This is going to sound cryptic, or get the idle speculating, but tant pis!
To any who prayed regarding the Christmas Day post, je vous remercie. During cathedral morning prayer, one line of The Lord's Prayer hit very hard:
"Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."
And I went back to my months of conversations with my long gone-to-glory friend Matthew, and remembered the following passage:
Matthieu 18, 21-35.
God is so good!
To answer the prayer the willing spirit was praying even while the weak body kicked/screamed/threw tantrums/generally resisted.
________________
La fin de cette année
The close of this year has been rather calm to date. Well, apart from the back pain sustained since the weekend's cleaning activity. And the spiritual battle inferred above.
And now I have time to make some notes on the following..
..(TEN Reasons For) Why I Am Still A Christian
1. God has held me in the palm of His hand - something I've really noticed this year.
2. God has been a strength & refuge; an ever-present help in trouble.
[PSA. 46:1]
3. God has shown me such great mercy, new every morning, though I really deserve nothing good.
4. God has kept the big promises (e.g. upholding me with His righteous hand) as well as the small ones (e.g. supplying all I need acc. to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus).
[ISA. 41:10 & PHIL. 4:19]
5. God has a sure future for me in Christ, who is my life, & with whom I will appear in glory when He Himself appears.
[COL. 3:3ff]
6. God is at work in me for my eternal good.
[ROM. 8:28 & PHIL. 2:13]
7. God is a Father better than any other.
8. God loves not only me, but all the lost around me in this world that I feel so geographically incapable of helping; & He wants them to be saved even more than I do!
[1 TIM. 2:4 & JOHN 3:16]
9. God is just & fair, & the One who will judge everyone by the Man He has appointed - so I can wait for Him.
[ACTS 17:31]
10. God will be there (God will be there), God is everywhere (guitar, neow neow neow neow neow, neow neow, NEOW!!)**
________________
If I don't post again tomorrow, Happy New Year!
L/T.
{**SOURCE: Colin Buchanan, "God is everywhere", from album 10, 9, 8 God is great}
31 December, 2009
25 December, 2009
Joyeux Noël!
Aux chers amis en Europe:
Quel dommage qu'il ne soit pas possible pour vous d'être ici en Australie cette mois! Il n'y a point de neige en ce moment
- oui, un peu de feu, dans le sud -
et selon les prévisions, il y aura des inondations dans le nord de ma région, mais PAS du tout près de Sydney où j'habite!
Joyeux Noël! Je pense de chacun de vous, mes amis assez froids, et je continue de prier pour vous!
Anglophone readers may start reading from This Point Forward!
I hope that you have had as restful & joyful a Christmas as it is possible to have. Thanks for getting behind me & supporting me this year, in your own ways.
As I write the rain falls steadily outside. It is after 10PM (22h) here in Sydney, and another Christmas is nearly over.
Matthieu et ma lutte
As you may have picked up, I've been spending time with apostle, writer & former publican Matthew. Since exhausting my study of the talentas parable in ch. 25, I've read to the end of ch. 28, then doubled back to the beginning again (I'd started around ch. 9).
And the fighting has begun.
I'm having some issues over some things Matthew records the Lord Jesus Christ saying in ch. 5 - verses 21 to 26 as well as 38 to 48.
Issues in that I'm trying to think through what the application of those verses are for me.
And I'm divided within myself about it.
If you pray, please pray for wisdom and obedience about this.
It would be an understatement to say that being wise or obedient in response to these verses is somewhat difficult for me.
Oh what a Christmas.
But, after all, if the Saviour born is truly Christ, the Lord.. .. ..
L/T.
Quel dommage qu'il ne soit pas possible pour vous d'être ici en Australie cette mois! Il n'y a point de neige en ce moment
- oui, un peu de feu, dans le sud -
et selon les prévisions, il y aura des inondations dans le nord de ma région, mais PAS du tout près de Sydney où j'habite!
Joyeux Noël! Je pense de chacun de vous, mes amis assez froids, et je continue de prier pour vous!
