Hahah, you thought John been allowed to go off for a rest, but no such luck..!
Still working hard on understanding his writing.
________________
La plupart de Jean chapitre 8
Firstly, please note:
Owing to the fact that the first 11 verses of John's 8th chapter are contentious in their placement, I have let them go for the moment.
Yes, they have things to teach me.
Yes, they say relevant things about knowing God, & knowing what He wants for me to be & do, think & say.
Yes, I believe it's a genuine historical incident recorded here.
But I also agree with a number of commentaries & footnotes, which seem to feel that that eleven-verse chunk doesn't actually belong between the words of Jesus in ch. 7 & ch. 8 - whereas the recount of the blind man (ch.9) fits in much more seamlessly..
..
..
Sorry, getting ahead of myself again!
________________
8e chapitre (v.12-)
Five times here, Jesus emphasises that God the Father sent Him (16, 17, 26, 29, 42).
God the Sender - who takes steps towards people - seeking us before we seek Him?
Why does Jesus need to say this so often? Are the ones to whom He speaks really so much "thicker than a yard of lard" (thanks to Discworld novelist, Sir Terry J. Pratchett, for that phrase)? In other passages of Scripture, God only says something three times, & that's enough to get the point across.
________________
Une idée en français(e)
Being able to refer to a French Bible really adds to my study at times (I suppose that's my version of the gift of interpreting tongues!).
In English, another huge standout idea in this passage is somewhat lost in translation - the idea of the Son & the Father's testimony, testifying, witnessing.
That is, "témoignage" in French;
a witness translates to "témoin"; and
the action verb testify/witness is rendered "témoigner".
In the space of seven verses (from v.12 to v.18), this idea appears 7 times! (Which means something to those who know what the Bible does with certain numbers..)
It seems that knowing & responding rightly to God involves accepting His testimony, as the Father, about Jesus - in addition to accepting what Jesus testifies about Himself.
________________
Les croyances
Those Jesus is talking to will not believe what He says about Himself. Once again, the concept of believing in Jesus - abiding in, hearing & keeping His Word - pops up constantly (like this mad mole-bashing toy game that I was playing with the youngest of 3 kids on Saturday night while babysitting, only you don't hit the Word with a plastic hammer when it lights up!!).
To verify what I'm saying here, check out 8,31; 8,43-47; also 8,51-55.
Oh, and that Word is truth (v.14,16,32,40,45-46).
My impressions of this section overall are that knowing God has everything to do with knowing Jesus (see also v.19 & 55); AND as reinforced constantly in the preceding chapters).
That being a disciple of Jesus is about abiding in His Word (sticking with His Word?).
That what God wants means recognising our slavery to sin before Him (vv.32-36);
loving (v.42), honouring (v.49) & glorifying Him (v.50);
accepting Him, & accepting the One He sent.
________________
Still common themes. And this is not a comprehensive study. Haven't even focused on the light-darkness comparison. Yet the patterns I've been tracking have continued recurring thus far.
And next chapter, there will still be unbelief towards Jesus. Oh, and increasing hostility. And yet - one blind man, who will truly see..
But that's for later.
{To Be Cont'd}
L/T.
16 February, 2010
14 February, 2010
le 14 février
Ça fait 7 mois..!
It is seven months since I left Europe after my first Paris mission (plus London stopover).
A little frustrating, since it feels I'm no closer to returning there to actively participate in the work that I know needs to be done.
I'm sure many of my équipiers from June/July mission have moved on.
But as for me, I was always at a different stage of life from them - apart from Mia* or Kade* (who seem settled in for the long haul with GBU Paris) and probably Asher* (who until recently was still on the UCCF circuit in England).
A large portion of heart still looks towards the needs of the gospel in Paris & generally across France & Europe.
Which is why I've chosen Chinese New Year 2010, oops, meant VD, to ramble on about this.
My preference, if at all possible, would be to stay in Sydney work-wise, just because there's need for me to be trained & mentored (in specific ministry skills) by more mature Christians, who can't move with me as trainers/mentors to another city, state or country, if I get work there.
But I need to see what God provides.
How long, o Lord?
L/T.
It is seven months since I left Europe after my first Paris mission (plus London stopover).
A little frustrating, since it feels I'm no closer to returning there to actively participate in the work that I know needs to be done.
I'm sure many of my équipiers from June/July mission have moved on.
But as for me, I was always at a different stage of life from them - apart from Mia* or Kade* (who seem settled in for the long haul with GBU Paris) and probably Asher* (who until recently was still on the UCCF circuit in England).
A large portion of heart still looks towards the needs of the gospel in Paris & generally across France & Europe.
Which is why I've chosen Chinese New Year 2010, oops, meant VD, to ramble on about this.
My preference, if at all possible, would be to stay in Sydney work-wise, just because there's need for me to be trained & mentored (in specific ministry skills) by more mature Christians, who can't move with me as trainers/mentors to another city, state or country, if I get work there.
But I need to see what God provides.
How long, o Lord?
L/T.
10 February, 2010
Des missionnaires en Mexique
I'm always so encouraged by what I read at this blog link.
The post from yesterday, for example. (Sarah Sholl, along with husband Pete & daughters Karina, Lucy & Miriam, have been in Central America for around 1 year now - through CMS).
It's all so real - human people, struggling along, trying to overcome the language barrier that so often occurs when one tries to share the good news of Jesus in an overseas cross-cultural context.
Missionary stories & reflections always give fallen, unprepared, sometimes-useless-feeling people like me hope about our own parts in the future work of the Kingdom.
L/T.
The post from yesterday, for example. (Sarah Sholl, along with husband Pete & daughters Karina, Lucy & Miriam, have been in Central America for around 1 year now - through CMS).
It's all so real - human people, struggling along, trying to overcome the language barrier that so often occurs when one tries to share the good news of Jesus in an overseas cross-cultural context.
Missionary stories & reflections always give fallen, unprepared, sometimes-useless-feeling people like me hope about our own parts in the future work of the Kingdom.
L/T.
08 February, 2010
GAL. ch.1, v.10 .. et .. 2 COR. ch.12, vv.7-10
Galates 1,10
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?
Or am I trying to please men?
If I were still trying to please men,
I would not be a servant of Christ."
2 Corinthiens 12,7-10
"..there was given me a thorn in my flesh,
a messenger of Satan,
to torment me.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord
to take it away from me.
But He said to me,
'My grace is sufficient for you,
for My power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses,
so that Christ's power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong."
L/T.
"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?
Or am I trying to please men?
If I were still trying to please men,
I would not be a servant of Christ."
2 Corinthiens 12,7-10
"..there was given me a thorn in my flesh,
a messenger of Satan,
to torment me.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord
to take it away from me.
But He said to me,
'My grace is sufficient for you,
for My power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses,
so that Christ's power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong."
L/T.
Troisième année de mes juifs
This morning got my first 2010 call-up from the Jewish school where I've spent most of my teaching days since July 2007. It was a normal Monday, teaching Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 classes (not in that order though!).
It was nice to see my little Jews again - although they're growing up so fast! And this year's Y2s have just come so far since I first taught them when they started school in 2008. I had a great time with three separate Y2 classes before and after lunch, singing & playing musical games with them (yes, that is part of the Infants teaching program).
Plus, it's so funny to see their incredulous expressions just because I remember their names!
L/T.
It was nice to see my little Jews again - although they're growing up so fast! And this year's Y2s have just come so far since I first taught them when they started school in 2008. I had a great time with three separate Y2 classes before and after lunch, singing & playing musical games with them (yes, that is part of the Infants teaching program).
Plus, it's so funny to see their incredulous expressions just because I remember their names!
L/T.
05 February, 2010
V: Du fils de Zébédée (pas du tout Jacques!)
Let the reader BEWARE!
Réflexions pas faciles à comprendre
The notes to follow in this post are merely my thoughts written down
- notes taken while reading John chapter 7, then looking back over all my notes about the previous six chapters.
Therefore, read..
..and be confused..
..at your own risk!
----------------
KNOWING GOD (the Son/Father)
~ Believe in Jesus
7(5)+(38)+(39)
++6(29)(30)(35)(36)(40)(47)(64)(69)
SubTotal of 11 times, Added to the 13 times already mentioned in first five chapters.
.. - GRAND Total of 24 times
[Believing in Jesus]
________________
~ [Accept/Receive] the Son's teaching which comes from
the Father who sent Him
7(16)
5(43)
3(33)
1(11)(12)
= Listening/Hear-then-React
7(51)
6(45)(60)
5(24)
1(40)
~come to Jesus & drink [cf. living water4:14, blood6:53-56?)
