Proprioception.
The therapeutic quality of water is that it stimulates the brain by providing it with so much feedback. I'm not basing this on anything scientific, I'll look it up later, so I could well be making this up. But experience is pretty authoritative. Not ultimately. But pretty.
When you lie on your back, knees bent and legs placed in a particular position, there is a sensation that courses through the whole body when you press down through the centre of the feet. The movement sings through from the bottom of the feet, inviting each of the parts of the spine to join the fluid dance on its pilgrimage to the crown - the centre of the top of the head. Except it isn't really a pilgrimage, because the movement is so instantaneous, that it's more of a celebration of unity that courses up and down this 'line', feet to crown. All from a push through the feet.
And although not the same as what I hazardously described above, immersion in water provides a similar kind of delight. The feedback of water comes from millions of molecules of hydrogen and oxygen in their mysteriously wet (and unified) incarnation pressing up against the skin, creating an image in the mind of an outline of the limbs, an outline of the self. This outline is something the mind and the body delight in, because it reminds both that they are a unified entity, a whole. If the body loses this sense of wholeness, and starts to compartmentalise and isolate movement ('leg forward', 'arm swing', instead of the whole body engaged in this inexplicable propulsion forward that springs from the core). For instance, my arm is prone to movement that is dislocated from the rest of the body. It jars, swinging in a rigid arc that is angled out from the body. There's no fluidity. My Feldenkrais practitioner refers to this as it being 'isolated out in space'. A good initial redress for this is simply by rolling - in water, on the ground. Both give the mind good feedback, but the emphasis of this is to anchor the movement in the spine. The mental image to sustain here is of your spine being a steel rod, running from coxic to crown, from which your legs and arms twirl. On the ground, keep the mind off the arms, and just repeat the movement until the arms are engaged fully in the movement of the spine.
I was listening to Dr Levitin, who was saying that movement and music are wired into our brains to be unified. Dance and communal movement as a response to music and sound and celebration is in our physiological makeup. This is part of my 'profound' revelation last week, and I really ought to unpack it more but I want to let it unwind itself a little more before I voice it.
I've taken up Tai Chi! I'm embracing the hippy within; no longer does she lie dormant! In other news, I'm moving to a commune. It's great.
But seriously, I ordered a home Tai Chi DVD on the recommendation of my OT, and have taken to moving like a loony whenever I'm listening to music. When I'm at the gym it's more methodical, for sure - but in my room it's full-throttle mayhem of the highest degree of ridiculousness. I've even taken to 'grooving' on the train. I use inverted commas there because I've never been a dancer - this condition has made me more reluctant to move because I'm self-conscious of my inability to move fluidly and as a whole self - but the truth is I never really 'got' dancing. Like, I could do it. But it never came to me intuitively like it did to other people, girls particularly. I was always very coordinated, and could follow instructions for choreographed dances, but freedancing? Let's just say I was too self-aware or lacking in creativity with my body to do so comfortably. But screw all that. I just want to move, I want to live my life as a whole self - I want to respond to the sensory input of everyday interactions of life with body and mind and soul unified. For so long I have been over-exerting my mind-self and stunting my body-self - poor, neglected temple! - at the expense of the whole self. The body isn't merely an instrument - we ARE body, we ARE mind, we ARE soul. All three. And when one is neglected, the other two are retarded because they take on roles that don't quite fit - they feel overburdened, or a bit awkward.
The revelation I had a few weeks ago (this is the summer for revelations!) was about life being about enjoying God, and enjoying all that He has created - relationships, people, senses, food, nature, art, EVERYTHING - so that He would be glorified, and so that we would all revel in His glory all the more, enjoying Him, and enjoying what He has done and made ... cycling and perpetuating and intensifying the enjoyment and delight, and magnifying His worth.
It made sense in my head.
Anyway, so the conclusion that I arrived at was that I want to take care of myself so that I can enjoy all those things more. I wanted to be physically healthy. Now I've always sought to be healthy. But the difference here is that I actually WANTED to be healthy - for a reason outside myself to motivate me.
I resolved to pursue fitness again because when I don't exercise the chemicals in my head have some sort of backlog and I go crazy. If only I were joking. And that affects the way I think, and the way I see myself, which affects me emotionally, which retards the way I relate to people. I often just want to stay by myself. Which is toxic!
So, I've been exercising more. Also, the great thing about exercise, is that the brain switches into a very kind of primal gear. The momentum of movement turns the cogs of the self so that you can process stuff. Well, not really - I mean, it can be that active, you certainly can think through all the situations in your life. I used to pray through particular friends and circumstances in a very ordered sort of way in my gym routine in 2009. But I don't really do that anymore. I've taken to letting my brain float around while I exercise now. It's very liberating.
Because I used to be motivated by a manic manifestation of guilt, a desperate, feverish mind cyclone. It was a frenzy to not waste a single second. Which I don't despise - I still do not want to waste my life! I still do want to leverage myself for what matters! The difference now is that I see value is loosening the metaphysical muscle of my mind, and engaging a different part of my self. Re-acquainting myself with my physical self. So that I can function better as a whole self.
And the best way to go about doing that is to breathe a sigh of release of control over the mind. Not switching it off. Just letting it wander and react however it will.
It's delightful.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Knitting
This week has been a profound one, for me.
I won't go into it, because it really isn't interesting or relevant to anyone but me. But something clicked in my head, or in some space, physical or metaphysical, that constitutes 'me'.
Part of it was the progress with my shoulder blades. Ridiculous? No. Take a moment to revel in the miracle that is functional shoulders! Seriously! Right now! Feel the scapula glide across the muscle like blades through water. What a glorious, complex and delightful movement.
My focus for the past 6 days has been on pinching the bottom of my shoulder blades together. The shoulder internally rotates, which means it kinda rolls forward. The spectacular interconnectedness of our bodies means that this limits and distorts the movement of the rest of the arm.
I've found it incredibly helpful having a tangible goal to focus on, rather than 'Just move right'.
On Tuesday, so, yesterday, I turned up to therapy very excited, because Monday was the first day I felt the difference of the whole shoulder blade thing. The celebrations were short-lived! Well, not really. I'm treasuring this progress. It's just that in that session, we made another massive step, in establishing that not only do I have diminished levels of proprioception (awareness of how I am moving in space), but I have a lack of wrist extension and excess ulnar deviation (wrist sliding away towards the little finger). It's so obvious now that it's pointed out to me, but being able to focus on constantly adjusted the way I hold my right hand, at rest, when reaching, when typing, is empowering. Not radically empowering in the feminist kind of way (I don't know why that came into my head), because it is freaking hard. This pattern of muscle memory and brain pathway is solidly entrenched. In fact, I probably had a propensity towards ulnar deviation before anything went wrong. I remember my oboe teacher used to give me an earful at the way I held my lower hand. But empowering in the 'vision over visibility' kind of way. I don't know how I'm going to physically change these movements. But I've had a vision breathed into my stale heart that has markedly lifted my spirits.
Also, I'm learning more about the body as a whole. At balancing everything. Whilst I usually manipulate the right hand with the left, since Tues I've been trying to break that subconscious habit, and instead 'range' the the left wrist with the right hand.
I was tired today (I've been working hard at the gym, doing weights, exercises, eating very carefully, etc) so was less strict with the hand today. By that I mean I cooked my dinner mostly with my left hand, saving a bit of whisking with the right and putting a few things away.
Man, movement is so important to the expression of our self. SO important. Its delicate fragility is beautiful. And precious.
I was knitting last night. And although the knitting didn't make me think of this at the time, I'm looking at the knitting needles now which lead my mind down this path - the care and detail of knitting is a remarkable choice of imagery to use in Psalm 139. I'm not sure what is so remarkable about it yet. I'll have to mull over it a bit. But it is remarkable.
All those interconnected muscles, bones, ligaments - a single movement is the unified symphony of them all, swelling in stunning effortlessness and precision.
One day I will be like that again. Gliding through space and time.
I won't go into it, because it really isn't interesting or relevant to anyone but me. But something clicked in my head, or in some space, physical or metaphysical, that constitutes 'me'.
Part of it was the progress with my shoulder blades. Ridiculous? No. Take a moment to revel in the miracle that is functional shoulders! Seriously! Right now! Feel the scapula glide across the muscle like blades through water. What a glorious, complex and delightful movement.
My focus for the past 6 days has been on pinching the bottom of my shoulder blades together. The shoulder internally rotates, which means it kinda rolls forward. The spectacular interconnectedness of our bodies means that this limits and distorts the movement of the rest of the arm.
I've found it incredibly helpful having a tangible goal to focus on, rather than 'Just move right'.
On Tuesday, so, yesterday, I turned up to therapy very excited, because Monday was the first day I felt the difference of the whole shoulder blade thing. The celebrations were short-lived! Well, not really. I'm treasuring this progress. It's just that in that session, we made another massive step, in establishing that not only do I have diminished levels of proprioception (awareness of how I am moving in space), but I have a lack of wrist extension and excess ulnar deviation (wrist sliding away towards the little finger). It's so obvious now that it's pointed out to me, but being able to focus on constantly adjusted the way I hold my right hand, at rest, when reaching, when typing, is empowering. Not radically empowering in the feminist kind of way (I don't know why that came into my head), because it is freaking hard. This pattern of muscle memory and brain pathway is solidly entrenched. In fact, I probably had a propensity towards ulnar deviation before anything went wrong. I remember my oboe teacher used to give me an earful at the way I held my lower hand. But empowering in the 'vision over visibility' kind of way. I don't know how I'm going to physically change these movements. But I've had a vision breathed into my stale heart that has markedly lifted my spirits.
Also, I'm learning more about the body as a whole. At balancing everything. Whilst I usually manipulate the right hand with the left, since Tues I've been trying to break that subconscious habit, and instead 'range' the the left wrist with the right hand.
