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Saturday 28 February 2015

A little Bible game

A fun little game to try is one which is based on a Jewish traditional game which encouraged children to search the scriptures. Children were asked to find a passage of scripture in which all the letters of their name could be found in the same order in which they occurred in their name - therefore their name occurred within the passage, although not necessarily within the one word or the same verse. Longer names are, of course, a little more difficult to locate.
See if you can find your name! If you have a Biblical name, you might want to try to locate your surname, or middle name.

My name, Josephine, occurs in
Joshua 1: 10-11
"So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:  “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready."

And Isaiah 41: 8-11

 “But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
    from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11 “All who rage against you
    will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
    will be as nothing and perish.


( I put this one in because verses 9-10 are some of my favourites and have ministered to me greatly over the years)

Happy searching!

Tuesday 24 February 2015

Tempted and overcoming



Following on from my last blog entry about sexual ethics and their changing nature according to the times in which one lives, I think it important to note that Christians are far from immune when it comes to sexual temptation. Sadly, every now and then we hear of a prominent Christian who has fallen into sexual sin and at a local church level we still hear of our fellow brothers and sisters whose marriages have been destroyed because of the same.
Christians, like everyone else in this world, are born with a fallen nature. Our default setting, programmed into us at birth, is to sin. When we commit our lives to Christ, whilst we are living in this fallen world, though we have received the Holy Spirit, we still battle with this old nature within us.
In a culture in which immorality is accepted, Christians are exposed to lots of temptations. In addition, the nature of Christ within us is so attractive, that non-Christians may be drawn by it into a desire for intimacy with that person which leads to emotional dependency and the risk of a sinful relationship.
Consider the following fictional scenario: He is a non-Christian man whose former partner has just walked out on their relationship. She is a caring Christian workmate who always has a smile and word of encouragement. He seeks her company in the lunch room and she shows an interest in his problems. At the same time her Christian husband is working long hours on business and organises youth camps. He’s exhausted and not at all attentive to her. Suddenly she finds herself looking forward to the company and compliments of her workmate. After all, it’s only coffee in the lunch room. It’s nice to have somebody who doesn’t know her all that well wanting to discover more about her. Then he asks her to look at some furniture he’s considering buying, so they leave the office and go for a walk together. The following week he invites her to try out a new coffee shop down the road. She wonders if she should. After all, he’s just a friend, isn’t he?
What’s happening here? Two people are having their egos boosted by a mutual interest in one another. Both are feeling lonely. Their work situation is providing a background of romantic meetings. There is mutual attraction. And if it continues, it may well lead to a sexual encounter and a destroyed marriage on the woman’s part.
What should she do?
The Bible tells us clearly that we will face temptation in many areas throughout our lives. But there is good news:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Satan always makes temptations attractive. He starts out with little temptations, and builds to bigger ones. And he always has excuses and lies.
God provides His principles for those who want to follow His will and walk in His ways. As we start to overcome small obstacles, He will give us the ability to overcome larger ones. As George Eliot once observed in the novel “Daniel Deronda”  “The reward of one duty is the power to fulfil another.”  Far from the excuses and lies which ultimately destroy us, God provides truth and enlightenment and spiritual gifting to those who obey Him. When looking at God’s messages to the churches of Revelation, again and again we see the words, “to him who overcomes”. To those who overcome, God will grant the wonder of His presence in deeper and ever more fulfilling relationship.
I would suggest that it’s easier to overcome temptations if our relationship with God is one of love. When we know God in a loving relationship, we value that relationship so much that we don’t wish to grieve Him or destroy the relationship we have with Him. That puts us in the right frame of mind to deal fairly and appropriately with others.
An altruistic form of Christian caring is also to realise that if we deal inappropriately with another person and tempt them into sin, it destroys their standing with God, as well as our own. If they are not a Christian, it destroys our credibility, their opinion of the Christian faith and the likelihood of them becoming a Christian.  
What should the lady in the scenario do? My suggestion to her would be to get back to basics with God: deepen her relationship with Him through regular Bible reading, prayer and fellowship in a caring Christian church. Discover again her first love, the One who created her to love and serve Him. Enjoy His presence and understanding and care. Then attend to those aspects of her marriage that are missing – which might need some frank discussion and adjustments in lifestyle for both partners. Finally, it’s time to honestly appraise the situation with the workmate, to stop meeting alone and reduce contact to strictly professional interactions. If it’s the case that she feels she will always be attracted to this person, perhaps it’s time to look for another job. Flight is not necessarily a bad option when it comes to temptation. God’s worth it.
Sacrifice is not a very common concept in a world which encourages everyone to have as much of everything as they want, but sacrifice is very much part of the Christian walk. Many people may not have the relationships that they feel drawn to in this life because of their desire to please God rather than their own nature. Chastity and celibacy are not popular concepts, but they are valid options. I am absolutely convinced that God deeply honours sacrifices made to obey His word.
The principles of overcoming temptation apply in a variety of situations. Develop a healthy relationship with God. Build healthy relationships with others. Overcome small temptations – get out of websites that offer visually tempting links; put honest times on your timesheets; take responsibility for your errors; and you will be more equipped to overcome larger temptations. Be neither overly proud of your successes, nor overly discouraged by your failures, because Satan will capitalise on either end of the spectrum, but rather give God the position in your life and credit that He deserves. Depend upon Him to encourage and equip you each day through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
To God be the glory eternally.  