{ie. accept Him, participate[?]}
7(37)
Total of 13 times, plus inferences
[Accepting/Receiving/Listening-to/Hearing&Responding-to
the Words of Jesus]
________________
~On HIS initiative (inferred);
God the Father is the sender of God the Son (Jesus)
7(16)(28)(29)(33)
6(44)(65)(70)
5(23)(24)(30)(36)(37)(38)
4(7)
2(11)
1(6)(18)
Total of 17 times
[Knowing God is possible
only because He has Initiated this By Sending Jesus]
----------------
KNOWING WHAT GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO be/do/say/think
ie. Response to Him
~ Accepting Him/JESUS for who He is, accepting His *judgments* about us;
~ Seeking His *honour* & His will;
..~{not hate His sent One just because He testifies that [our] deeds are evil}
7(7)
..~right response to JESUS - not trying to kill Him or rejecting His Word/God's law given throu'Moses
7(19)+(28-30)
6(63)(68)
5(24)
4(41)(50)
2(22)
SubTotal of 10 times
5(32)(33)(36)(37)(39)
4(39)
3(11)(32)
1(7)(8)(15)(19)(32)(34)=testimony/witness
SubTotal of 15 times
.. - GRAND Total 25 times
[Accepting the Word/Testimony/Witness of the ones God sent]
++++++++++++++++
..~{choose to do God's *will*}
7(17)
..~{work for the *honour* of the sending God - as Jesus did[?] - truth, nothing false}
7(18)
..~right *judgment* of what JESUS does & why He does it - healing over law-keeping
7(23-24)
..~{recognise JESUS - whom God sent - as the Christ}
7(31)
L/T.
Réflexions pas faciles à comprendre
The notes to follow in this post are merely my thoughts written down
- notes taken while reading John chapter 7, then looking back over all my notes about the previous six chapters.
Therefore, read..
..and be confused..
..at your own risk!
----------------
KNOWING GOD (the Son/Father)
~ Believe in Jesus
7(5)+(38)+(39)
++6(29)(30)(35)(36)(40)(47)(64)(69)
SubTotal of 11 times, Added to the 13 times already mentioned in first five chapters.
.. - GRAND Total of 24 times
[Believing in Jesus]
________________
~ [Accept/Receive] the Son's teaching which comes from
the Father who sent Him
7(16)
5(43)
3(33)
1(11)(12)
= Listening/Hear-then-React
7(51)
6(45)(60)
5(24)
1(40)
~come to Jesus & drink [cf. living water4:14, blood6:53-56?)
{ie. accept Him, participate[?]}
7(37)
Total of 13 times, plus inferences
[Accepting/Receiving/Listening-to/Hearing&Responding-to
the Words of Jesus]
________________
~On HIS initiative (inferred);
God the Father is the sender of God the Son (Jesus)
7(16)(28)(29)(33)
6(44)(65)(70)
5(23)(24)(30)(36)(37)(38)
4(7)
2(11)
1(6)(18)
Total of 17 times
[Knowing God is possible
only because He has Initiated this By Sending Jesus]
----------------
KNOWING WHAT GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO be/do/say/think
ie. Response to Him
~ Accepting Him/JESUS for who He is, accepting His *judgments* about us;
~ Seeking His *honour* & His will;
..~{not hate His sent One just because He testifies that [our] deeds are evil}
7(7)
..~right response to JESUS - not trying to kill Him or rejecting His Word/God's law given throu'Moses
7(19)+(28-30)
6(63)(68)
5(24)
4(41)(50)
2(22)
SubTotal of 10 times
5(32)(33)(36)(37)(39)
4(39)
3(11)(32)
1(7)(8)(15)(19)(32)(34)=testimony/witness
SubTotal of 15 times
.. - GRAND Total 25 times
[Accepting the Word/Testimony/Witness of the ones God sent]
++++++++++++++++
..~{choose to do God's *will*}
7(17)
..~{work for the *honour* of the sending God - as Jesus did[?] - truth, nothing false}
7(18)
..~right *judgment* of what JESUS does & why He does it - healing over law-keeping
7(23-24)
..~{recognise JESUS - whom God sent - as the Christ}
7(31)
L/T.
03 February, 2010
Adoniram Judson
Move over please, Horatio Spafford!
This man, Adoniram Judson, translated the Bible into the Burmese language, during the 19th century.
He worked faithfully at trying to reach the lost of Burma (Myanmar) with the good news of Jesus for over 30 years.
Was he a super-Christian?
A missionary without flaws?
With a productive & fruitful ministry from the outset?
To help answer that, here's a quote from CMS Summer School 2010 speaker, Michael Raiter (himself a former missionary, recent background in history of missions..):
"When he was released [from prison] his small church of 18 had dwindled to 4. In 1828, his wife died. He went into deep depression and spent 4 months sitting by her grave, watching her decomposing body, and writing this
- 'To me, God is the great unknown. I believe in Him, but I cannot find Him.'"
During his years of mission work (in the 1800s), Judson lost 2 wives, 6 kids and 11 co-workers.
Yet by 1993, there were approx. 6 million Christians in Myanmar - all tracing spiritual ancestry back to this man, because he had made the Scriptures available in the Burmese language.
________________
Yes, he suffered.
(So have I - in lesser ways.)
Yes, he was not perfect.
(Nor am I anywhere near it, as my sisters would daily testify.)
Yes, God still used him anyway.
(And amazingly, God has used me, too.)
How I forget God's Word in places like 1 Timothy chapter 1, verses 12-17, at my peril!
At the following link (which will have changed by 2011, so check it out QUICK), if you have just under 42 minutes of spare time, the rest of Michael Raiter's 1st CMS Summer School 2010 talk
- from which I quoted the excerpt, and my source for this post -
is worth a listen.
Please do think about setting aside the 42m to listen; & I hope that it is an encouragement, an inspiration and maybe even a challenge.
Love to all,
L/T.
This man, Adoniram Judson, translated the Bible into the Burmese language, during the 19th century.
He worked faithfully at trying to reach the lost of Burma (Myanmar) with the good news of Jesus for over 30 years.
Was he a super-Christian?
A missionary without flaws?
With a productive & fruitful ministry from the outset?
To help answer that, here's a quote from CMS Summer School 2010 speaker, Michael Raiter (himself a former missionary, recent background in history of missions..):
"When he was released [from prison] his small church of 18 had dwindled to 4. In 1828, his wife died. He went into deep depression and spent 4 months sitting by her grave, watching her decomposing body, and writing this
- 'To me, God is the great unknown. I believe in Him, but I cannot find Him.'"
During his years of mission work (in the 1800s), Judson lost 2 wives, 6 kids and 11 co-workers.
Yet by 1993, there were approx. 6 million Christians in Myanmar - all tracing spiritual ancestry back to this man, because he had made the Scriptures available in the Burmese language.
________________
Yes, he suffered.
(So have I - in lesser ways.)
Yes, he was not perfect.
(Nor am I anywhere near it, as my sisters would daily testify.)
Yes, God still used him anyway.
(And amazingly, God has used me, too.)
How I forget God's Word in places like 1 Timothy chapter 1, verses 12-17, at my peril!
At the following link (which will have changed by 2011, so check it out QUICK), if you have just under 42 minutes of spare time, the rest of Michael Raiter's 1st CMS Summer School 2010 talk
- from which I quoted the excerpt, and my source for this post -
is worth a listen.
Please do think about setting aside the 42m to listen; & I hope that it is an encouragement, an inspiration and maybe even a challenge.
Love to all,
L/T.
IV: Du fils de Zébédée (pas du tout Jacques!)
Jean chapitre 6
Home stretch!
{Continued from previous posts..}
vv.51-59
My questions, as always, are about knowing God personally (of course) & knowing what He wants us to be/do/say/think.
Jesus is still playing variations on the theme of Eternal Life And Resurrection (*ah, sweet music*)
~ "If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever" (v.51)
~ "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" (v.54)
~ "..so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me" (v.57)
~ "..he who feeds on this bread will live forever" (v.58)
..which reinforces that knowing God has a lot to do with eternal life & being raised up at the last day!
This seems closely related to what God wants for us (ie. how we can know what He wants)
~ feeding on Jesus (= bread of life - v.51, vv.53-54, vv.56-58).
Which begs another question:
**What does it mean to feed on Jesus - to eat His flesh & drink His blood?**
________________
vv.60-66
All that Jesus has said has elicited a reaction of arguing (v.52) & grumbling (vv.60-61) among the Jews who had sought Him after seeing the miracle of 5000 fed.