I was tired today (I've been working hard at the gym, doing weights, exercises, eating very carefully, etc) so was less strict with the hand today. By that I mean I cooked my dinner mostly with my left hand, saving a bit of whisking with the right and putting a few things away.
Man, movement is so important to the expression of our self. SO important. Its delicate fragility is beautiful. And precious.
I was knitting last night. And although the knitting didn't make me think of this at the time, I'm looking at the knitting needles now which lead my mind down this path - the care and detail of knitting is a remarkable choice of imagery to use in Psalm 139. I'm not sure what is so remarkable about it yet. I'll have to mull over it a bit. But it is remarkable.
All those interconnected muscles, bones, ligaments - a single movement is the unified symphony of them all, swelling in stunning effortlessness and precision.
One day I will be like that again. Gliding through space and time.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Unexpected grace
Today was full of unexpected grace. Extravagant, undeserved, unexpected grace.
It began with a Skype conversation with a good friend who is just flying into Atlanta for the Passion 2011 Conference. This reminded me of the things God has done in my heart through and since I was there this time last year.
I then went back to sleep, which in itself was a beautiful thing: the luxury of sleep. The blessing of leisure.
A brother kindly drove me up to the station, inconveniencing himself.
I met with a friend who I haven't seen much of for the past 3 years, but who was gracious to me, given I was 25 minutes late (due to sleeping in).
We spoke about so many things, which was just a joy to be able to rest in comfortable conversation on so many topics. We spoke particularly about shame and guilt and forgiveness; about church and sincerity; and about shinkydinks. Into my head 'Cottage Church' just appeared, and I just suggested that we hit it up at St Stephens church. For no particular reason; I'd never been there, and I only knew of one person who went. so, we walked from Circular Quay to Newtown, stopping at Redeye, Maccas and Victoria Park on the way. It was a joy, and beautiful weather.
We perused the graveyard and contemplated death and the brevity that is life. Chooka decided his epitaph would be: 'Chooka Wright: Freakin' Awesome'.
The Cottage Church was a delight. The people were genuinely eager to know us; they took us around their community garden, made us coffee, and made us feel very welcome.
The talk was on new starts; from John 21. It was precisely on the topic of conversation we had been having all day about forgiveness and shame and guilt. I laughed on the inside, and later aloud as Chooka commented on the same 'coincidence'. It's cool to know that God puts ideas into our heads.
By the time it finished, (after having BBQ fish) it was 7pm, and Church in the Graveyard was starting, so we decided to go there as well.
It was beautiful and refreshing.
Roger spoke on Jonah 1, and I was particularly confronted by what it might look like in my life to live in abandonment - from myself, to God's will. What it would mean for me to show compassion to those unlike me. What things are keeping me from showing compassion on those unlike me?
Fear, probably. Fear that they won't like me for the words I speak. Much like Jonah, the people who need Jesus in my life are scary and many, and that intimidates me. But the God who wants to bring them life also happens to be the 'God who made the land and the sea' - and them. They belong to Him. And He loves them, and wants to show compassion to them.
Forgetfulness, definitely. Forgetfulness of the extravagant compassion that has been poured out on me, daily. Forgetfulness of what extravagant compassion that has been lavished on me on the cross.
And a shortsightedness. A shortsightedness of the power of God to save; is His arm too short to save?? A shortsightedness of the radiant beauty of my redeemer; this is GOOD news.
Who are the people I need to be intentional about showing compassion to, because of the compassion that has been shown to me?
The intelligent people who do my course.
The people in my street.
Those of different faiths at my university.
I'm nervous about that. But I deeply desire the heart renovation in myself, and in them. May He have His way!
Lord and Redeemer. Please give me your love for these people, and fuel me with the compassion you have given me, that I might show them compassion in all my interactions with them. That they might turn and fear and praise you. For you are worthy of more than all our praise. Amen.
It began with a Skype conversation with a good friend who is just flying into Atlanta for the Passion 2011 Conference. This reminded me of the things God has done in my heart through and since I was there this time last year.
I then went back to sleep, which in itself was a beautiful thing: the luxury of sleep. The blessing of leisure.
A brother kindly drove me up to the station, inconveniencing himself.
I met with a friend who I haven't seen much of for the past 3 years, but who was gracious to me, given I was 25 minutes late (due to sleeping in).
We spoke about so many things, which was just a joy to be able to rest in comfortable conversation on so many topics. We spoke particularly about shame and guilt and forgiveness; about church and sincerity; and about shinkydinks. Into my head 'Cottage Church' just appeared, and I just suggested that we hit it up at St Stephens church. For no particular reason; I'd never been there, and I only knew of one person who went. so, we walked from Circular Quay to Newtown, stopping at Redeye, Maccas and Victoria Park on the way. It was a joy, and beautiful weather.
We perused the graveyard and contemplated death and the brevity that is life. Chooka decided his epitaph would be: 'Chooka Wright: Freakin' Awesome'.
The Cottage Church was a delight. The people were genuinely eager to know us; they took us around their community garden, made us coffee, and made us feel very welcome.
The talk was on new starts; from John 21. It was precisely on the topic of conversation we had been having all day about forgiveness and shame and guilt. I laughed on the inside, and later aloud as Chooka commented on the same 'coincidence'. It's cool to know that God puts ideas into our heads.
By the time it finished, (after having BBQ fish) it was 7pm, and Church in the Graveyard was starting, so we decided to go there as well.
It was beautiful and refreshing.
Roger spoke on Jonah 1, and I was particularly confronted by what it might look like in my life to live in abandonment - from myself, to God's will. What it would mean for me to show compassion to those unlike me. What things are keeping me from showing compassion on those unlike me?
Fear, probably. Fear that they won't like me for the words I speak. Much like Jonah, the people who need Jesus in my life are scary and many, and that intimidates me. But the God who wants to bring them life also happens to be the 'God who made the land and the sea' - and them. They belong to Him. And He loves them, and wants to show compassion to them.
Forgetfulness, definitely. Forgetfulness of the extravagant compassion that has been poured out on me, daily. Forgetfulness of what extravagant compassion that has been lavished on me on the cross.
And a shortsightedness. A shortsightedness of the power of God to save; is His arm too short to save?? A shortsightedness of the radiant beauty of my redeemer; this is GOOD news.
Who are the people I need to be intentional about showing compassion to, because of the compassion that has been shown to me?
The intelligent people who do my course.
The people in my street.
Those of different faiths at my university.
I'm nervous about that. But I deeply desire the heart renovation in myself, and in them. May He have His way!
Lord and Redeemer. Please give me your love for these people, and fuel me with the compassion you have given me, that I might show them compassion in all my interactions with them. That they might turn and fear and praise you. For you are worthy of more than all our praise. Amen.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Weakness and grace
J.I. Packer on grace:
J.I. Packer, Knowing God, InterVarsity Press, 1993, p. 250.
Grace is God drawing us sinners closer and closer to himself.
How does God in grace prosecute this purpose? Not by shielding us from assault by the world, the flesh and the devil, nor by protecting us from burdensome and frustrating circumstances, nor yet by shielding us from troubles created by our own temperament and psychology; but rather by exposing us to all these things, so as to overwhelm us with a sense of our own inadequacy, and to drive us to cling to him more closely. This is the ultimate reason, from our standpoint, why God fills our lives with troubles and perplexities of one sort and another: it is to ensure that we shall learn to hold him fast. The reason why the Bible spends so much of its time reiterating that God is a strong rock, a firm defense, and a sure refuge and help for the weak, is that God spends so much of his time bringing home to us that we are weak, both mentally and morally, and dare not trust ourselves to find or to follow, the right road.
J.I. Packer, Knowing God, InterVarsity Press, 1993, p. 250.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Here's my heart, you're dwelling inside, I place it in Your hands.
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
This passage is from Isaiah 30.15-16. It speaks about how Israel were told by their God to not go and look for security in alliances with other nations, but to do nothing, and to trust in Him and His power. For,
I'm finding this hard to apply to my life. I'm in a situation in which the way forward is not clear. The ball is not in my court, and I find that really hard. I feel a constant temptation to take control and make things happen, to look to my resources and the resources of those around me.
How do I reconcile this waiting on God, this quietness and trust, with His desire for His people to not be passive?
From what I can see in Scripture, it is coming before Him, and laying my desires at His feet, acknowledging my utter dependence upon Him, my inability to do anything apart from Him and crying for help.
He will guide those who trust in Him with ALL of their hearts, not just when they understand what He is doing in a particular situation. (Prov 3.5-6).
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Praise Him for His unFAILING love.
For in him we live and move and have our being.
Acts 17:28
Utter dependence. His breath fills up my lungs.
As for me, this is a battle to surrender my will and my desire for control to Him who's story this is.
Listening now to Christy Nockels's "In Your Hands".
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
This passage is from Isaiah 30.15-16. It speaks about how Israel were told by their God to not go and look for security in alliances with other nations, but to do nothing, and to trust in Him and His power. For,
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
I'm finding this hard to apply to my life. I'm in a situation in which the way forward is not clear. The ball is not in my court, and I find that really hard. I feel a constant temptation to take control and make things happen, to look to my resources and the resources of those around me.
How do I reconcile this waiting on God, this quietness and trust, with His desire for His people to not be passive?
From what I can see in Scripture, it is coming before Him, and laying my desires at His feet, acknowledging my utter dependence upon Him, my inability to do anything apart from Him and crying for help.
How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30.19-21
He will guide those who trust in Him with ALL of their hearts, not just when they understand what He is doing in a particular situation. (Prov 3.5-6).
Psalm 33
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Praise Him for His unFAILING love.
For in him we live and move and have our being.
Acts 17:28
Utter dependence. His breath fills up my lungs.
As for me, this is a battle to surrender my will and my desire for control to Him who's story this is.
Listening now to Christy Nockels's "In Your Hands".
