30 January, 2010

I: Du fils de Zébédée (pas du tout Jacques!)

When John son of Zebedee is mentioned in the gospels, in fact, James is mentioned first - "James son of Zebedee, and his brother John".

Interesting.

Perhaps those of you reading this may want to speculate why that is
- however, it's not my focus.


MES QUESTIONS
1. How can God's people know Him (better)?
{that is, How to know God?}
2. How can God's people know what He wants for them?
{or rather, How to know what God wants us to do and be?}

DISCLAIMER
These are my personal perceptions and reflections on the Word of God. Please read with care & discernment; feel free to disagree (incl. by commenting); above all, DO NOT Blindly Swallow everything (or anything) I might say.
________________

The first thing I noticed in John chapters 1 to 4 is that we can only know God because *He's* initiated the relationship..

Par exemple
~ God sends His witnesses (e.g. "There came a man who was sent from God") 1,6
~ God comes into the world to be received - 1,11-12
~ He comes to dwell among us & bless us with His grace - 1,14-16
~ He makes Himself known to us (e.g. "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.") - 1,17-18; see also ch.2, v.11, where Jesus reveals His glory to the disciples at the Cana wedding; AND ch.4, v.7, where Jesus initiates the conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well.

I could go on and on, and I think I will..!

God, who sent John the Baptist, tells him who Jesus is - thus the Father makes Him(self) known to John. The Baptist doesn't work it out for himself; he gets told by God ("the one who sent me to baptize with water told me..I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." - 1,33-34.)
________________

The second thing observed so far is the number of times the concept of *believing* rocks up..

1,7-10: .. 2x
1,50-2,11: .. 1x "believe", .. 1x "putting faith in"
2,22-25: .. 2x
3,11-36: .. 8x (aïe!)
4,28-42: .. 3x**
4,45-54: .. 2x
TOTAL: .. 19x

I think it would be safe to say that believing (or putting faith) in Jesus - the One God sent - is a somewhat important concept here.

Now I want to flesh this out a little more.
I thought that Jesus' stopover at the well in the Samaritan town of Sychar was worth returning to. (Hence ** above.)

In ch.4, v.4-42, Jesus' encounter with a non-Jewish woman at the Sychar well results in, well, this:

"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him
because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did.'
So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them,
and he stayed two days.
And because of his words many more became believers.
They said to the woman,
'We no longer believe just because of what you said;
now we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.'
"
~ What I think is SO very interesting here, is that they believe because of what the woman tells them - the only bit of her words to the town recorded for us is "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (4,29.)

This is in stark contrast to those whom Jesus encounters both before AND after the Samaritan episode:

(i) "Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name." (2,23.)
~ Here we have a presumably Jewish majority.
Who believe, not because of words/testimony from another (like the Samaritans), but because of miraculous signs.

(ii) "When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him.
They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.
Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine.
And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,
he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
'Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,' Jesus told him,
'you will never believe.'"
(4,45-48)
~ Even Jesus seems to be implying that the faith the Galileans have in Him is dependent on miraculous signs.


So we have Galileans - presumably Jews because they were at Jerusalem for Passover - who believe in Jesus because of the miracles He has been doing.

And then we have Samaritans (with whom, we are told, Jews do not associate - 4,9), who believe in Jesus because of His words (conversation) to a witness (the woman).


But wait, there's more. The passage about the royal official has an intriguing conclusion..

"When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,
he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
'Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,' Jesus told him,
'you will never believe.'
The royal official said, 'Sir, come down before my child dies.'
Jesus replied, 'You may go. Your son will live.'
The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.
When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him,
'The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.'
Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live.'
So he and all his household believed."
(4,47-53)
~ The royal official takes Jesus at His word.
He doesn't insist that Jesus comes with him (though me being me, I would have!!).
He does, in fact, see a miraculous sign - the healing of his dying son.
But - unlike the other Jewish people inferred so far - the official, plus his household, believe - though they had not visibly seen Jesus go to his son & heal him.