Jesus then appears to respond to the grumbling by indicating the importance of believing (*ding!!*) in His Words just spoken (vv.63-64). Finally, He rounds it off by reminding them that God the Father is the One who enables people to come to Him - again, emphasis on this being God's work first (and not ours, e.g. v.65; refer also to v.44).
The sad result, which must have been hard for God the Son & Father, is that "many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him" (v.66).
________________
vv.67-69
"'You do not want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.'"
Is this the right response to God?
Is this what God wants for us, what knowing God is all about?
Is there more to it than this? ..After all, Peter's understanding is hardly complete, as ch.13 will show..
________________
vv.70-71
And then, a curiously foreboding conclusion to this section..
.."..Jesus replied, 'Have I not chosen you, the Twelve?..'"
(That's not the foreboding part; the idea that Jesus chooses His followers, though, is in keeping with God's initiative as stated several times above - cf. v.44 & v.65.)
.."..'Yet one of you is a devil!'
(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.)"
I think that last bit is clear as crystal - the predicted response of the betrayer is certainly not what God would want for us!
But this gives rise to my last question (for the moment):
**What did betraying Jesus really mean for Judas Iscariot, & how are we to avoid that, in the grace & will of God?**
________________
Wow, that was a thick passage of text to deal with. I'm in two minds about whether to sum up all my notes so far, or whether to let it go for now.
As I type this, though, it occurs to me that I never shared my findings about ch.5..in which case, I shall need to double back to it soon!
L/T.
Home stretch!
{Continued from previous posts..}
vv.51-59
My questions, as always, are about knowing God personally (of course) & knowing what He wants us to be/do/say/think.
Jesus is still playing variations on the theme of Eternal Life And Resurrection (*ah, sweet music*)
~ "If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever" (v.51)
~ "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" (v.54)
~ "..so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me" (v.57)
~ "..he who feeds on this bread will live forever" (v.58)
..which reinforces that knowing God has a lot to do with eternal life & being raised up at the last day!
This seems closely related to what God wants for us (ie. how we can know what He wants)
~ feeding on Jesus (= bread of life - v.51, vv.53-54, vv.56-58).
Which begs another question:
**What does it mean to feed on Jesus - to eat His flesh & drink His blood?**
________________
vv.60-66
All that Jesus has said has elicited a reaction of arguing (v.52) & grumbling (vv.60-61) among the Jews who had sought Him after seeing the miracle of 5000 fed.
Jesus then appears to respond to the grumbling by indicating the importance of believing (*ding!!*) in His Words just spoken (vv.63-64). Finally, He rounds it off by reminding them that God the Father is the One who enables people to come to Him - again, emphasis on this being God's work first (and not ours, e.g. v.65; refer also to v.44).
The sad result, which must have been hard for God the Son & Father, is that "many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him" (v.66).
________________
vv.67-69
"'You do not want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.'"
Is this the right response to God?
Is this what God wants for us, what knowing God is all about?
Is there more to it than this? ..After all, Peter's understanding is hardly complete, as ch.13 will show..
________________
vv.70-71
And then, a curiously foreboding conclusion to this section..
.."..Jesus replied, 'Have I not chosen you, the Twelve?..'"
(That's not the foreboding part; the idea that Jesus chooses His followers, though, is in keeping with God's initiative as stated several times above - cf. v.44 & v.65.)
.."..'Yet one of you is a devil!'
(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.)"
I think that last bit is clear as crystal - the predicted response of the betrayer is certainly not what God would want for us!
But this gives rise to my last question (for the moment):
**What did betraying Jesus really mean for Judas Iscariot, & how are we to avoid that, in the grace & will of God?**
________________
Wow, that was a thick passage of text to deal with. I'm in two minds about whether to sum up all my notes so far, or whether to let it go for now.
As I type this, though, it occurs to me that I never shared my findings about ch.5..in which case, I shall need to double back to it soon!
L/T.
02 February, 2010
III: Du fils de Zébédée (pas du tout Jacques!)
Jean chapitre 6
{Continued from previous post..}
vv.22-29
Once again, the crowd are searching for Jesus - a crowd that wanted to make Him king by force. In the wider context of the whole chapter, this is by no means commendable..but anyway, as Jesus implies, this crowd is more interested in "food that spoils" (v.27) than they are in what endures to eternal life which the God-approved Son of Man gives.
Perhaps, the gentle nudge about wanting what God wants to offer us by Jesus
- rather than wanting what WE want for ourselves?
{In other words, knowing what God wants for us might be
the eternal life that Jesus the Son of Man gives - not complete physical/material satisfaction now..?(v.27)}
The question of the crowd seeking Jesus next runs like this:
"What must we do to do the works God requires?" (v.28)
Oh, how classically Jewish that sounds to me - although it is also the 2nd of the questions I've been asking while reading this gospel.
And even more classic is the response of Jesus - a perfect fit for the context so far:
"The work of God is this: To believe in the One He has sent."
(v.29)
Oh, boy!!
That idea of "..believing.." just keeps coming back - we're up to FOURTEEN TIMES!!!!!
________________
vv.29-33
Oh, good grief.
Look with me at the crowd's reaction. They've just had a big miraculous feeding, and now it seems they want ANOTHER sign? How thick can you get??!?
"So they asked Him, 'What miraculous sign will you give that we may see it and believe You?..'" (v.30)
For crying out loud!!
Back to topic questions..knowing God appears to be knowing & receiving the bread of heaven that God sends
- "..the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.." (v.33); that is, Jesus Himself, the Word become flesh, the Lamb of God who the Baptist recognised would take away the sins of the world.
So this is about knowing & receiving Jesus (= bread of life).
________________
vv.33-51
I've split this off from the previous chunk only so that there's less clutter for readers - logically it seems that these two segments in vv.29-51 really belong together.
Jesus identifies Himself as the bread of life, assuager of hunger & thirst; the One from heaven;
- the One by whom we can know God; knowing God is about believing in Jesus, looking to & coming to Him (vv.35-37; also v.40 and v.47).
It's also about God the Father being the One who draws people to Himself (v.44).
And knowing what God wants for us is closely tied into that
~ that we listen to Him our Father, be taught by Him & learn from Him (v.45)
~ life eternal & resurrection at the last day (v.33, v.35, v.40, v.47 and vv.50-51).
Example:
"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (v.40)
________________
Seems to be more reinforcement of similar ideas here
~ belief for eternal life
~ the work, the will & the way of God (ie. not our way),
related to His desire for us to know Him (v.37-39, for instance).
Some new stuff too.
*pausing to catch breath*
L/T.
{Continued from previous post..}
vv.22-29
Once again, the crowd are searching for Jesus - a crowd that wanted to make Him king by force. In the wider context of the whole chapter, this is by no means commendable..but anyway, as Jesus implies, this crowd is more interested in "food that spoils" (v.27) than they are in what endures to eternal life which the God-approved Son of Man gives.
Perhaps, the gentle nudge about wanting what God wants to offer us by Jesus
- rather than wanting what WE want for ourselves?
{In other words, knowing what God wants for us might be
the eternal life that Jesus the Son of Man gives - not complete physical/material satisfaction now..?(v.27)}
The question of the crowd seeking Jesus next runs like this:
"What must we do to do the works God requires?" (v.28)
Oh, how classically Jewish that sounds to me - although it is also the 2nd of the questions I've been asking while reading this gospel.
And even more classic is the response of Jesus - a perfect fit for the context so far:
"The work of God is this: To believe in the One He has sent."
(v.29)
Oh, boy!!
That idea of "..believing.." just keeps coming back - we're up to FOURTEEN TIMES!!!!!
________________
vv.29-33
Oh, good grief.
Look with me at the crowd's reaction. They've just had a big miraculous feeding, and now it seems they want ANOTHER sign? How thick can you get??!?
"So they asked Him, 'What miraculous sign will you give that we may see it and believe You?..'" (v.30)
For crying out loud!!
Back to topic questions..knowing God appears to be knowing & receiving the bread of heaven that God sends
- "..the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.." (v.33); that is, Jesus Himself, the Word become flesh, the Lamb of God who the Baptist recognised would take away the sins of the world.
So this is about knowing & receiving Jesus (= bread of life).
________________
vv.33-51
I've split this off from the previous chunk only so that there's less clutter for readers - logically it seems that these two segments in vv.29-51 really belong together.
Jesus identifies Himself as the bread of life, assuager of hunger & thirst; the One from heaven;
- the One by whom we can know God; knowing God is about believing in Jesus, looking to & coming to Him (vv.35-37; also v.40 and v.47).