Saturday 21 February 2015

Moral absolutes or shifting standards?




The Christian faith requires a radical departure from popular western culture in respect to morality. Any glance through a magazine, or social media, or popular television shows, or movies will result in a bombardment of relationships that are being portrayed to the next generation of young adults.
The internet is providing pornography on an unprecedented scale, the ramifications of which are only just beginning to be felt in real relationships. The latest Hollywood movie, “Fifty shades of Grey” glamorizes abuse.
Should society have any moral absolutes? How should marriage be defined? Should any one group be able to dictate to others how they should live?
Christians have a relationship blueprint that is spelled out in the Bible. It tells us unequivocally that God created the first man, Adam and then the first woman Eve. The two were designed to become one, physically, emotionally and spiritually, and through this union, all mankind was created. Initially the children of Adam and Eve would have married, but as with Cain, there is a sense of moving away and establishing a family unit apart. When the earth was destroyed by flood, Noah’s sons, who were on the ark with their wives, became the founding families of the Israelites. By the time of the exodus, God’s laws given through Moses laid down strict regulations regarding the intermarriage of family members. These laws also forbade homosexual practice and the use of animals for sexual purposes.
In the New Testament book of Matthew, chapter 19, Christ has a discussion with the Pharisees who questioned Him with regard to the laws of divorce. Jesus refers to the creation and explains that marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and woman, not to be dissolved for any reason, with the exception of marital unfaithfulness.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, chapters 5 and 6, reiterates this concept of husbands and wives becoming one within marriage; as well as describing how this earthy marriage is also symbolic of the relationship between Christ and His church – the earthly “bride of Christ.” The church in scripture is always referred to as “she” for this reason. Christ loves His church and died for it, and is one day to return to claim it and take His bride to Heaven. This is one reason why Satan seeks to undermine individual marriages, especially Christian ones, and the concept of marriage as a whole.
Paul in his letters to the churches instructs them to avoid adultery and fornication i.e. sex outside of marriage, sex with someone other than your husband or wife, and sex with a person of the same sex. (See Romans 1:24-26, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3).
That’s the blueprint.
But Christ also said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” John13:34
The society in which we live is populated with those who are living together without marriage, living in same sex relationships, divorced, remarried, engaging in casual sex and a host of other practices.
I suggest that a Christian response is compassion, rather than condemnation. For the past decade I’ve lived amongst and worked with people who are in a variety of relationships, including GLBT, and in all that time I’ve unashamedly spoken of myself as a Christian. I’ve also shown them love and respect. The love of God is the most lasting and genuine love that any of us will ever know, a love not found in the best of human relationships. We who know God’s love need to reflect it. A helping hand, in whatever form that takes, is far better than a pointing finger.
We can’t expect a fallen world to follow God’s blueprint when it doesn’t know Him. Without a base, there is no foundation. We can expect, and see, a world which grows increasingly dissatisfied with what it attempts to use to fill up the empty spaces inside. A world of enslavement underneath its “liberated” banner. An increase in abortion and sexually transmitted diseases. People with deep unhappiness. People who need to know that there is a Saviour who loves them, and Christian people who genuinely care about them too. 