Anglophone readers may start reading from This Point Forward!
I hope that you have had as restful & joyful a Christmas as it is possible to have. Thanks for getting behind me & supporting me this year, in your own ways.
As I write the rain falls steadily outside. It is after 10PM (22h) here in Sydney, and another Christmas is nearly over.
Matthieu et ma lutte
As you may have picked up, I've been spending time with apostle, writer & former publican Matthew. Since exhausting my study of the talentas parable in ch. 25, I've read to the end of ch. 28, then doubled back to the beginning again (I'd started around ch. 9).
And the fighting has begun.
I'm having some issues over some things Matthew records the Lord Jesus Christ saying in ch. 5 - verses 21 to 26 as well as 38 to 48.
Issues in that I'm trying to think through what the application of those verses are for me.
And I'm divided within myself about it.
If you pray, please pray for wisdom and obedience about this.
It would be an understatement to say that being wise or obedient in response to these verses is somewhat difficult for me.
Oh what a Christmas.
But, after all, if the Saviour born is truly Christ, the Lord.. .. ..
L/T.
18 December, 2009
Lien: L'évangélisation et la peur
This article by Pete Sholl (an Australian in Monterrey, Mexico), had some great ideas.
The Sola Panel
Sergio, evangelism and customer service
Posted using ShareThis
Excerpt:
"Sometimes I wonder if the fear of being asked a question we can't answer prevents us from sharing our love of Jesus with our friends. We are worried that if we bring Jesus into the conversation, we'll be asked a curly question, and maybe as a result, we'll look like a bit of a goose, so we choose to keep quiet.
"But a lack of knowledge or a fear of not knowing the answer didn't stop Sergio. When we started asking questions he couldn't answer, he wasn't put off at all. He kindly and genuinely served us, and went out of his way to find answers to each of our questions. In between times, he warmly took an interest in our lives and shared his own life. Not only that, but at the end of our conversation, he invited us to investigate more products—an in-store loyalty card and a credit program.
"Perhaps we all need to take a leaf out of Sergio's book.."
If idling, have a read IN CONTEXT (or a skim).
L/T.
The Sola Panel
Sergio, evangelism and customer service
Posted using ShareThis
Excerpt:
"Sometimes I wonder if the fear of being asked a question we can't answer prevents us from sharing our love of Jesus with our friends. We are worried that if we bring Jesus into the conversation, we'll be asked a curly question, and maybe as a result, we'll look like a bit of a goose, so we choose to keep quiet.
"But a lack of knowledge or a fear of not knowing the answer didn't stop Sergio. When we started asking questions he couldn't answer, he wasn't put off at all. He kindly and genuinely served us, and went out of his way to find answers to each of our questions. In between times, he warmly took an interest in our lives and shared his own life. Not only that, but at the end of our conversation, he invited us to investigate more products—an in-store loyalty card and a credit program.
"Perhaps we all need to take a leaf out of Sergio's book.."
If idling, have a read IN CONTEXT (or a skim).
L/T.
16 December, 2009
Pourquoi restez-vous chrétien/ne?
This article was written at the start of the year.
http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/mission/missionthinking/questions_why_are_you_still_a_christian/
For those of my friends who are Christian and have stuck with God, it's worth considering the grace that brought us safe thus far.
So, to those who are in Christ with me
- why are you still a Christian?
(I intend to share my own reasons, but I'm still in a D&M with gospel-writer/apostle Matthew (Levi) bar-Alphaeus, so once again soyez patient!)
Et qu'est-ce que vous allez faire pendant le mois de janvier?
On a different tack, IF you are planning to be off work or on holidays after the new year, why not consider..
CMS Summer School 2010
..at Katoomba?
Even just for a day.
It is one fantastic conference - the best I've ever attended.
Really great esp. if you want to know more about what God is doing in the world
- how His kingdom is being expanded, and even how you can play a part in it..
DO consider coming. I can't recommend it highly enough.
L/T.
..
.. P.S.