This official, therefore, seems one step closer to the Samaritans than the Jews here
- because it was about believing in the Word, rather than just believing after seeing Jesus perform a miraculous sign.
________________

So, backtracking.

We know God because He's made Himself known to us.
He's initiated the relationship.
Are we called also to believe in His Word
- whether we see Him perform miraculous signs (e.g. physical healings or water-into-wine) in our lives -
..Or Not?

..Well, the Samaritans seemed able to.
The Samaritans believed because of what the woman told them about Jesus; & because they heard Him for themselves.

The closest thing they saw to a miraculous sign, as far as the Bible tells us in John's gospel, is that Jesus knew the woman & told her everything she ever did. No physical healing or water-to-wine was necessary for these Samaritans of Sychar to believe.

We can know God, it would seem, because He wants us to know Him; & we can believe in His Word alone. (We don't need tangible miracles to believe.)

Or so I would conclude..

..I hope to keep going in my reports on John the apostle's writings soon.

L/T.

27 January, 2010

Pourquoi Haïti?

Recently I found this reflection from Jonathan Dodson
- (who?? I hear you say) -
insightful.

From a website called http://theresurgence.com/, featuring Mark Driscoll (should readers know the name).

Worth a thought.

L/T.

"Te connaître, Jésus" (Dieu le Père/Fils/Saint-Esprit)

Having spent a few months getting to know the God-inspired writings of the apostle Matthew (Levi) son of Alphaeus, I've decided to do the same concerning another of the Twelve.

His name is John son of Zebedee and, like Matthew, his witness to Jesus in the gospels is by no means new to me.

However, I've decided to spend more time looking into John's account of Jesus this year because I feel that through the gospel he wrote, God may show me what I think it crucial to know..

..namely:
1. How can God's people know Him (better)?
2. How can God's people know what He wants for them (e.g. guidance in life & witness)?
________________

I'm not just doing this for me; the whole idea for this study was triggered by a discussion I had with my twin sister. So it's for her, too.

From time to time I hope that my scribbled ideas from what I'm reading will find their way into blog posts here. I've just finished looking over the first 3 chapters of John's gospel, so hopefully won't be long in getting back here to share my findings.

L/T.

26 January, 2010

La bergère qui attend

This week, NSW schools begin the school year.

And I am still waiting for doors to open.

Uncertainty fights for supremacy, but the Bible reminds me that God reigns.

L/T.


P.S. A post like this, while not something I've dealt with, has been really helpful.

I hope that whatever you are going through (or are going to go through), the reflections on the blog link provided may help. I teared up a few times!

22 January, 2010

La plage est belle

Took a "day-off"from the regular grind of job searching & went to Narrabeen Beach (northern end, near lake entrance) from 0900-1200 hours.

It was low tide, so much shallower than it seems in the link given above.

1) Paddled in surf until tired
{it occurs to me I'm much more cautious - even between flags - at 32 than I was at 17}
2) Went & reclined in just ankle-deep lagoon channel
{with the water flowing from lagoon=>ocean trickling noisily through my hair if I lay flat - REALLY good!!}
3) Waded from lagoon channel to deeper part of lagoon & into lakes area
{also REALLY good!}

I would have gladly stayed all day, except that UV was rated "extreme" today - that means one burns if one stays out too long (esp. after 1100 hours)

I must do this kind of beach day more often.

L/T.

{EDIT.: Educated Francophones will know that this post's title is, in fact, incorrectly gendered & spelled. It should read "le plage est beau" - but seasoned filmgoers will have recognised that the title of this, as well as one previous, post have been spin-offs of French film names!!}**


**Un coeur en hiver, and La vie est belle.

21 January, 2010

Une chose marrante

Something light to be both cringed and giggled at - this!

It may not make much sense unless you know who the blond Australian is (his name is Brett Lee, and isn't he a nice young cricketer..).

(Well, semi-young. If age 33 counts.)

