As everyone else is doing so I must put down my thoughts about these riots. I think everyone has looked at it from their stand point - especially these comments in the various papers about the causes, each paper giving a different reason depending on their political sociological background but this article here on youtube seems to say it all so much better than I can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61eTtDkNjAc&feature=youtu.be
I started work in the youth service and what I have found is that we so often say "yes you have no hope" whereas this article, but two ex-gangsters who are now Christians who are actually teaching hope. And this is what we so need to do as youth workers. We can say there is a hope, there is a way to change your world, all is not lost. But instead we hand out free condoms so they can have sex without even the responsibility of buying the condoms!
What the young man who first speaks in this news-clip is repeated in a book I've just finished called "The Blood of Lambs" of a PLO terrorist who finds God. And its not that anyone gives either of these people the flat gospel message but in both cases Christians love on them. They give them the unconditional love that they have received from God. With that love these people went on to wanting to know more. And with the PLO guy had an amazing powerful encounter with God which changed him, with the ex London gangster a much more gentle meeting with God that has changed his life.
For me what has come out of this is that we need to be giving our young people more unconditional love but also more hope that they can do something for their worlds. Instead of giving free condoms we should be looking at their gifts and talents, what they can and cannot do, what their dreams are and how we can help them to help themselves make this come to pass.
Faith, Hope and Love - but the greatest of these is Love
Friday, 12 August 2011
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Love Wins
There has been lots of controversy over Rob Bell's "Love Wins" book, and some of it quite spiteful. I must say I found it an awesome book and as a friend who borrowed my copy texted me and said "why does it always surprise us that God is gracious and full of love. Great book to read and reminds us that so often upbringing, teaching, etc have caused us to forget that graciousness and love". Sums it all up really so this is going to be a short blog because of Beth's comment :-)
I've also been working through Fawn Parish's compilation called "Deeper Still" and Steve Hawthorne in an article taken from the "Perspectives" curriculum says so often we evangelize to either frighten people into believing in God so they go to heaven or so their lives will be better when in fact we should be bringing people to want to worship God here on this earth. "Now more than ever," Hawthorne says, "believers need to be nurtured into a jealousy for God's glory..." He talks of how Jesus never responded to the "naked need" but "deliberately recast His vision of the same lost crowds as something of greater value..of value to God"
This deals with the whole thought of whether Rob Bell is saying all roads lead to God and heaven or whether he is making evangelism irrelevant but actually saying that our desire, as Christians, should be to totally love God and then share that love so that others come to love and worship Him now on this earth.
As some very old, quite naff pop song of the 70's said "To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him and I do, and I do, and I do". OK so it was supposed to be a love song to a man but actually for us to God its true, if we know God we can do nothing else but love Him and worship Him, but so often as don't truly know Him!
I've also been working through Fawn Parish's compilation called "Deeper Still" and Steve Hawthorne in an article taken from the "Perspectives" curriculum says so often we evangelize to either frighten people into believing in God so they go to heaven or so their lives will be better when in fact we should be bringing people to want to worship God here on this earth. "Now more than ever," Hawthorne says, "believers need to be nurtured into a jealousy for God's glory..." He talks of how Jesus never responded to the "naked need" but "deliberately recast His vision of the same lost crowds as something of greater value..of value to God"
This deals with the whole thought of whether Rob Bell is saying all roads lead to God and heaven or whether he is making evangelism irrelevant but actually saying that our desire, as Christians, should be to totally love God and then share that love so that others come to love and worship Him now on this earth.
As some very old, quite naff pop song of the 70's said "To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him and I do, and I do, and I do". OK so it was supposed to be a love song to a man but actually for us to God its true, if we know God we can do nothing else but love Him and worship Him, but so often as don't truly know Him!
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Thomas
It is very interesting that when the disciples are hesitant about going to see Lazarus, who is now dead, it is Thomas who seems to understand more about what is happening with his "if we are to go die with Him then we must go" statement. Why then do we remember Thomas not for this but as "Doubting Thomas"? Is this just a British thing? So often as Brits we remember the negative of what people do and not the positive. We so often raise people up so we can knock them down, though in this case it is John who records this. Maybe to show the other side of Thomas? Maybe to stop him being judge as a doubter? Maybe so that he can be seen as all of us are with many facets to our personalities?
