This is a song I first heard at the Teacher's Conference; I'll let the song speak for itself.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Knowing God
I have just spent an amazing few days at the John Calvin Schools Teacher's Conference. Suffice to say, it was very inspiring and touched me greatly- all I want to do is start teaching... now. But I still have a while at uni, or maybe it won't be so long if they keep cancelling my classes. Anyways, some things from the conference will appear in various blog posts from time to time, especially those which relate to my 'miniseries' on fruit. Yes, I will keep that promise.
What picture do you have of the LORD? Who is God to you? This is a necessary question to reflect on when considering life. For if we don’t know who our God is, how will we live Christian lives? How can we believe in God and bear His Name (as Christians) if we don’t know Him? So then, how do we know God? Through His Word. To many that may seem obvious. But I think there is a lot more depth when we speak of ‘knowing God’. To know God doesn’t just mean to confess Him as the only, true, triune God. There is more to God’s character. And I believe there is something new to discover every morning anew.
There are certainly some characteristics which to the human mind are unfathomable; however I think we are continually given opportunities to discover who our God is. He has revealed Himself in His Word and in His creation. But how well do we read these two books? Consider Bible reading- how often do we reflect on what we read? I will be the first to admit that often it comes in one ear and goes straight out the other. But in order to spread the Word, skim reading as we rush to work, or taking less time because we desperately want to finish our book, isn’t enough. The Word must pass through us before we can pass it on. That means we must take it in. Let it fill our heart. And then maybe life won’t become a list of do’s and don’ts, but instead a joy and delight in doing God’s commandments. Don’t look at the ‘rules’ but at the God behind them.
Guess what Bible most people read? A Christian’s life. And if a Christian doesn’t reflect the light of God, then they rob God of His glory. Consider this phrase: ‘The greatest lessons aren’t spoken, but lived”. We won’t change other people’s lives until we walk the talk. Be a joyful Christian. Be a loving Christian community. This brings to mind another example: How do we speak about the church? Do we criticize certain congregations, ministers, leaders, people...? But think about Who is behind that church. Think about the church as the activity of Jesus Christ! Then will you be so quick to condemn?
What does this have to do with fruit? Not much. That was just my introductory spiel. There is so much we can learn about how to live life, but if we don’t recognise the awesome God Who is behind it all, I guess it becomes rather pointless. We can have a perfect life but that doesn’t mean much if we don’t believe and confess God as He really is. And I think that through deep meditation on His Word (which I may expand on later) we can find something new about God in every passage we read, every verse we meditate on, every time we look out of our car window, every time we open our eyes. His mercies are new every morning.
P.S. Just an interesting fact... the Top 10 jobs in 2010 didn't even exist in 2004. Shows how much the world is changing!
What picture do you have of the LORD? Who is God to you? This is a necessary question to reflect on when considering life. For if we don’t know who our God is, how will we live Christian lives? How can we believe in God and bear His Name (as Christians) if we don’t know Him? So then, how do we know God? Through His Word. To many that may seem obvious. But I think there is a lot more depth when we speak of ‘knowing God’. To know God doesn’t just mean to confess Him as the only, true, triune God. There is more to God’s character. And I believe there is something new to discover every morning anew.
There are certainly some characteristics which to the human mind are unfathomable; however I think we are continually given opportunities to discover who our God is. He has revealed Himself in His Word and in His creation. But how well do we read these two books? Consider Bible reading- how often do we reflect on what we read? I will be the first to admit that often it comes in one ear and goes straight out the other. But in order to spread the Word, skim reading as we rush to work, or taking less time because we desperately want to finish our book, isn’t enough. The Word must pass through us before we can pass it on. That means we must take it in. Let it fill our heart. And then maybe life won’t become a list of do’s and don’ts, but instead a joy and delight in doing God’s commandments. Don’t look at the ‘rules’ but at the God behind them.
Guess what Bible most people read? A Christian’s life. And if a Christian doesn’t reflect the light of God, then they rob God of His glory. Consider this phrase: ‘The greatest lessons aren’t spoken, but lived”. We won’t change other people’s lives until we walk the talk. Be a joyful Christian. Be a loving Christian community. This brings to mind another example: How do we speak about the church? Do we criticize certain congregations, ministers, leaders, people...? But think about Who is behind that church. Think about the church as the activity of Jesus Christ! Then will you be so quick to condemn?
What does this have to do with fruit? Not much. That was just my introductory spiel. There is so much we can learn about how to live life, but if we don’t recognise the awesome God Who is behind it all, I guess it becomes rather pointless. We can have a perfect life but that doesn’t mean much if we don’t believe and confess God as He really is. And I think that through deep meditation on His Word (which I may expand on later) we can find something new about God in every passage we read, every verse we meditate on, every time we look out of our car window, every time we open our eyes. His mercies are new every morning.