L/T.

20 January, 2010

Un coeur en été

Four months since I turned 32.

That means - as a young British student whom I did September mission with put it -
..I'm "one year younger than Jesus was when He died".

And in these Australian summer days, my mind drifts so often in the same direction: ..the work of the Kingdom of God that needs to be done here.

Am I meant to be heading for Jerusalem now (cf. LUKE ch. 9, verses 51-52)?

L/T.

16 January, 2010

La dignité perdue

En ce moment, je regarde les bilans au sujet de Haïti (bilan de france2.fr, SBS TV).

À propos des corps des victimes dans le seisme:
La chose la plus triste, c'est quand on regarde la préparation des morts pour l'enterrement. Il semble qu'il n'y a pas de dignité pour ceux qui ont perdu leurs vies dans cette catastrophe.

________________

At present, I'm watching news stories about Haïti.

In light of the bodies of earthquake victims:
The thing I find saddest, is watching how the dead are prepared for burial. Seems that there's no dignity for those who lost their lives in this tragedy.
________________

Should there not be more reverent disposal of the mortal body, if at all possible?

For the Bible says (& I believe it) that all have been created in the image of God.

L/T.

15 January, 2010

La tristesse pour les haïtiens

Please tell me, readers, that you know something of what has happened in Haïti.

That you care.

That you who are income earners are going to give.

That you who preach & live with Christ as Lord & yourselves as His servants are praying about this:
~ for the provision of basic needs - especially medical treatment - and more
~ for the preservation of human lives which, if lost, may also be eternally lost (I understand that this nation is nowhere near Christian)
~ for the proclamation of the good news of Jesus in places like Haïti & among all unreached peoples of the world
- that they might have more opportunity to respond rightly to Him, the Risen One whom God has appointed, & by whom He will justly judge all..
________________

The latest from Haïti
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8460574.stm


Oh that I had more to give than my unemployment benefit allows. And yet I'm so much more well-off than even the Haïtian leaders at the present time.

Oh, and better off than the homeless of India, too.

*sigh*

More than once since the New Year began, I have considered how helpful a regular income can be for donating to causes when the rest of this world is in such dire need. Physically - and, more importantly, spiritually.

L/T.

09 January, 2010

9 janvier 2009

For over 10 years and 9 months now, I've always (not-so-secretly) harboured a desire to be sent on overseas cross-cultural (^o.s.c.c.^) mission.

Ça fait 10 ans que mon voyage a commencé
In a way, it feels like I've come full circle.
Loosely, one could say it all started back in 1999. Join me on a little trip down the lane called Memory.

9 avril 1999
~ Decided to look into teaching, during final year of studies for Music degree (BMus).
~ This was a response to a suggestion given me over the Easter weekend of '99, by Michael Raiter (whom my church had invited to give Bible talks at our Easter youth retreat).
~ I had been thinking about the needs in world mission prior to this date; had heard Michael speak often of his ^o.s.c.c.^ mission experiences in Pakistan; asked his opinion on how a Music degree might be useful for the sake of the gospel in an ^o.s.c.c.^ context.
~ Michael suggested considering teacher training, since teaching visas were more easily attainable for Christian ^o.s.c.c.^ missionaries than visas for pastors, ministers, Bible college lecturers, etc.
(Fast-forward 10 years 3 months to..)


..9 juillet 2009
~ Left Paris, France - after an encouraging, challenging, fruitful & life-transforming short-term mission reaching out to students, in team partnership with local student organisation Groupes Bibliques Universitaires (GBU) & the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES).

9 septembre 2009
~ In the process of preparing to return to Paris, France - to join in orientation-week outreach, in team partnership once more with the GBUs & IFES.
~ The decision to return for another short-term examination based on my thinking - whether serving with the French GBUs was possible for longer; what advice the Australian long-termers might have about steps to take.

9 novembre 2009
~ Physically back in Sydney, Australia - working casually for my longest-standing employer (a Jewish school), but with heart still looking to France in the future.

