tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142895962024-03-08T00:14:48.801+00:00étrangèreétrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.comBlogger688125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-90995032380669708342012-04-05T12:45:00.000+01:002012-04-05T12:45:33.289+01:00Not celebrating a 'living legacy'<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dear Mr Cameron, </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"This is the time when, as Christians, we remember the life, sacrifice and living legacy of Christ."</blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No, it is not. We celebrate as our only hope in life and death, the perfect life, atoning sacrifice, bodily resurrection and current intercession of Jesus Christ before the throne of our Father God. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please do not patronise us with talk of shared values. Pretending to share values does not even restore society, or reconcile families, never mind restore us to a reconciled relationship with the God of the universe. Jesus Christ did not die and rise again to share a vague feeling of peace to inspire us. While we are powerless to do peace, he came to be our peace, to make peace, and to preach that peace with the Father [<a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/Ephesians+2/" target="_blank">Eph 2</a>]. There is no eternal hope in a 'living legacy'. There is sure and certain hope for a broken, rebellious and dead world, in a Man who defeated death and rose as the first-fruits of a new creation, and will return to judge the living and the dead. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The chronologically-challenged 'Cranmer' draws out an interesting comparison with Barack Obama's Easter speech <a href="http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/david-camerons-easter-greeting.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Glen Scrivener treats us to <a href="http://christthetruth.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/when-you-prayed-beneath-the-trees-2/">something better</a>:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iA2LSyAbRwA?version=3&hl=en_GB&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iA2LSyAbRwA?version=3&hl=en_GB&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-47130939694760390882012-01-29T09:37:00.000+00:002012-01-29T09:37:47.452+00:00Who's church for?<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Many people I know have some idea that church isn't for them - or at least, that church-going folk would <i>think</i> that church isn't for them. And in a <a href="http://www.reformed.org/documents/heidelberg.html">document of the 16th century</a>, I came across a helpful summary of who the Lord's Supper (and therefore church) is really for - and who would be best staying away! Which are you? </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Who are to come to the Lord's table [in church]?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Those who are displeased with themselves because of their sins, but who nevertheless trust that their sins are pardoned and that their continuing weakness is covered by the suffering and death of Christ, and who also </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to lead a better life. Hypocrites and those who are unrepentant, however, eat and drink judgement on themselves. [<a href="http://www.reformed.org/documents/heidelberg.html">Heidelberg Catechism</a> Q&A 81]</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, sinners welcome; hypocrites keep away. Will you come? </span> <br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As Christ <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/Matthew%2011%3A28/">said</a>, '<span class="woc">Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'</span></div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-88758097671181656202012-01-26T21:31:00.001+00:002012-01-26T21:32:22.611+00:00Power, cool and decline<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENUWB2SPNSk9lBsTF-8wKU6ARScO9HDO5L22JP-1gj7m94lXeJZQnsS0hRdvOY-kLpyXfpG6pP4J-lLfgYLq0i0T7Z-aPb-zHG_MstxtJYNzbBa0c_DfrTbUZRcnP1mr_7L413Q/s1600/The-Iron-Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENUWB2SPNSk9lBsTF-8wKU6ARScO9HDO5L22JP-1gj7m94lXeJZQnsS0hRdvOY-kLpyXfpG6pP4J-lLfgYLq0i0T7Z-aPb-zHG_MstxtJYNzbBa0c_DfrTbUZRcnP1mr_7L413Q/s200/The-Iron-Lady.jpg" width="200" /></a>A Brit in America reflects on what the church can learn from <i>The Iron Lady</i> - resisting the temptation to stir in the polarised American political scene, <a href="http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2012/01/the-iron-lady-a-truly-meaningf.php">Trueman highlights the portrayal of the loss of glory in old age</a>. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was slightly surprised to hear from African brothers and sisters at Cape Town 2010, that they often felt ignored in the church while still 'young', pre-Forty-and-married, say. In the UK, probably some churches have that dynamic. But we are more in danger of despising age than despising youth. </div><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">'Ageing brings whispers of mortality, of weakness, of limitations; and such whispers bring an ever-increasing sympathy with others. Only the one who has felt the slow creep of weakness can truly sympathise with the weak. ... The church does not need leaders who feel strong; she needs leaders who know weakness.'</blockquote>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-15175610330719441322011-12-22T08:00:00.001+00:002011-12-22T08:00:00.544+00:00Not like Santa's grotto<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_807601846"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A God like </span></a><a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/12/god-deliver-us-from-santa.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Santa</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">? Church like Santa's grotto, then - full of hardworking slaves who keep themselves to themselves and dish out the rewards or punishments? Au contraire: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To follow a God who came down to a village, and into a womb, to draw our stinking selves to himself... leads to practices such as </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/dec/20/bible-translation-ivorian-village"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Eddie Arthur describes in the Guardian</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. Nice one, Eddie!</span>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-55957290483343190382011-12-21T13:57:00.002+00:002011-12-21T18:29:31.911+00:00God, deliver us from Santa!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ39EHDQjMI_JKrf5vpk4F6FINkAnNvqicsWi6-x-s-1ZK-aCn4XTxjTOmo4yXFD6mRIn6ZA5n2uAMbJC7S119zsXFAOcNGWcFvRLThu1bZ7mTua717xEAYn2Kcw-HIF3IKd0n9w/s1600/scary-santa-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ39EHDQjMI_JKrf5vpk4F6FINkAnNvqicsWi6-x-s-1ZK-aCn4XTxjTOmo4yXFD6mRIn6ZA5n2uAMbJC7S119zsXFAOcNGWcFvRLThu1bZ7mTua717xEAYn2Kcw-HIF3IKd0n9w/s320/scary-santa-7.jpg" width="237px" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He knows when you've been bad or good...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Santa Claus is coming to town!</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Aaaaahhhhhh! </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't know who made up this moralistic scary threat, and I don't care. But it worries me that so many assume that this is a Christian Christmas message. "If you don’t like God, I think I know why… You probably think He’s St Nick in the Sky."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Glen Scrivener has written a witty ditty on the subject, definitely worth a read even in this busy time:</span> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They say there’s a big man who lives far away,<br />
Supposedly jolly but it’s hard to say.<br />
I’ve never seen him, and neither have you.<br />