Humility and grace
People who live in the moral-performance narrative use sarcastic, self-righteous putdown humor, or have no sense of humor at all. Lewis speaks of "the unsmiling concentration upon Self, which is the mark of hell." The gospel, however, creates a gentle sense of irony. We find a lot to laugh at, starting with our own weaknesses. They don't threaten us anymore because our ultimate worth is not based on our record or performance.
Martin Luther had the basic insight that moralism is the default mode of the human heart. Even Christians who believe the gospel of grace on one level can continue to operate as if they have been saved by their works. In "The Great Sin" in Mere Christianity, Lewis writes, "If we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good—above all, that we are better than someone else—I think we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the Devil."
Gracious, self-forgetful humility should be one of the primary things that distinguishes Christian believers from the many other types of moral, decent people in the world. But I think it is fair to say that humility, which is a key differentiating mark of the Christian, is largely missing in the church. Nonbelievers, detecting the stench of sanctimony, turn away.
...
Third, humility is only achieved as a byproduct of understanding, believing, and marveling in the gospel of grace. But the gospel doesn't change us in a mechanical way. Recently I heard a sociologist say that for the most part, the frameworks of meaning by which we navigate our lives are so deeply embedded in us that they operate "pre-reflectively." They don't exist only as a list of propositions, but also as themes, motives, and attitudes. When we listen to the gospel preached or meditate on it in the Scriptures, we are driving it so deeply into our hearts, imaginations, and thinking that we begin to instinctively "live out" the gospel.
So let us preach grace till humility just starts to grow in us.
The above was written by Tim Keller in this article.
I need to preach grace to myself, daily. Pride manifests itself not only as contempt and arrogance, but also as contempt for and feelings of superiority towards those who are contemptuous and arrogant.
Spirit, move me, change me. Preach grace to my stubborn heart.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
When I was small, my brothers and I set up a tent in the backyard, just by the hills hoist, and camped out on Christmas Eve. The tent was positioned so that we had a good view of the Christmas tree through the back window. We arranged a roster so that each of us would sit outside the tent and keep watch for Santa; if we saw anything suspicious, we were to wake the others.
I remember that we woke early in the morning, it must've been 3 or 4am, to witness two very un-Santa-looking parents, clad in pyjamas and a Santa hat, crouched beneath the tree, arranging presents and stockings.
I remember the thrill of knowing that it was my parents. It meant I could be thankful to a real person.
Similarly, there is a deep thrill in the incarnation, the night on which the infinite God took on flesh. Because it means that I can know God; as a human person.
I remember that we woke early in the morning, it must've been 3 or 4am, to witness two very un-Santa-looking parents, clad in pyjamas and a Santa hat, crouched beneath the tree, arranging presents and stockings.
I remember the thrill of knowing that it was my parents. It meant I could be thankful to a real person.
Similarly, there is a deep thrill in the incarnation, the night on which the infinite God took on flesh. Because it means that I can know God; as a human person.
Friday, December 24, 2010
visa
Weaving throughout preoccupied consumers
and distracted thoughts
of temptation:
be the same.
But I am not a citizen here.
I must remember my allegiances.
I must remember my King.
and distracted thoughts
of temptation:
be the same.
But I am not a citizen here.
I must remember my allegiances.
I must remember my King.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A friend
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Proverbs 12.25.
A few months ago, I met a person who is unlike anyone I have ever met before. Maybe that sounds trite.
At the time that I met him, he was a friend's friend; I needed a last-minute lift up to the mountains, and I was given his number as someone who would be able to pick me up.
The conversation for that 2 (or was it 3? We got a little lost..) hours baffled me: my new friend genuinely spoke what was on his mind. Sans filter, it seemed.
Jesus said that the words people speak come from the heart (Matthew 15.18; Proverbs 16.23; 22.17-18; 27.19), and if one thing struck me by my friend's nearly constant stream of conversation it was this:
My friend actually does this. And the effect it has on the people around him is one of contagion. His friends seek to know their Lord more fully, to think His thoughts after Him.
The other thing about this friend, is that he delights in the saints (Ps16.3). His words are nearly always ones of affirmation. Whatever is in his heart, his words indicate that he considers others better than himself (Phil 2.3-4).
He is conscious of and humble about his sinful tendencies, and by confessing them to those around him (James 5.16; 1 John 1.9) he creates a very healthy foundation for relationships; it also has a magnet effect. People want to be around people who are not afraid of their shortcomings, but who know that their God is greater than their hearts (1 John 3.20).
Finally, his kindness and faithfulness to me is what has struck me the most. I don't know this friend very well. But his generosity, kindness and faithfulness have really moved me.
He prays fervently for my friends who are lost, or wandering, or hurt. He cares for me like a sister (Hebrews 13.1) or a mum, haha (1 Tim 5.2), being observant about how my heart is, whilst being careful that his concern isn't mistaken for romantic interest.
THIS is what makes my heart rejoice: it is SO rare for my brothers in Christ to care for their sisters in Christ in these ways, because too often such concern IS mistaken for interest. There needs to be a paradigm shift away from only caring for those in whom you're interested.
Because so many of us have hearts that are anxious and weighed down; yet too few of us are speaking kind words. Probably because kindness is looked down on in the economy of language; we don't know how to speak kind words without feeling boring, and we don't know how to receive them without feeling awkward.
My friend often blogs about his friends, rejoicing in them. I thought it was time I did the same for him.
Thanks Faf.
Lord, bear the fruit of your Spirit in us. Please, change our hearts, that we might consider others better than ourselves, and so be free to speak kind words that build one another up. Thank you for the work you've done in Faf, and I pray that You will continue to magnify Your fame and worth through him, for the display of Your splendour. Build him up, and sustain him by the power of Your Word. Keep him abiding in Jesus. Amen.
A few months ago, I met a person who is unlike anyone I have ever met before. Maybe that sounds trite.
At the time that I met him, he was a friend's friend; I needed a last-minute lift up to the mountains, and I was given his number as someone who would be able to pick me up.
The conversation for that 2 (or was it 3? We got a little lost..) hours baffled me: my new friend genuinely spoke what was on his mind. Sans filter, it seemed.
Jesus said that the words people speak come from the heart (Matthew 15.18; Proverbs 16.23; 22.17-18; 27.19), and if one thing struck me by my friend's nearly constant stream of conversation it was this:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deut 6.4-9
My friend actually does this. And the effect it has on the people around him is one of contagion. His friends seek to know their Lord more fully, to think His thoughts after Him.
The other thing about this friend, is that he delights in the saints (Ps16.3). His words are nearly always ones of affirmation. Whatever is in his heart, his words indicate that he considers others better than himself (Phil 2.3-4).
He is conscious of and humble about his sinful tendencies, and by confessing them to those around him (James 5.16; 1 John 1.9) he creates a very healthy foundation for relationships; it also has a magnet effect. People want to be around people who are not afraid of their shortcomings, but who know that their God is greater than their hearts (1 John 3.20).
Finally, his kindness and faithfulness to me is what has struck me the most. I don't know this friend very well. But his generosity, kindness and faithfulness have really moved me.
He prays fervently for my friends who are lost, or wandering, or hurt. He cares for me like a sister (Hebrews 13.1) or a mum, haha (1 Tim 5.2), being observant about how my heart is, whilst being careful that his concern isn't mistaken for romantic interest.
THIS is what makes my heart rejoice: it is SO rare for my brothers in Christ to care for their sisters in Christ in these ways, because too often such concern IS mistaken for interest. There needs to be a paradigm shift away from only caring for those in whom you're interested.
Because so many of us have hearts that are anxious and weighed down; yet too few of us are speaking kind words. Probably because kindness is looked down on in the economy of language; we don't know how to speak kind words without feeling boring, and we don't know how to receive them without feeling awkward.
My friend often blogs about his friends, rejoicing in them. I thought it was time I did the same for him.
Thanks Faf.
Lord, bear the fruit of your Spirit in us. Please, change our hearts, that we might consider others better than ourselves, and so be free to speak kind words that build one another up. Thank you for the work you've done in Faf, and I pray that You will continue to magnify Your fame and worth through him, for the display of Your splendour. Build him up, and sustain him by the power of Your Word. Keep him abiding in Jesus. Amen.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The Toe-heart
Big toe brushes against the grass;
it revels in the smoothness and delights.
Big toe grates against the asphalt;
it jolt and reacts against the harshness.
A layer of hurt builds up.
Time after time, layers on top of
layers.
Soon the callous masks true
sensation.
And now I have a toe-heart.
it revels in the smoothness and delights.
Big toe grates against the asphalt;
it jolt and reacts against the harshness.
A layer of hurt builds up.
Time after time, layers on top of
layers.
Soon the callous masks true
sensation.
And now I have a toe-heart.
Valentine
Bustle, colour, movement, haze, quavers - pause:
my eyes lock with Valentine's.
A moment's contact,
a moment's decision.
"Will you come for a drink with me?"
The loneliness of those dark brown eyes,
framed with dashes of red eyeshadow (half-rubbed off)
and alienation (still very much there).
(His) words spin (her) past into contradictory realities,
of Russian up-bringing, a time in Cambodia, New York and London,
as her frail, bruised, hands lift a glass of red to
broken, scabbed lips:
the gift of clients who leave every ounce of goodness at the door.
"A Satanist, I'm a Christian, but the opposite,"
as his eyes make me wonder whether something does reside behind them.
The pentagram tattooed on his arm,
is just another breath amidst the confused
messages muttering across his skin.
A child's smile lit up his face,
as he sang his own little tunes to me
across the table in the crowded bar.
Reaching out for gentle human touch,
and jumpy about being tossed aside,
as so many have before:
"Don't check your phone. Just be with me."
The absent listlessness of a sex worker.
The Spirit of Jesus wept inside of me.
my eyes lock with Valentine's.
A moment's contact,
a moment's decision.
