there will always be the opposite, which is the ugly truth of natural disasters.
Suffering is one of life's given, and there is always a choice about what we do about it.
The promise of God's redemption plan gives hope beyond reason.

Life is hard...

2010-12-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

Having been in the Social Care field for around 10 years now, there have many service users which I've grown close too. In my opinion working with vulnerable people in a detached way is a myth. There really is no way of not liking them and staying emotionally healthy..... Moreover, one could say that it's the human condition to connect, but to most of us, doing so with someone more needy than us comes all the more easily.

So why do I write this? Simply because I've lost two people who where very close to me . And in essence I feel grief and loss, whatever that means exactly. But while I write this, one is reminded that, to grieve, means the lose of something which meant alot, something one delighted in and made life just that little bit better. I feel sad because I enjoyed their simplistic approach to life, things were what they were, no complications and no pretense. And their funny little habits could only make me laugh.

But the reality is, they are gone, and life must go on....

2010-11-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

With only a 50 % win record one could be forgiven for wanting a little more from their team... However,I find myself more optimistic than normal about the state of English Rugby. And if one were to ask why, it's because this series has marked the move away from the conservative forward driven game we've become so entrenched in since the 2003 World Cup. Even with the sparse amount possession we had today, there was a real desire to run and find spaces as opposed to just safety first. And as a long suffering England supporter it brought me great joy, even if against South Africa they were few and far between. But who can forget the sheer poetry of the running rugby we played against Australia, which was the most enjoyable England game I've seen for 7 years.

But with the above in mind, I think I would much rather see us lose a few six nations games in the name of endeavour instead of us relying on one dimensional forward power. Because the essence of growth is when one falls down in pursuit of the new,exciting and more effective, because it's the only arena where we really learn.

Shawshank Redemption!

2010-10-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's been a little over 14 years since I went to the Cinema to see a little known film called the Shawshank Redemption, and in a relatively empty theatre I was captivated like never before. And as an avid film watcher, I yearn for that experience again to no avail, even though some have come close...

But last night I decided to sit and watch it again (which is now well into double figures), and the film still doesn't fail to make an impression on me. Partly because of the theme of Redemption, something we all look for in its different forms.

But what I find from the film is the notion of Redemption from the darkest of times, with the metaphor of prison symbolising that the circumstances of life can seem to trap us, if we let ourselves think that way. But just like Andy Dufrane who never lost what was within, even faced with a corrupt warden, brutal guards, sexually deviant prisoners and a false conviction in his life space. We as Christians can hold onto an eschatological hope in light of an unjust world, where we are just as prone to hardship as anyone else.

Now I don't think that Frank Darabount had the above in mind (he might even be an Atheist),,, But the film still resonates with the Christian paradigm of Redemption, whether this was intentional or not.

Thinking Christianity...

2010-10-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

There is nothing which saddens me more than those who refuse to engage cognitively with their Christian faith... And as much as it pains me to say, the master of the overstatement, Richard Dawkins, has a point about some Christians when he states that faith means abandoning any form of reason.

Of course this isn't true of all Christians, but it has been my experience over the last couple months. Having suggested that we change our approach to study, I have been met with what can only be called narrow responses, ranging from that's how people in the group need it, and also how I need to behave.. As a result, what I'm faced with is an autocratic approach with no room for maneuver, and subsequently has an infantilizing effect on those who attend, judging by the latter response.

Going back to the former, the question is does it have to be that way?

I would suggest that it's only if one is out to eliminate all uncertainty from their Christian walk.....Which in turn means adopting a rather distorted view of what faith is..
In short, faith by its very nature is not to be spoon fed answers to the great metaphysical questions, neither is it living with complete certainty. Instead, authentic faith has doubt and uncertainty as companions, and evidently evolves through that process...

However, I really don't claim to be above anyone or approach, and I hope it doesn't seem that way... Instead I'm looking for a faith which interacts with the environment I live in...and engages with the challenges a secular world brings us.

2010-06-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

As much as I like big sporting occasions like the World Cup, and all the countries it brings together.... I couldn't help noticing the profit FIFA will be making from the tournament, which is in the region of 2.2 Billion pounds. And soon after we were given the qualifying statement that this vast amount will be invested into grass roots football.

At first glance, this seems like a reasonable statement... but with any knowledge of the sheer poverty in South Africa, one must feel that there is something inherently wrong. A clear case of ignoring the obvious, which reminds me of the indignant feeling I get when I hear the charge of poverty being levelled at God. It goes without saying that poverty always has, and always will be mainly down to human greed, an inward focus that completely ignores its immediate surroundings

What would Jesus do?

2010-06-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

This statement has been the subject of some rather corny Christian merchandise over the years, but the concept itself gives one scope for theological reflection in any circumstance. And because I'm writing regarding myself, It's my work situation which immediately springs to mind.