But the children believe, ... [</span><a href="http://christthetruth.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/a-poetic-anti-santy-ranty/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">continue reading</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">.]</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks, Glen! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IokTM3PEGiM" width="560"></iframe></center>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-28107729507374746462011-11-06T23:13:00.000+00:002011-11-06T23:13:55.949+00:00Oprah, Christianity, Quakers, the M People<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Spot the odd one out: Oprah, Christianity, The Religious Society of Friends, the <a href="http://www.lyricsdrive.com/search-for-the-hero-inside-yourself-lyrics-m-people.html">M People</a>.</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">'Of all horrible religions the most horrible is the worship of the god within you. ... Let Jones worship the sun or moon, anything rather than the Inner Light; let Jones worship cats or crocodiles, if he can find any in his street, but not the god within. Christianity came into the world firstly in order to assert with violence that a man had not only to look inwards, but to look outwards, to behold with astonishment ad enthusiasm a divine company and a divine captain. The only fun of being a Christian was that a man was not left alone with the Inner Light, but definitely recognised an outer light, fair as the sun, clear as the moon, terrible as an army with banners.' - G.K.Chesteron, Orthodoxy</div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In contrast, the name by which every Christian must be called is 'The LORD is our righteousness.' (<a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/Jeremiah+23.6/">Jeremiah 23.6</a>)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">[Quoted in <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0802458408/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0802458408">The Good News We Almost Forgot</a>, DeYoung]</div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-78398601046320844712011-10-02T08:00:00.004+01:002011-10-02T08:00:05.052+01:00He sends out his word<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and melts them. [<a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/Psalm%20147/">Ps.147</a>] </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've been ruminating on the start of Jeremiah. God has determined the rise of the nations to the north of Israel, that they should lay siege to Jerusalem, and tear the nation to pieces. How does he accomplish this? Clearly he's sovereign over armies. The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he wishes. He could inspire a foreign metalworker to forge a stronger alloy for superior weaponry. He could stir up the ambition of a commander, to lead his troops to take the fortress of Jerusalem. He could give the leaders of Israel over to their stupidity, that they reveal their weakness to their old slave-masters, Egypt, hoping for an alliance. He could leave the common man so given to their pride that they don't defend the country adequately. He may have done all these things. But what he told us he was doing was this: <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/Jeremiah+1.9-12/">He gave a young man a message to preach, and watched over his word to bring it about.</a> </div><blockquote style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> said to me, <span class="begin-line-group"></span> <br />
<div class="line" id="p24001009_18-1">“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.</div><div class="line" id="p24001010_01-1"><span class="verse-num inline" id="v24001010-1"></span>See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,</div><div class="line" id="p24001010_13-1">to pluck up and to break down,</div><div class="line" id="p24001010_20-1">to destroy and to overthrow,</div><div class="line" id="p24001010_25-1">to build and to plant.”</div><span class="end-line-group"></span><br />
<div id="p24001011_01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v24001011-1"></span>And the word of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/search/Jeremiah+1.9-12/#fb1-1">almond<span class="footnote"></span> branch</a>.” Then the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”</div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">God chooses to act, he sends forth his word, in the form of a servant, and accomplishes it. Amen! </div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-8492713769405366552011-10-01T20:44:00.000+01:002011-10-01T20:44:37.292+01:00'Nothing to complain about'<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Often, reading voices from the past can help our balance of perspective. Do you wonder, when you read a novel or autobiography from previous centuries, what those authors would make of our contemporary lives and culture?</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/43001000/jpg/_43001433_poland_203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/43001000/jpg/_43001433_poland_203.jpg" width="200" /></a>For one perspective, wonder no more. Mr Grzebski has woken up after 19 years in a coma, and speaks with the voice of the past viewing the present, as it were:</div><blockquote style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"What amazes me today is all these people who walk around with their mobile phones and never stop moaning," said Mr Grzebski. <br />
<br />
"I've got nothing to complain about."</blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Read the whole story <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6715313.stm">here</a>, or watch it <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6710000/newsid_6715800?redirect=6715857.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&bbram=1">here</a>. </span> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">There's nothing new under the sun, of course. </span></i></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Freed from slavery in Egypt, '...the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”' [<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2011.4-6&version=NLT">Numbers 11.4-6</a>]</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There's plenty in the world about which to be concerned, before Jesus comes back. There is enough frustration and decay for us to long for the hope of glory. There is death and suffering enough to remind us of Jesus' weeping at his friend's tomb, and his victory over death - for us. But while we may lament, and groan under frustration, and weep with friends, and fight corruption... in many ways, Mr Grzebski is right. 'I have nothing to complain about.' </div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-61631786099768603062011-09-05T13:28:00.001+01:002011-09-05T13:31:37.561+01:00Interrupting normal service<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3RZHcCW851R_nOaEGTVFJLHBsatuIQkZNqcAY0g3sJQi-UyXKNKmKGRgcNrj-qgbiYf4VKu_zOYUY7XyR2tKIwqyXzjM18TeQHaSmadd_LHaXjWySg4n8eOA0BGTYtGS7_1XqQ/s1600/S+Oak+park+180811+a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3RZHcCW851R_nOaEGTVFJLHBsatuIQkZNqcAY0g3sJQi-UyXKNKmKGRgcNrj-qgbiYf4VKu_zOYUY7XyR2tKIwqyXzjM18TeQHaSmadd_LHaXjWySg4n8eOA0BGTYtGS7_1XqQ/s200/S+Oak+park+180811+a.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To bring you some news from the étrange life of Grier - a slight explanation of the reduced frequency of blog posts of late. Delighted to announce that I'm engaged to be married to Chris Statter. Chris works for <a href="http://www.birminghamcitymission.co.uk/">Birmingham City Mission</a> and comes from Manchester (via Oxford). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Chris dropped to his knees and proposed during a game of Poohsticks in Belvoir forest park in Belfast! We're thankful to our Father in heaven and pray he'd fill us with his Spirit to show the glories of his grace to us in Christ Jesus, in and through our engagement and future marriage. </span>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-6263103551598688412011-08-25T15:07:00.000+01:002011-08-25T15:07:09.330+01:00Deceptive stories<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Being realistic is not opposed to taking flights of fancy. Which is why fairy stories and fantasy aren't a bad thing for children (or, I dare say, for adults).</div><blockquote style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wildthings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wildthings.jpg" width="314" /></a>C S Lewis: ...what profess to be realistic stories for children are far more likely to deceive them. I never expected the real world to be like the fairy tales. I think that I did expect school to be like the school stories. The fantasies did not deceive me: the school stories did. All stories in which children have adventures and successes which are possible, in the sense that they do not break the laws of nature, but almost infinitely improbable, are in more danger than the fairy tales of raising false expectations.</blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Which says, more eloquently than I, what I was trying to express in <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/fairy-tales.html">Fairy Tales</a> and <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/search/label/myth">myth</a>. And gives some indication of why I much prefer telling kids stories of dragons and wild things, than reading stories of children going to school. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">An excellent creative writer, N D Wilson, is quoted by his father (also a writer!) on these things, on Justin Taylor's blog <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/08/23/a-chestertonian-and-lewisian-vision/">here</a>. Well worth the read. Wilson's <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0849920078/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0849920078">Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl: Wide-Eyed Wonder in God's Spoken World</a> is excellent to enjoy in morsels - a lot at one time could leave your head spinning! </div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-59479349108706512242011-08-17T14:55:00.000+01:002011-08-17T14:55:19.019+01:00Don't make me rich!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a society of rich and poor, and a huge sense of entitlement, can we cope with the level of riches we have? That is, not 'Can you live within your means?' but 'Can you have what you have without greed, covetousness, discontent or pride in possessions?' </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oakhill.ac.uk/media/hubs/looters_traffic_cone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.oakhill.ac.uk/media/hubs/looters_traffic_cone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">'Society has let them down.' That doesn't excuse us our sin - pride that our lives are morally superior, our covetousness for the slightly better thing, our mistaking comfort for contentment. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Sometimes, we can be like a film star, with all the money, fine clothes and food, friends and loving family, and satisfying work we could want, gazing at TV footage of looters. 'I thank you, God, that I am not like other men: violent, robbers, greedy, unloving. I only do decent films and do lots of charity functions.'</i> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As I search for a job, aware of the impossibility of living off Job Seeker's Allowance, it's easy to put hope in a future salary. I would love to be able to support others more in missionary work. But also, realistically, as the inspired heart-doctor <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%204:1-10&version=NLT;">James wrote</a>, 'even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure.' </div><blockquote style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">'But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires.'</blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So in an excellent reflection on the recent spates of looting in English cities (<a href="http://www.oakhill.ac.uk/commentary/11_summer/looters_them_or_us.html">Looters: them or us?</a>), Mike Ovey reminds us of the (difficult) prayer of the Wise:</div><blockquote style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Give me neither poverty nor riches!<br />
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.<br />
For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">ord</span>?"<br />
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. [<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2030:8-9&version=NLT;">Proverbs 30:8-9</a> NLT]</blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Can we truly pray that? 'Lord, please keep me from being more rich than I can cope with. Keep me poor enough to rely on you and love others.' </div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">'So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-30306"></sup>Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-30307"></sup>Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honour.'</div></blockquote>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-74158659868550463192011-07-30T08:00:00.001+01:002011-08-01T16:15:05.979+01:00Flames upon their head - Mythopoeia 5<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Continued, Tolkien to Lewis, 1931. [Parts <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/mythopoeia.html">1</a>, <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/and-still-recalls-him-mythopoeia-2.html">2</a>, <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/blessed-are-legend-makers-mythopoeia-3.html">3</a>, <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-will-not-walk-with-your-progressive.html">4</a>]</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">In Paradise perchance the eye may stray</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">from gazing upon everlasting Day</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">to see the day illumined, and renew</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">from mirrored truth the likeness of the True.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Then looking on the Blessed Land 'twill see</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">that all is as it is, and yet made free:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Salvation changes not, nor yet destroys,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">garden nor gardener, children nor their toys.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Evil it will not see, for evil lies</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">not in God's picture but in crooked eyes,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">not in the source but in malicious choice,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and not in sound but in the tuneless voice.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">In Paradise they look no more awry;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and though they make anew, they make no lie.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Be sure they still will make, not being dead,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and poets shall have flames upon their head,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and harps whereon their faultless fingers fall:</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">there each shall choose for ever from the All.</span></span> </blockquote>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-11787783256252142962011-07-29T11:00:00.000+01:002011-07-29T11:03:18.828+01:00John Stott with his incomparable Christ<a href="http://www.johnstottmemorial.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/photo-johnstott-bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.johnstottmemorial.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/photo-johnstott-bw.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Post updated 29 July: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Obits worth reading, in all major UK press - BBC online <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14320915">here</a>; Independent <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-stott-preacher-and-writer-who-exerted-a-colossal-influence-on-evangelical-christianity-2327834.html">here</a>; Telegraph <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/religion-obituaries/8668938/The-Rev-John-Stott.html">here</a>; Guardian <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/28/the-rev-john-stott-obituary">here</a>; Times also posted but behind a pay-to-view wall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">[27 July]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dr John R W Stott died this afternoon, surrounded by friends, listening to Handel's Messiah having just heard 2 Timothy read. What glory and joy for him to be face to face with the Christ he loved, served and preached for so long, and hear the words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant: enter into the joy of your Master.' What loss for us. </span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is hard to imagine a British evangelical church scene without John Stott. In fact, such was his influence - not colonial, but as a humble servant - that it is hard to imagine the international setting without <i>Uncle John</i>'s testimony to Jesus Christ and all his teachings. Yet he was faithful in passing the baton to others, as he was faithful in stewarding talents and starting or developing such ministries: <a href="http://www.lausanne.org/">The Lausanne Movement</a> (initiated by Billy Graham, with JRWS bringing a theological unifying factor), <a href="http://www.langhampartnership.org/">Langham Partnership International</a>, <a href="http://www.ifesworld.org/">IFES</a>, the <a href="http://www.licc.org.uk/">London Institute for Contemporary Christianity</a>, and <a href="http://allsouls.org/">All Souls</a> Langham Place - all continue with ministries under the leadership of men he encouraged. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ivpbooks.com/covers/9781844744213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.ivpbooks.com/covers/9781844744213.jpg" width="127" /></a>His books continue to speak of his Christ: from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844743047/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1844743047">Basic Christianity</a>, the means of leading so many to faith in Christ, through his magnum opus, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844741559/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1844741559">The Cross of Christ</a>, to his final word: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844744213/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1844744213">The Radical Disciple</a>.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tributes are everywhere - there's a memorial site on which you can share, </span><a href="http://www.johnstottmemorial.org/" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">www.johnstottmemorial.org</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, and from </span><a href="http://allsouls.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=273279" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All Souls</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.lausanne.org/lausanne-blog/john-stott-home-with-the-lord.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lausanne</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/julyweb-only/john-stott-obit.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Christianity Today</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, Justin Taylor at the </span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/07/27/john-r-w-stott-1921-2011/" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Gospel Coalition</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, Derek Thomas at </span><a href="http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2011/07/on-the-passing-of-a-christian.php" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ref21</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">... Look out for obits in the broadsheets, to honour this servant, and we pray, lead many to worship his Lord and Saviour. </span>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-53299902804110266142011-07-29T08:00:00.004+01:002011-08-01T16:13:53.419+01:00I will not walk with your progressive apes - Mythopoeia 4<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Continued [part <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/mythopoeia.html">1</a>, <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/and-still-recalls-him-mythopoeia-2.html">2</a> & <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/blessed-are-legend-makers-mythopoeia-3.html">3</a>], by J R R Tolkein, to C S Lewis, 1931.</div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">I would that I might with the minstrels sing</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and stir the unseen with a throbbing string.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">I would be with the mariners of the deep</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">that cut their slender planks on mountains steep</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and voyage upon a vague and wandering quest,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">for some have passed beyond the fabled West.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">I would with the beleaguered fools be told,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">that keep an inner fastness where their gold,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">impure and scanty, yet they loyally bring</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">to mint in image blurred of distant king,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">or in fantastic banners weave the sheen</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">heraldic emblems of a lord unseen.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">I will not walk with your progressive apes,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">erect and sapient. Before them gapes</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">the dark abyss to which their progress tends</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">if by God's mercy progress ever ends,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and does not ceaselessly revolve the same</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">unfruitful course with changing of a name.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">I will not treat your dusty path and flat,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">denoting this and that by this and that,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">your world immutable wherein no part</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">the little maker has with maker's art.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">I bow not yet before the Iron Crown,</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">nor cast my own small golden sceptre down.</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 9pt;"><a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/flames-upon-their-head-mythopoeia-5.html"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To be continued...</span></span></a> </span>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-68534137502369217952011-07-28T08:00:00.006+01:002011-08-01T16:11:24.284+01:00Blessed are the legend-makers - Mythopoeia 3<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Continued from <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/mythopoeia.html">Mythopoeia 1</a> and <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/and-still-recalls-him-mythopoeia-2.html">2 'And still recalls him'</a>; by J R R Tolkien, to CSL in 1931. </span></span> </span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Yes! 'wish-fulfilment dreams' we spin to cheat</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">our timid hearts and ugly Fact defeat!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Whence came the wish, and whence the power to dream,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">or some things fair and others ugly deem?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">All wishes are not idle, nor in vain</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">fulfilment we devise - for pain is pain,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">not for itself to be desired, but ill;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">or else to strive or to subdue the will</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">alike were graceless; and of Evil this</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">alone is deadly certain: Evil is.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Blessed are the timid hearts that evil hate</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">that quail in its shadow, and yet shut the gate;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">that seek no parley, and in guarded room,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">though small and bate, upon a clumsy loom</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">weave tissues gilded by the far-off day</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">hoped and believed in under Shadow's sway.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Blessed are the men of Noah's race that build</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">their little arks, though frail and poorly filled,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and steer through winds contrary towards a wraith,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">a rumour of a harbour guessed by faith.