It's also about God the Father being the One who draws people to Himself (v.44).
And knowing what God wants for us is closely tied into that
~ that we listen to Him our Father, be taught by Him & learn from Him (v.45)
~ life eternal & resurrection at the last day (v.33, v.35, v.40, v.47 and vv.50-51).
Example:
"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." (v.40)
________________
Seems to be more reinforcement of similar ideas here
~ belief for eternal life
~ the work, the will & the way of God (ie. not our way),
related to His desire for us to know Him (v.37-39, for instance).
Some new stuff too.
*pausing to catch breath*
L/T.
II: Du fils de Zébédée (pas du tout Jacques!)
Jean chapitre 6
As stated in a recent post, my current amble with John Zebedee through the gospel God inspired him to write is based on variations-on-a-theme of two questions:
1. How to know God?
2. How to know what He wants for His people?
Here we go gathering nuts in May..
..No, wait.
That's not right!
I meant gathering ideas in chapter 6, of course.
Not an easy task..!
________________
vv.1-15
In opening, I cautiously venture to say that, since Jesus is right there with the disciples & the people of Israel's countryside, then knowing God is obviously about being near Him. But what the motivation is for people to be near Him - well, that varies..
.."because they saw the miraculous signs He performed on the sick" (v.3)
..context of Philip, to whom Jesus speaks - "Finding Philip, [Jesus] said to him, 'Follow Me.' .. Philip found Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote..'" (1,43 and 1,45)
Hah!
Even Philip understands that knowing God - & recognising the One whom He sent - is through God's own Word (ie. the Law/Prophets).
Knowing God seems to have to do with relationship, too
- esp. the communication side of things. Jesus talks to His disciples, e.g. Philip & Andrew (vv.5-10), engaging them in conversation - quite simple, in a sense.
Also, Jesus uses the little physical resources available, with His disciples following His instructions - in order to supply food for the people to eat.
His own knowledge of God the Father shows plainly here, as He takes the available food & gives thanks for it before distributing it.
In this section it is hard to see what God is saying about what He wants for us. I do not believe that He wants us to see exactly this kind of miracle today in 2010.
So why was it written? The short answer that jumps to mind is John 20:31. BUT I'm getting ahead of myself. Back to the passage.
________________
vv.15-21
The disciples are on a boat in the lake, facing rough waters & strong wind.
Knowing God here & being who He wants appears tied up in what Jesus has to say as He approaches them by walking on the water:
"It is I; don't be afraid."
In some ways, self-explanatory. As if a knowledge that Jesus is not only with them, but has authority over the waters (as God the Son), should be enough to quell their fears.
________________
And now we get into very deep water. Time for a rest before the next related post.
L/T.
As stated in a recent post, my current amble with John Zebedee through the gospel God inspired him to write is based on variations-on-a-theme of two questions:
1. How to know God?
2. How to know what He wants for His people?
Here we go gathering nuts in May..
..No, wait.
That's not right!
I meant gathering ideas in chapter 6, of course.
Not an easy task..!
________________
vv.1-15
In opening, I cautiously venture to say that, since Jesus is right there with the disciples & the people of Israel's countryside, then knowing God is obviously about being near Him. But what the motivation is for people to be near Him - well, that varies..
.."because they saw the miraculous signs He performed on the sick" (v.3)
..context of Philip, to whom Jesus speaks - "Finding Philip, [Jesus] said to him, 'Follow Me.' .. Philip found Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote..'" (1,43 and 1,45)
Hah!
Even Philip understands that knowing God - & recognising the One whom He sent - is through God's own Word (ie. the Law/Prophets).
Knowing God seems to have to do with relationship, too
- esp. the communication side of things. Jesus talks to His disciples, e.g. Philip & Andrew (vv.5-10), engaging them in conversation - quite simple, in a sense.
Also, Jesus uses the little physical resources available, with His disciples following His instructions - in order to supply food for the people to eat.
His own knowledge of God the Father shows plainly here, as He takes the available food & gives thanks for it before distributing it.
In this section it is hard to see what God is saying about what He wants for us. I do not believe that He wants us to see exactly this kind of miracle today in 2010.
So why was it written? The short answer that jumps to mind is John 20:31. BUT I'm getting ahead of myself. Back to the passage.
________________
vv.15-21
The disciples are on a boat in the lake, facing rough waters & strong wind.
Knowing God here & being who He wants appears tied up in what Jesus has to say as He approaches them by walking on the water:
"It is I; don't be afraid."
In some ways, self-explanatory. As if a knowledge that Jesus is not only with them, but has authority over the waters (as God the Son), should be enough to quell their fears.
________________
And now we get into very deep water. Time for a rest before the next related post.
L/T.
Quatre rêves
Let me say from the outset of this post that I stand very firmly on the authority of the Word of God.
Spending time with John son of Zebedee has only strengthened that.
I know, both from looking again at John's writings, as well as from all the Scriptures God has enabled me to retain in my head, that I know God because He's made Himself known to me. He's the most active One in the relationship (10 times this idea has surfaced in chapters 1-5 of John's gospel).
So far in this gospel, it also seems crystal clear that knowing God (on our part) is about believing in Jesus, the One whom He sent. Thirteen (13) times that idea has turned up so far.
13 times across only FIVE chapters.
The next most frequently occurring idea is the importance of the WORDS - whether spoken by God the Father, or by God the Son.
I have counted 9 times in the 5 chapters studied where emphasis is placed on listening to God's Word.
________________
If I didn't already hold the view that the most important things in the Christian walk are knowing God through His initiative & subsequently listening to & believing in His Word, I should be bashing myself over the head right now.
Having firmly established that I rely more than anything on what God's Word says, it's time to talk about 4 dreams. 1 when I was only seven; 3 others in quick succession over this last weekend.
1 rêve
(à l'âge de 7 ans)
At the tender age of seven I was a proud Sunday-School know-it-all. Had you seen me at church, you would have noticed that the level of Bible knowledge I had was probably not so distant from where it is now.
But as a seven-year-old, I had one of those dreams where you wake up quite scared. It was a Judgment Day kind of dream. I won't go through all the details of how I knew what I was seeing - though I could, & if you ask me then I will in some subsequent post.
I, my family, and unknown others appeared to be standing before God in His glory. Waiting for Him to call us. One by one I watched my family members welcomed into eternal life. And I stood there, waiting my turn, having seen them all go ahead of me.
And then I woke up, thinking, "What about ME??!?".
_________________
Quite chilling at the time - though I think now, it was God's way of shaking me up. So what if I knew the Scriptures rather well at age 7? By knowing them alone it wouldn't have been enough to possess eternal life.
As such I suspect this whole dream was intended to say, "So you think you are a Christian, little Sunday-School genius girl? You think you can be sure of salvation and eternal life? Just because you know so much about Me and My Words?..
"..Well, THINK AGAIN."
3 rêves
(récemment)
For 3 consecutive nights (up 'til Sunday) I've had dreams about mission in France. Dreams about being back there on team with international & local fellow-workers, getting ready to go out & do outreach via Bible-stands.
..Why?
________________
It does make me wonder.
Once again, I reinforce that knowing God is - more than anything else - about Him & His Word. He is enough for me - & His Word as already recorded in the Bible we have is more than enough for me. It has been exciting finding new treasures in John, a book I've read through for myself - on & off - since I was 19.
And yet for me, personally, it may not be wise to let the odd dream just go. Or three of them in quick succession.
La chose la plus importante
Still I emphasise:
FIRST and foremost
- above all other apparent revelations and experiences -
hear the Word of the LORD God.
Not by might, nor by power, but only by His Spirit.
Because the Spirit of God already lives in you - if Jesus is your Saviour and Lord; if you belong to Him.
If Jesus is your Saviour and Lord, you do not have to ask God for the Spirit to be given you. He is already there!
(See a bit of Romans 8 - God says it!)
The issue is to be living by the Spirit that is already in us. Not begging Him to be there because some crack theology has implied He isn't there.
I know I'm now off on a major tangent (my first on this blog, I think!), but I am growing so tired of prayers that I hear, esp. by well-meaning praying believers at CCC Milson's Point, that God should send His Spirit to us, or fill us with His Spirit, or other phrases that imply we don't yet have the Spirit.
How silly, and how totally unBiblical.
God's Spirit says that we who belong to Christ are God's children. It's a matter of choosing to live by the Spirit (not by the sinful nature/flesh, the old way of thinking).
A choice that we fight to make every day - by depending on the already present Spirit.
Rant over.