In short, I find myself bearing the brunt for things which initially had nothing to do with me, and as a result there seems to be a complete abdication of responsibly of those around me. I have a stream of complaints about me, which, if they had come directly, could of been rectified rather quickly. But the reality of the situation is that I had to learn the job myself, and guess what the right thing was to do. One could only feel a sense of bemusement and more importantly feel extremely let down when one was only told every six weeks the shortcomings of one's work. And because of the anonymous nature of most of the complaints, the only channels of enquiry open to me in terms of the specifics of them (what session?, in what way?, how could can I improve?) was supervision. Unfortunately the response of I got ranged from complete silence to what seemed like a rather aside comment about how 'some people cannot put their names to complaints'. And while this maybe true, it puts the complainer in a rather unequal position of power, also, great assumptions have to be made about their intentions.

There are many terms I could use to describe the above, such as toxic, dysfunctional and backwards, but the most figural emotion is that of injustice.And this is where one needs to apply their original question, what would Jesus do in the face of injustice? Perhaps the question can be more adequetly phrased like: 'what has Jesus done about injustice'. We lose sight of the fact that the atonement is the most unjust action we have ever seen, with Jesus taking the punishment which he didn't deserve and people like us gaining something we could never earn (unmerited favour)..... And as much as I find my situation hard, I must keep perspective about this situation in terms of the grand scheme of things..and know that injustice has gone before me, and given me life.

Lost! (Indeed)

2010-05-26T16:20:00.001-07:00

After six years and many twist and turns, we have now come to the end of Lost. And I have to say that it took some 'staying with', but it was all worth it!I remember watching the pilot episode and thinking that it would just be a run of the mill 'stuck on a desert Island' program, and that was still OK with me. However, we where soon to see that the Island had so much more, ranging from Smoke Monsters, Polar Bears, a Dangerous Tribe and Magnetic Fields. Also, and even more interestingly for me there was a number of people from diverse backgrounds, who all had their own history which had moulded and shaped them into the people they were (soon to be followed by flash forwards and sideways).

Of course there are a number of themes which one can glean from the series, particularly the notion of fate. But what I liked most was the dynamic of community, and how their external environment (the need to survive, dangers etc) influenced the collective. And this subsequently highlighted the inwards focus of human nature when everything is taken away..... and it's only when we have a community which is based on something beyond ourselves can there be true altruism, or a higher ethic which can only come from something way beyond our own human moral standards. A community marked by a higher ethic is one which approaches conflict still looking for what is good in the person they maybe battling with , or the ability to lose out on what they may of wanted in the 'here the now'. In short, it becomes a community which in its centre becomes counter cultural, and in some ways attractive.

And in true Lost fashion, we can flash sideways and wonder what this new community could be and the effect it could have on our relationships on a micro and macro scale.But perhaps this side of heaven this notion is a little too Utopian. But for me, the hope still remains, that someday a community along these lines would come about..

The work place

2010-04-15T14:49:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like trying to navigate work place relationships, they seem to be the most complex of all, and everything you do and say seems to have far reaching consequences. And what adds to this is that:

People's self esteem (including mine) is closely attached to what they do at work, so if you even begin to disagree with what they are doing, you are personally attacking them.
At times, it seems integral to fight for the smallest of advantages, to gain that rather meaningless (in the grander scale of things) feeling of importance....Which incidentally is so transient that new and improved power games have to be played, just to keep any semblance of worth.

However, I write this knowing for well that my own work place limitations play a part in causing conflicts, particularly because all relationships are co-created. But isn't the essence of any sort of relationship communication? Particularly having those difficult discussions which bring a sense of newness...... And it's this fundamental thing which is missing in my work situation at the moment.....

The Ressurection

2010-03-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

Lately I've become an avid reader of NT Wright, and have found his Theology very lively and stimulating. But what I've really learned to appreciate as a result his writings is the importance of the resurrection. And rightly so,the apostle Paul told the Corinthian church that: 'if Christ has not be raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith' (1 Corinthians 15:14). Peter abhors his readers to: 'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead'. (1 Peter 1:3). Just two verses which emphasise the history changing moment of the Resurrection.

So, in this time of lent, how does the Resurrection effect my life?

For me, the Resurrection is when God made the ultimate intervention in time and space, where we are left in a state of eschatology of the beginning of a new creation, but not quite fulfilled (almost, but not yet). And Wright points out that the culmination of this new creation is not just the 'going to heaven when we die', but the promise of 'heaven on earth' (Revelation 21). And it's
this assurance which shines like a bright beacon on a hill, and its radiance effects our 'here and now', particularly in terms of virtue and hope. Because virtue comes as a result of a life lived in relationship, which in turn brings about a transformation of character, and the hope of a heaven on earth where all tears will be wiped away......