I need to try and remember this that people must not be judged and boxed but that in different situations, in different times of their lives, in different moods, people react differently.
A lot of us parents at the moment are saying how we need to remember what are children were like before they became challenging teenagers and also to look to at they might become. Like Thomas who at one point rallies the disciples, another questions and then goes on to take the gospel into India, a brave step even then, and is supposed to have been crucified there. I do 3hrs a week for a local authority youth service and so want others there to not label the young people as problems but to give them wings so they can fly, but society isn't quite so keen on all that.
Today as I go to work I will try to remember what the Gospel of John tells me about Thomas, and what it tells me about myself and those I know. Don't put people in a negative box!
I need to try and remember this that people must not be judged and boxed but that in different situations, in different times of their lives, in different moods, people react differently.
A lot of us parents at the moment are saying how we need to remember what are children were like before they became challenging teenagers and also to look to at they might become. Like Thomas who at one point rallies the disciples, another questions and then goes on to take the gospel into India, a brave step even then, and is supposed to have been crucified there. I do 3hrs a week for a local authority youth service and so want others there to not label the young people as problems but to give them wings so they can fly, but society isn't quite so keen on all that.
Today as I go to work I will try to remember what the Gospel of John tells me about Thomas, and what it tells me about myself and those I know. Don't put people in a negative box!
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Jesus rides into Jerusalem
I was thinking and wondering about how I would've felt on that first "Palm Sunday" with Jesus riding in to Jerusalem and all the crowds cheering. As I got thinking I wondered actually if the ordinary people were excited because here was a man who would maybe not over throw the Romans but might just over throw the controlling religious system the Pharisees had put them under.
Never once in the gospels does it say about Jesus coming head to head with the Roman government. In fact he says one should be paying taxes. But there are many records of Him coming head to head with the religious leaders. The people must have always struggled with the religious laws and of being outsides and here comes a man who flouts the religious laws but for good. He's not antagonistic for the sake of it but to heal, to save life, to feed, to restore and release.
I think Jesus was showing the people how to live in God's freedom under an oppressive government but free from religious oppression. I wonder if this is why people in the parts of the world where one is persecuted for being a believer in Jesus do can hang in there, because they see what He has taught on how to do this.
Often the Church can be accused of being the same as the Pharisees, and then a new freedom with God comes into being but then becomes religious again. But we need to remember when we see this that Jesus did not come and flout the religious rules to be mean, to cause hassle, to be sarcastic, to think He was better, but He came to do good and so must we.
Never once in the gospels does it say about Jesus coming head to head with the Roman government. In fact he says one should be paying taxes. But there are many records of Him coming head to head with the religious leaders. The people must have always struggled with the religious laws and of being outsides and here comes a man who flouts the religious laws but for good. He's not antagonistic for the sake of it but to heal, to save life, to feed, to restore and release.
I think Jesus was showing the people how to live in God's freedom under an oppressive government but free from religious oppression. I wonder if this is why people in the parts of the world where one is persecuted for being a believer in Jesus do can hang in there, because they see what He has taught on how to do this.
Often the Church can be accused of being the same as the Pharisees, and then a new freedom with God comes into being but then becomes religious again. But we need to remember when we see this that Jesus did not come and flout the religious rules to be mean, to cause hassle, to be sarcastic, to think He was better, but He came to do good and so must we.
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Judas
Its the summer holidays so I have a bit more time to think and blog!
I am reading my way through the Gospel of John at the moment and noticing things about the disciples that seem to be overlooked. Judas has always been seen as an evil man. He has been totally demonised. At the beginning of John chapter 11 we are told about Mary pouring expensive perfume over Jesus, unknowingly anointing Him for burial, and Judas challenging this. John uses this chance to inform us that Judas will go on to betray Jesus and we view his comments about it being a waste, John's comment on Judas taking from the shared purses, and Jesus "the poor will always be with you" statement.
Why did Judas take money from the common purse? What was there for him to spend it on? Why if Jesus knows all things did He pick Judas? And why did He give him the common purse to look after if He knew what he was like?