Sorry if you fell off the train of thought on the way.
L/T.
P.S. Beloved friends - test EVERYTHING that you see and hear and read against the Scriptures!
Please!
Do not just blindly swallow the ideas of a speaker or writer!
"For this reason, since the day [I] heard about you, [I] have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
"And [I] pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
COLOSSIANS 1:9-15
Spending time with John son of Zebedee has only strengthened that.
I know, both from looking again at John's writings, as well as from all the Scriptures God has enabled me to retain in my head, that I know God because He's made Himself known to me. He's the most active One in the relationship (10 times this idea has surfaced in chapters 1-5 of John's gospel).
So far in this gospel, it also seems crystal clear that knowing God (on our part) is about believing in Jesus, the One whom He sent. Thirteen (13) times that idea has turned up so far.
13 times across only FIVE chapters.
The next most frequently occurring idea is the importance of the WORDS - whether spoken by God the Father, or by God the Son.
I have counted 9 times in the 5 chapters studied where emphasis is placed on listening to God's Word.
________________
If I didn't already hold the view that the most important things in the Christian walk are knowing God through His initiative & subsequently listening to & believing in His Word, I should be bashing myself over the head right now.
Having firmly established that I rely more than anything on what God's Word says, it's time to talk about 4 dreams. 1 when I was only seven; 3 others in quick succession over this last weekend.
1 rêve
(à l'âge de 7 ans)
At the tender age of seven I was a proud Sunday-School know-it-all. Had you seen me at church, you would have noticed that the level of Bible knowledge I had was probably not so distant from where it is now.
But as a seven-year-old, I had one of those dreams where you wake up quite scared. It was a Judgment Day kind of dream. I won't go through all the details of how I knew what I was seeing - though I could, & if you ask me then I will in some subsequent post.
I, my family, and unknown others appeared to be standing before God in His glory. Waiting for Him to call us. One by one I watched my family members welcomed into eternal life. And I stood there, waiting my turn, having seen them all go ahead of me.
And then I woke up, thinking, "What about ME??!?".
_________________
Quite chilling at the time - though I think now, it was God's way of shaking me up. So what if I knew the Scriptures rather well at age 7? By knowing them alone it wouldn't have been enough to possess eternal life.
As such I suspect this whole dream was intended to say, "So you think you are a Christian, little Sunday-School genius girl? You think you can be sure of salvation and eternal life? Just because you know so much about Me and My Words?..
"..Well, THINK AGAIN."
3 rêves
(récemment)
For 3 consecutive nights (up 'til Sunday) I've had dreams about mission in France. Dreams about being back there on team with international & local fellow-workers, getting ready to go out & do outreach via Bible-stands.
..Why?
________________
It does make me wonder.
Once again, I reinforce that knowing God is - more than anything else - about Him & His Word. He is enough for me - & His Word as already recorded in the Bible we have is more than enough for me. It has been exciting finding new treasures in John, a book I've read through for myself - on & off - since I was 19.
And yet for me, personally, it may not be wise to let the odd dream just go. Or three of them in quick succession.
La chose la plus importante
Still I emphasise:
FIRST and foremost
- above all other apparent revelations and experiences -
hear the Word of the LORD God.
Not by might, nor by power, but only by His Spirit.
Because the Spirit of God already lives in you - if Jesus is your Saviour and Lord; if you belong to Him.
If Jesus is your Saviour and Lord, you do not have to ask God for the Spirit to be given you. He is already there!
(See a bit of Romans 8 - God says it!)
The issue is to be living by the Spirit that is already in us. Not begging Him to be there because some crack theology has implied He isn't there.
I know I'm now off on a major tangent (my first on this blog, I think!), but I am growing so tired of prayers that I hear, esp. by well-meaning praying believers at CCC Milson's Point, that God should send His Spirit to us, or fill us with His Spirit, or other phrases that imply we don't yet have the Spirit.
How silly, and how totally unBiblical.
God's Spirit says that we who belong to Christ are God's children. It's a matter of choosing to live by the Spirit (not by the sinful nature/flesh, the old way of thinking).
A choice that we fight to make every day - by depending on the already present Spirit.
Rant over.
Sorry if you fell off the train of thought on the way.
L/T.
P.S. Beloved friends - test EVERYTHING that you see and hear and read against the Scriptures!
Please!
Do not just blindly swallow the ideas of a speaker or writer!
"For this reason, since the day [I] heard about you, [I] have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
"And [I] pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way:
bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
COLOSSIANS 1:9-15
01 February, 2010
Mon beau-frère - merci!!
A quick but heartfelt thank-you to my youngest step-brother Jeremy Lin.
Really appreciated your generosity at dinner after church; it meant I could stay & talk to a number of different people, & was encouraged and/or challenged by the ensuing conversations.
Thank you once again for your pecuniary resourcefulness. I simply cannot express how much it was appreciated.
L/T.
Really appreciated your generosity at dinner after church; it meant I could stay & talk to a number of different people, & was encouraged and/or challenged by the ensuing conversations.
Thank you once again for your pecuniary resourcefulness. I simply cannot express how much it was appreciated.
L/T.
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.
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.
- (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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
..
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.
..
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.
..
31 December, 2009
La fin de ma lutte toute petite
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}
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}
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.
27 November, 2009
Matthieu, le publicain, l'apôtre et l'écrivain (2e partie)
Here are my notes on MATTHEW 24 and 25.
Matthew records what Jesus says on a number of topics:
~ the temple
~ the end times (when) & the symptoms of those times
incl. the gospel being preached - ch.24, v.14
~ the actual event of the end times
incl. God's angels gathering His chosen ones
~ the end times (uncertainty of the exact day/hour)
~ the choices of the Master's servants,
to be faithful/wise or wicked/violent/drunk
~ parable of 10 virgins, illustrating wise & foolish approaches to waiting on the Master's arrival
~ parable of three servants entrusted with the property (talents) of the Master, illustrating that those who increase what He entrusts to them are good/faithful, while those who hide and do not put to work their Master's property are wicked/lazy [=slothful]
~ parable of the "sheep", who sought to help the least of their King's brothers; and the "goats", who did nothing for the least
_______________
I mention this because every now and then some Christian person of my parents' generation tells me that I should make more use of my "talents".
By which they mean things like my musical ability/training or my French language proficiency (not my teaching skill, as that's always being put to work).
I would like to propose that the Parable Of The Talents (as it is often called), is not ultimately about God giving us gifts and talents and us being wicked and lazy if we don't make every effort to subsequently develop and use these.
From my close reading of the passage, I do Not believe that God is telling me to keep up with my music and join the music ministry at my evening (or perhaps even my morning) church. Or that He is telling me I am wicked and lazy just because, between 2003 and 2009, I barely used my gift of French language at all.
I have more to say about what I think Matthew meant here in the context, but I'm going to have to leave things for the moment and get back on this hobby-horse next week (earliest - 2nd Dec.; latest - 5th Dec.). Paid work and Sunday School are quite demanding of my time at present.
Attendez-moi!
L/T.
Matthew records what Jesus says on a number of topics:
~ the temple
~ the end times (when) & the symptoms of those times
incl. the gospel being preached - ch.24, v.14
~ the actual event of the end times
incl. God's angels gathering His chosen ones
~ the end times (uncertainty of the exact day/hour)
~ the choices of the Master's servants,
to be faithful/wise or wicked/violent/drunk
~ parable of 10 virgins, illustrating wise & foolish approaches to waiting on the Master's arrival
~ parable of three servants entrusted with the property (talents) of the Master, illustrating that those who increase what He entrusts to them are good/faithful, while those who hide and do not put to work their Master's property are wicked/lazy [=slothful]
~ parable of the "sheep", who sought to help the least of their King's brothers; and the "goats", who did nothing for the least
_______________
I mention this because every now and then some Christian person of my parents' generation tells me that I should make more use of my "talents".
By which they mean things like my musical ability/training or my French language proficiency (not my teaching skill, as that's always being put to work).
I would like to propose that the Parable Of The Talents (as it is often called), is not ultimately about God giving us gifts and talents and us being wicked and lazy if we don't make every effort to subsequently develop and use these.
From my close reading of the passage, I do Not believe that God is telling me to keep up with my music and join the music ministry at my evening (or perhaps even my morning) church. Or that He is telling me I am wicked and lazy just because, between 2003 and 2009, I barely used my gift of French language at all.
I have more to say about what I think Matthew meant here in the context, but I'm going to have to leave things for the moment and get back on this hobby-horse next week (earliest - 2nd Dec.; latest - 5th Dec.). Paid work and Sunday School are quite demanding of my time at present.