Grace and Law

2010-01-30T16:24:00.000-08:00

The story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) never ceases to grab my attention. And even though we cannot be sure it was in the original manuscript, it most definitely gives us an indication of the character of Jesus.

And taking a closer look can uncover some interesting insights:

The scribes brought only the woman to see Jesus, when the Mosiac law they are referring too ( Deuteronomy 22.22) applies to both the perpetrators. So with the absence of the man, there are two things one could say about their intentions. Firstly, they had little to no regard for the humanity of the woman, and they were simply using her to set a trap for Jesus. He stood on the precipise of either negating the Law of Moses, or the Roman Law, in the mind of the scribes.

As with the story, faced with such an explosive situation, Jesus bent down to write in the sand, which incidentally was very common for teachers of that time. And while there is much conjecture about what he wrote, I would like to think that Jesus was also indignant towards the treatment of the woman, and the lack value for her very existence and being. And when he arose, he was to say the most levelling statement one could ever think of; 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'.

Gradually, those who had stood in Judgement of the woman, and sought to trap Jesus began to disperse, with their own sense of righteousness in tatters. And it's then that Jesus addresses the woman, and sends her away to 'leave her life of sin'.

Firstly, let me say what this story is not communicating, which is promoting a sense of moral autonomy. But neither is it advocating strict adherence to the law (or in the scribes case,the Torah) . Both of these extremes are missing the point. Jesus gave the woman an opportunity to 'live a different way' when he said sin no more. He offered an approach to life which was no longer inward looking (which I think is the definition of sin), but instead revolved around the kingdom, where Jesus was soon to die as an atoning death.

For me, this describes the mind blowing notion of forgiveness because of Grace, and it's what truly keeps me being a Christian.

Looking for something more

2010-01-03T02:50:00.000-08:00

There are a number of things which come to mind at the beginning of this new year, and I have discussed them in other parts of this blog. However, if I'm honest I hope that this year is better than the last, and things won't be so hard. But perhaps to think like this is to miss the point, and to forget that there is something more to the Christian life, apart from our own circumstances.
Maybe this year is an opportunity to find faith, hope and love which transcends my own situation. And this may not change how difficult life is, but can give me a new perspective on it.
Faith gives me the opportunity navigate my way through the most uncertain of circumstances , with a confidence in God's purposes for me. Hope comes from the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, both in the 'here and now' and the future (See NT Wright- Surprised by Hope). And finally Love, which comes from God, and drives out all fear (1 John 4:18).

Stuff

2009-10-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

What do hardships tell us about life and our ourselves? One simple response to the first question is that 'life is hard'; Scott Peck began his book with this very line. In short, life is a series of beginnings and endings, and the jubilation of the mountain top experiences and the despair of walking in the valley. And no matter how hard we try, none of us are perfect, so this infallibility is always the cause hurt and pain.Moving onto to the second question, what do hardships
tell us about ourselves? To me, it highlights the desire we all have. That is to feel good all the time, and for all our relationships to be healthy.
But in light in what I've previously said about life, one would have to ask how realistic this is? Would it be more practical to think that trials and tribulations, and the mountain top moments are the essence of existing. And when one feels depressed, like I have at times this year, we are just merely existing.
However, as a Christian I feel I need to take this sentiment a little further. Perhaps to exist is to be more in the image of God (Gen 1:27) as time goes by. Perhaps there is an art to suffering like Rob Bell tells us, and it involves us changing.

An understanding.

2009-02-23T12:03:00.000-08:00

It is only when we experience the extremes of something that we really understand what it is. Take the way we feel as an example, one can only really know what it is to be happy and content when they have been in the depths of sadness and loss. The truth is, times of deep sadness ultimately brings meaning to periods of happiness and contentment for the simple reason that they are such opposite states. And it's for this reason why there is more to these times that meets the eye, seasons of sadness are not only a periods of time to be endured, but they are just as formative as the happy times.

I find myself in one these unhappy seasons at the moment, and it's been a while. There are moments when what I have written doesn't seem all that tangible at all, but I hope it's becoming more of a reality in my life.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-14T11:30:00.001-08:00

I always find that at the beginning of a New Year all my long term hopes are so very apparent, I realise all the more that I still haven't found that special person. However, that's Ok, I really don't want that to define me, or my own existence. But there is always that temptation to minimise hope, maybe telling yourself that your better of on your own, or that your time will come. While there may be an element of truth in these, they are not a part of hope, they are just diversions. The thing is, hope is there to be embraced in all its fullness despite all the uncertainties of life. So I hope, this year, that I meet the woman that fits me. Who will stand and work through all the difficulties relationships inevitably bring, and will be honoured by me.
That is my hope for this year, come what may.

Walking in the valley.

