Some quotes worth remembering

Some bible verses worth remembering, from my readings today:

1. "Contend for the gospel which was once entrusted to all the saints" - Jude 1:3
2. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ" - 1 Tim. 2:5
3. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love, and of self discipline" - 2 Tim. 1:7
4. "You then my Son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" - 2 Tim. 2:1
5. "He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace" - 2 Tim. 1:9

And one from Mark Driscoll (Vintage Church, pg. 43):
"You can be baptized in the church, raised in the church, confirmed in the church, serve in the church, marry in the church, die in the church and have your funeral in the church, and still wake up in hell if you are merely in the church and not in Christ."

Tim Keller

Getting some helpful insights from a Tim Keller day in London last week, and now from his book "The Reason for God". Here's the first:

1. It is common for people to say that "fundamentalism" leads to violence, yet the reality is that ALL of us humans are fundamentalists, including atheists. We all have fundamental, unprovable faith commitments that we think are superior to those of others.

So the real question is which fundamental beliefs will lead a person to be most loving, humble, and receptive to other people and thus be most conducive to a peaceful world? The answer is Christianity. Unlike other systems of belief we believe that no-one is good enough and therefore all need to humble themselves. For example most people in our culture take a "moral improvement" view to life - that if there is a God then we can relate to him and go to heaven through leading a good life. Christianity teaches the opposite - we need forgiveness, grace, help, salvation. Hence once saved we should be humble and gracious, forgiving and helpful to the rest of humanity.

Historical example: The Graeco-Roman religion were very tolerant and open - everyone had his or her own God. At the same time the Christians fundamental view was that there is only 1 true God, Jesus Christ. OK, so which set of fundamental beliefs lead to more tolerance? One culture was brutal, the other not; one led to a huge divide between rich and poor, the other led to generous sharing a giving to their own poor and those of other faiths; In one women had low status with female infanticide, forced marriages being common, in the other there was far greater security and equality for women; During the terrible urban plagues of the 1st 2 centuries, who cared for the sick and the dying, even at the cost of their lives?

Answers on a postcard.

To be sure there have been terrible injustices inflicted in the name of (false) Christianity, but who can deny that Christianity's fundamental beliefs are a powerful impetus for peace in our troubled world?

Conducted a funeral last week for a man who committed suicide. It was a first for me, and I hope the last! Broke all our hearts, and reminded me of my all time favourite (extra-biblical) story, Acres of Diamonds:

A farmer lived in Africa, owned a nice big farm with a river running through the middle. One day a visitor, an expert in precious stones, told him how, all over Africa men were discovering diamonds. Bedazzled at the thought of making his millions, the farmer promptly sold his farm and headed for the diamond line. Sadly the months and then years passed and he found nothing. Wandering the length and breadth of the contintent he ended up poor and destitute, finally thowing himself into a river and drowning.

Meanwhile back on the farm he had sold, the new owner stumbled across an unusual looking stone by the river and placed it on his mantlepiece as a curio. The original visitor came calling again and, spotting the stone, asked to inspect it. Through his magnifying glass,beneath the dirt and grime, he realised he was holding the biggest diamond he had ever seen. The farmer soon discovered he was in fact sitting on acres of diamonds.

If the first farmer had only stayed and realised what he had right there, under his feet, things would have been so different. Do we appreciate the acres of diamonds we have right here right now? Relationships, beauty, life....above all the multifacted, pure, dazzling person of Jesus Christ. Do we stop and savour what we have?

Tragically our friend couldn't see what he had. God open our eyes to SEE.

Assurance leads to performance

It's amazing what a bit of assurance and security can do. Reminded of this in the cricket arena this week. Been to a couple of matches this year at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, Hampshire cricket's home ground. But last week got to see our heroes play against Durham at the intimate Mays Bounty ground, Basingstoke. A lot at stake. Durham aiming for a County Champsionship win, Hampshire trying to avoid relegation.

My boys got to play on the outfield as part of a juniors promotion on day 2. By the time we left that afternoon it looked like Durham had it in the bag, after Hampshire were out for 96 first innings. There was no way they were going to get 130 runs off the last 5 tail ender wickets on a wicket strewn pitch like this.

Ervine seals dramatic victory

Then up stepped Ervine. After two days of clatter, May's Bounty fell silent as Sean Ervine stood firm for more than three hours to steer Hampshire to an unlikely victory.
When Imran Tahir hit the winning runs to take Hampshire to the 240 target, Ervine was unbeaten on 94, easily his best championship score of the summer, having faced 169 balls and studiously seen off the continued threat of seamer Mark Davies.

The Zimbabwean all-rounder, who last week signed a two-year contract with Hampshire, said it was one of the best innings he had played: "I had to keep my nerve when wickets were falling all around me, so I was very pleased with my performance."

Here's the point - Talking to the Hampshire junior coach the day after, he commented that Ervine has just signed a new contract with Hampshire - "It's amazing how your performance improves when you feel secure" he said. WOW! Hit me between the eyes.

The Guardian Newspaper confirms - "Ervine, who put his innings down to a new bat and the confidence that came from signing a new two-year contract last week, survived some more playing and missing to win the day."

THAT's why I'm preaching through Ephesians - because if we can only know the assurance that we are chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, loved, secure - HIS FOREVER.... Greater assurance leads to greater performance.

Contrivances to waste time

Here's my problem - I am an enthusiast! I love life, I like to say yes to things. Family life is full on, Church life increasingly so, oh and then there's my Governor duties at Mayhill Junior school, the list goes on. And now there's more opportunities coming my way...

Been reading about another enthusiast this summer - the new biography of John Newton by Jonathan Aitkin. Enthusiast back then was a religious term refering to the evangelical mob, Wesley, Whitfield etc. Today I came across a letter written by Newton to the young parlimentarian William Wilberforce. In advising Wilberforce on how to be productive as a Christian in his call, Newton encourages him to "avoid worldy amusements", meaning "contrivances to waste time and banish reflection" (whilst at the same time not becoming an austere and unsociable figure.) Seemed a bit harsh at first, but it struck a chord.

Later I starting reading "Visoneering" by Andy Stanley. "The average person has the right to dream his own dreams and develop his own picture of what his future could and should be. But at the cross those of us who swore allegience to the savior lost that right. After all,we are not our own. We have been bought with a price. Remember the rest? We are to glorify - or honour - God with our bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-20)".

Next page Stanley says "As Christians we do not have the right to take our talents, abilities, experiences, opportunities, and education and run off in any direction we please. We lost that right at calvary. But then why would we dream of such a thing? God has a vision for your life. What could possibly be more fulfilling than that?"

So back to my problem - there are so many opportunities in front of me. I think I'm going to have to say no to something! Paul prays for the Phillippians that "They may be able to discern what is best" (Phil. 1:10).

We need to discern the best over the good. We need to "throw off everything that hinders" (Hebrews 12:1), so that we can run the race that is marked out specifically for each of us. This may include legitimate activities, except that they might be for you "contrivances to waste time and banish refelction".

I hope my new blog is not such a contrivance, but rather an oppurtunity for reflection.

On the other hand I guess that's a no to the cricket coaching training course that I have been offered then?!