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Blessed are the legend-makers with their rhyme</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">of things not found within recorded time.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">It is not they that have forgot the Night,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">or bid us flee to organized delight,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">in lotus-isles of economic bliss</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">forswearing souls to gain a Circe-kiss</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">(and counterfeit at that, machine-produced,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">bogus seduction of the twice-seduced).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Such isles they saw afar, and ones more fair,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and those that hear them yet may yet beware.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">They have seen Death and ultimate defeat,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and yet they would not in despair retreat,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">but oft to victory have tuned the lyre</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">and kindled hearts with legendary fire,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">illuminating Now and dark Hath-been</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">with light of suns as yet by no man seen.</span></span></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-will-not-walk-with-your-progressive.html">To be continued...</a></div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-28028345021023781302011-07-27T08:00:00.006+01:002011-07-27T08:00:03.862+01:00'And still recalls him' - Mythopoeia 2<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/mythopoeia.html">Continued from part 1</a> - Mythopoeia, by J R R Tolkien...</div><blockquote><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">He sees no stars who does not see them first</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">of living silver made that sudden burst</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">to flame like flowers beneath an ancient song,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">whose very echo after-music long</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">has since pursued. There is no firmament,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">only a void, unless a jewelled tent</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">myth-woven and elf-patterned; and no earth,</span></div><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">unless the mother's womb whence all have birth.</span> </blockquote><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">The heart of Man is not compound of lies,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">but draws some wisdom from the only Wise,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">and still recalls him. Though now long estranged,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">Man is not wholly lost nor wholly changed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">Dis-graced he may be, yet is not dethroned,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">his world-dominion by creative act:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">not his to worship the great Artefact,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">Man, Sub-creator, the refracted light</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">through whom is splintered from a single White</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">to many hues, and endlessly combined</span></div><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">in living shapes that move from mind to mind.</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">Though all the crannies of the world we filled</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">Gods and their houses out of dark and light,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">and sowed the seed of dragons, 'twas our right</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">(used or misused). The right has not decayed.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">We make still by the law in which we're made.</span></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">[Paragraphs mine.] To be continued...</div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-73334792945776731232011-07-26T11:31:00.001+01:002011-07-26T17:56:20.718+01:00Mythopoeia<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While I was pondering the value of <a href="http://etrangere.blogspot.com/2011/07/fairy-tales.html">fairy tales</a>, I met several parents who didn't seem to value them for their children. I recalled that growing up, the fiction shelves in the library started to fill with realistic books. Stories of broken families, of grumbling teenagers, of children like me. But I didn't want to read of children like me, and a plain messy world. I knew that people were sinful and the world subject to frustration. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As a child, I wanted to read of greater possibilities, to call me out of myself. Not escapism, but words of power to call me on to glory, beauty, faithfulness, hope and love. To know, meeting those things in another broken world, that they might yet be my portion in this world. Fairly tales, myth and legend are timeless, and therefore always relevant. The story of teenagers trying to whine their way through the mundane of school life, well, I didn't need someone to write to me about that. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now C S Lewis was on a <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0006280838/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0006280838">pursuit of glory, of joy</a>. Surprised to find it in Christ, he turned against the myths which had so fascinated him before. In 1931, he argued about this with his friend Tolkien, who wrote <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_610092408">a p</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythopoeia_%28poem%29">oem</a> in response, '<i>To one who said that myths were lies and therefore worthless, even though 'breathed through silver'.</i>' It's quite an astonishing read - although, we don't know if Lewis embraced the views Tolkien tackled, or if his friend was showing him his opinions pushed to logical extreme. </span></div><br />
<blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">Philomythus to Misomythus</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">You look at trees and label them just so,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">(for trees are 'trees', and growing is 'to grow');</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">you walk the earth and tread with solemn pace</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">one of the many minor globes of Space:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">a star's a star, some matter in a ball</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">compelled to courses mathematical</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">amid the regimented, cold, inane,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">where destined atoms are each moment slain.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">At bidding of a Will, to which we bend</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">(and must), but only dimly apprehend,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">great processes march on, as Time unrolls</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">from dark beginnings to uncertain goals;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">and as on page o'er-written without clue,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">with script and limning packed of various hue,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">an endless multitude of forms appear,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">some grim, some frail, some beautiful, some queer,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">each alien, except as kin from one</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">remote Origo, gnat, man, stone, and sun.