2008-12-08T02:11:00.000-08:00

There are only a few situations in life where one has an experience that is truly transformative, the circumstances of these experiences vary from person to person but the results stay the same, which are profound. In the last 3-4 years I’ve had what one would call a trans formative experience. It has come through two rather distinct ways, the first being that I have immersed myself in communal living despite great reservations (I’m probably the most introverted person you will ever meet). The second is that I have committed myself to an academic process that has taken all I can give in terms of effort and knowledge, but has totally expanded the way I think about things. Also, it has given me a hunger to learn more and work towards some kind of response to life’s bigger questions. However, as well as these, there were also times of great sorrow, mainly because of the decisions I made, but they were still hard times all the same. But still, these tough times are still as transformative and the good one's because it is in the places that we don't want to go where the meaningful long term changes are made. However, transformative seasons in our lives are only ever temporary, and when I re-visit the place of my most recent one I know that this particular chapter in my life is over, and I’m only left with an abundance of memories which are triggered by the most innocuous of things. But they are all such meaningful memories, that tend to grab me straight away. I can only put this down to the process of coming down from the mountain top experience.

So what happens now it is all over? Well, to avoid living in the past one has to get used to walking in the valley again. For most people the valley consists of daily routine, and issues that come up time and time again. But the valley cannot be a negative thing, it's where all of us spend the majority of our lives, and it still provides opportunities, namely to put what we have learned from the mountain top experiences into action. The valley will also provide suprises along the way, as long as one is open to the work of God in their lives.

2008-11-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

It becomes so easy to get involved with what the world has to offer, the latest sports story grabs our attention, the current financial crisis brings concern for the future and strained relationships with people we thought we knew drain us of energy. Then, all of a sudden, something happens that rocks our world. Maybe it's the death of somebody we new, or the onset of serious illness. All of a sudden the pack of cards that was your life comes tumbling down, your perspective changes, and you come to realise that life is 'fragile'. The realisation of this becomes unsettling because we all want security, and without really knowing we have thought that nasty things happen to other people, not us. But now it's unavoidable, tragedy has visited our doorstep and there is no getting away from it. Therefore,it becomes time to live differently, to think about and understand what is really important and focus on these things. Something we should be doing all the time if we were not so complacent, and we didn't take the gift of life so likely. However, if we are fortunate to come out from the other side of this there are things we need to learn, and some home truths that we need to hold onto. This doesn't mean becoming fatalistic, but to live life in a grateful way, knowing that we may not have everything we want (wife, family, own place etc) but we still have something that others do not (health and well being). Moreover, as a Christian I can write this with a hope of things to come, a belief that this fallen world is not the end but the beginning of something new, something so amazing it becomes impossible to imagine. The fact is that I believe in a loving God that can redeem even the most tragic of circumstances, and because of this I can walk in light of the fact that life is fragile (that will never change) but have hope that isn't just wishful thinking.

2008-09-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

When there is much uncertainty life can feel like your in the middle of a stormy sea not really knowing which way to go. There can be so many options in terms of what to do next, but they only make your situation seem even more precarious because you have no idea of which one to take. As well as this, what you thought you knew about making good decisions seems to of fallen by the wayside, no longer seeming relevent in your current situation. Therefore, day by day the storm only seems to get worse, and the way to travel seems to become more unclear. But as I write this I realise that the only way through this storm is to focus on the "hear and now", and look for God in the uncertain times. Also, I have to remember that visions for ministry do not form overnight, they take time to develop, even years.

When I read this I realise that this would be my answer to anyone who came to me with the same problem, but this is so much easier to advise than to live out. I guess seasons like this come to us all, where we are not ourselves and cannot apply the promises we proclaim to others to ourselves. But I would add that they are probably the most formative, because perhaps it's only in these times that we become open to the changes that God needs to make in us.

The End.

2008-09-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

Lately there has been some endings in my life, only a few months ago i left Bible College and a great multi cultural community which gave me a sense of belonging. Community like this can challenge, but it also can enrich to the point of broadening ones horizons and false one to deal with prejudice you were never aware you had. And only recently, the possibility of a relationship has gone, even though it was the right thing to happen (we were never really going the same way in life) there is a loss of hope to deal with.
Both of these situations highlight the need for transition, from 'what was' to 'what is'. But i ask myself: What is the best way to do that? To cope with the loss of college I've been working 50-55 hour weeks, telling myself that it's good to keep busy, but in reality it was only to avoid facing the loss of community. Also, there were other things i was able to avoid by hiding behind being busy, in particular the fact that the potential relationship with a very special lady was never going to work. So, because of this act of avoidance I'm now facing disappointment that i should of been dealing with months ago. But hindsight is a wonderful thing, because this was not easy to see only a few months ago, so i cannot be to hard on myself about this. But the question remains: what is the best way to approach transition? Well, i would say that there is not an optimum way of doing this because change by its very nature is difficult, when something important in life in finishes it takes time to find ones feet, and find that stability. Maybe to make a transition in a healthy way is to gradually accept your 'new reality' when one feels they have dealt with 'what was'.This, in my opinion would avoid going from the other extreme of avoidance which is to deal with everything head on and straightaway.