"Will you come for a drink with me?"
The loneliness of those dark brown eyes,
framed with dashes of red eyeshadow (half-rubbed off)
and alienation (still very much there).
(His) words spin (her) past into contradictory realities,
of Russian up-bringing, a time in Cambodia, New York and London,
as her frail, bruised, hands lift a glass of red to
broken, scabbed lips:
the gift of clients who leave every ounce of goodness at the door.
"A Satanist, I'm a Christian, but the opposite,"
as his eyes make me wonder whether something does reside behind them.
The pentagram tattooed on his arm,
is just another breath amidst the confused
messages muttering across his skin.
A child's smile lit up his face,
as he sang his own little tunes to me
across the table in the crowded bar.
Reaching out for gentle human touch,
and jumpy about being tossed aside,
as so many have before:
"Don't check your phone. Just be with me."
The absent listlessness of a sex worker.
The Spirit of Jesus wept inside of me.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sweeping Statement of the Day
"The beginning of man's rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart." - Francis Schaeffer
Entitlement is the disease that robs a heart of joy, infests it with bitterness, and cripples your ability to engage with people meaningfully.
Entitlement is the disease that robs a heart of joy, infests it with bitterness, and cripples your ability to engage with people meaningfully.
Fish and Snakes
A father isn't unloving when he doesn't give his child what they ask for. Not when the child asks for something that would hurt her.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 9.11
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 9.11
Monday, December 20, 2010
Things I Have Come To Realise About Myself:
1. I used to think I was not an easily angry person. I was wrong.
2. I used to mask or filter my less desirable traits by holding my tongue. I held onto that ability to restrain as a kind of holiness.
3. In fact, it just allowed me to ignore the corruptions in my heart, because I wasn't letting them see the light of day. Or, rarely.
4. Injustice brings out a rage that I cannot control or restrain very well.
5. I think it's repulsive that I am more personally offended by injustices on the hockey field than I am by injustices in brothels in Phnom Penh.
Save me from myself. Make me clean.
2. I used to mask or filter my less desirable traits by holding my tongue. I held onto that ability to restrain as a kind of holiness.
3. In fact, it just allowed me to ignore the corruptions in my heart, because I wasn't letting them see the light of day. Or, rarely.
4. Injustice brings out a rage that I cannot control or restrain very well.
5. I think it's repulsive that I am more personally offended by injustices on the hockey field than I am by injustices in brothels in Phnom Penh.
Save me from myself. Make me clean.
war.
My enemies are mostly invisible. And those who fight against me are mostly given implicit permission by their victim.
Fight them, Lord. Especially when I don't.
Psalm 35
1 Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor;
arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.”
...
22 LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent.
Do not be far from me, Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praises all day long.
Fight them, Lord. Especially when I don't.
Psalm 35
1 Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor;
arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.”
...
22 LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent.
Do not be far from me, Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praises all day long.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
noughts and crosses
It's not about trying to not be what you are.
It's not about trying to not be angry, or depressed, or sick, or gay.
That misses the point.
It's about not ceding that those things are your master.
It's about choosing Jesus to be your Lord.
And it's about Him being more than enough. That sufficiency is not just for a heart that is OK with what His Lordship means for it and its desires. That sufficiency is for a heart that is not OK with what His Lordship means for it; but chooses 'vision over visibility', chooses to trust that His Lordship is good and right because He is full of both grace and kindness AND truth and holiness.
That sufficiency is for a heart that will choose to put itself (angry, depressed, sick, gay) SECOND to what He wants.
You may well still be angry, depressed, sick or gay. But you have a choice over who will be your master (those things, or Jesus).
It is at that juncture that the posture of your heart (one of faith and trust and obedience) can mean that you choose to bow to Jesus, not anger or homosexuality. You can still have the desires that flow from anger/homosexuality's presence in your heart, but the Spirit's work in your heart to make your cravings for Jesus to reign supreme over all those competing desires means that you choose to love Jesus more than you love those other things. 'If you love me, you will obey me.'
Dying to yourself and your desires, dispositions and postures of your heart isn't easy. Surely no one is that naive. It's agony. Torture.
But I suspect that that's not incongruous with taking up your cross and dying to your self.
The self can be full of anger and pride and misplaced desires, but the regenerate self can choose to not be mastered by them. The regenerate self can choose to put them off, take up whatever cross He lays before you and follow Him to a place of radical love.
And I suspect that the present cries of "It's unfair" won't be what's on our lips when He appears. I suspect that we will instead be overwhelmed by how gracious He was in allowing us the opportunity to choose to bow and have our stubbornness worn away.
Let me briefly qualify what I've said by saying that His Lordship certainly does change things. His Spirit does mould us in His likeness. But you don't bow the knee AFTER you've been conformed to His likeness. You bow the knee during the process of sanctification, even BEFORE your heart has been rid of the blemishes of this world.
Because it's the competing affections that make the choosing to love Jesus all the more authentic. It makes the love robust.
May we rest in His grace, and out of spiritual bankruptcy cry to Him to give us cravings to know Him more deeply that override all competing desires. May love be our fuel to plough into Him more deeply, allow Him to plough more deeply into us, and apprehend Him more fully, as He has already taken hold of us.
It's not about trying to not be angry, or depressed, or sick, or gay.
That misses the point.
It's about not ceding that those things are your master.
It's about choosing Jesus to be your Lord.
And it's about Him being more than enough. That sufficiency is not just for a heart that is OK with what His Lordship means for it and its desires. That sufficiency is for a heart that is not OK with what His Lordship means for it; but chooses 'vision over visibility', chooses to trust that His Lordship is good and right because He is full of both grace and kindness AND truth and holiness.
That sufficiency is for a heart that will choose to put itself (angry, depressed, sick, gay) SECOND to what He wants.
You may well still be angry, depressed, sick or gay. But you have a choice over who will be your master (those things, or Jesus).
It is at that juncture that the posture of your heart (one of faith and trust and obedience) can mean that you choose to bow to Jesus, not anger or homosexuality. You can still have the desires that flow from anger/homosexuality's presence in your heart, but the Spirit's work in your heart to make your cravings for Jesus to reign supreme over all those competing desires means that you choose to love Jesus more than you love those other things. 'If you love me, you will obey me.'
Dying to yourself and your desires, dispositions and postures of your heart isn't easy. Surely no one is that naive. It's agony. Torture.
But I suspect that that's not incongruous with taking up your cross and dying to your self.
The self can be full of anger and pride and misplaced desires, but the regenerate self can choose to not be mastered by them. The regenerate self can choose to put them off, take up whatever cross He lays before you and follow Him to a place of radical love.
And I suspect that the present cries of "It's unfair" won't be what's on our lips when He appears. I suspect that we will instead be overwhelmed by how gracious He was in allowing us the opportunity to choose to bow and have our stubbornness worn away.
Let me briefly qualify what I've said by saying that His Lordship certainly does change things. His Spirit does mould us in His likeness. But you don't bow the knee AFTER you've been conformed to His likeness. You bow the knee during the process of sanctification, even BEFORE your heart has been rid of the blemishes of this world.
Because it's the competing affections that make the choosing to love Jesus all the more authentic. It makes the love robust.
May we rest in His grace, and out of spiritual bankruptcy cry to Him to give us cravings to know Him more deeply that override all competing desires. May love be our fuel to plough into Him more deeply, allow Him to plough more deeply into us, and apprehend Him more fully, as He has already taken hold of us.
Tag
I know that you know that I know you're over there,
and I know that I hate that you know that
of all these people
you're the one whose voice I want to hear.
It's a game
Of tag with pheromones,
and careful nonchalance, feigned ignorance.
It's an exhilaration
Of self-conscious zeal,
and monitored eye tag, deliberate accidental brushes past your shoulder blade.
Mine are like paperclips to your magnet eyes
from across the circle.
My mind is fully present when you speak,
shelving all other weights,
displaced by your company.
My hands are buzzing with awareness of
The nearness of you.
My heart treasures up all your
acknowledging glances,
all the laughs at my jokes,
all the quips, and gestures,
the shine in your eyes.
Overheard snippets,
and fear rises;
Woeful are the whisperings of the cannibal named self-doubt!
And so I tread (tread tread) the path of retreat
my feet are well-accustomed to.
Receding back to the safety of solitary cups of floral tea and
autonomous anonymous trips to wherever,
where the only unguarded honesty nestles in the late-night conversations in the space between my pen and paper.
And so the voice of Little Miss Safety commences the dreary familiar dictation:
Dear one, you will never know what could have been.
Guarded one, you will never know what could have been.
Calloused one, you will never know what could have been.
and I know that I hate that you know that
of all these people
you're the one whose voice I want to hear.
It's a game
Of tag with pheromones,
and careful nonchalance, feigned ignorance.
It's an exhilaration
Of self-conscious zeal,
and monitored eye tag, deliberate accidental brushes past your shoulder blade.
Mine are like paperclips to your magnet eyes
from across the circle.
My mind is fully present when you speak,
shelving all other weights,
displaced by your company.
My hands are buzzing with awareness of
The nearness of you.
My heart treasures up all your
acknowledging glances,
all the laughs at my jokes,
all the quips, and gestures,
the shine in your eyes.
Overheard snippets,
and fear rises;
Woeful are the whisperings of the cannibal named self-doubt!
And so I tread (tread tread) the path of retreat
my feet are well-accustomed to.
Receding back to the safety of solitary cups of floral tea and
autonomous anonymous trips to wherever,
where the only unguarded honesty nestles in the late-night conversations in the space between my pen and paper.
And so the voice of Little Miss Safety commences the dreary familiar dictation:
Dear one, you will never know what could have been.
Guarded one, you will never know what could have been.
Calloused one, you will never know what could have been.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Guard my lips from wasted breath
Words amble around my tongue, lazily reclining, then tumbling out.