Friday 20 February 2015

Lenten poem



For this we strive
this space between worlds
where You and I dwell
sheltered, unafraid
this space bounded by
my own obedience
drawn by love
admitted by grace
 as real as any dimension that I see
I treasure this space
Knowing it is mine
to inhabit
It is mine to desert
No fortress of ritual
or shackle of fear binds me
Freely I come to
Your hard-won, expensive presence.

Friday 13 February 2015

52 weeks, 66 books.

There are lots of different ways of reading the Bible and many plans of how to read it completely through in a year. A quick Google search will assist those who want to have a calendar of reading. I've used various methods of Bible reading over the years, ranging from completely free choice each day to reading the Bible from start to finish. I now like to concentrate on a complete book rather than jump around old and new testament chapters daily, but I do like to mix up the books. This year I'm hoping to read the entire Bible by ticking off books on a list as I go. I'm behind time, as I've only just thought of this and have so far read Matthew and Malachi. Sixty four to go.
What works for one person as far as Bible reading goes will not work for another. It's useful to refer to commentaries as you read, to get a little background and understanding of the historical context in which a book was written, as well as to share the insights of others.
Some important points:
Make reading a regular habit - daily if possible.
Pray before reading. Invite the Holy Spirit to enter into your reading and guide your mind and heart through it.
Don't rush - reading a few verses with understanding, meditation and remembering is better than rushing through a chapter. Read as much or as little as you feel guided.
Don't make it a ritual that you must do in order to feel like you've done the right thing.

bible.org, linked on this blog, has some useful resources including online bibles with footnote links. Audio bibles are available online, and youtube has some full-length books presented visually if you search visual bible. A printable checklist or online resource for monitoring your Bible reading is available via biblechecklist.org

Responsibility with Humility



Several years ago I undertook to deliver the eulogy at the funeral of my dear mother-in-law, reading a series of descriptions of her life, some of which she had written herself, and some which were edited by family members and myself. It was a solemn responsibility and I prayed earnestly beforehand that I would do justice to the memory of a very special lady.
As I stood at the lectern in a large room of people, all of whose eyes were on me, I began my reading with a certain degree of nervousness. As it was quite a long eulogy, after a while I found myself relaxing. I will always remember a moment, when, somewhere in the midst of the reading, I found myself thinking that it was proceeding according to plan and almost began to enjoy the fact that I had the rapt attention of everyone (after all it was a funeral and they could hardly mutter amongst themselves or look out of the window, could they?) Afterwards I received some kind words regarding my portion of the proceedings.
I will always remember the feeling that swept over me during that delivery, because it taught me a valuable lesson. I believe that God showed me clearly how easily those who are involved in ministry, especially any form of ministry in front of a group and particularly on a stage, can be tempted and seduced into prideful ways of thinking and behaving. How easily we can usurp the glory intended for God alone. When we are doing God’s work, we use the skills and talents He has given us. We are enabled with opportunities that He provides. He resources and anoints us with His Holy Spirit. Yet when we succeed, we want to take the credit. We’ve done great things for God? No, in fact, a great God has used us for His purposes.
Paul reminds us of this fact in several verses of 2 Corinthians chapter 4:
“we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (v2)
For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. (v5)
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (v6)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (v7).
The Bible tells us that Satan became obsessed with his own beauty and pride and began to place himself above his Creator:
“You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God” (Isaiah 14:13)

“Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.” (Ezekiel 28:17)

The result was that Satan was cast away from Heaven and similarly Adam and Eve, who were tempted by Satan to become as gods, were cast away from relationship with the one true God. Human pride in our own abilities denies our need for God’s anointing and provision and separates us from Him.

God does not share His glory, that of the divine trinity, with any other:

“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”
When we witness or minister to others it’s not a performance, but rather a commission each Christian is given to extend God’s kingdom through whatever relationships, situations and tasks, great or small that He has entrusted to us.  When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we have tremendous inner power to influence others who see the beauty and wisdom of Christ in us. It’s our task to remember from whom this power derives and to reflect any kudos we incur back to the One worthy of all our praises.