From a distance

2008-08-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be good if we could just stand back from all the uncertainties of life and see our way through them, surely that would make it alot more comfortable. But there are some situations in life which we cannot discern from a distance. What i mean by that is we cannot just stand back from a possibility and try and work out whether it will succeed or not, because to do that only leaves us open to regret. The hard facts of life are that the only real way we can find out if something is going to work is to give it a try, and letting the outcome be what it will. Of course there are no guarantee's that it will work the way you want, and if it doesn't, at least the disappointment is tempered with the knowledge that you gave it a try.

2008-06-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Being a rather reflective person i occasionally find myself going over the reasons why I'm a Christian.However, this is not to say I've lost my faith, it is more along the lines of giving reasons for the hope we have in Christ. But before i give those reasons it is important to highlight what has prompted this line of questioning, and it is not all that hard to find. Postmodernism has long since provided a challenge to the exclusivity claims of Christianity, but what seems to be more prominent is a form of Modernism (a reaction to Postmodernism) which comes from the naturalistic scientific community. Their basic tenant seems to be that all things have a perfectly rational explanation, and those who don't, or in other words need an element of faith can only be looked upon as wish fulfillment or a refusal to face reality.So this raises the question why I have a Christian faith instead taking a reductionalistic worldview based on the data that seems to be so apparent? Well, it is hard to explain the basis for one's worldview in just one short blog entry. However, there is one particular slant i would like to take on this, and it's something that I've been thinking about alot lately, that is what makes us human. In my opinion, the one thing that makes us truly human is relationship, particularly our ability to love and relate to friends and family. As a result of this ability to love others we sometimes sacrifice our own happiness or comfort for the benefit of those we love. But there is no rational explanation for this, we do loving acts because we want to and because we are in touch with a greater good. Therefore, one of the most important parts of being human cannot be explained rationally, and surely cannot be dismissed because it is a prominent part of all of our lives whether we believe in God or not. The Metaphysical (what cannot be explained) is one of the greatest challenges to the reductionalist worldview.

Change

2008-06-14T04:41:00.000-07:00

To say that change is a part of life is stating the obvious, life is dyanmic and all things are temporal, experience teaches us that. But i wonder if there is a healthy way to approach change, beyond just embracing and accepting it. If there is one thing i've learnt is that change can bring about better things, but it can also highlight loss, particularly in terms of relationships. Change will inevitably highlight what was good about our relationships and circumsatnces,and subsequently make us miss them even more. Therefore, in the process of change, it is equally important to work through loss than it is to embrace our new circumstances. This means finding the middle ground between not hanging onto 'what was' and not letting things just move on and just focusing on the future. When working through loss in a natural way one will realise that people who have gone from our lives are going onto something good, and that is a reason to be happy.

It's Tough

2008-04-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think about the big decisions in life and wonder how much of them are down to Gods will and what our responsibility is. At this stage of my Christian journey i would have to say that my view on how God directs our lives has changed, but let me emphasise that first and foremost I still think he does. However, i would like to use the analogy of parents in the process of bringing up their child to explain what i think.
In the beginning, when the child is most vulnerable the parents will make all their decisions,which would be expected. But as the child gets older the parents gradually begin to teach the child about actions and consequences, and it is on this basis they begin making their decisions. And then we get to the teenage years followed by young adulthood where they are gradually given some Independence to make their own decisions, which usually culminates in them leaving home and facing the big wide world armed with the lessons from growing up. This means that life is now their responsibility, but the love and input from the parents still remains.
I wonder if there is an element of this in the Christian life as well, where God instills certain values and then lets us take more responsibility as we get older (spirituality). Of course there is still the scope for making bad decisions, but maybe they aern't because of lack direction from God, but down to the fact that we really should of known better. You may ask why i am saying this, and it would be a very good question. But all i can say is that God has instilled in me certain values, which include mission and working with other people ,and it is down to me to explore what that means in terms of the rest of my life. When i ask God about the big issues of life i have no specific indication either way, but from the way God has shaped and moulded me I at least know the direction I should be heading.

Ok Then

2008-03-17T23:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in life there are glimpses of things that could be good, but in that moment in time are not meant to be, maybe not at all (only time can tell). So how does one approach this situation? Well, there are only two real options, the first being avoidance and the second is to embrace it and seize the day. Surely the only viable option is the latter, particularly if you connect with that person. Because it is in that connection where you can learn from one other, and have your pre-conceptions challenged. Going back to the first option, that is avoidance, it may seem like a good way of avoiding pain but it isn't the mature option. Scott Peck once wrote that a good measure ones mental health is how one faces reality. We have to accept that life can be hard, and that the denial of that fact (by avoiding things) only delays the inevitable realisation. I understand that i may be sounding a little fatalistic, but that isn't what I'm trying to do. In my opinion, we can only really start living life properly when we step out, take the risk and live with the consequences. That is true living.