Afflicted with idleness, they've grown fat and clumsy; easily distracted, they meander off the path, syllabic drunkards.
What's disconcerting is that they've journeyed straight from my heart.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O God, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Afflicted with idleness, they've grown fat and clumsy; easily distracted, they meander off the path, syllabic drunkards.
What's disconcerting is that they've journeyed straight from my heart.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O God, my Rock and my Redeemer.
but one thing i do: scars
but one thing i do: scars: "i will not forget you. (see, i have engraved you on the palms of my hands.) i keep having conversations with christians that seem to b..."
You want to read this.
http://richardrglover.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/childcare-discipleship/#comments
Ah, me.
Ah, me.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Fishing
One of my dearest and oldest friends often says, "I'm never going to turn to religion. It's just not me."
Part of me smiles. I am well acquainted with his stubbornness. Party because I recognise it in myself. I try to explain to him that the disposition of his heart now is not what determines where he'll end up with Him. I don't imagine Paul was a particularly avid fan of Jesus before he encountered Him.
And another part of me feels that there is an analogy to be made between the human heart and a fish in the ocean. The fish that thrashes most furiously when it is in the net and about to be taken aboard the boat.
That part of me hopes so desperately that his thrashing is an indication that he is about to breathe for the first time.
If only it were possible for the aches of a heart to translate to new life.
Part of me smiles. I am well acquainted with his stubbornness. Party because I recognise it in myself. I try to explain to him that the disposition of his heart now is not what determines where he'll end up with Him. I don't imagine Paul was a particularly avid fan of Jesus before he encountered Him.
And another part of me feels that there is an analogy to be made between the human heart and a fish in the ocean. The fish that thrashes most furiously when it is in the net and about to be taken aboard the boat.
That part of me hopes so desperately that his thrashing is an indication that he is about to breathe for the first time.
If only it were possible for the aches of a heart to translate to new life.
abseiling
It's more painful to see people fall away from Jesus because they are turning away from that which they have tasted and seen.
The deliberate disobedience of the whole race's rebellion comes into sharp and terrifying focus.
Thankfully, for the Lord, a year's wandering is not the insurmountable obstacle I see it as. He is the Truth. And He desires for His sheep to hear His voice and know Him, more than I do.
Rest in that.
He is the God who is able to keep us from falling. His grace is a firm anchor.
The deliberate disobedience of the whole race's rebellion comes into sharp and terrifying focus.
Thankfully, for the Lord, a year's wandering is not the insurmountable obstacle I see it as. He is the Truth. And He desires for His sheep to hear His voice and know Him, more than I do.
Rest in that.
He is the God who is able to keep us from falling. His grace is a firm anchor.
When the currency of Truth takes a dive on the markets...
There is a difference between being inclusive and being lukewarm.
A vast chasm of a difference; and one gets spat out of the King's mouth.
Be careful. Oh, please, please. Be so very careful.
A vast chasm of a difference; and one gets spat out of the King's mouth.
Be careful. Oh, please, please. Be so very careful.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Immanuel
Infinity shrinks to tangibility,
As the love of a candle in a dark room
Whispers into the night,
"I am here. I am here."
Invisible truth
Grows cells and flesh,
Whilst scandalous roots burrow deep as arms sprawl higher,
exhaling through the leaves,
"I am here. I am here."
The Word becomes the word He spoke.
From speaking with galaxies, storms and dreams,
to speaking with chords of flesh, saying
"I am He. And I am here."
As the love of a candle in a dark room
Whispers into the night,
"I am here. I am here."
Invisible truth
Grows cells and flesh,
Whilst scandalous roots burrow deep as arms sprawl higher,
exhaling through the leaves,
"I am here. I am here."
The Word becomes the word He spoke.
From speaking with galaxies, storms and dreams,
to speaking with chords of flesh, saying
"I am He. And I am here."
Saturday, December 11, 2010
how fickle my heart
I'm doing assignments, so naturally my mind has been pondering all sorts of things apart from the required subject-matter.
And I was thinking about fickleness.
'adj. marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability : given to erratic changeableness.'
What do you think the root of fickleness in the heart is?
I would like your thoughts!
Joel: I know you didn't tag me, and we haven't seen each other in awhile, but I'm going to answer anyway, because I think about this sort of thing all the time, and the truth is, I've come to no concrete answer yet. I think humans are very prone ...to this sort of thing, which can be really annoying, but the best I can come up with is that its in our nature to be fluid, changing with new knowledge, pressures or even perceptions. Social pressures especially, people will buckle if they think that others will look down on them for something or another, even a religious standing, which I presume is your point - that people change, sometimes consciously, their feelings and beliefs on whims. I don't know how helpful this was, or if it even was at all!
Richard: Fickleness of heart is uncertainty about what the heart desires.
Fickleness of heart is a refusal to see and follow what we know to be best.
Fickleness of heart is idolatry.
I'm with you on the lack of focus.
Peta: I like to think fickleness is caused by peoples' desire to please everyone and cross-reference that with a personal agenda, causes us to reconsider everything, change certain aspects of ourselves, values etc.
Helpful?
Caitlin: i think sometimes i'm flighty because i don't trust that i'm not missing out on something else good.. so i lack consistency and commitment because i'm too ready to jump up and do something else/be somewhere else/be with someone else, rather... than making a call and sticking by it.
i keep searching for what i want, rather than trusting that God knows what i need.. and i think that causes fickleness- a lack of steady, grounded living as my eyes and heart and feet keep moving in restlessness..
i think part of it is being in our time and having so many good choices and experiences and people to keep up with and decide between and enjoy..we get distracted from looking to Christ and we can lack trust in God's promises, because we forget that we need them
i don't have a cure =) but i know that looking to God first and trusting that in Him i don't miss out on anything is key.. and i know that He values trustworthiness and self-control, so i strive to make those a reality in my walk, rather than being blown around by the emotional tides my heart floats in.
so i agree with richard - sin is the issue, and being rooted and established in Christ, walking His walk diligently and purposefully seems the way forward...
Dave: god is unchanging, we change.
we change either because
a) our character changes, so we make different decisions. we want different things now than we did in the past because we are different to what we were like in the past
...
or
b) we were wrong, and have learnt more now and have changed our decisions because we were wrong in the past.
or
c) all the many irrational factors that come into our decision making: fear, laziness, tiredness change our decisions so that they do not reflect our character
praise God he never changes who he is, he always knows all, and that is not scarred, lazy or weary!
Matt: fear, fear that settling or staying the same for too long means you will get too comfortable and become more vulnerable
Dan: Uncertainty and fear that you have made the wrong choice and that is consequences will be too far reaching for you too change it..
Tym: having a poor memory, and uncertainty*
Sam: The root of fickleness in the heart is its propencity for strong, powerful emotions. The more intense a feeling, the more likely it is to change with equal intensity; like a pendulum. Fickleness in the heart is tempered by balance of emotions, maintaining the middleground; a state of emotional calm, allowing one to choose who or what to allocate powerful feeling.
Claire: I agree with Caitlyn and Dave... i think it's often caused by fear that we're missing out, thinking something better will come along, discontentedness.
And I was thinking about fickleness.
'adj. marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability : given to erratic changeableness.'
What do you think the root of fickleness in the heart is?
I would like your thoughts!
Joel: I know you didn't tag me, and we haven't seen each other in awhile, but I'm going to answer anyway, because I think about this sort of thing all the time, and the truth is, I've come to no concrete answer yet. I think humans are very prone ...to this sort of thing, which can be really annoying, but the best I can come up with is that its in our nature to be fluid, changing with new knowledge, pressures or even perceptions. Social pressures especially, people will buckle if they think that others will look down on them for something or another, even a religious standing, which I presume is your point - that people change, sometimes consciously, their feelings and beliefs on whims. I don't know how helpful this was, or if it even was at all!
Richard: Fickleness of heart is uncertainty about what the heart desires.
Fickleness of heart is a refusal to see and follow what we know to be best.
Fickleness of heart is idolatry.
I'm with you on the lack of focus.
Peta: I like to think fickleness is caused by peoples' desire to please everyone and cross-reference that with a personal agenda, causes us to reconsider everything, change certain aspects of ourselves, values etc.
Helpful?
Caitlin: i think sometimes i'm flighty because i don't trust that i'm not missing out on something else good.. so i lack consistency and commitment because i'm too ready to jump up and do something else/be somewhere else/be with someone else, rather... than making a call and sticking by it.
i keep searching for what i want, rather than trusting that God knows what i need.. and i think that causes fickleness- a lack of steady, grounded living as my eyes and heart and feet keep moving in restlessness..
i think part of it is being in our time and having so many good choices and experiences and people to keep up with and decide between and enjoy..we get distracted from looking to Christ and we can lack trust in God's promises, because we forget that we need them
i don't have a cure =) but i know that looking to God first and trusting that in Him i don't miss out on anything is key.. and i know that He values trustworthiness and self-control, so i strive to make those a reality in my walk, rather than being blown around by the emotional tides my heart floats in.
so i agree with richard - sin is the issue, and being rooted and established in Christ, walking His walk diligently and purposefully seems the way forward...
Dave: god is unchanging, we change.
we change either because
a) our character changes, so we make different decisions. we want different things now than we did in the past because we are different to what we were like in the past
...
or
b) we were wrong, and have learnt more now and have changed our decisions because we were wrong in the past.
or
c) all the many irrational factors that come into our decision making: fear, laziness, tiredness change our decisions so that they do not reflect our character
praise God he never changes who he is, he always knows all, and that is not scarred, lazy or weary!
Matt: fear, fear that settling or staying the same for too long means you will get too comfortable and become more vulnerable
Dan: Uncertainty and fear that you have made the wrong choice and that is consequences will be too far reaching for you too change it..