Two more videos for the road!!
(Vision of CMS.)
A day in the life of missionaries in 35 different countries..
(What is quite cool is recognising French local Christians whom I met, or heard speak, depicted in these clips.)
:O
http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/mission/missionthinking/questions_why_are_you_still_a_christian/
For those of my friends who are Christian and have stuck with God, it's worth considering the grace that brought us safe thus far.
So, to those who are in Christ with me
- why are you still a Christian?
(I intend to share my own reasons, but I'm still in a D&M with gospel-writer/apostle Matthew (Levi) bar-Alphaeus, so once again soyez patient!)
Et qu'est-ce que vous allez faire pendant le mois de janvier?
On a different tack, IF you are planning to be off work or on holidays after the new year, why not consider..
CMS Summer School 2010
..at Katoomba?
Even just for a day.
It is one fantastic conference - the best I've ever attended.
Really great esp. if you want to know more about what God is doing in the world
- how His kingdom is being expanded, and even how you can play a part in it..
DO consider coming. I can't recommend it highly enough.
L/T.
..
.. P.S.
Two more videos for the road!!
(Vision of CMS.)
A day in the life of missionaries in 35 different countries..
(What is quite cool is recognising French local Christians whom I met, or heard speak, depicted in these clips.)
:O
08 December, 2009
Matthieu 25: le Maître et ses serviteurs
I am determined to get to the bottom of this parable, in spite of my limited internet time over the last 2 weeks!
But wait a moment.
Let us bear in mind that this parable is 3rd in a row of four, each illustrating the idea of no-one knowing the day or the hour of the Son of Man's coming.
So..
The Master entrusts his property to his servants.
If the Master represents Jesus Himself, then what is Jesus' property?
Furthermore, how does He expect His servants to be "good and faithful" with that aforesaid property?
The property:
The Master's property appears to be money. Wealth; riches; thousands of coins. That's what talentas meant.
So what is the true wealth of Jesus the Master of the universe - the King of the kingdom of heaven? What, therefore, is His property?
Why does the master of the parable commend & reward the good/faithful servants who double the money he entrusts to them, and cast out the servant who digs a hole in the ground to hide his master's money?
If good/faithful handling of the property means multiplying it through work, what is this property that Jesus the Master has given to me His servant?
What is the wealth/money/property that my Lord and Master really wants me to multiply?
What the property is NOT:
It is NOT my ability, my strengths, my gifts in music/languages/friendships/childminding/dance/[fill-in-the-blanks]. The word TALENT here is a Roman Empirical unit of money, not the modern Oxford or Webster dictionary definition that Asians of every generation think it is.
Hence, with as much respect to the well-meaning Christians of my mummy's generation as ever I could muster - I believe your reading of the passage is well and truly out of context.
I am not going to be classed as wicked and lazy [ESV "slothful"] if I don't put every one of my so-called gifts, abilities, skills, etc., to work.
Seems, though, like I'll be classed as those negative things if I don't guard the good deposit entrusted to me (2 TIM. 1:14) - the gospel [good news] of Jesus (GALATIANS 2:7 as well as 1 THESS. 2:4 and TITUS 1:3).
So if I make no effort to increase the kingdom of heaven by sharing the gospel that the Master entrusted to His servants - well, isn't that a bit closer to the mark than the classic Asian Generation B interpretation?
Apologies for any perceived brusqueness; just thinking aloud.
All comments subject to change without notice.
COMMENTAIRE?
Yes, I've been hunting commentaries, too.
1. The New Bible Commentary Revised (1970).
Not that helpful, as it didn't say much!!
2. IVP online (on Bible Gateway site)
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Matt/Industrious-Lazy-Managers
OPENING PARAGRAPHS
(directly quoted from the ABOVE site link):
^^As in 24:45-51, readiness for Jesus' return here demands faithfulness in doing the work he has called us to do. This warning applies to all disciples, but perhaps most seriously to church leaders: "A Christian leader who does not lead is damned" (Meier 1980:300).