Fear

2008-03-10T09:26:00.001-07:00

The emotion of fear is a powerful one which can affect us on many different levels. For instance, it can have great bearing on how one makes their decisions, whether it be in the everyday or the life changing ones . It can also inhibit the growth of relationships, and sometimes ruin ones that initially showed great promise. However, it is suprising how much damage fear can bring when you think about it's essence. The center of fear is the unknown and a complete sense of subjectivity, this is what we find in the realm of fear. So with this in mind, is fear something we should just be living with? I know alot of people do, including me. So this begs the question is there a way out?

One does not have to look far for an answer, because I have always been told that security is in the realm of truth. And we can find promises in scripture that can give one a foundation to face this fear. But that, in my opinion is the first stage. With this secure foundation we find in God we can face these fears in a practical way, that is facing the worst thing that can happen to us and then living with them. But living with the harsh realities of life should not be done in our own strength, but in light of the hope we have in Christ. To be specific it is the hope of this life not being the end, but the beginning of something new which is beyond are comprehension.

To forgive is a revolutionary act

2008-03-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

It becomes easy to preach forgiveness when something dreadful has not come our way, because we are not the ones who need to deal with the mind numbing shock and the intense pain that inevitably comes after tragic circumstances. So why do we forgive? Is it just a moral imperative that really has no lasting consequences but only serves to make us feel better about ourselves or the person who has wronged us.

I would say that it is alot more than that, not because countless preachers have told me to do so or verses in scripture that exhort us to (good reasons that they are), but because i have seen forgiveness in it's purest form in the most tragic of circumstances.
The story I'm about to tell can only be described as an act revolutionary forgiveness, and it goes as follows:

.....On 2nd October 2006 a rather disturbed man walked into a Armish School and shot and killed 5 young girls and wounded 7 before turning the gun on himself. The gunman, Charles Roberts was a rather well respected family man who held down a steady job delivering milk and had constant contact with the Armish community. However, he had never been the same since the death of his youngest daughter 7 years earlier. The tragic sense of loss was to much to handle and all he could do was to blame God, the shootings of October 2006 where a rather sad culmination of spiraling grief and despair. In the aftermath of the shootings the Armish community was understandably in shock, and after attending the funeral of the five little girls there first actions were to acknowledge their own pain but also the need to forgive and reach out to the Roberts family. When it became time for his funeral there were a few of Roberts close family members and approximately 80 members of the Armish attending to pay their respects to Roberts and to comfort his family members..........

Our human nature will always view revenge as the way forward, but it isn't the getting even that is the revolutionary act, it is to forgive in the light of endless wrong, when there is subsequently no reason to do so, just like the Armish community did . What we saw there was a community in grief, being open and honest (authentic) about their pain but showing a forgiving attitude not just in words but actions.

Again, let me emphasise that to forgive is not to deny one's pain, that can be just as destructive as constantly holding onto anger. It is to be authentic about our hurt but having the will to be revolutionary.

What we do not have!

2008-02-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

It becomes a real problem in our lives when our focus is on what we do not have, this is something i find happening to me on occasion. What I've found is that when there is a big desire for something it's place in the grand scheme of things becomes distorted , what i mean by that is it becomes more important than it needs to be, almost everything. Why? Because i let it happen.

However, the last thing i want to do is come out with a short, cliched Christian saying to find some way through this, to be honest I've become a little tired of them and can only view them as a short term solution to a long term issue. In my opinion this whole thing is a process of working on ones perspective, which should be shaped by God and the promises we find in scripture but also by myself. I have a choice don't I? It can be either to walk the journey of life with a focus on what i don't have or to walk with a trust in God's Sovereign will that will in turn brings discouragement, but also the good things when the time is right.

Indeed!

2007-10-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

There are important situations in life that just creep up on you; they are situations that one must get right or alternatively really hurt the other person involved. Having got one of these situations wrong myself i am now facing the consequences, which incidentally, i really didn't want to happen.

But while we must all take responsibility for our actions there are still lessons to be learned if one looks hard enough. The lesson is that life has its pivotal moments, whether it be in friendships, relationships or our walk with God. And in those moments there is a great deal of thought needed before you begin to open your mouth. But there is also a need for discernment , what are the implications of what I'm going to say?

While i come to terms with the fact that there are some areas of my life that i continually get wrong, and don't seem to learn from, i can still know that God is faithful.