Tym: having a poor memory, and uncertainty*
Sam: The root of fickleness in the heart is its propencity for strong, powerful emotions. The more intense a feeling, the more likely it is to change with equal intensity; like a pendulum. Fickleness in the heart is tempered by balance of emotions, maintaining the middleground; a state of emotional calm, allowing one to choose who or what to allocate powerful feeling.
Claire: I agree with Caitlyn and Dave... i think it's often caused by fear that we're missing out, thinking something better will come along, discontentedness.
Mali, Africa
The Bozo are a nomadic people group in Mali, Africa, numbering aroung 259 000.
There are no recorded followers of Jesus among them.
That is, until now.
From Hannah, a girl in her 20s who upped and left her life to live with them.
"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb."
This scripture was brought to life yesterday here in a small village in Mali as myself and Mr. Y, a Malian Christian, sat with 20 or so men and women who were eager to here the word of God. After some storying and explanation, they answered with "We are ready, tell us exactly what we need to do to follow this Jesus road!" Praise the Lord, not only did 6 Bozo men and women receive Christ yesterday but 12 others from 5 different people groups received Christ too! Already these new believers are asking how to gather, how to pray, and so many other questions that can only be explained by the work of the Holy Spirit. Before we left the village yesterday, I challenged each of the new believers to tell at least 5 people each what happened in their lives today to which they replied, "That won't be a problem, we'll gather the whole village and tell them!"
I am so happy and amazed by God, I don't think there are adequate human words to describe the feeling. Honestly, over the past year there were few days when I truly believed I would ever be here to see a Bozo man or woman come to know Christ as savior. But praise Him that He is the God and Father of all things and that He does more than we could ever fathom or expect.
Please join us in praying and rejoicing for these new believers who are so hungry for the Word. Pray that their faith is strong and endures and that it produces much fruit in the coming days and weeks!
Rejoicing with you
hannah"
There are no recorded followers of Jesus among them.
That is, until now.
From Hannah, a girl in her 20s who upped and left her life to live with them.
"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb."
This scripture was brought to life yesterday here in a small village in Mali as myself and Mr. Y, a Malian Christian, sat with 20 or so men and women who were eager to here the word of God. After some storying and explanation, they answered with "We are ready, tell us exactly what we need to do to follow this Jesus road!" Praise the Lord, not only did 6 Bozo men and women receive Christ yesterday but 12 others from 5 different people groups received Christ too! Already these new believers are asking how to gather, how to pray, and so many other questions that can only be explained by the work of the Holy Spirit. Before we left the village yesterday, I challenged each of the new believers to tell at least 5 people each what happened in their lives today to which they replied, "That won't be a problem, we'll gather the whole village and tell them!"
I am so happy and amazed by God, I don't think there are adequate human words to describe the feeling. Honestly, over the past year there were few days when I truly believed I would ever be here to see a Bozo man or woman come to know Christ as savior. But praise Him that He is the God and Father of all things and that He does more than we could ever fathom or expect.
Please join us in praying and rejoicing for these new believers who are so hungry for the Word. Pray that their faith is strong and endures and that it produces much fruit in the coming days and weeks!
Rejoicing with you
hannah"
Dichotomies of life for Amy Carmichael
1. 'Tonight they pelted us as we were coming home. The stones were coming from all quarters at once. In the midst of it came the old psalm, "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge" (91:4) and every fear seemed chased away.
"Under His wings" - how real it seems when one is surrounded by a crowd of men and boys shouting and pressing, and our lantern only shows us faces angry and derisive. We were kept from any real harm, for He did take care of us - we knew He would.
[ ... ]
Then the promises are so infinitely more living than ever before. One has so many chances of definitely proving them. And His presence is sometimes as literally felt as one feels the presence of another in the room. At home there was not so much room left for His all-satisfyingness, at least one wasn't so thrown back on Him for everything. Here it is Christ or nothing.'
2. 'We are going soon to a little village near here. They sent a beseeching letter: "We have only heard once, please do come and tell us more." Only heard once - think of what it means! And in every English village, how often have they heard?"
"Under His wings" - how real it seems when one is surrounded by a crowd of men and boys shouting and pressing, and our lantern only shows us faces angry and derisive. We were kept from any real harm, for He did take care of us - we knew He would.
[ ... ]
Then the promises are so infinitely more living than ever before. One has so many chances of definitely proving them. And His presence is sometimes as literally felt as one feels the presence of another in the room. At home there was not so much room left for His all-satisfyingness, at least one wasn't so thrown back on Him for everything. Here it is Christ or nothing.'
2. 'We are going soon to a little village near here. They sent a beseeching letter: "We have only heard once, please do come and tell us more." Only heard once - think of what it means! And in every English village, how often have they heard?"
Make Me Thy Fuel
by Amy Carmichael
From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.
From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary,
O Lamb of God, deliver me.
Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.
From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.
From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary,
O Lamb of God, deliver me.
Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.
Get off our backsides and do something in the local community.
'[T]he new creation has begun with Easter. I discovered that when we do new creation - when we encourage one another in the church to be active in projects of new creation, of healing, of hope for communities - we are standing on the ground that Jesus has won in his resurrection.
...
Because Jesus is raised from the dead, God's new world has begun. We are not only the beneficiaries of new creation; we are the agents of it.
...
If you have an eschatology that is nonmaterial, why bother with this present world? But if God intends to renew the world, then what we do in the present matters. That's 1 Corinthians 15:58! This understanding has made my preaching more challenging to me, and hopefully to my hearers, to actually get off our backsides and do something in the local community - things that are signs of new creation.'
N.T. Wright, 'N.T. Wright on Resurrection', March 19, 2008, PreachingToday Blog, available online at http://blog.preachingtoday.com/2008/03/interview_with_n_t_wright.html
...
Because Jesus is raised from the dead, God's new world has begun. We are not only the beneficiaries of new creation; we are the agents of it.
...
If you have an eschatology that is nonmaterial, why bother with this present world? But if God intends to renew the world, then what we do in the present matters. That's 1 Corinthians 15:58! This understanding has made my preaching more challenging to me, and hopefully to my hearers, to actually get off our backsides and do something in the local community - things that are signs of new creation.'
N.T. Wright, 'N.T. Wright on Resurrection', March 19, 2008, PreachingToday Blog, available online at http://blog.preachingtoday.com/2008/03/interview_with_n_t_wright.html
My favourite Buechner
But there is another truth, the sister of this one, and it is that every man is an island. It is a truth that often the tolling of a silence reveals even more vividly than the tolling of a bell. We sit in silence with one another, each of us more or less reluctant to speak, for fear that if he does, he may sound like a fool. And beneath that there is of course the deeper fear, which is really a fear of the self rather than of the other, that maybe the truth of it is that indeed he is a fool. The fear that the self he reveals by speaking may be a self that the others will reject just as in a way he has himself rejected it. So either we do not speak, or we speak not to reveal who we are but to conceal who we are, because words can be used wither way of course. Instead of showing ourselves as we truly are, we show ourselves as we believe others wants us to be. We wear masks, and with practice we do it better and better, and they serve us well - except that it gets very lonely inside the mask, because inside the mask that each of us wears there is a person who both longs to be known and fears to be known...
Father and Lord,
Most near and most far, listen to our silence before thee as well as to our prayers, because often it is the silence that speaks better of our need. Speak thy joy into our silence. Breathe thy life into our less than life, not for our own sakes only but for the sake of those whom, with thy life in us, we may ourselves bring life.
Much as we wish, not one of us can bring back yesterday or shape tomorrow. Only today is ours, and it will not be ours for long, and once it is gone it will never in all time be ours again. Thou only knowest what it holsds in store for us, yet even we know something of what it will hold. The chance to speak the truth, to show mercy, to ease another's burden. The chance to resist evil, to remember all the good times and the good people of our past, to be brave, to be strong, to be glad. We know that today as every day our lives will be touched by thee and that one way or another thou wilt speak to us before we sleep, for the very moments themselves of our lives are thy words to us. Give us ears to hear thee speak. Give us hearts to quicken as thou drawest near. Amen.
...
"Is that really me? Am I my face?" And although the answer is of course Yes, the answer of course is also No. I am my face, and I am not. A strange and confusing business.
Beneath the face there are many layers of self, and the deepest layers are for the most part hidden from us. You read a letter that you wrote or you remember something that you said or did, maybe even as recently as yesterday, and you think, "How could I ever have written such a thing, said such a thing? Is that even who I once was, let alone who I am now?" And because of the way the world goes, the sad truth seems to be that the face that you disclaim responsibility for is more often than not apt to be worse than the person you feel that you know yourself to be beneath the face. There is a self beneath the self, and the language that the inner self speaks could welll be the language of St Paul when he wrote to the church at Rome: 'I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.' In order words, I am confused by my own face. Poor Paul. Poor all of us.
Fathoms down into the mystery of yourself you go - into the darkness of guilt and beyond, into the darkness of loneliness and need and beyond. Deeper and deeper you go until at last the darkness begins to be tinged with gold, as the poem says (poem by japanese poet..), whch is the gold of light. And in that light you begin to see, as in a dream at first, your own true face. "Not my face nowadays, nor my face when I was young, nor the face of the noblest of angels," but a face that surpasses all these because it is the face of love, a face lik Christ's...
Selfhood in the sense that you are one self and I am another self begins to fade. You begin to understand that in some way your deepest self is the self of all men - that you are in them and they are in you. You begin to understand not as an ideal but as a reality, an experience, that their pain is your pain, their need your need; that there can really be no getting ahead at their expense, there can be no joy for you until there is joy for them...
Lord, give us eyes to see each other and ourselves more nearly as thou seest us, to see beneath each face we meet, and beneath even our own faces, thy face.
Help us to know that for each thou hast died as though he were the only one. Amen.
Father and Lord,
Most near and most far, listen to our silence before thee as well as to our prayers, because often it is the silence that speaks better of our need. Speak thy joy into our silence. Breathe thy life into our less than life, not for our own sakes only but for the sake of those whom, with thy life in us, we may ourselves bring life.