P.S. Just an interesting fact... the Top 10 jobs in 2010 didn't even exist in 2004. Shows how much the world is changing!
Friday, July 22, 2011
9 Fruits
9 Fruits? That's a lot of fibre!!! Yes it is. But I will stay away from the temptation (for now at least) to write a post all about fruit, in the sense of apples and oranges anyway. But I do want to write about our diet, our growth, our appearance, and our environment.
Today I was driving. No surprises there, that happens a lot. But one ad on the radio, actually make that a conversation on the radio shortly afterward, got me thinking. The ad was for an organisation called 9 Fruits, and don't ask me much more about it because I can't remember the ad that well. But the radio hosts' conversation went from a joke about eating 9 fruits a day to reinstating how it was talking about the 9 fruits of the Spirit.
So that gave me just a little bit of inspiration. You can call that a surprise, for somehow I don't think it happens all that often. Anyways, I decided that I must use that inspiration. Think about it. Tell it. And perhaps inspire others.
Hence, over the next few weeks I intend to blog about the 9 fruits of the Spirit... There have been many books written and many sermons delivered about these fruits, I'm sure. Nevertheless my aim is to search and discover for myself the riches we have, the opportunities we are given, and the life we should live, in relation to '9 Fruits'.
So, my opening reflective question is:
Compare yourself to an apple. Are you shiny on the outside but rotten at the core or bitter under the skin? Do you cling to your only source of life or do you hang loose, as close to the edge as you can? Do you recognise and take in the nutrients you are given, or do you live life on your own? How do you view the environment you live in?
Today I was driving. No surprises there, that happens a lot. But one ad on the radio, actually make that a conversation on the radio shortly afterward, got me thinking. The ad was for an organisation called 9 Fruits, and don't ask me much more about it because I can't remember the ad that well. But the radio hosts' conversation went from a joke about eating 9 fruits a day to reinstating how it was talking about the 9 fruits of the Spirit.
So that gave me just a little bit of inspiration. You can call that a surprise, for somehow I don't think it happens all that often. Anyways, I decided that I must use that inspiration. Think about it. Tell it. And perhaps inspire others.
Hence, over the next few weeks I intend to blog about the 9 fruits of the Spirit... There have been many books written and many sermons delivered about these fruits, I'm sure. Nevertheless my aim is to search and discover for myself the riches we have, the opportunities we are given, and the life we should live, in relation to '9 Fruits'.
So, my opening reflective question is:
Compare yourself to an apple. Are you shiny on the outside but rotten at the core or bitter under the skin? Do you cling to your only source of life or do you hang loose, as close to the edge as you can? Do you recognise and take in the nutrients you are given, or do you live life on your own? How do you view the environment you live in?
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
C What My Friends Can Do
I have amazing friends!!
They......
Cook me pancakes...
Come out for dinner...
Crank the music and sing along...
Cause me to laugh- too often...
Care.
I love them for......
Champagne shots...
Crazy pool games...
Colouring my kite...
Christian character and openness...
Cute personalities and uniqueness...
Chatting and chatting and chatting... oh, and chatting...
Company, actually make that constant companionship...
And never ceasing to amaze me!
Cheers to many more wonderful times!!!
P.S. This is only a short list, and as I'm feeling rather uninspired I can't think of many more 'c' words. But thanks all for making my day! :)
They......
Cook me pancakes...
Come out for dinner...
Crank the music and sing along...
Cause me to laugh- too often...
Care.
I love them for......
Champagne shots...
Crazy pool games...
Colouring my kite...
Christian character and openness...
Cute personalities and uniqueness...
Chatting and chatting and chatting... oh, and chatting...
Company, actually make that constant companionship...
And never ceasing to amaze me!
Cheers to many more wonderful times!!!
P.S. This is only a short list, and as I'm feeling rather uninspired I can't think of many more 'c' words. But thanks all for making my day! :)
Friday, July 1, 2011
A normal day- can there be such a thing?
Many things in life are normal. We have our routines and we rush around filling and fulfilling our lives. But some things in life are not usual. Take for instance the sunrise on Tuesday morning. The sight of a purple and pink sky out of the kitchen window was amazing. Add to that a clear rainbow with bright colours and an unfaltering arc. There are forecast storms and rather chilly conditions outside. Inside the stove warms the kitchen and ensures the porridge cooks.