Moments

2007-09-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it seems like life is a series of moments that can make one feel happy and contented or even sad and disappointed. Life can seem this way in the tough times, just a random series of moments. But we mustn't forget that all of our moments have a purpose, whether it be to point towards God and his sovereign will (in the tough times) or to rejoice in him for the good things in our lives (or the mountain top moments).

We must also not forget that God said to his people:" I will never leave you nor forsake you" , so that means that God never takes his hand of our lives even though it can sometimes mean enduring alot of pain. So the hard moments do have a place in our lives just as much as the good times.

Ready for battle!

2007-08-21T11:42:00.001-07:00

This is me preparing for my first match at the Redcliffe College sumo wrestling championships. As you can see i have my mandatory eyes close pose that i have for all pictures.

Just out of interest, i won both of my matches in convincing fashion.

The Different Drum

2007-07-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

A quote from a book i'm reading on the need for community. The context is group dynamics and it goes as follows:

Begin to appreciate each others' gifts, and you begin to appreciate your own limitations . Witness their brokeness, and you will begin to accept your own inadequacy and imperfection.Be fully aware of human variety, and you will recognise the interdependance of humanity.

My Little Friend

2007-06-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

This is my little friend Lydia. She was born with only partial sight and can only really see black, white and shadows. However, she is the most beautiful and bright little girl i have ever met. Even at such a young age she has a zest for life and it's clear to see that she loves being around people.

The Road Less Travelled

2007-04-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

At the moment I'm reading "The Road Less Travelled" by M. Scott Peck.I can't recommend this book enough. The main theme is that of spiritual maturity, but Peck writes that the process of growth takes pain and suffering, something we have the innate desire to avoid.

That is all i want to write about the theme of the book, however, i would like to share some of my favourite quotes from it:

A full life will be full of pain, but the only alternative is to not live at all

Genuine love not only respects the individuality of the other but actually seeks to cultivate it

This quote was taken from the health journal:beyond the norm, the context is miracles:

Perception of the miraculous requires no faith or assumptions. It is simply a matter of paying full and close attention to the givens of life.i.e to what is so ever present that it is usually taken for granted. The true wonder of the world is available everywhere, in the minutes parts of our bodies, in the vast expanses of the cosmos, and the intimate interconnectedness of these and all things...

Be Inspired!

2007-03-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

Have just been to see the Movie "Amazing Grace". It's the story of William Wilberforce and his struggle with the Abolition of Slavery. You cannot fail to be struck by his compassion for the African slaves on the ships. Of course this compassion stemmed from a very deep Christian Faith.

These are the things that struck me while watching the film:

As Christians we have a responsibility for social reform . This means helping the poor, oppressed and down trodden.Proverbs 31:8 Says:

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves , for the rights for those who are destitute. Speak up and Judge fairly;defend the rights of the poor and needy.
As Christians we should be known for this.

When doing something right, we will meet opposition. Some of W. Wilberforce's strongest opponents were those who had a vested interest in the slave trade. But with persecution one should persevere like William did.

Go and see this film and be inspired!

A Year For Comebacks

2007-03-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

Yet another one of my favourite bands are reforming this year, Crowded house. I assume the guy on the end is the new drummer (replacing Paul Hester who committed suicide in 2005). I have to admit that some of their lyrics are pretty strange, but the tunes are just great.

As far as i know they begin touring the UK in the summer, so i'll be sure to go see them live.

A Good Time

2007-03-19T14:26:00.000-07:00

On saturday some of us from college went for a hike up the Brecon Becons. Saturday was a difficult choice for me, there were 3 Rugby matches i could of stayed at home to watch but instead i decided to make the effort and get to know people from college. I can be a little bit of a lone ranger sometimes and need to make the effort to get to know people more. It took us between 1.5 to 2 hrs to get to the peak depending how fast people walked. The hike down was a little cloudy.

Easter time

2007-03-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

Its come that time of year again, when we celebrate an important part of our Christian faith.At Christmas we celebrate the coming of our Lord and Saviour. Mary sang for joy about the coming of Christ (Luke 1:39-56) . This is something we can share in too because we all know that at that time: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15)

But at Easter we celebrate one of the greatest acts of love one could ever imagine (John 3:16). The freedom we enjoy today came at a great price, but that price has been paid on the cross. This Easter we should remember that the amazing act of love by God is some thing we didn't deserve. However, Paul's great words in the book of Romans sums the whole thing up for me when he said:"Where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound" (Rom 5:20 KJV).

How is the reality of this effecting your life today? Paul said: I have been crucified with Christ and i no longer live, but Christ lives in me. This is something we partake in too.

If i am honest I'm also writing this to myself, i really do lose focus sometimes and forget how radical and life changing the basic tenants of our Christian faith are. We live the way we do, make sacrifices and sometimes have persecution all because of this amazing act of grace and love that happened 2000 years ago.