Much as we wish, not one of us can bring back yesterday or shape tomorrow. Only today is ours, and it will not be ours for long, and once it is gone it will never in all time be ours again. Thou only knowest what it holsds in store for us, yet even we know something of what it will hold. The chance to speak the truth, to show mercy, to ease another's burden. The chance to resist evil, to remember all the good times and the good people of our past, to be brave, to be strong, to be glad. We know that today as every day our lives will be touched by thee and that one way or another thou wilt speak to us before we sleep, for the very moments themselves of our lives are thy words to us. Give us ears to hear thee speak. Give us hearts to quicken as thou drawest near. Amen.
...
"Is that really me? Am I my face?" And although the answer is of course Yes, the answer of course is also No. I am my face, and I am not. A strange and confusing business.
Beneath the face there are many layers of self, and the deepest layers are for the most part hidden from us. You read a letter that you wrote or you remember something that you said or did, maybe even as recently as yesterday, and you think, "How could I ever have written such a thing, said such a thing? Is that even who I once was, let alone who I am now?" And because of the way the world goes, the sad truth seems to be that the face that you disclaim responsibility for is more often than not apt to be worse than the person you feel that you know yourself to be beneath the face. There is a self beneath the self, and the language that the inner self speaks could welll be the language of St Paul when he wrote to the church at Rome: 'I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.' In order words, I am confused by my own face. Poor Paul. Poor all of us.
Fathoms down into the mystery of yourself you go - into the darkness of guilt and beyond, into the darkness of loneliness and need and beyond. Deeper and deeper you go until at last the darkness begins to be tinged with gold, as the poem says (poem by japanese poet..), whch is the gold of light. And in that light you begin to see, as in a dream at first, your own true face. "Not my face nowadays, nor my face when I was young, nor the face of the noblest of angels," but a face that surpasses all these because it is the face of love, a face lik Christ's...
Selfhood in the sense that you are one self and I am another self begins to fade. You begin to understand that in some way your deepest self is the self of all men - that you are in them and they are in you. You begin to understand not as an ideal but as a reality, an experience, that their pain is your pain, their need your need; that there can really be no getting ahead at their expense, there can be no joy for you until there is joy for them...
Lord, give us eyes to see each other and ourselves more nearly as thou seest us, to see beneath each face we meet, and beneath even our own faces, thy face.
Help us to know that for each thou hast died as though he were the only one. Amen.
Let me hear You.
'Almighty and everlasting God,
Only speak to us that we may hear thee.
Then speak to us again and yet again so that when in our hearts we answer thee by saying No, we may at least know well to whom we say it, and what it costs us to say it, and what it costs our brothers, and what it costs thee.
And when at those moments that we can never foretell we say Yes to thee, forgive our halfheartedness, accept us as we are, work thy miracle within us, and of thy grace give us strength to follow wherever love many lead.
We bless thee for him who shows us the way and is the way and who will, we pray, at the end of all our ways.
Grant that even on stumbling feet we may follow him into the terrible needs of the human heart.
Remember us.
Remember us.
For thy mercy's sake.
Amen.'
(Buechner, 'The Hungering Dark', p. 69)
Only speak to us that we may hear thee.
Then speak to us again and yet again so that when in our hearts we answer thee by saying No, we may at least know well to whom we say it, and what it costs us to say it, and what it costs our brothers, and what it costs thee.
And when at those moments that we can never foretell we say Yes to thee, forgive our halfheartedness, accept us as we are, work thy miracle within us, and of thy grace give us strength to follow wherever love many lead.
We bless thee for him who shows us the way and is the way and who will, we pray, at the end of all our ways.
Grant that even on stumbling feet we may follow him into the terrible needs of the human heart.
Remember us.
Remember us.
For thy mercy's sake.
Amen.'
(Buechner, 'The Hungering Dark', p. 69)
Conversations on Hope
Hope isn't wishful thinking/warm sentiment. It's the conviction that something will happen in the future. The big question about hope, is 'What isthe basis for this conviction?'
Hands up who has the confidentexpectation that the sun will rise tomorrow morning? OK, and what are you basing that confident expectation on? Can you see into the future? What are you basing that on?
Well, probably you're basing it on the events of the past, namely, that for every day of your life so far the sun has risen in the morning,and based on those events, you make an inference that it will happen again tomorrow!
Right?
Well, so too is our hope, our confident expectation, based on an event inthe past.
There was a day, about 20 centuries ago, when a Palestinian Jew from Nazareth named Yeshua, Jesus, rose from the dead. It is anchored in history; there is historical evidence for it happening.
We have an event.
We also have an inference based on that event – actually, we have more than an inference.
We have a promise: that just as He raised Jesus, God will raise all those who believe.
Dan: But the sun rises every day. Jesus lived and perhaps, I emphasise perhaps, 'rose from the dead'.
How can you make an inference from one alone, unrelated event? Its just not reasonable.
Me: good pick up - and that's where it's essential to differentiate the logic we apply in science from the logic we apply in history. the event + inference = expectation formula is more of an analogy to help us establish a framework for underst...anding the mechanics of 'hope'.
you're totally right - history ISN'T a science. just because we can't repeat the death of abraham lincoln, doesn't mean it's a logical impossibility.
but with an event such as Jesus' resurrection (which secular historians take seriously), i think it's fair to say that such an outlandish and radical disruption of the natural order of things warrants our attention - and deserves contemplation: 'what does this mean? what does this mean for ME?'
Dan: But I feel that logic isnt exclusive to either historical or scientific application - it is simply logic.
I agree that such an unnatural event does warrant our attention - however, when the only 'evidence' of that event is what has been writ...ten by man, how can we take it seriously?
I take, say any battle that has occurred in history seriously, not because it was written about in the winner's history books, but because you can go there today, or to a museum, and see the ship wrecks, and the rusting metal, and the tomb stones.
For an event so unbelievable and supposedly significant, where is the substantiation?
Mike: i love reading your discussions! so thought prevoking!
Dan: That is the sole purpose :)
Me: hm, i wasn't saying that "logic" is exclusive to historical/scientific application - just that the WAY you apply "logic" differs; the logic you use in history is different to the logic you use in science, mainly because science is founded u...pon the premise that you can repeat it to test a hypothesis, whereas, well, you can't really do that with history, hey.
well, i guess that's your call on the reliability of historical documents. personally, i think you can take it seriously. but we've had this discussion on loop for five years, ha ;)
the interesting thing is that the documents we have are not exactly the winner's history - jesus died a criminal's death, all but one of his disciples were martyred, and christians suffered centuries of persecution, both in the form of social ostracism and pain of death.
but i take your point - and the question you need to ask, then, is 'what kind of evidence WOULD be left behind IF someone did rise from the dead?'
because that will dictate the trajectory of your investigation - how do you find evidence of someone who, according to the people who allege they witnessed it, is raised and then ascended to the right hand of God? what kind of a trace would he leave?
(also, another thing to think about is this - all the places written about in the gospels, for example, you can go and see them today. luke especially gave meticulous details, that once led scholars to discredit the credibility of his writings, because at the time we understood the layout of the city of jerusalem, or the ruler of a particular region, to be different. subsequently, archaelogical findings have validated his accounts. basically, i think it's fair to take seriously the account of someone who wrote meticulously accurately about everything else when assessing whether or not to consider his account of jesus' resurrection.)
I MISS YOUR FACE NIVEN.
Dan: Yeh I dont think reliability of historical documents is something we can agree on, but hey atleast we know that.
I agree that it is an event that would not have much evidence if it did occur - however, just because it is hard to prove is not... proof in itself!
I am not debating at all that a person called Jesus existed, there are enough reliable and cross-referencable sources to prove that. What I am debating is what he actually did in life. The koran says that Jesus was a prophet, so how do we know that isnt true? Its also a holy book isnt it? God's word on earth?
Just because archeological findings have proven that joe bloggs ruled a certain region doesnt prove that a bloke rose from the dead... like it is just such a different league..Well I think so anyway.
Me: this articulates the latter point: http://www.publicchristianity.com/jesusevidence.html
have you done any historical investigation into what you can construct about who Jesus was without opening a bible?
Hands up who has the confidentexpectation that the sun will rise tomorrow morning? OK, and what are you basing that confident expectation on? Can you see into the future? What are you basing that on?
Well, probably you're basing it on the events of the past, namely, that for every day of your life so far the sun has risen in the morning,and based on those events, you make an inference that it will happen again tomorrow!
Right?
Well, so too is our hope, our confident expectation, based on an event inthe past.
There was a day, about 20 centuries ago, when a Palestinian Jew from Nazareth named Yeshua, Jesus, rose from the dead. It is anchored in history; there is historical evidence for it happening.
We have an event.
We also have an inference based on that event – actually, we have more than an inference.
We have a promise: that just as He raised Jesus, God will raise all those who believe.
•Past Event + Inference = CONFIDENT EXPECTATION
–E.g. Sun has risen + I suspect it will continue to do so= I expect the sun will rise tomorrow!
•PAST EVENT (JC's death and resurrection)
+
INFERENCE PROMISE (JC will return and we will be raised)
=CONFIDENT EXPECTATION/ HOPE
Dan: But the sun rises every day. Jesus lived and perhaps, I emphasise perhaps, 'rose from the dead'.
How can you make an inference from one alone, unrelated event? Its just not reasonable.
Me: good pick up - and that's where it's essential to differentiate the logic we apply in science from the logic we apply in history. the event + inference = expectation formula is more of an analogy to help us establish a framework for underst...anding the mechanics of 'hope'.
you're totally right - history ISN'T a science. just because we can't repeat the death of abraham lincoln, doesn't mean it's a logical impossibility.
but with an event such as Jesus' resurrection (which secular historians take seriously), i think it's fair to say that such an outlandish and radical disruption of the natural order of things warrants our attention - and deserves contemplation: 'what does this mean? what does this mean for ME?'