We have the opportunity to multiply what Christ has entrusted to us.
Matthew seems to make a special point in noting that the master gave to
each according to his ability
--he already knew which slaves would be most industrious, but expected all to show some industry. In the Roman Empire slaves could earn wages and bonuses and acquire property (as in Apul. Metam. 10.13; Cohen 1966:179-278), hence they would have more incentive to look out for the master's property than slaves in many cultures do. Householders going on long journeys might entrust their estate to slaves to oversee (compare 24:45-51), since household slaves often held managerial roles (for example, Treggiari 1975:49). Thus the servants understood very well what was required of them.^^
CITED FROM IVP NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES.
Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Matt/Industrious-Lazy-Managers [On-line.]
L/T.
But wait a moment.
Let us bear in mind that this parable is 3rd in a row of four, each illustrating the idea of no-one knowing the day or the hour of the Son of Man's coming.
So..
The Master entrusts his property to his servants.
If the Master represents Jesus Himself, then what is Jesus' property?
Furthermore, how does He expect His servants to be "good and faithful" with that aforesaid property?
The property:
The Master's property appears to be money. Wealth; riches; thousands of coins. That's what talentas meant.
So what is the true wealth of Jesus the Master of the universe - the King of the kingdom of heaven? What, therefore, is His property?
Why does the master of the parable commend & reward the good/faithful servants who double the money he entrusts to them, and cast out the servant who digs a hole in the ground to hide his master's money?
If good/faithful handling of the property means multiplying it through work, what is this property that Jesus the Master has given to me His servant?
What is the wealth/money/property that my Lord and Master really wants me to multiply?
What the property is NOT:
It is NOT my ability, my strengths, my gifts in music/languages/friendships/childminding/dance/[fill-in-the-blanks]. The word TALENT here is a Roman Empirical unit of money, not the modern Oxford or Webster dictionary definition that Asians of every generation think it is.
Hence, with as much respect to the well-meaning Christians of my mummy's generation as ever I could muster - I believe your reading of the passage is well and truly out of context.
I am not going to be classed as wicked and lazy [ESV "slothful"] if I don't put every one of my so-called gifts, abilities, skills, etc., to work.
Seems, though, like I'll be classed as those negative things if I don't guard the good deposit entrusted to me (2 TIM. 1:14) - the gospel [good news] of Jesus (GALATIANS 2:7 as well as 1 THESS. 2:4 and TITUS 1:3).
So if I make no effort to increase the kingdom of heaven by sharing the gospel that the Master entrusted to His servants - well, isn't that a bit closer to the mark than the classic Asian Generation B interpretation?
Apologies for any perceived brusqueness; just thinking aloud.
All comments subject to change without notice.
COMMENTAIRE?
Yes, I've been hunting commentaries, too.
1. The New Bible Commentary Revised (1970).
Not that helpful, as it didn't say much!!
2. IVP online (on Bible Gateway site)
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Matt/Industrious-Lazy-Managers
OPENING PARAGRAPHS
(directly quoted from the ABOVE site link):
^^As in 24:45-51, readiness for Jesus' return here demands faithfulness in doing the work he has called us to do. This warning applies to all disciples, but perhaps most seriously to church leaders: "A Christian leader who does not lead is damned" (Meier 1980:300).
We have the opportunity to multiply what Christ has entrusted to us.
Matthew seems to make a special point in noting that the master gave to
each according to his ability
--he already knew which slaves would be most industrious, but expected all to show some industry. In the Roman Empire slaves could earn wages and bonuses and acquire property (as in Apul. Metam. 10.13; Cohen 1966:179-278), hence they would have more incentive to look out for the master's property than slaves in many cultures do. Householders going on long journeys might entrust their estate to slaves to oversee (compare 24:45-51), since household slaves often held managerial roles (for example, Treggiari 1975:49). Thus the servants understood very well what was required of them.^^
CITED FROM IVP NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES.
Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Matt/Industrious-Lazy-Managers [On-line.]
L/T.
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