These guys are wandering around Palestine. What is there to spend money on? Did Judas sneak off for a quick cigarette? A craft drink? Womanizing? Or I wonder if he was giving money away to those he thought needed it but without Jesus' say so, and this is where I wonder if Judas is more like we are than we would care to see. How often do we do good deeds but do not check what Jesus wants? using the excuse that "its obvious"? How many projects, plans, desires, good deeds, missions, etc are not what Jesus wants and yet we do them anyway because we want to be compassionate? I do wonder if Judas was doing lots of good things and the point John wanted to make was that we should not do things, no matter how good, without the authority of Jesus otherwise these things are just us being the amazing humans God made us but not following after Jesus. It is said, in the commentary in my Bible, that Mary was honouring Jesus whilst He was here. I have heard many, who are extremely compassionate get upset when money is spent on churches, church projects, even looking back on the amazing gold and decorations in the medieval churches, and complain that it could've been spent on the poor, on justice missions, on "good deeds". In fact I know I have been guilty of thinking and saying that! But who is to say that those who put into His Church are not like Mary honouring Him whilst there is still time. As one knows in reading about Christians in other parts of the world they cannot even meet together let alone build a simple church without the risk of persecution and death. Perhaps we are meant to glorify His meeting places here?
Judas betrays Jesus, but there have been some thoughts on this that he did it because he could see where he thought things were going and wanted to make it right, want to manipulate Jesus into His kingdom on earth. The musical Jesus Christ Superstar explores this briefly. But again how after has the Holy Spirit started to move and we have enjoyed it but then seen a "better way" for it to be going in and so manipulated things. And then, like Judas, been remorseful and guilt ridden after wards, with some turning their backs on Jesus because of it.
So much of our view of the Bible, of God, of Christianity, has been tainted by what we've been taught, read, hear from others, read in classic and popular literature, with many thoughts from the superstitions of medieval times, that often we just regurgitate, whether believer or not. I believe as Christians we need to open our eyes and start learning straight from Jesus and asking for release from what we think we know. Judas may not be the bad guy we've allowed him to be made but maybe just like us in that situation!
I am reading my way through the Gospel of John at the moment and noticing things about the disciples that seem to be overlooked. Judas has always been seen as an evil man. He has been totally demonised. At the beginning of John chapter 11 we are told about Mary pouring expensive perfume over Jesus, unknowingly anointing Him for burial, and Judas challenging this. John uses this chance to inform us that Judas will go on to betray Jesus and we view his comments about it being a waste, John's comment on Judas taking from the shared purses, and Jesus "the poor will always be with you" statement.
Why did Judas take money from the common purse? What was there for him to spend it on? Why if Jesus knows all things did He pick Judas? And why did He give him the common purse to look after if He knew what he was like?
These guys are wandering around Palestine. What is there to spend money on? Did Judas sneak off for a quick cigarette? A craft drink? Womanizing? Or I wonder if he was giving money away to those he thought needed it but without Jesus' say so, and this is where I wonder if Judas is more like we are than we would care to see. How often do we do good deeds but do not check what Jesus wants? using the excuse that "its obvious"? How many projects, plans, desires, good deeds, missions, etc are not what Jesus wants and yet we do them anyway because we want to be compassionate? I do wonder if Judas was doing lots of good things and the point John wanted to make was that we should not do things, no matter how good, without the authority of Jesus otherwise these things are just us being the amazing humans God made us but not following after Jesus. It is said, in the commentary in my Bible, that Mary was honouring Jesus whilst He was here. I have heard many, who are extremely compassionate get upset when money is spent on churches, church projects, even looking back on the amazing gold and decorations in the medieval churches, and complain that it could've been spent on the poor, on justice missions, on "good deeds". In fact I know I have been guilty of thinking and saying that! But who is to say that those who put into His Church are not like Mary honouring Him whilst there is still time. As one knows in reading about Christians in other parts of the world they cannot even meet together let alone build a simple church without the risk of persecution and death. Perhaps we are meant to glorify His meeting places here?
Judas betrays Jesus, but there have been some thoughts on this that he did it because he could see where he thought things were going and wanted to make it right, want to manipulate Jesus into His kingdom on earth. The musical Jesus Christ Superstar explores this briefly. But again how after has the Holy Spirit started to move and we have enjoyed it but then seen a "better way" for it to be going in and so manipulated things. And then, like Judas, been remorseful and guilt ridden after wards, with some turning their backs on Jesus because of it.