When I need to get up at 430am to go to work, I suppose it’s not surprising that a magnificent sunrise makes my day. Later that evening, when driving down the worn highway back toward my hometown, the mist gathered in valleys and surrounded the trees. The rivers were flowing and at times the windscreen wipers needed to go on. The sun set in a much more forlorn style as dark clouds engulfed its light and it was swallowed by the horizon. And even this was no mistake.
Then when you combine that day, when my eyes were opened yet again to the beauty and surreal nature of God’s creation, we you combine it along with the rain Western Australia received over the past few days, it isn’t hard to acknowledge the control and wisdom of God. It’s almost impossible. He knows what we need, and He will provide. He is a God who remains true to His promises. He will never destroy the world with the flood, but rather showers the earth with blessings. In an age when the world is showing decay, when climate change and global warming are hot topics, when politics is encroached by carbon tax discussions, we have a greater hope. We know there is a higher authority, in greater control, the One who holds this earth in the palm of His hand.
As we confess in LD 10, God’s providence is His almighty and ever-present power whereby as with His hand He controls and governs all things so that... all things come not by chance but by His fatherly hand.
Will waking up at 430am ever seem normal? I suppose it just might become one of those things that make up my daily routine. But I sure hope that I will continue to be amazed at the wonder of what each new day brings; the continual, undeserved, and beautiful blessings from our majestic God.
Sometimes things for us are unusual. But we may live in the joyful comfort that they are all governed by our gracious Father.
When I need to get up at 430am to go to work, I suppose it’s not surprising that a magnificent sunrise makes my day. Later that evening, when driving down the worn highway back toward my hometown, the mist gathered in valleys and surrounded the trees. The rivers were flowing and at times the windscreen wipers needed to go on. The sun set in a much more forlorn style as dark clouds engulfed its light and it was swallowed by the horizon. And even this was no mistake.
Then when you combine that day, when my eyes were opened yet again to the beauty and surreal nature of God’s creation, we you combine it along with the rain Western Australia received over the past few days, it isn’t hard to acknowledge the control and wisdom of God. It’s almost impossible. He knows what we need, and He will provide. He is a God who remains true to His promises. He will never destroy the world with the flood, but rather showers the earth with blessings. In an age when the world is showing decay, when climate change and global warming are hot topics, when politics is encroached by carbon tax discussions, we have a greater hope. We know there is a higher authority, in greater control, the One who holds this earth in the palm of His hand.
As we confess in LD 10, God’s providence is His almighty and ever-present power whereby as with His hand He controls and governs all things so that... all things come not by chance but by His fatherly hand.
Will waking up at 430am ever seem normal? I suppose it just might become one of those things that make up my daily routine. But I sure hope that I will continue to be amazed at the wonder of what each new day brings; the continual, undeserved, and beautiful blessings from our majestic God.
Sometimes things for us are unusual. But we may live in the joyful comfort that they are all governed by our gracious Father.
My Hometown: A Beauty Exam
This past week involved a visit to my hometown. It has been sicks months (gasp!). Most things look the same. There are a few changes, the most significant being surgery to North Rd, which has produced in my opinion a confusing eyeful of circular scars that are a pain in the neck. Add to that a makeover for Lockyer Avenue. The new look for the foreshore is making progress. The big roundabout grassy plants need a round of fertiliser or at least some eyebrow plucking. Apparently the nosey neighbours still know everything about everyone. The people are just as bad at driving, and still can’t use their indicators properly- perhaps increasing frustration in the face of slow speed limits, and annoyance at cheeky road users, are to blame. Or some people should err on the opposite side of caution and use their muscles more often. The foundation for a renovated Maccas has been discussed, and the people there still want me back. Regular Dylans patrons continue to brace for stomach-turning deliciousness. Ladies fashion must be the latest hip as BNT replaced Ed Harrys in the shopping complex. The bank staff have no more excuses for acting like accessorised chickens since Chooks closed; and by winging it, Baker’s Delight showed they only kneeded a break after elbowing their way into the Plaza. The library received a lick of paint although the side pillars missed out on a new coating of fuchsia lipstick. Locals have their fingers crossed at the prospect of two toy sales in coming weeks, and Officeworks has upgraded its likeability by selling take-out coffees. Small businesses continue to suffer sore blows as the larger cream-of-the-crop companies continue to bare their teeth. A final nail polished off the coffin of a dreamy, country town when the local paper publipped some jaw-dropping statistics about the many awards the new entertainment centre received, despite costing the city what my mother would refer to as ‘an arm and a leg’. Eye suppose Albany will just have to toe the line.
Excuse the pun. I say it all with tongue in cheek.
P.S. How many references to body parts/beauty can you find in this post? :P
Excuse the pun. I say it all with tongue in cheek.
P.S. How many references to body parts/beauty can you find in this post? :P
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