We should never forget that or lose sight of it, no matter how hard life gets.

Some wisdom from the inside

2007-03-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

I do my weekly placement at Gloucester Prison, not far from the College. This was found scrawled on a prison wall.

I believe in the sun when i cannot see it

I believe in love when i cannot feel it

I believe in God when he's silent

To me this speaks of hope in the most difficult of circumstances , standing , by Gods strength when all around has fallen and holding onto truth when nothing else seems real.

None of us really know what the seasons of our lives will bring.Of course they will bring happy and joyful times , but in the dark and difficult times we need to be saying that: "We believe in God when he is silent". Also that he is so very faithful.

My Favourite Pictures -Part 3

2007-02-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

Camp's Bay- South Africa

On the platform are two missionary friends playing football, one is pointing to were the ball had landed.

How Exciting!

2007-02-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

One of the best bands of the early eighties are reforming this year. There starting with dates in North America in the summer, then they move onto to the Uk. I'm so looking forward to it, the concert tickets will probably cost alot, so i will have to start saving my pennies.

I think they split in quite acrimonious circumstances, lets hope they can get on in the forthcoming tour.

I think my favourite song of theirs was "every breath you take", no doubt they will be playing that on tour.

My Favourite Pictures -Part 2

2007-02-16T11:15:00.000-08:00

Snowing at Capernwray, if my memory serves me right the power was out for at least 3 days because of it.

My Favourite Pictures -Part 1

2007-02-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

The Capernwray harbour dock was one of my favourite places. I spent alot of time there thinking about my future. One Friday evening ,this was the sight that met me.

There are seasons in my life that i really thank God for, my time at Capernwray was definitely one of them.

My Only Real Treasure

2007-02-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

CS Lewis once wrote:

My own experience is something like this. I am progressing along the path of life in my ordinary contentedly fallen and godless condition, absorbed in a merry meeting with my friends for the morrow or a bit of work that tickles my vanity today, a holiday or a new book, when suddenly a stab of abdominal pain that threatens serious disease, or a headline in the newspaper that threatens us all with destruction, sends this whole pack of cards tumbling down.At first i am over-whelmed, all my little happinesses look like broken toys.Then slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, i try to bring myself into the frame of mind that i should be at all times.I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ. And perhaps, by God's grace, i succeed, and for a day or two become a creature consciously dependant on God and drawing strength from the right sources. But the moment the threat is withdrawn , my whole nature leaps back to the toys.....

I find myself in the state CS Lewis describes alot because i have toys that possess my heart, whether they be sport or the movies. I'm sure there are other things we could all name that get in the way of our relationship with God.

But i wonder if the answer is having a form of Christian perspective were every aspect of our lives is influenced by our faith. Would that bring us to the frame of mind that we should always be? I think it would, also , it's possible to get to that place becasue i've met very mature Christians who do seem to bring God into everything .I doubt it was something that came naturally at the start, but was an act of will that finally became second nature.

Learning How To Live

2007-01-31T10:06:00.000-08:00

For reasons i won't explain,lately I've been visiting people in the latter stages of life, some of them have been living for so long they no longer wish to be doing so.The fact that they are going to die stares them in the face everyday and they have all the time in the world to think about it.

But even though death is a part of life i have to say i don't think about it that often. I only tend to in times of great tragedy or when it happens to a member of my extended family (which it did last Christmas). But if I'm honest i don't think about it because i don't want too. Even though i know my eternal destination i have to admit that i have always been a little scared of death. I think this would explain the feelings of fear I've experienced when visiting the elderly people. Even though i've been living with this for a long time i'm starting to realise that:

Before you can truly live , You have to accept the fact that you are going to die.

This is something my College lecturer shared when talking about the death of his wife. At first look it seems a little morbid, but it isn't. Once you can come to that realisation its possible to move forward and Truly Live.

2007, A Good Year For Movies?

2007-01-31T09:31:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of movies that i'm excited about this year:

The Good Shepard
Spiderman 3
300
Letters from Iwo Jima (Filmed at the same time as Flags of our Fathers)
The Simpsons Movie
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Hope Is A Good Thing

2007-01-27T09:13:00.000-08:00

The start of a new year always prompts me to think about hope. I hope that this year i will meet that special person who i will spend the rest of my life with, also that the England Rugby team will defend the world cup. But in the great scheme of things neither of the above is that important. What's important is that we have the right idea of "Christian Hope". I read in my devotional book the other day that Hope is not just the absence of despair ,it's the presence of something greater. We have something greater because one can rest in the knowlwdge that no matter what people may choose to do to us God has his hand on our lives. For me, that is a good reason to have hope.

That's quite a deep start to my blog, but i look forward to sharing with those who are interested what God is doing in my life.