News Archive
March 2006
Reveals and conceals
In his address on Sunday morning, Mark talked about the transcendence and the imminence of God. The transcendence of God is his 'otherness'. His imminence is his 'closeness' (even dwelling within us). They go hand in hand and can't be separated, and when we lose one of them we lose the divine mystery in our worship.
We lose the wonder of the God who "reveals yet conceals; who invites yet hides; who rests yet never sleeps; who is the lion and the lamb; who thunders from heaven yet whispers to his children; who confounds yet confides." (Matt Redman, Facedown)
In their book 20th Century Theology, Roger Olson and Stanley Grenz say that “God is imminent in human experience as the transcendent mystery that cannot be comprehended in spite of its absolute nearness”. Or in English ... when we draw near to God, if all we find is a tame and cuddly God then we are not as near to him as we like to think!
God has made a way for us to have intimacy with him, as he intended. Where does this happen? In the holy of holies, made accessible only by the blood of Jesus shed once for all time.
In the boat
I attended a Scripture Union training event recently about using the bible creatively. What an excellent evening it was, quite inspiring! We looked at the story of "Jesus calms the storm" through drama, actions, parachute games and improvised music. In one part of the evening we lay quietly and listened to the sound of waves. It struck me that Jesus is with me in the boat, whatever storm I am going through.
Open book: Matt Dunn
What is the last book you read? There Is Always Enough by Rolland and Heidi Baker. It is the amazing story of their ministry to the poor and orphan children in Mozambique. It is quite literally miraculous and they have an amazing testimony of how God never runs out! And I've recently finished Breakthrough by Derek Morphew. This is a fantastic theological introduction to the subject of the Kingdom of God, and threads together the Kingdom theme from Genesis to Pentecost and looks forward to Jesus return. It gives an excellent discussion on the mystery of the Kingdom and enables you to understand terms like "inaugurated eschatology"! But more than that it offers a praxis for our faith in action. This could seriously change your Christian walk for the better.
What are you reading at the moment? Bob Sorge's vision for corporate worship called Following The River. It is a very challenging look at the way we run our worship services and draws from verses in both Ezekiel and Revelation to help us aspire to "Lamb centred" corporate worship lead from the congregation and facilitated by the "platform leaders".
What do you plan to read next? David Pawson's The Normal Christian
Birth. It challenges the evangelical (and pentecostal) views on the
"classic short prayer of commitment" and "initiation" into the Kingdom
and looks to birth the new Christian in a healthy and complete way that
prevents "spiritual disease" later in life due to a rushed and
incomplete "birthing experience". A very provoking book.
Memory verse tips
I don't have a good memory - and I'm sure I'm not alone. Can I encourage us all to try this discipline of learning scripture?
-- Use the verse as a screen saver.
-- Make a hard copy in large print and stick it on the mirror while you dry your hair.
-- Speak it back to God.
-- Record it and put it in your car as you go to work.
-- Write it on a card and take it out when you walk the dog.
Last Sunday evening's service scripture was Isaiah 40:28. If you are tired go on to the rest of the chapter and get restored!
Learning bible verses also helps you when praying for people: when you
find one that speaks into your soul learn it - and one day you will
find God will remind you of it when someone else needs it.
No satisfaction?
I was privileged to be at a conference recently with John and Carol Arnott from Toronto. The theme was Grace and Glory.
God really spoke to me afresh about his grace. I thought I understood what grace was all about. Perhaps I did, but somehow a light was switched on for me that weekend that helped me to enter deeper into God's grace rather than just having a good theology of grace.
We had wonderful times of just resting in the Father's presence during the three days. We saw people healed by the power of God; hearts released into the fullness of the Father's love, and many wonderful testimonies of God working deeply in people's lives.
» moreJog your memory
Jesus prayed for his disciples that the Father would “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth”, (John 17:17) and he said that "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
God uses our minds and understanding to change our hearts. So it is helpful to meditate on scripture in order to understand it better, and apply it to our lives. On Sunday (March 12th) we learned two verses. Here they are again to refresh your memory, plus one more from Phil’s evening sermon.
» moreOpen book: Andy Carlisle
What are you reading at the moment?
When God Waits: Making Sense of Divine Delays by Jerome Daley. God does some of his most important work in your life during times of waiting. Most of the great men and women of faith had to wait. Learn the lessons of waiting in a world that wants instant answers.
Which book (aside from the Bible) has had the biggest impact on you?
What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey. It made me think not just in terms of Jesus' death but what grace looks like and challenged me to think about my worldview and whether I was living graciously or still living to please people.
What are you planning to read next?
Bill
Clinton’s autobiography. It looks heavy and intellectual! I’m really
interested in what made him a leader and in his Christian roots.