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">God made the petreous rocks, the arboreal trees,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">tellurian earth, and stellar stars, and these</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">homuncular men, who walk upon the ground</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">with nerves that tingle touched by light and sound.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">The movements of the sea, the wind in boughs,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">green grass, the large slow oddity of cows,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">thunder and lightning, birds that wheel and cry,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">slime crawling up from mud to live and die,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">these each are duly registered and print</span></div><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">the brain's contortions with a separate dint.</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">Yet trees are not 'trees', until so named and seen</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">and never were so named, till those had been</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">who speech's involuted breath unfurled,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">faint echo and dim picture of the world,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">but neither record nor a photograph,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">being divination, judgement, and a laugh</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">response of those that felt astir within</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">by deep monition movements that were kin</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">to life and death of trees, of beasts, of stars:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">free captives undermining shadowy bars,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">digging the foreknown from experience</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">and panning the vein of spirit out of sense.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">Great powers they slowly brought out of themselves</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">and looking backward they beheld the elves</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">that wrought on cunning forges in the mind,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy"; font-size: 10pt;">and light and dark on secret looms entwined.</span></div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> To be continued tomorrow...</span></div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-65695547859227851532011-07-23T17:14:00.000+01:002011-07-23T17:14:17.099+01:00Cape Town 2010<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What was Cape Town 2010? Does it have any lasting impact? What about The Lausanne Movement? An excellent 14 minute documentary gives a glimpse into the Congress - well worth watching: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QnHHQq2BXME?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Order a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1906890064/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1906890064">The Cape Town Commitment</a> here, or find it in other languages at <a href="http://www.lausanne.org/books">www.lausanne.org/books</a></div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-1483149870835376832011-07-14T19:09:00.000+01:002011-07-14T19:09:36.275+01:00Whole of life as... premarital counselling<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There's a strange phenomenon around: people being engaged for ... 5, 10+ years. No wedding in sight, apparently. Now, whatever the sociological reasons for that, it's not unlike a lot of us Christians live. We're engaged, but sort of forgetful that we've a wedding ahead - we live as if we're not planning or looking forward to anything. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In these very helpful paragraphs, from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0875526071/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0875526071">'Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands'</a>, Paul Tripp explains that the only way to go through life properly is to understand we are engaged:</div><blockquote style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Keeping the final destination in view is the only way to solve the problems of today. ... Paul captures this principle of 'long view living' in <a href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=2+Corinthians+11%3A1-3">2 Corinthians 11:1-3</a>. <br />
<blockquote>I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.</blockquote><br />
Paul understands the Christian life eschatologically. This means that today is preparation for tomorrow, and tomorrow is preparation for something else to come. Paul is saying, 'I know I have hovered over you, but you need to understand why. I am afraid that you will forget who you are and to whom you have been promised.' To Paul, <b>the only way to go through life properly is to understand that we are engaged</b>. We have been betrothed to Christ, and our life now is preparation for the great wedding to come. <br />
<br />
The difficulties now, the suffering now, the disappointments now, and hte blessings now are all preparation fo the wedding <i>then</i>. <b>Our experiences today do not reflect God's inattention or unfaithfulness, but his jealous love</b>. He is exposing our wandering hearts and foolish minds and the ways we trust our passions more than the principles of his Word. He is calling us to forsake our own glory for his, and teaching us that the idols we pursue will never satisfy us. He is making us wise to temptation and aware of a lurking enemy. He is teaching us to live for treasures that moth and rust can't destroy and that thieves can't steal. He is teaching us what it means to live in a way that recognises our identity as his children. He is teaching us to live open, approachable, and humble lives. <br />
<br />
In other words, <b>your whole life is premarital counselling</b>! You belong to a groom whose name is Immanuel, and God is preparing you for the wedding for which you were created and redeemed. Everything you face today is premarital preparation - living <i>now</i> with <i>then</i> in view. <br />
<br />
In contrast, sin produces in all of us a tendency toward 'now-ism,' which means we forget three things: who we are (betrothed to Christ); what he is doing now (preparing us for the final wedding); and what we are supposed to be doing (remaining faithful to him). When we focus only on what we want now, we fail to solve our problems and we also cause more difficulties. A common factor in depression is self-absorbed now-ism. Anger is often fuelled by a self-righteous now-ism. Fear and anxiety are strengthened by an obsession with the here and now. Maturity and perseverance are weakened by a 'now' mentality. <br />
<br />
Teaching others how to solve <i>now</i> problems with <i>then</i> in view is one of the most important things we can do, because it is not something we sinners do well on our own. <b>We tend to be short-sighted and self-absorbed. We forget that God's primary goal is not changing our situations and relationships so that we can be happy, but changing us through our situations and relationships so that we will be holy.</b> We need people who love God and us enough to come alongside and help us deal with our spiritual myopia. </blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-62146454775353855672011-07-06T22:25:00.001+01:002011-08-25T14:51:05.150+01:00Fairy tales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibabHtnMjfYtoqmdxOBNkTW5UNfsucqLudUNhJ2FIOnZKH29vnKXd6nw9cLf0ukSzT9uW6ffdw6AfRCymUvJrNjtCVe6c6N2s5lakJ9nhqe2_XZr3INScEg5AJWlcHc9sEfdp4OA/s1600/magiciannephew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibabHtnMjfYtoqmdxOBNkTW5UNfsucqLudUNhJ2FIOnZKH29vnKXd6nw9cLf0ukSzT9uW6ffdw6AfRCymUvJrNjtCVe6c6N2s5lakJ9nhqe2_XZr3INScEg5AJWlcHc9sEfdp4OA/s320/magiciannephew.