Attendez-moi!
L/T.
25 November, 2009
Matthieu, le publicain, l'apôtre et l'écrivain
At the moment I'm on a devotional plod with former tax collector, apostle and gospel writer Matthew (alternate name Levi, son of Alphaeus). Considering the parables throughout MATTHEW 24 and 25.
For example, the well-known parable of the talents.
What does it really mean, in the context?
For that matter, what does it NOT mean?
Matthew's gospel is certainly not a simple walk in the park!
L/T.
For example, the well-known parable of the talents.
What does it really mean, in the context?
For that matter, what does it NOT mean?
Matthew's gospel is certainly not a simple walk in the park!
L/T.
23 November, 2009
À Dieu soit la gloire!!
My 4 y.o. cousin Jeremy is officially in remission!
*aeroplaning*
See the details at:
KESJ: Wonderful News !!!
God doesn't always answer our prayers just the way we want them.
But it's thrilling when He does!
Let the organ play..:
Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son,
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.
{Lyrics by Fanny J. Crosby, first published 1875.
Music by William Howard Doane (1832-1915); year of composition unknown.}
L/T.
*aeroplaning*
See the details at:
KESJ: Wonderful News !!!
God doesn't always answer our prayers just the way we want them.
But it's thrilling when He does!
Let the organ play..:
Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son,
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.
{Lyrics by Fanny J. Crosby, first published 1875.
Music by William Howard Doane (1832-1915); year of composition unknown.}
L/T.
Une soirée Jazz
While reading my CMS monthly prayer newsletter, I noticed the following on Day 18 (France):
"Pray..for the GBU's Soirée Jazz on 20 November, to be followed by a week of evangelistic dialogue meetings.."
From my understanding (which may require confirmation - j'espère qu'il y a un/e GBUssien/ne qui puisse m'aider confirmer ces informations), this Soirée Jazz event involves French students & others (predominantly non-Christian) being contacted (i.e. through Bible-stands) and invited by GBU-affiliated believers to the event to hear jazz music and a spoken presentation of the gospel.
Those who attend the event, and subsequently indicate interest in other GBU activities can then come along to other evangelistic events organised by GBUssiens/GBU partners.
I got in touch with Mia* (pseudonym), my Korean francophone sister from June/July mission, to find out how the evening had gone (20/11 was this Friday just past).
Here's an excerpt of her reply:
"La soirée s'est très bien passée, c'était K.[Kade*] et les deux autres collègues qui ont organisé et il y avait bq d'invités (environs 100 ps?)."
Translation:
The evening went very well, it was [Kade*] and two other colleagues who organised it, and there were many guests [i.e. non-GBUssiens who had been invited] (around 100 people?)..
If this be true, then - à Dieu soit la gloire, et beni soit son nom!!
In God my Saviour does my heart rejoice!
L/T.
"Pray..for the GBU's Soirée Jazz on 20 November, to be followed by a week of evangelistic dialogue meetings.."
From my understanding (which may require confirmation - j'espère qu'il y a un/e GBUssien/ne qui puisse m'aider confirmer ces informations), this Soirée Jazz event involves French students & others (predominantly non-Christian) being contacted (i.e. through Bible-stands) and invited by GBU-affiliated believers to the event to hear jazz music and a spoken presentation of the gospel.
Those who attend the event, and subsequently indicate interest in other GBU activities can then come along to other evangelistic events organised by GBUssiens/GBU partners.
I got in touch with Mia* (pseudonym), my Korean francophone sister from June/July mission, to find out how the evening had gone (20/11 was this Friday just past).
Here's an excerpt of her reply:
"La soirée s'est très bien passée, c'était K.[Kade*] et les deux autres collègues qui ont organisé et il y avait bq d'invités (environs 100 ps?)."
Translation:
The evening went very well, it was [Kade*] and two other colleagues who organised it, and there were many guests [i.e. non-GBUssiens who had been invited] (around 100 people?)..
If this be true, then - à Dieu soit la gloire, et beni soit son nom!!
In God my Saviour does my heart rejoice!
L/T.
20 November, 2009
Des gars, des bonhommes - amis de longtemps
ATTN:
Captain Samuel L.W. Chan (resident of Singapore), and Anthony Lui (resident of London).
If perchance you read this, my brothers (oops, nearly typed "bothers", hehe), this is just a quick acknowledgement that your names appeared on my trimesterly prayer calendar on WED. 18/11, and thus, you were duly prayed for (with reference to COLOSSIANS 1-2 and 1 THESSALONIANS 3).
If alive, do send word in the next year.
If dead, see you in the place that isn't hell!!
Your sister (or auntie, in Ant's case),
L/T.
Captain Samuel L.W. Chan (resident of Singapore), and Anthony Lui (resident of London).
If perchance you read this, my brothers (oops, nearly typed "bothers", hehe), this is just a quick acknowledgement that your names appeared on my trimesterly prayer calendar on WED. 18/11, and thus, you were duly prayed for (with reference to COLOSSIANS 1-2 and 1 THESSALONIANS 3).
If alive, do send word in the next year.
If dead, see you in the place that isn't hell!!
Your sister (or auntie, in Ant's case),
L/T.
19 November, 2009
Dieu peut-il utiliser les faibles?
Can God use weak people?
Can He use people who are the worst of sinners?
Can He use those who by nature are blasphemers, persecutors, violent?
People like ME (slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to become angry)?
There but for the grace of God go I.
And in light of that
- and a chunk of Bible text from 1 TIMOTHY 1
- I say:
"Here I am. Send me!"
________________
1 Timothée 1,12-17
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,
that He considered me faithful,
appointing me to His service.
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man,
I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me
abundantly, along with the faith
and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
- of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy
so that in me, the worst of sinners,
Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience
as an example for those who would believe on Him
and receive eternal life.
Now to the King
eternal, immortal, invisible,
the only God,
be honor and glory for ever and ever.
L/T.
Can He use people who are the worst of sinners?
Can He use those who by nature are blasphemers, persecutors, violent?
People like ME (slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to become angry)?
There but for the grace of God go I.
And in light of that
- and a chunk of Bible text from 1 TIMOTHY 1
- I say:
"Here I am. Send me!"
________________
1 Timothée 1,12-17
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,
that He considered me faithful,
appointing me to His service.
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man,
I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me
abundantly, along with the faith
and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
- of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy
so that in me, the worst of sinners,
Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience
as an example for those who would believe on Him
and receive eternal life.
Now to the King
eternal, immortal, invisible,
the only God,
be honor and glory for ever and ever.
L/T.
17 November, 2009
Je ne sais pas ce qui arrivera demain
I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.
(From the hymn, "I know Who holds tomorrow"
- lyrics & music by Ira Stanphill, circa 1950)
I grew up with this hymn, and it is pure GOLD.
L/T.
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.
(From the hymn, "I know Who holds tomorrow"
- lyrics & music by Ira Stanphill, circa 1950)
I grew up with this hymn, and it is pure GOLD.
L/T.
16 November, 2009
Où se trouve le coeur de la bergère
Le 20 septembre, 2009
En ce jour-là, je me suis rendue compte que je voulais assister les GBUssiens et leurs responsables dans leur tâche d'annoncer la bonne nouvelle aux étudiants de France.
On m'a dit que ce n'était pas assez de faire un an avec les GBUs..qu'il valait mieux d'en considérer deux ans ou plus (longtemps, par exemple). Cela ne me derange pas; si Dieu le veut, je suis heureuse de donner tous les jours de ma vie à cette tâche.
Pourtant, on m'a parlé aussi de ce qu'il était necessaire de faire à propos de préparer pour deux ans (ou une vie) d'une telle tâche - il s'agit de deux ans de travail avec des étudiants chez moi, dans mon pays de naissance, avant de venir à l'étranger pour joindre les GBUssiens.
En ce moment, je travaille dans mes écoles, j'essaie de trouver plus de temps pour lire la Bible et prier, et je fais appel aux quelques responsables australiens pour apprendre de ce qui serait possible.
Soyez patient..encore!
L/T.
En ce jour-là, je me suis rendue compte que je voulais assister les GBUssiens et leurs responsables dans leur tâche d'annoncer la bonne nouvelle aux étudiants de France.
On m'a dit que ce n'était pas assez de faire un an avec les GBUs..qu'il valait mieux d'en considérer deux ans ou plus (longtemps, par exemple). Cela ne me derange pas; si Dieu le veut, je suis heureuse de donner tous les jours de ma vie à cette tâche.
