One Day Everyone Will Get This

A great bit of film that reminds us that our work can be worship.
http://t.co/LFSACIld4X

Like a Cold Shower

My friend Tim Wills sent me this Spurgeon quote recently.  Some might find it depressing and negative but I find it strengthening.  Its withering intolerance is refreshing.  Like a cold shower.  

Every time we sin, we do as much as say, "I do not acknowledge God to be my sovereign; I will do as I please." Each time we speak an ill-word we really say, "My tongue is my own, he is not Lord over my lips." Yea, and everytime the human heart wandereth after evil, and lusteth for that which is forbidden, it attempts to dethrone God, and to set up the Evil One in his place. The language of sin is "Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice; I will not have God to reign over me." Sin is a deliberate treason against the majesty of God, an assault upon his crown, an insult offered to his throne.

Mark Driscoll on Prayer

I was doing a bible study this afternoon with a new Christian.  We were looking at Luke 11 and Jesus's teaching on prayer.   I was reminded of something Mark Driscoll said about what he thinks is the most important thing to say about prayer....

http://bit.ly/Xhejlm  

It's clear and simple but it's also winsome and attractive.

Aim Lower, Think Smaller, Give Up, Have a Cup of Coffee

Love this video.  Much food for thought and a great challenge....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0R6oAJCVvg

Rob Bell

 Rob Bell is one of the most influencial Christian leaders and writers of our day.  His book Velvet Elvis was a smash hit and his other books such as Sex God, Love Wins and Jesus Wants to Save Christians are close behind.

It's one thing to open  up issues for discussion but he crosses way too many lines with his "I'm just asking...I'm just wondering...." approach which leaves readers in a sea of confused ambiguity where nothing is certain and everything is up for grabs.  

The article below articulates, helpfully, I believe, the concerns I have as a Pastor.   

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/38743-rob-bells-recipe-for-spiritual-disaster

A Prayer for the Frontline

Our "Frontline" is the place where our faith in Christ intersects with those who aren't Christians.  Wherever this is for us can I offer you this prayer (courtesy of Chris Dinsdale of Chaplaincy Plus).  Of course your Frontline may not be a "workplace" as such, it might be the kitchen table if you share a house with people who aren't Believers, or it could be the school gate or the Pilates class -adapt the prayer as necessary!

My Heavenly Father, as I enter this work place, I acknowledge your presence ahead of me.

I speak Your peace, Your grace, Your mercy, and Your perfect order into  this office.

I acknowledge Your power over all that will be spoken, thought, decided, and done within these walls.

Lord, I thank You for the gifts you have blessed me with.  I commit to using them responsibly in Your honour.

Give me a fresh supply of strength to do my job.  Anoint my projects, ideas and energy, so that even my smallest accomplishment may bring You glory.

Lord, when I am confused, guide me.  When I am weary, energise me.  When I am burned out, infuse me with the light of the Holy Spirit.

May the work that I do and the way I do it bring faith, joy, and a smile to all that I come in contact with today.

And Oh Lord, when I leave this place, give me travelling mercy.

Bless my family and home to be in order as I left it.

Lord, I thank you for everything You've done, everything You're doing, and everything You're going to do.

In the Name of Jesus I pray, with much love and thanksgiving....Amen.

Gospel Maths

I talked on Sunday morning about "Gospel Maths" which tells us that:

Jesus + Nothing = Everything

This is such an important thing to get our heads round and to get into our experience.  Jesus is enough. Who He is and what He has achieved for us is everything we need.  

Through His atoning death on the cross there is now no condemnation for us (Romans 8:1), we can be led by His Spirit knowing life and peace (6), we can cut the legs of sin and temptation with the Spirit's sword (13), we can know adoption into God's family and Him as Father (15), we get an inheritance that can never fade, spoil or perish (17), we can know that however bad things get it's nothing compared to the good stuff we're going to receive (18), we realise that the aches and pains we suffer are difficult but not weird as we live in the "now and not yet" (23), we get to have the Holy Spirit praying for us (26) as well as Jesus Himself who's at the right hand of the Father (34), we can know that in ALL things God is working for our  good (28), we have God for us so who on earth can really be against us (31), we have the cross as the ultimate measure of God's commitment to us (32), we are not just conquerors but MORE THAN conquerors transforming bad stuff into God glorifying good stuff (37) and of course, because of Jesus, nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from His love (39).

We're tempted not to believe these truths.   We're tempted to believe that other things are necessary: money, health, nice kids, successful career, the acceptance of others, dramatic spiritual experiences, romantic relationships, food, fruitful Christian service, being "right"....we're tempted to believe that these things aren't just nice but essential.  

Of course we need Jesus.....but we're tempted to believe that in actual fact we've got to have these other things (delete as appropriate) - just look at how you react when you face the prospect of not having these.....follow the trajectory of your day dreams and nightmares......

Jesus + Nothing = Everything

And because we're inclined to forget that we've got all we need in Christ (see Romans 8) we need to continually rehearse these great truths and promises.   

We need to be reading our Bibles.   

It's not that we just "ought" to read them, "Jesus read His Bible so we should read the Bible". That kind of Sunday School moralism is death. We have to read our Bibles so that we can see Jesus.   We have  to read to see that He is precious beyond all things and that He is enough.   I have to read my Bible and I have to be under God's Word preached regularly because without it I forget and I buy the lie that says Jesus is enough for me.    And that's not true however much it feels true (and sometimes it does feel very true).   

Jesus is sufficient and I need to fight the fight of faith to believe this, knowing that as I trust God's Word, hearing it with faith, the Holy Spirit shows up in power (Galatians 3:5) and enables me to see Christ and all His glorious sufficiency (2 Cor. 4:4).  

Jesus + Nothing = Everything