So much of our view of the Bible, of God, of Christianity, has been tainted by what we've been taught, read, hear from others, read in classic and popular literature, with many thoughts from the superstitions of medieval times, that often we just regurgitate, whether believer or not. I believe as Christians we need to open our eyes and start learning straight from Jesus and asking for release from what we think we know. Judas may not be the bad guy we've allowed him to be made but maybe just like us in that situation!
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Julius Caesar
It must be in the air at the moment to read books about conquerors. Must say something about where I am/where God has me at the moment!!
This one I haven't yet finished but really the points that struck me as a Christian and again like with Genghis Khan of how we could be pulling together as a Body, are nearer the beginning when Julius is more idealistic and before he gets more into conquering for conquering sake.
Julius sees the vision of how Rome should be, a shared republic with everyone having an say and working to their talents, giving to make the best for Rome. He is frustrated with leaders who can only see as far as their own petty politics and wanting to be the best. As I sit here at home trying to decide where to go on this Easter Sunday, and even whether to go, I wonder how many congregation leaders will be thinking of their own groups, their own services, of wanting their stuff to bring in the most people, be the best, or how many are truly thinking and praying about the rest of their town, city, even county. How many leaders want the whole Body to grow or just their part of it? thinking that what they have is the best, the total?
I've just read a great bit on Gnosticm gathered by Fawn Parish which says that Gnosticm is where we the way into heaven is with a password and we have the password, not others. By that even some of the more lively charismatic congregations, who would never call themselves gnostics because they see that as something somber, aesthetic and introspective, actually are because they see their way as the only way. Check out Deeper Still which can be found by emailing Fawn on fawn@reignbridge.com
Julius's main aim, even as he gets more power hungry, is for the glory of Rome to envelope the whole earth. I just feel that as a follower of Jesus I need to be wanting that more and more. Not for people to "get it right", which often means just doing it the way I see as best, but of really wanting Jesus known every where, and so that those who know Him cannot keep quiet about Him and that includes me
This one I haven't yet finished but really the points that struck me as a Christian and again like with Genghis Khan of how we could be pulling together as a Body, are nearer the beginning when Julius is more idealistic and before he gets more into conquering for conquering sake.
Julius sees the vision of how Rome should be, a shared republic with everyone having an say and working to their talents, giving to make the best for Rome. He is frustrated with leaders who can only see as far as their own petty politics and wanting to be the best. As I sit here at home trying to decide where to go on this Easter Sunday, and even whether to go, I wonder how many congregation leaders will be thinking of their own groups, their own services, of wanting their stuff to bring in the most people, be the best, or how many are truly thinking and praying about the rest of their town, city, even county. How many leaders want the whole Body to grow or just their part of it? thinking that what they have is the best, the total?
I've just read a great bit on Gnosticm gathered by Fawn Parish which says that Gnosticm is where we the way into heaven is with a password and we have the password, not others. By that even some of the more lively charismatic congregations, who would never call themselves gnostics because they see that as something somber, aesthetic and introspective, actually are because they see their way as the only way. Check out Deeper Still which can be found by emailing Fawn on fawn@reignbridge.com
Julius's main aim, even as he gets more power hungry, is for the glory of Rome to envelope the whole earth. I just feel that as a follower of Jesus I need to be wanting that more and more. Not for people to "get it right", which often means just doing it the way I see as best, but of really wanting Jesus known every where, and so that those who know Him cannot keep quiet about Him and that includes me
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Genghis Khan
I should've done this ages ago whilst it was still fresh in my mind, but what with college, friends, family, etc, etc, etc I've not done it. But hopefully all I want to say will come out
We have just read a trilogy about Genghis Khan which I felt was a total story of what God wants His people to be like.
Genghis had been thrown out of his tribe by the new leader when he father died but during his time of intense survival got a vision that if he could unite the mongol tribes this would never happen to anyone else. Firstly he started with those who had no tribe, then started to gather the tribes. He discovered that the Chin people were actively encouraging war between the various mongol tribes as they knew if the tribes were fighting each other then China was safe.