Pourtant, on m'a parlé aussi de ce qu'il était necessaire de faire à propos de préparer pour deux ans (ou une vie) d'une telle tâche - il s'agit de deux ans de travail avec des étudiants chez moi, dans mon pays de naissance, avant de venir à l'étranger pour joindre les GBUssiens.
En ce moment, je travaille dans mes écoles, j'essaie de trouver plus de temps pour lire la Bible et prier, et je fais appel aux quelques responsables australiens pour apprendre de ce qui serait possible.
Soyez patient..encore!
L/T.
10 November, 2009
Conversation: jeune élève juif
Yesterday, while at the school of my Jews, I went out to one of the playground areas at 11h05, to say hello to a few of the kids I taught Music to in 2007 and 2008. They commented that they hadn't seen me in a while, so I explained how I'd visited Paris, London, HK and Paris again.
At which point one of the kids asked me if I'd been to Notre-Dame (famous cathedral in Paris).
I said, yes, but hadn't bothered to go inside, since I found even the outside quite disturbing.
At this child's look of surprise, I went on to explain, briefly, that because I am a Protestant Christian, I was not in agreement with (protesting against) the way the Catholic Church was running in France.
A tiny snapshot conversation with a Jewish former student. One little seed sown - one link in a chain that, who knows, might lead them to Yehoshua, the Moshiach (i.e. Jesus).
Random!
L/T.
At which point one of the kids asked me if I'd been to Notre-Dame (famous cathedral in Paris).
I said, yes, but hadn't bothered to go inside, since I found even the outside quite disturbing.
At this child's look of surprise, I went on to explain, briefly, that because I am a Protestant Christian, I was not in agreement with (protesting against) the way the Catholic Church was running in France.
A tiny snapshot conversation with a Jewish former student. One little seed sown - one link in a chain that, who knows, might lead them to Yehoshua, the Moshiach (i.e. Jesus).
Random!
L/T.
09 November, 2009
Jérémie, fils de ma cousine
To learn about my little "nephew" Jeremy (4 ans), who has been undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia since septembre, you can look at this link:
KESJ: 8 November 2009
http://blog.loui.com.au/2009/11/8-november-2009.html
It brings me great joy to announce the positive progress he has made - but my cousin's blog tells it best!
If you have a look, do THANK God for the gift of recovery from grave illnesses - this is (by the way) not the right of Christians, nor a sure promise we can always expect right here, right now, or in this lifetime.
It is a gift. A welcome gift, but a gift alone. (Not a right.) Read the Bible, know it well enough, and you will agree.
Jésus disait:
"In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart!
I have overcome the world."
JEAN 16,33
L/T.
KESJ: 8 November 2009
http://blog.loui.com.au/2009/11/8-november-2009.html
It brings me great joy to announce the positive progress he has made - but my cousin's blog tells it best!
If you have a look, do THANK God for the gift of recovery from grave illnesses - this is (by the way) not the right of Christians, nor a sure promise we can always expect right here, right now, or in this lifetime.
It is a gift. A welcome gift, but a gift alone. (Not a right.) Read the Bible, know it well enough, and you will agree.
Jésus disait:
"In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart!
I have overcome the world."
JEAN 16,33
L/T.
05 November, 2009
Deux écoles: juive ou chrétienne
Until the week ending 20th November, God has graciously provided work in two very different school environments.
Mes juifs
One school is an old hunting-ground of mine. Well - not really a hunting-ground. It's a Jewish school in the affluent/well-off suburbs east of the city of Sydney. It has been over 2 years since this school invited me to start work there as a Music teacher of K-2 (children aged from 5 to 8), Choir and Recorder ensemble leader, and piano accompanist for religious celebrations including Pesach, Siddurim and Mitzvah presentations.
This November, I return for my 3rd set of Mitzvah rehearsals. I play the piano, help the Kindergarten children consolidate their knowledge of the Hebrew or English songs they are singing, give them their musical cues to sing or stop at the right times, etc.
It's a very Jewish school - prayers (in Hebrew) every morning, emphasis on doing good works (mitzvot), trying to get in the good books of the Lord of the universe who made the heavens and the earth (Adon Olam - commonly referred to as Hashem).
What freedom my Jews have in Australia! - to live openly as the Jewish people, to observe their religious practices publicly, to let people (even Gentiles like me) know what they believe and why they believe it.
Mes élèves des familles qui n'opposent pas notre Évangile
Since 21st October, I've also been teaching 1 day per week at an Anglican school closer to the Southern Highlands than to Sydney suburbs (near Campbelltown). This school is overtly Christian - all teachers claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and themselves as His servants. (Well, we try the latter, anyway..) Each day in my "salle de classe" I am able to talk freely about the Lord Jesus as much as I want to my students - all aged between 10 and 12 years old. Most are from families that do not live under the Lordship of Christ - but who are open to their children being taught about Him.
What freedom we have in Australia! - to share our faith, to proclaim the gospel of Christ, to invite others to find out more about what we believe and why we believe it.
En dehors de mon pays?
But what of the lands outside this country?
Do they have such freedom?
I think not.
Can the good news of God the Son, Jesus Christ, be so freely proclaimed outside Australian borders?
In Asia?
In Europe?
I think not.
Then what am I still doing here, if I have the same passion for the lost as my Lord and Saviour does?
I cannot answer.
L/T.
Mes juifs
One school is an old hunting-ground of mine. Well - not really a hunting-ground. It's a Jewish school in the affluent/well-off suburbs east of the city of Sydney. It has been over 2 years since this school invited me to start work there as a Music teacher of K-2 (children aged from 5 to 8), Choir and Recorder ensemble leader, and piano accompanist for religious celebrations including Pesach, Siddurim and Mitzvah presentations.
This November, I return for my 3rd set of Mitzvah rehearsals. I play the piano, help the Kindergarten children consolidate their knowledge of the Hebrew or English songs they are singing, give them their musical cues to sing or stop at the right times, etc.
It's a very Jewish school - prayers (in Hebrew) every morning, emphasis on doing good works (mitzvot), trying to get in the good books of the Lord of the universe who made the heavens and the earth (Adon Olam - commonly referred to as Hashem).
What freedom my Jews have in Australia! - to live openly as the Jewish people, to observe their religious practices publicly, to let people (even Gentiles like me) know what they believe and why they believe it.
Mes élèves des familles qui n'opposent pas notre Évangile
Since 21st October, I've also been teaching 1 day per week at an Anglican school closer to the Southern Highlands than to Sydney suburbs (near Campbelltown). This school is overtly Christian - all teachers claim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and themselves as His servants. (Well, we try the latter, anyway..) Each day in my "salle de classe" I am able to talk freely about the Lord Jesus as much as I want to my students - all aged between 10 and 12 years old. Most are from families that do not live under the Lordship of Christ - but who are open to their children being taught about Him.
What freedom we have in Australia! - to share our faith, to proclaim the gospel of Christ, to invite others to find out more about what we believe and why we believe it.
En dehors de mon pays?
But what of the lands outside this country?
Do they have such freedom?
I think not.
Can the good news of God the Son, Jesus Christ, be so freely proclaimed outside Australian borders?
In Asia?
In Europe?
I think not.
Then what am I still doing here, if I have the same passion for the lost as my Lord and Saviour does?
I cannot answer.
L/T.
03 November, 2009
La chaleur
Everything feels like it's heating up. There are November days in Sydney that just make you sick of summer. Even though technically, in Australia, it's still just springtime!
Today we experienced 37-degree temperatures. And, as often happens when such extremes hit, I have a headache I cannot get rid of.
It's not just the weather heating up though - work is, too. This school term (19th October to 9th December) I have work in Menangle, near Campbelltown NSW; also in Bondi Junction NSW, near the sea. Feels so busy. So much running around. And yet it's not even 5 days per week that I need to work!
Then again, maybe it's just the heat that seems to be adding to my stress levels.
Oh that it were cooler!
And calmer.
It's like I don't have time to think.
Not even about the future.
L/T.
Today we experienced 37-degree temperatures. And, as often happens when such extremes hit, I have a headache I cannot get rid of.
It's not just the weather heating up though - work is, too. This school term (19th October to 9th December) I have work in Menangle, near Campbelltown NSW; also in Bondi Junction NSW, near the sea. Feels so busy. So much running around. And yet it's not even 5 days per week that I need to work!
Then again, maybe it's just the heat that seems to be adding to my stress levels.
Oh that it were cooler!
And calmer.
It's like I don't have time to think.
Not even about the future.
L/T.
Anniversaire de mon père (en retard)
In the last post I neglected to mention my father's birhday.
