distinctly askew
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Bankrupt without love. 1 Corinthians 12 (Message Translation). Designed by Stephen Murrill (@thesteveandrew).
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When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost! -
A conversation with GodYou say: It’s impossible.God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)You say: I’m too tired.God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)... ...
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For many of us, each day is display of controlled chaos that leaves us wishing for more time to spend doing the things we love. Like watch more Star...
I’ve been thinking about the different stories about Jesus’ resurrection in the days since Easter. One thing that has struck me again is how many times food is involved. Jesus cooks fish, breaks bread and eats with his friends when he comes to see them. What that all about?
I think one of the things that the foody bits in these stories are pointing too is ordinariness. There is something very normal and fleshed out about cooking, sitting down and eating. People need to do it, and often people really enjoy doing it.
The normality of eating is about the only ordinary thing about all these stories. Isn’t that the whole thing about the resurrection? It’s not normal, it’s the start of something totally new. Its completely outrageous and “oh my goodness I can’t believe it” surprising. God is all of those things too; He’s spectacular, amazing, outrageous and terrifying. But the Christian story suggests that in some ways he also makes himself normal and ordinary.
At the end of one of these stories, in Luke 24, Jesus tells his followers to stay put in Jerusalem until he has sent them “what the Father has promised…power from on high”. This connects the story with happens next, the story of Acts and all the great things the early church did with the power of the Holy Spirit.
In many ways its the Holy Spirit who carries on Jesus work of mixing outrageous God-ness and ordinaryness today. Its the Spirit who does remarkable miracles from time to time, but also meets normal people in the every day, ordinary miracles of life.
As we finish up our chocolate eggs (we got a lot in our house) and think about all that’s going on in this new season, I’m praying I would experience that same mix of extra-ordinary and ordinary in my life, and help those around me to experience it too. I’m asking God to let his spectacular power come into the everyday, normal and straightforward things I do from day to day; the tasks I have to do, the people I meet, the things that occupy my life. Maybe you’d like to ask God to do the same thing for you.
Colossians 3:23-24 NIVUK
A timely reminder for me as I commute into college after a full-on weekend. Hope it encourages you as you get on with whatever you do today.
Increasingly I’m realising just how much I need to hear God’s good news; I need to be evangelised. As I sat down to read these famous words this morning I was already thinking about some viral video I didn’t agree with. Getting all uptight about about people I thought were wrong.
But I need to remember that actually, I’m just as much in error. I wonder if this is really the summary of Jesus’ message:
“Your wrong, God is so much better than that.”
Its certainly what I hear most as I look at the Jesus-stories and think about my life, my preferences and my prejudices.
The word that jumped out at me today was humility: considering others better than yourself. I’m trained, by culture and by myself, to not be humble. As a functioning part of consumer society I have been formed to have tastes, to make choices, to have opinions and to consider these all important. To function in modern life I have become someone who considers himself better than others.
And along comes Jesus, and once again he says: you’re wrong.
Help me God, to live in your humble way. Amen.
Thinking about the stories of Jesus, the leper and the centurion from Matthew 8.
Wherever Jesus went people were loved and suffering was defeated.
Seems that is what he trained his disciples to do as well.
Who are you calling me to love?
Where are you calling me to destroy evil?
Give me strength and courage God.
A little praying out of my thoughts after a few great days at college.
Jesus you pissed people off.
The religious, the power holders and the freedom fighters; somehow you managed to confound each one of them.
You overturned temple tables, crossed taboos and loved with such spectacular disregard for the way things are done. Many were deeply attracted to you, but even your closest friends seem to been befuddled and infuriated.
And I think I know you? I would dare to believe I’ve heard all your stories and might be familiar with what you will do.
Forgive me for co-opting you Lord. And offend me once again. Overturn my holy tables and disabuse we with your radical love.
Then maybe I can become a little more like you. Amen.
He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
We got a new car just over a year ago. Its much bigger than our previous one, very helpful now we’re properly in family life. Just once or twice though I’ve almost got into trouble with it. I’ve been reversing and not see the person crossing behind me until its almost too late. I’ve been turning and only just noticed the cyclist coming up next to me. My big car is great, but I need to remember it has blind spots.
Recently I’ve been thinking about the blind spots in my walk in God. I remember David Westlake talking about this years ago, and reminding me that justice, mercy, compassion and standing up for the poor were almost always western blind spots. As I look over some of my choices and decisions I realise how right he was.
But there are other blind spots too, and perhaps they reveal themselves in the things I do, or don’t do, without thinking. Like being so used to multitask-life that I’m doing things on my phone when I’m talking to someone about something significant, or just spending time with my kids. Or walking past a bit of cleaning or tidying in the house and hope the mess-fairies will come and sort it (my wife loves that one!) Little things maybe, but do they reveal bigger issues?
We probably all have blindspots; what are yours? Relationships that are slightly wrong, attitudes to other people, little addictions that we just let go on: to drink, or consuming, or to work…
I don’t want to end up falling in a pit, and I don’t want to lead others into one. So recently I’ve been asking God to open my eyes. To help me become aware of the blind spots and give me strength to do something about them.
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
We are deeply suspicious of authority. That may not be a bad thing; a look at the last 100 years or so definitely shows that power is easily abused and often those who have it do not have our best interests at heart.
The way the bible tells it though, there is One who is not created and is not fallen, who is ultimately powerful and yet ultimately good. How, with our cynicism and suspicion of authority figures (again, not necessarily bad things) should we approach him?
We may not be as unique as we’d like to think. The psalms were written in pretty difficult circumsances, when kings could be bad, rulers could be oppressive and gods could easily turn out to be evil. These verses offer a way of coping with that tension; taste and see. Perhaps we’d say “try, before you buy”.
So taste and see that God is good, try out getting to know him, try talking to him. Perhaps then He might let you experience his goodness and challenge just a little of that suspicion.
Thinking about Peter and Cornelius (Acts 11). God has to free Peter from his loyalty to the old ways because He is doing something new.
Where are you doing new things today God? Where am I stuck holding on to the ways of the past?
Holy Spirit lead me, May I hold on the things worth keeping, and let go of the things that hold me back. Help me catch up with what You are doing in the world. Amen.
I love Mike Breen’s books so it is exciting to see that they have just been released in ibook and kindle versions. I’ve linked to the kindle versions but you can also find them in the Ibook store.
I have found 2 particularly helpful:
Covenant and Kingdom is an overview of the bible that follows the two threads of Covenant and Kingdom all the way through. Reading it is just like listening to Mike preach and brings many of the stories and characters to life in new ways. His teaching on these two themes has been one of the most useful things I’ve encountered over the past few years, helping resolve so many of those tricky questions I’ve wanted to ask the bible as I’ve picked it up and illuminating what it means to have a relationship with the God who is my loving Father and the ruling King.
Building a Disipling Culture I would call essential reading for anyone interested in learning how to help others become followers, disciples and missionaries of Jesus. I love this stuff. I’ve not yet read the new version - will be downloading it soon - and am looking forward to new material on leading huddles.
Go get!
I’ve been doing a little bit of writing for Scripture Union on their Wordlive site recently. This last one was published on Thursday.
If you’ve not looked at the rest of the site its well worth it - a great resource.