How like church this has been over the ages - when someone is under the protect of the leader they are safe but if the leader dies or changes allegiance even that person is no longer safe. In church we can be quite brutal to those who don't fit in and there are many who "wander the plain alone not part of tribe" and are waiting for a leader. Also the devil is making sure the various denominations are always fighting amongst each other, always finding fault. Christians do more harm to each other than the outside world. Interestingly when I was doing my assignment for Religion and Philosophy even though other religions may go against there doctrine of "thou shalt not kill" Christians are the only ones who don't care about killing each other. - Ok so the Sunni and Shea Muslims do but this is much more clearly one side against the other, whereas Christians are ok about just going in for the kill with anyone who is not the same tribe as they are!
Another things was one of Genghis's brothers is threatened by a group of leaders from another tribe as Genghis is getting them all to live together and the beat him badly. But this brother says he knew if he called on the blood of Genghis, in other words said who his brother was they would not have dared to touch him
I wonder how ofter we forget to remind ourselves and our brothers in Christ that we are all related under His headship, and if we did call on The Blood of Jesus we would be safe for a good beating.
We do have someone who will join all the tribes together if only we would turn to him and stop trying to do it our own way. Jesus is the head and yet the parts of the Body seem quite happy to listen to the enemy, run around on their own, stab each other and not realise the damage they could do to the world if only they would unite.
Another thing was no one got left behind. When the warriors moved the families moved too. This worked in a way that meant the men would not go wandering to other women, but also that the children could see what warrior life really was. I think often when adults in the church do things they so often put on a separate even for the children, or behave in away that is different, rather than having the children watching, listening and learning of the battle they have to be in to be a Christian. The children then know the hardships as well as the glorious victories. I often wonder if our young people leave church because the going gets touch in the lives, especially as teenagers, they struggle with their walk with God, and yet all they have seen from the adults around them, sometimes even including their parents is this joyfulness because so many churches believe that we have to be happy clappy all the time.
Hope people are still out there watching and waiting for my blog. I'll facebook it and see if that helps. XX
We have just read a trilogy about Genghis Khan which I felt was a total story of what God wants His people to be like.
Genghis had been thrown out of his tribe by the new leader when he father died but during his time of intense survival got a vision that if he could unite the mongol tribes this would never happen to anyone else. Firstly he started with those who had no tribe, then started to gather the tribes. He discovered that the Chin people were actively encouraging war between the various mongol tribes as they knew if the tribes were fighting each other then China was safe.
How like church this has been over the ages - when someone is under the protect of the leader they are safe but if the leader dies or changes allegiance even that person is no longer safe. In church we can be quite brutal to those who don't fit in and there are many who "wander the plain alone not part of tribe" and are waiting for a leader. Also the devil is making sure the various denominations are always fighting amongst each other, always finding fault. Christians do more harm to each other than the outside world. Interestingly when I was doing my assignment for Religion and Philosophy even though other religions may go against there doctrine of "thou shalt not kill" Christians are the only ones who don't care about killing each other. - Ok so the Sunni and Shea Muslims do but this is much more clearly one side against the other, whereas Christians are ok about just going in for the kill with anyone who is not the same tribe as they are!
Another things was one of Genghis's brothers is threatened by a group of leaders from another tribe as Genghis is getting them all to live together and the beat him badly. But this brother says he knew if he called on the blood of Genghis, in other words said who his brother was they would not have dared to touch him
I wonder how ofter we forget to remind ourselves and our brothers in Christ that we are all related under His headship, and if we did call on The Blood of Jesus we would be safe for a good beating.
We do have someone who will join all the tribes together if only we would turn to him and stop trying to do it our own way. Jesus is the head and yet the parts of the Body seem quite happy to listen to the enemy, run around on their own, stab each other and not realise the damage they could do to the world if only they would unite.
Another thing was no one got left behind. When the warriors moved the families moved too. This worked in a way that meant the men would not go wandering to other women, but also that the children could see what warrior life really was. I think often when adults in the church do things they so often put on a separate even for the children, or behave in away that is different, rather than having the children watching, listening and learning of the battle they have to be in to be a Christian. The children then know the hardships as well as the glorious victories. I often wonder if our young people leave church because the going gets touch in the lives, especially as teenagers, they struggle with their walk with God, and yet all they have seen from the adults around them, sometimes even including their parents is this joyfulness because so many churches believe that we have to be happy clappy all the time.
Hope people are still out there watching and waiting for my blog. I'll facebook it and see if that helps. XX
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