Oops!
Happy birthday, Dad (wherever you are in Asia) - PHIL. 4:19.
L/T.
Oops!
Happy birthday, Dad (wherever you are in Asia) - PHIL. 4:19.
L/T.
29 October, 2009
Aux amis européens
A Bible study group I attend is reading through 1 Thessalonians.
A great book! It's like a long-lost friend.
Speaking of long-lost friends.. .. ..
________________
Mes amis européens
(ceux qui habitent en Europe)
- des versets pour vous:
Nuit et jour,
nous le prions avec une extrême ardeur
de nous permettre de vous voir,
et de compléter ce qui manque à votre foi.
Que Dieu lui-même, notre Père,
et notre Seigneur Jésus,
aplanissent notre route pour que nous allions à vous!
Que le Seigneur augmente de plus en plus parmi vous,
et à l'égard de tous,
cette charité que nous avons nous-mêmes pour vous,
afin d'affermir vos coeurs
pour qu'ils soient irréprochables dans la sainteté
devant Dieu notre Père,
lors de l'avènement de notre Seigneur Jésus
avec tous ses saints!
1 THESSALONICIENS 3, 10-13
________________
This post is in honour of the people I miss, who are far away in Europe (while I'm stuck here in the southern hemisphere until further notice):
Claudia*, Mia*, Liat*, Miriam*
Avi*, Jonah*, Kade*, Jonty*, Matthew*, Asher*
(semaine ADN pseudonyms)
..and..
Anna, Delphine, Mariele, Nari, Rachel, Raphaèle, Sara, Stephanie, all the British brothers
(semaine Nouveau Départ - real names!)
I wish I could be certain we'll meet again before the day of Christ.
L/T.
A great book! It's like a long-lost friend.
Speaking of long-lost friends.. .. ..
________________
Mes amis européens
(ceux qui habitent en Europe)
- des versets pour vous:
Nuit et jour,
nous le prions avec une extrême ardeur
de nous permettre de vous voir,
et de compléter ce qui manque à votre foi.
Que Dieu lui-même, notre Père,
et notre Seigneur Jésus,
aplanissent notre route pour que nous allions à vous!
Que le Seigneur augmente de plus en plus parmi vous,
et à l'égard de tous,
cette charité que nous avons nous-mêmes pour vous,
afin d'affermir vos coeurs
pour qu'ils soient irréprochables dans la sainteté
devant Dieu notre Père,
lors de l'avènement de notre Seigneur Jésus
avec tous ses saints!
1 THESSALONICIENS 3, 10-13
________________
This post is in honour of the people I miss, who are far away in Europe (while I'm stuck here in the southern hemisphere until further notice):
Claudia*, Mia*, Liat*, Miriam*
Avi*, Jonah*, Kade*, Jonty*, Matthew*, Asher*
(semaine ADN pseudonyms)
..and..
Anna, Delphine, Mariele, Nari, Rachel, Raphaèle, Sara, Stephanie, all the British brothers
(semaine Nouveau Départ - real names!)
I wish I could be certain we'll meet again before the day of Christ.
L/T.
25 October, 2009
Mise en colère
Current mood:
Trying very hard not to be extremely angry about stuff that happened today. (Not in the après-midi or soir.)
Current Bible verses it is really hard to sit still, to listen to & obey:
JACQUES 1, 19-21
1 Corinthiens 13, 4-7
Éphésiens 4, 1-3 & 17-27
Colossiens 3, 5-8
But if Jesus is really the Lord, and I am His servant.. .. ..
Matthieu 18, 21-35
La vie n'est pas facile.
L/T.
Trying very hard not to be extremely angry about stuff that happened today. (Not in the après-midi or soir.)
Current Bible verses it is really hard to sit still, to listen to & obey:
JACQUES 1, 19-21
1 Corinthiens 13, 4-7
Éphésiens 4, 1-3 & 17-27
Colossiens 3, 5-8
But if Jesus is really the Lord, and I am His servant.. .. ..
Matthieu 18, 21-35
La vie n'est pas facile.
L/T.
19 October, 2009
Souffrances - petites ou grandes
Thanks to the job-searching - which involves some hand-writing and mountains of typing, my right arm and elbow are in significant PAIN. Small suffering, compared to that of the people around me - or even those outside of my country.
Speaking of suffering, in this post I'd like you to meet my friend Job.
Can't say I know him as well as my prophet buddies Isaiah (son of Amoz), whom I just love, or Daniel (called Belteshazzar by people from ancient Babylon), whom I've only gotten to know better recently, but Job is the kind of friend I really should spend more time with!
Leçons du livre de Job
Job was human, just like us. A rich, respected and well-loved rural gar. In fact, in his day "this man was the greatest of all the people of the east" (JOB 1:3).
Until he lost virtually everything:
~ livestock (camels, donkeys, oxen, sheep);
~ most of his servants;
~ all but 1 member of his family
(a wife who felt he should "curse God and die", cf. JOB 2:9);
~ support and understanding of friends
(based on what 3 of them are recorded as saying to him!).
Yet in the midst of his suffering, he understood life was not just about being happy; he understood God was still good & worthy of praise in spite of all he had lost:
"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
(JOB 1:21)
Des autres conforts: Job
Here are other things Job said - as he was grieving his losses - sayings which have also been a comfort to me in the past.
"I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!"
(19:25-27)
"If I go to the east, He is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find Him.
When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him;
when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him.
But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold."
(23:8-10)
It's easy to be friends with Job when you feel you've suffered like him.
I know I have. Before going to France & other places in June this year (where I got a bit of sanity back), I had been hurting, quite a lot, for quite a while - April 2008 to June 2009 (14 months). Thank you to anyone who prayed for me & fussed over me in that period!!
My friend Job had it worse than me, I have to say. That's why in the past I've found retracing his steps so helpful. I hope, if you're hurting right now, that you find it helps too.
Thing is, the greatest Friend we have went through even worse suffering than Job did. And this Friend suffered for us - not while we were His friends, but in fact while we were His enemies (ROMAINS 5:10).
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time,
when we were still powerless,
Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man,
though for a good man
someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood,
how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath
through him!
For if, when we were God's enemies,
we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son,
how much more, having been reconciled,
shall we be saved through his life!
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation."
{ROMAINS 5:2(b)-11}
What a Friend I have in JESUS,
All my sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
{Quoted from hymn - text by Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886; music by Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918.}
L/T.
Speaking of suffering, in this post I'd like you to meet my friend Job.
Can't say I know him as well as my prophet buddies Isaiah (son of Amoz), whom I just love, or Daniel (called Belteshazzar by people from ancient Babylon), whom I've only gotten to know better recently, but Job is the kind of friend I really should spend more time with!
Leçons du livre de Job
Job was human, just like us. A rich, respected and well-loved rural gar. In fact, in his day "this man was the greatest of all the people of the east" (JOB 1:3).
Until he lost virtually everything:
~ livestock (camels, donkeys, oxen, sheep);
~ most of his servants;
~ all but 1 member of his family
(a wife who felt he should "curse God and die", cf. JOB 2:9);
~ support and understanding of friends
(based on what 3 of them are recorded as saying to him!).
Yet in the midst of his suffering, he understood life was not just about being happy; he understood God was still good & worthy of praise in spite of all he had lost:
"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
(JOB 1:21)
Des autres conforts: Job
Here are other things Job said - as he was grieving his losses - sayings which have also been a comfort to me in the past.
"I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!"
(19:25-27)
"If I go to the east, He is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find Him.
When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him;
when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him.
But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold."
(23:8-10)
It's easy to be friends with Job when you feel you've suffered like him.
I know I have. Before going to France & other places in June this year (where I got a bit of sanity back), I had been hurting, quite a lot, for quite a while - April 2008 to June 2009 (14 months). Thank you to anyone who prayed for me & fussed over me in that period!!
My friend Job had it worse than me, I have to say. That's why in the past I've found retracing his steps so helpful. I hope, if you're hurting right now, that you find it helps too.
Thing is, the greatest Friend we have went through even worse suffering than Job did. And this Friend suffered for us - not while we were His friends, but in fact while we were His enemies (ROMAINS 5:10).
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
You see, at just the right time,
when we were still powerless,
Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man,
though for a good man
someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood,
how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath
through him!
For if, when we were God's enemies,
we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son,
how much more, having been reconciled,
shall we be saved through his life!
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation."
{ROMAINS 5:2(b)-11}
What a Friend I have in JESUS,
All my sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
{Quoted from hymn - text by Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886; music by Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918.}
L/T.
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