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm in love with fairy tales. [Not like <a href="http://youtu.be/uiH4BFTELME">this</a> - but I couldn't resist.] No, C S Lewis and others taught me to delight in fairy tales, and not think it childish. In fact, it often seems more serious. Here's an article with brilliant quotes from Lewis - on '<a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/three-objections-to-fairy-tales-and-c-s-lewiss-response">Three Objections to Fairy Tales and C S Lewis' response</a>' from a series, 'Live like a Narnian'. </div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-22033659590601541932011-07-04T08:00:00.002+01:002011-07-04T15:24:24.231+01:00To Chad<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you're interested in things Africa, or medical, or the gospel, or all three, check out <a href="http://catgrier.bodbaptist.org.uk/">my sister's blog</a>: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://catgrier.bodbaptist.org.uk/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp9xMAuUPr2Bg9NnJ9WeE7QjCfhol1sbE9V7Npsp2HuRBZ7jdsl6yj6rBmDi-YP2drq0Cz-ppXK44denWwN7fxPB-cUJfRqFzzlSwlcsmp2s-pOr7OBaFSFMxkvjxDzAekHNUCQ/s640/catherineschat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm rather glad she's started blogging, as she's off to Chad for the next several years. </div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-39640681825577683182011-07-01T16:13:00.002+01:002011-07-04T15:25:32.349+01:00Paris<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I lived in Brussels, we bemoaned the fact that the IFES Interaction teams in Paris and Nice seemed to fill up before the Brussels team - couldn't imagine why. Well, the current Paris team have gone some way to explaining it, in a rather arty way. (I have to appreciate the skills of some ex-Relay worker friends!) Not that what they say about Paris is substantially different to Brussels...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><center style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Qj-qKKtxrzg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-13617006506504047582011-06-22T11:08:00.000+01:002011-06-22T11:08:12.732+01:005. We love God the Holy Spirit<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One would sometimes think that God the Holy Spirit is a spirit of controversy. After all, what would spark your interest to read something on the Holy Spirit? A post entitled, 'Famous speaker sparks controversy over spiritual gifts!' or 'We love God the Holy Spirit'? Well, you're reading this, so let's take that as a sign that we're not all entirely Corinthian. And on to this lovely expression of faith in God the Holy Spirit, from Part I 5 of the <a href="http://www.lausanne.org/ctcommitment">Cape Town Commitment</a>. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>5. We love God the Holy Spirit</b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We love the Holy Spirit within the unity of the Trinity, along with God the Father and God the Son. He is the missionary Spirit sent by the missionary Father and the missionary Son, breathing life and power into God’s missionary Church. We love and pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit because without the witness of the Spirit to Christ, our own witness is futile. Without the convicting work of the Spirit, our preaching is in vain. Without the gifts, guidance and power of the Spirit, our mission is mere human effort. And without the fruit of the Spirit, our unattractive lives cannot reflect the beauty of the gospel. </div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>a.</b> In the Old Testament we see the Spirit of God active in creation, in works of liberation and justice, and in filling and empowering people for every kind of service. Spirit-filled prophets looked forward to the coming King and Servant, whose Person and work would be endowed with God’s Spirit. Prophets also looked to the coming age that would be marked by the outpouring of God’s Spirit, bringing new life, fresh obedience, and prophetic gifting to all the people of God, young and old, men and women.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=14289596#_ftn1">[1]</a> </ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>b.</b> At Pentecost God poured out his Holy Spirit as promised by the prophets and by Jesus. The sanctifying Spirit produces his fruit in the lives of believers, and the first fruit is always love. The Spirit fills the Church with his gifts, which we 'eagerly desire' as the indispensable equipment for Christian service. The Spirit gives us power for mission and for the great variety of works of service. The Spirit enables us to proclaim and demonstrate the gospel, to discern the truth, to pray effectively and to prevail over the forces of darkness. The Spirit inspires and accompanies our worship. The Spirit strengthens and comforts disciples who are persecuted or on trial for their witness to Christ.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=14289596#_ftn2">[2]</a></ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>c.</b> Our engagement in mission, then, is pointless and fruitless without the presence, guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. This is true of mission in all its dimensions: evangelism, bearing witness to the truth, discipling, peace-making, social engagement, ethical transformation, caring for creation, overcoming evil powers, casting out demonic spirits, healing the sick, suffering and enduring under persecution. All we do in the name of Christ must be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The New Testament makes this clear in the life of the early Church and the teaching of the apostles. It is being demonstrated today in the fruitfulness and growth of Churches where Jesus' followers act confidently in the power of the Holy Spirit, with dependence and expectation.</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There is no true or whole gospel, and no authentic biblical mission, without the Person, work and power of the Holy Spirit. We pray for a greater awakening to this biblical truth, and for its experience to be reality in all parts of the worldwide body of Christ. However, we are aware of the many abuses that masquerade under the name of the Holy Spirit, the many ways in which all kinds of phenomena are practised and praised which are not the gifts of the Holy Spirit as clearly taught in the New Testament. There is great need for more profound discernment, for clear warnings against delusion, for the exposure of fraudulent and self-serving manipulators who abuse spiritual power for their own ungodly enrichment. Above all there is a great need for sustained biblical teaching and preaching, soaked in humble prayer, that will equip ordinary believers to understand and rejoice in the true gospel and to recognize and reject false gospels. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=14289596#_ftnref1">[1]</a> Genesis 1:1-2; Psalm 104:27-30; Job 33:4; Exodus 35:30-36:1; Judges 3:10; 6:34; 13:25; Numbers 11:16-17, 29; Isaiah 63:11-14; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Micah 3:8; Nehemiah 9:20, 30; Zechariah 7:7-12; Isaiah 11:1-5; 42:1-7; 61:1-3; 32:15-18; Ezekiel 36:25-27; 37:1-14; Joel 2:28-32</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=14289596#_ftnref2">[2]</a> Acts 2; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 1:2; Ephesians 4:3-6; 11-12; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 14:1; John 20:21-22; 14:16-17, 25-26; 16:12-15; Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 6:10-18; John 4:23-24; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 14:13-17; Matthew 10:17-20; Luke 21:15</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Cape Town Commitment can be purchased <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1906890064/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1906890064">here</a>. Lindsay Brown, presenting the Commitment to leaders in Boston, said that if he were teaching missiology in a Bible College or seminary, this would be his textbook for the year - there's enough in it, despite its slim size and accessibility! </span></span></div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-38011961369119161682011-06-19T08:00:00.003+01:002011-06-19T08:00:04.873+01:004. We love God the Son<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Continuing with <a href="http://www.lausanne.org/ctcommitment">The Cape Town Commitment</a> - on this Lord's Day:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><em>God commanded Israel to love the LORD God with exclusive loyalty. Likewise for us, loving the Lord Jesus Christ means that we steadfastly affirm that he alone is Saviour, Lord and God. The Bible teaches that Jesus performs the same sovereign actions as God alone. Christ is Creator of the universe, Ruler of history, Judge of all nations and Saviour of all who turn to God.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.lausanne.org/ctcommitment#_ftn14" id="_ftnref14" name="_ftnref14" title="title">[14]</a></span> He shares the identity of God in the divine equality and unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just as God called Israel to love him in covenantal faith, obedience and servant-witness, we affirm our love for Jesus Christ by trusting in him, obeying him, and making him known. </em></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>A <em>We trust in Christ.</em></b> We believe the testimony of the Gospels that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the one appointed and sent by God to fulfil the unique mission of Old Testament Israel, that is to bring the blessing of God’s salvation to all nations, as God promised to Abraham.</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><ol style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>In Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, God took our human flesh and lived among us, fully God and fully human. </li>
