Pressing On

I have been reading recently, and taking the opportunity over the quieter holiday period, to think about stillness. Three notable reads that I would recommend are "In the stillness" (Jock Anderson), "Too busy not to pray - Slowing down to be with God" (Bill Hybels) and "In the Name of Jesus" (Henri Nouwen) None of them present anything particularly new, or radical, in content - however they each point to a lifestyle that is radically different to that which we all seem to be living in this day and age ... particularly as we engage increasingly in social media. "the archenemy of spiritual authenticity is busyness, which is closely tied to something the Bible calls worldliness - getting caught up with this society's agenda, objectives and activities to the neglect of walking with God... time is required."(Hybels p100) So how do we live the authentic Christian life in a deep and meaningful way? They each point the reader to some helpful hints an

Permit me if you will to give a little personal testimony that will help frame my motivation for obedience to Christ and for yieldedness - which I proposed was the key to a fruitful life in my last blog. I became a Christian at University, at the age of 19. I had little exposure to Church before that and was not 'seeking' or 'in a crisis' ... Therefore I could only conclude that I was 'sought out' ... But by whom and why? The short answer to this is that I believe it was the Living God in order for me, the created, to enjoy a relationship with Him, the Creator. A passage of Scripture that became very special to me, very early on in my Christian life, and one which has framed all my subsequent decision making was Philippians 3:10-12 (NIV). In this passage the Apostle Paul writes: " I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrec