Pressing On

What difference does it make to be a Christian? What does our relationship with God mean in the ongoing machinations of life? For some there might be some expectation that becoming a child of the Living God might mean that He, in His Sovereign power, will construct a wall around all His children, protecting them from anything bad ... after all, He wants to bless us right? No doubt, the first few weeks of life as a Christian demonstrated that this is not the case, but rather than allow your experience to cause you to doubt His presence use it to drive you further into experiencing His presence in all that you go through. In Hebrews 4:16 we read "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need" (ESV) It has been a long time since I have written anything in this blog, and I suppose what has been happening since I last wrote is indication sometimes blogging is not a priority. There are times when mini...

Due to the fact that I am a verbal reasoner, someone who prefers to talk things out rather than write about things, as well as the fact that in my current role a lot of time is spent on laptops writing emails, debrief reports, Conference minutes, vision statements etc. etc. ... you know 'the fun things!' ... I have recently been exploring options for less typing and more talking - which will alleviate the admin burden but also make tasks themselves perhaps more enjoyable. Here are my three easy solutions tried thus far and comments ... 1/ Phone a friend (or Skype) ... the bad thing about email is that it is a trap - People email me, I email a response ... but does it need to be this way? If people email me I could always ring them back ... duuuhh! However this is not as easy as it sounds ... if a response is required then I can write an email when it suits me, ie I am in control of the time, if I phone then they have to be available to take my call and talk - this is n...

Have just finished watching the review of the news on the Andrew Marr show, a political discussion show on BBC UK TV ... nothing out of the ordinary today except a comment that got me thinking. One contributor to the show was the Editor of 'The Huffington Post' http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ which currently has some 18k likes on their facebook page. At one point Andrew Marr was bemoaning the lack of real journalism and journalists in the press - to which she replied that at the HP there were only ~26 journalists but some 3000 bloggers whose opinions were included. The comment seemed to be expressing a desire for more facts and research rather than opinion. I also watched the film 'Contagion' last night which included a character, played by Jude Law, who had some 12m followers on his blog post and who swayed public opinion in what transpired to be a very unhelpful way (Hope that is not a spoiler ... watch the film - quite good!) Obviously Social Media has me...

I read this a few weeks ago ...  RT “ Thought you might be interested in this story- Minister To Atheist:  http://fry.am/JmDOEc  ” What an amazing story!  It got a small response at the time, but as Stephen Fry wrote it the millions who read his Tweet might have pursued it. (If the link above does not work try this  http://www.npr.org/2012/04/30/151681248/from-minister-to-atheist-a-story-of-losing-faith?sc=tw&cc=share ) There is a lot in this story that saddens me - not least the compassion I feel for anyone grappling with issues of faith. It would be great if there was just one button that can be switched on which removes all doubts and issues - but there isn't. What we have is the Holy Spirit that leads us into all truth, the Word that provides guidance and the 'body' that should encourage faith. That is 'the Church' but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much space for anyone, especially those in leadership, to acknowledge that they have doubts a...

Am currently attending a 10 day conference in Malaysia ... at the introductory session we were asked to reflect on this poem. Oh God I have tasted your Goodness, It has both satisfied me ad made me thirsty for more. I am fully conscious of my need of further grace, I am ashamed of my lack of desire. Oh God, Triune God, I want to want You. I long to be filled with longing. I thirst to be filled with longing. Show me Your glory, that I may know You, Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul ... rise up my love, my fair one and come away. Then give me grace to rise and follow You up from the misty lowland whare I have wandered for so long. A W Tozer Ponder, enjoy and be satisfied! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

I was recently challenged by reading through the book of Haggai. To set the scene the Old Testament prophet was speaking to the people of Jerusalem following their return from exile in Babylon - ie. post-deliverance from their bondage. So how does this speak to us today you might ask? For the purposes of my thoughts I was comparing their situation to mine, and to that of any Christian, we live post-deliverance ... Having been delivered through faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, from darkness into light, from bondage into liberty to live an abundant life in Christ. The question Haggai poses, and one we should all ask, is "What do we do with that freedom?" The phrase "Give careful thought to your ways ..." occurs a number of times. This comes as a challenge both to reflect on 'how your life actually is', and 'how your life should be'. This is what we must be doing as we seek to grow as disciples and mature in our faith. Questions such ...

I have nothing to add ... Suffice to say I trust the integrity of the source. I only publish these to give you the opportunity to "see" what God is doing around the world to draw people to Himself ... you may disagree with them, or you may have another plausible explanation - that is fine. What matters is what God is doing in someone's life due to the external circumstances as much as the external circumstances themselves .... He is at work to bring forth eternal life! I am often troubled by a verse in the book of Jonah in the Old Testament which says “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." As it demonstrates how strongly we can cling to things, practices etc which we hope will bring us peace, grace, mercy and love etc. and insodoing refuse to receive what is being offered so freely, Salvation in Christ, the receiving of which gives us the very things we are trying so hard to achieve ourselves. This in from a friend in Cambodia, a...