<li>In his life Jesus walked in perfect faithfulness and obedience to God. He announced and taught the kingdom of God, and modelled the way his disciples must live under God’s reign.</li>
<li>In his ministry and miracles, Jesus announced and demonstrated the victory of the kingdom of God over evil and evil powers.</li>
<li>In his death on the cross, Jesus took our sin upon himself in our place, bearing its full cost, penalty and shame, defeated death and the powers of evil, and accomplished the reconciliation and redemption of all creation.</li>
<li>In his bodily resurrection, Jesus was vindicated and exalted by God, completed and demonstrated the full victory of the cross, and became the forerunner of redeemed humanity and restored creation. </li>
<li>Since his ascension, Jesus is reigning as Lord over all history and creation. </li>
<li>At his return, Jesus will execute God’s judgment, destroy Satan, evil and death, and establish the universal reign of God. </li>
</ol><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>B </b><em><b>We obey Christ.</b> </em>Jesus calls us to discipleship, to take up our cross and follow him in the path of self-denial, servanthood and obedience. ‘If you love me, keep my commandments,’ he said. ‘Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things I say?’ We are called to live as Christ lived and to love as Christ loved. To profess Christ while ignoring his commands is dangerous folly. Jesus warns us that many who claim his name with spectacular and miraculous ministries will find themselves disowned by him as evildoers.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.lausanne.org/ctcommitment#_ftn15" id="_ftnref15" name="_ftnref15" title="title">[15]</a> </span>We take heed to Christ’s warning, for none of us is immune to such fearful danger. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>C </b><em><b>We proclaim Christ.</b> </em>In Christ alone God has fully and finally revealed himself, and through Christ alone God has achieved salvation for the world. We therefore kneel as disciples at the feet of Jesus of Nazareth and say to him with Peter, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,’ and with Thomas, ‘My Lord and my God.’ Though we have not seen him, we love him. And we rejoice with hope as we long for the day of his return when we shall see him as he is. Until that day we join Peter and John in proclaiming that ‘there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.’<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <a href="http://www.lausanne.org/ctcommitment#_ftn16" id="_ftnref16" name="_ftnref16" title="title">[16]</a></span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><em>We commit ourselves afresh to bear witness to Jesus Christ and all his teaching, in all the world, knowing that we can bear such witness only if we are living in obedience to his teaching ourselves. </em></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1906890064/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1906890064">Purchase The Cape Town Commitment</a>.) <em><br />
</em></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14289596.post-33367443785014154882011-06-17T08:00:00.000+01:002011-06-17T12:19:15.546+01:00'See in it a chance to die'<blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lord Crucified, O mark Thy holy cross</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On motive, preference, all fond desires;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On that which self in any form inspires</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Set Thou that sign of loss.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And when the touch of death is here and there</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Laid on a thing most precious in our eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let us not wonder, let us recognise</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The answer to this prayer. </span></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Amy Carmichael, of Northern Ireland / India</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Or as Ajith Fernando of Sri Lanka wrote, in <a href="http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/11037">Embracing suffering in service</a>:</i></span></div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1899464042/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1899464042" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.didaskofiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/AS1-188x300.jpg" /></a>The biblical model of community life is Jesus’ command to love one another as he loved us — that is, for members to die for other members (John 15:12-13). The model of Christian leadership is that of the Good Shepherd dying for the sheep (John 10:11-15). We don’t discard people when they have problems and cannot do their job properly. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As the cross is a basic aspect of discipleship, the Church must train Christian leaders to expect pain and hardship. When this perspective enters our minds, then pain will not touch our joy and contentment in Christ. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a world whose idols are physical health, appearance and convenience, God may be calling Christians to demonstrate the glory of the gospel by being joyfully contented while enduring pain and hardship. People pursuing unsatisfying things may be astonished when they see Christians who are joyful and content after depriving themselves of these, for the sake of the gospel.</div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">[See also, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1899464042/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=etrangere-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1899464042">An Authentic Servant: The Marks of a Spiritual Leader (Didasko Files)</a>.] </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Patrick Fung, Singapore, director of OMF, in <a href="http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/11611">partnership - equilibrium vs diversity</a>:</i></span></div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The cross is at the centre of reconciliation. The cross symbolises death in obedience to God. And therefore true biblical partnership requires of each of us something of a death to self. It may be death to our own ambition in order to see others succeed. It may be death to our own desire to be in key positions of influence or controlling power so that others can be in positions of leadership. It could be death to our own opinions or insisting on how ministries should be run, but trusting others to be used by God, for greater work. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Having criticised the word <i>equilibrium</i>, I believe that we could have a new equilibrium, that is, a kingdom equilibrium which comes from the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. When members of God’s community contribute sacrificially for the sake of the Kingdom. Equilibrium is possible, when there is submission to Jesus Christ, when there is submission to one another, and there is death to self. </span></span></div></blockquote>étrangèrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802871565840479439noreply@blogger.com0