Dan: But I feel that logic isnt exclusive to either historical or scientific application - it is simply logic.
I agree that such an unnatural event does warrant our attention - however, when the only 'evidence' of that event is what has been writ...ten by man, how can we take it seriously?
I take, say any battle that has occurred in history seriously, not because it was written about in the winner's history books, but because you can go there today, or to a museum, and see the ship wrecks, and the rusting metal, and the tomb stones.
For an event so unbelievable and supposedly significant, where is the substantiation?
Mike: i love reading your discussions! so thought prevoking!
Dan: That is the sole purpose :)
Me: hm, i wasn't saying that "logic" is exclusive to historical/scientific application - just that the WAY you apply "logic" differs; the logic you use in history is different to the logic you use in science, mainly because science is founded u...pon the premise that you can repeat it to test a hypothesis, whereas, well, you can't really do that with history, hey.
well, i guess that's your call on the reliability of historical documents. personally, i think you can take it seriously. but we've had this discussion on loop for five years, ha ;)
the interesting thing is that the documents we have are not exactly the winner's history - jesus died a criminal's death, all but one of his disciples were martyred, and christians suffered centuries of persecution, both in the form of social ostracism and pain of death.
but i take your point - and the question you need to ask, then, is 'what kind of evidence WOULD be left behind IF someone did rise from the dead?'
because that will dictate the trajectory of your investigation - how do you find evidence of someone who, according to the people who allege they witnessed it, is raised and then ascended to the right hand of God? what kind of a trace would he leave?
(also, another thing to think about is this - all the places written about in the gospels, for example, you can go and see them today. luke especially gave meticulous details, that once led scholars to discredit the credibility of his writings, because at the time we understood the layout of the city of jerusalem, or the ruler of a particular region, to be different. subsequently, archaelogical findings have validated his accounts. basically, i think it's fair to take seriously the account of someone who wrote meticulously accurately about everything else when assessing whether or not to consider his account of jesus' resurrection.)
I MISS YOUR FACE NIVEN.
Dan: Yeh I dont think reliability of historical documents is something we can agree on, but hey atleast we know that.
I agree that it is an event that would not have much evidence if it did occur - however, just because it is hard to prove is not... proof in itself!
I am not debating at all that a person called Jesus existed, there are enough reliable and cross-referencable sources to prove that. What I am debating is what he actually did in life. The koran says that Jesus was a prophet, so how do we know that isnt true? Its also a holy book isnt it? God's word on earth?
Just because archeological findings have proven that joe bloggs ruled a certain region doesnt prove that a bloke rose from the dead... like it is just such a different league..Well I think so anyway.
Me: this articulates the latter point: http://www.publicchristianity.com/jesusevidence.html
have you done any historical investigation into what you can construct about who Jesus was without opening a bible?
Conversations on Science
"The necessary precondition for the birth of science as we know it is, it would seem, the diffusion through society of the belief that the universe is both rational and contingent. Such a belief is the presupposition of modern science and cannot by any conceivable argument be a product of science. One has to ask: Upon what is this belief founded?" Lesslie Newbigin, Foolishness to the Greeks. Eerdmans, 1986, 71.
Rob: It's perfectly consistent: the belief that the universe is rational -- izable? -- is based on the observation that rationalization seems to work!
Kim: If when we started investigating the universe, it proved not to follow any patterns or the outcome changed each time, we would conclude that its not rational. But we don't find that. So we conclude that the universe is rational until the evidence points us in a different direction. Surely that's a product of science. Isn't it?
Jared: Rodney Stark does good stuff on this, esp. his book For the glory of God. interestinly he is agnostic, or in his own words "does not have faith" but is not an athiest.
Lachlan: But it doesn't actually say "rationalisable". It says rational.
I think Newbigin might be talking about the presupposition that the universe does and will behave rationally.
While we have seen the universe behave rationally in the past, there is no argument that can guarantee that it will continue to do so.
Rob: It's perfectly consistent: the belief that the universe is rational -- izable? -- is based on the observation that rationalization seems to work!
Kim: If when we started investigating the universe, it proved not to follow any patterns or the outcome changed each time, we would conclude that its not rational. But we don't find that. So we conclude that the universe is rational until the evidence points us in a different direction. Surely that's a product of science. Isn't it?
Jared: Rodney Stark does good stuff on this, esp. his book For the glory of God. interestinly he is agnostic, or in his own words "does not have faith" but is not an athiest.
Lachlan: But it doesn't actually say "rationalisable". It says rational.
I think Newbigin might be talking about the presupposition that the universe does and will behave rationally.
While we have seen the universe behave rationally in the past, there is no argument that can guarantee that it will continue to do so.
When the path ahead seems insurmountable...
Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.
Amen.
Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.
Amen.
When the shadows of the heart seem to take hold...
I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay Thee, but I bring Jesus to Thee in the arms of faith, pleading His righteousness to offset my iniquities, rejoicing that He will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy thy justice.
I bless Thee that great sin draws out great grace, that, although the lest sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there Thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep.
Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest until Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross.
Amen.
I bless Thee that great sin draws out great grace, that, although the lest sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there Thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep.
Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest until Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross.
Amen.
Grace-Driven Effort
“People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, and obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated.”
Grace-driven effort cannot be manufactured out of a sinful heart. Only a heart that has been raised with Christ can be propelled by grace-driven effort.
It isn't about behaviour modification. It's about the fruit of a heart regenerated by grace.
D.A. Carson, “For the Love of God” (Vol. 2).
Grace-driven effort cannot be manufactured out of a sinful heart. Only a heart that has been raised with Christ can be propelled by grace-driven effort.
It isn't about behaviour modification. It's about the fruit of a heart regenerated by grace.
D.A. Carson, “For the Love of God” (Vol. 2).
chandler on colossians
Women have a tendency to pit the sin of fear/anxiety against the sin of control and manipulation. But in the end? Sin wins.
Men have a tendency to pit the sin of lust against the sin of self-righteousness. But in the end? Sin wins.
Three weapons against the residue of sin:
1. Blood of Christ
I have been brought near to God by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. When I stumble with residual wickedness, my approach to God is not affected.
God doesn't love me because I obey the law, but because of the blood of Jesus.
Through the lens of the blood of Jesus, He sees me as spotless and without guilt.
2. The Word of God
The primary weapon of grace against the residue of sin.
When you stumble and fall, don't run from God and try to clean yourself up, and return to Him later. When you stumble and fall, don't look to your own effort or resolve; run TO God.
3. The promise of the new covenant
A death has occurred to erase the consequences of my sin. !!!
Some people try to find "freedom" by breaking all the rules; others try to find "freedom" by keeping all of them. But both scream to God, "I don't need you!".
From Colossians Part 12, accessible at http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/sermons?kw=colossians&type=sermons&match=any
Men have a tendency to pit the sin of lust against the sin of self-righteousness. But in the end? Sin wins.
Three weapons against the residue of sin:
1. Blood of Christ
I have been brought near to God by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. When I stumble with residual wickedness, my approach to God is not affected.
God doesn't love me because I obey the law, but because of the blood of Jesus.
Through the lens of the blood of Jesus, He sees me as spotless and without guilt.
2. The Word of God
The primary weapon of grace against the residue of sin.
When you stumble and fall, don't run from God and try to clean yourself up, and return to Him later. When you stumble and fall, don't look to your own effort or resolve; run TO God.
3. The promise of the new covenant
A death has occurred to erase the consequences of my sin. !!!
Some people try to find "freedom" by breaking all the rules; others try to find "freedom" by keeping all of them. But both scream to God, "I don't need you!".
From Colossians Part 12, accessible at http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/sermons?kw=colossians&type=sermons&match=any
vines and branches
i am the vine. you are the branches. j15.5
[The believer's] union with his Lord is no work of human wisdom or human will, but an act of God, by which the closest and most complete life-union possible is forged between the Son of God and the sinner. "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts" (Gal 4:6). The same Spirit that dwelt and still dwells in the Son becomes the life of the believer; in the unity of that one Spirit, and the fellowship of the same life that is in Christ, he is one with Him. As between the vine and branch, it is a life-union that makes them one.
...
"Think, believer, how completely I belong to you. I have joined myself inseparably to you; all the fullness and fatness of the Vine are yours. It is My desire and My honour to make you a fruitful branch; only abide in Me. You are weak, but I am strong; you are poor, but I am rich. Only abide in Me; yield yourself wholly to My teaching and rule; simply trust My love, My grace, and My promises."
...
On my part, abiding is nothing but the acceptance of my position, the consent to be kept there, the surrender of faith to the strong Vine to hold the frail branch.
O Saviour, how unspeakable is your love!
(A. Murray, 'Abiding in Christ', p. 33)
[The believer's] union with his Lord is no work of human wisdom or human will, but an act of God, by which the closest and most complete life-union possible is forged between the Son of God and the sinner. "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts" (Gal 4:6). The same Spirit that dwelt and still dwells in the Son becomes the life of the believer; in the unity of that one Spirit, and the fellowship of the same life that is in Christ, he is one with Him. As between the vine and branch, it is a life-union that makes them one.
...
"Think, believer, how completely I belong to you. I have joined myself inseparably to you; all the fullness and fatness of the Vine are yours. It is My desire and My honour to make you a fruitful branch; only abide in Me. You are weak, but I am strong; you are poor, but I am rich. Only abide in Me; yield yourself wholly to My teaching and rule; simply trust My love, My grace, and My promises."
...
On my part, abiding is nothing but the acceptance of my position, the consent to be kept there, the surrender of faith to the strong Vine to hold the frail branch.
O Saviour, how unspeakable is your love!
(A. Murray, 'Abiding in Christ', p. 33)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)