9 janvier 2010
~ The burden for the work around the world that our God has made has not lightened with time.
~ Nor has my burden for France lightened.

In fact, CMS Summer School
- as it served to keep my eyes wide open to the work God is doing in many areas of the world to further His kingdom by the proclamation of the good news of Jesus the only Saviour & Lord -
has served to remind me of just how plentiful the harvest is.

And how few, in comparison, are the workers in the Lord's harvest field.

For me, it has been 10 years and 9 months since my thinking about ^o.s.c.c.^ mission in God's world began to crystallise.. .. ..since my eyes were first opened to the needs for people outside of mainstream** Australian culture to hear of & believe in the Lord for their salvation from the coming wrath.
________________


Tell me, followers & friends, in light of today's posts, what do you think should be most often prayed for me?

The prayer that for me comes to mind is, precisely, the words of my prophet friend Isaiah son of Amoz:

<<Me voici, envoie-moi.>>

*sigh* .. 10 years 9 months is a long time to be just "thinking" about mission.

L/T.
________________


(*)
(former teacher of Murree Christian School, Pakistan; former lecturer at Moore Theological College; now on staff at Bible College of Victoria)

**
See footnote at end of preceding post.

..

Mon fardeau français

Spent nearly the whole of the 1st week of 2010 at CMS Summer School. Michael Raiter(*) was our morning speaker, used by God to teach from His word. (Refer to this previous post for details.)

At this missions-focused conference, there was some talk about having a "burden" for a particular country. At the same time, it was obvious that everywhere there are needs; AND, the way I see it, those needs among peoples/cultures/nations outside of mainstream** upwardly-mobile Australia will always be desperately greater than where I live.


Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire?
I came away from Summer School with the intention of commitment to a number of things, my interventionist God & Father being my strength:

1. Laying out common areas of "respectable sin" in my life, identifying personally any humans affected by it (often my immediate family, regrettably), & seeking to do what the Lord Jesus requires in that situation - empowered by the Holy Spirit that ever, always rests on me through Jesus.

2. Continuing to follow a 5-year (if not much long-term) path towards giving up a comfortable & financially secure lifestyle, for the sake of the expansion of Christ's kingdom & rule among unreached peoples of the world who right now are lost
- AND, who have significantly LESS access to hearing the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ than anywhere in mainstream** Australia.

3. Increased support of more missionaries in more prayer (as an unemployed person), & also financially (whenever adequate work & income are gifted me by the Master).


Au sujet d'un fardeau
Now about burdens.
I had the opportunity during Summer School to reflect on over 10 years of following overseas cross-cultural missionaries around the world (henceforth known as ^o.s.c.c.missio's^
- & mostly from the comfort of my Sydney home).

For around 3 years now, I've fought to hold back tears when talking or praying about the needs for the unreached to hear of & find salvation in Jesus. I suppose some people would then say I have a burden for the lost.

Now if there be any country that I am particularly burdened for, I'd say sans doute that it would be France. Significantly, because God allowed me 2 great opportunities to see & participate first-hand in the work of the gospel, His kingdom, among students there (in Paris, anyway). Unlike much of the work I've seen done by ^o.s.c.c.missio's^ in other places, it was a work in which God graciously showed me that I could play a hands-on role.

{Cont'd - next post!}

L/T.
________________


(*)
(former teacher of Murree Christian School, Pakistan; former lecturer at Moore Theological College; now on staff at Bible College of Victoria)


**
By "
mainstream" I mean:
Not including the many unreached Australian Aboriginal people groups, esp. in the remote communities of Arnhem Land & the wider Northern Territory.

Where I am as a teacher, in terms of professional growth, & psychological condition, I feel I would be of extremely limited value in the NT; I have always struggled as an educator to really help the struggling. Better, I think, that teachers who are really GOOD with remedial education & have enough PATIENCE to teach students with these kinds of needs, be raised up to serve there.

..