I have visited the USA several times in the last eight years to attend a Boston conference. This follows visits to other parts of the US in earlier years.
Below are some cumulative observations from my more recent visits.
• More foreign-made cars, comments on their superior quality and pessimism re local car manufacturing
• Pessimism re the economy and the prospects for the next generation (eg, folks talking about the US being on the Greek road of sinking under government indebtedness)
• People commenting on the inability to solve the of Mexico spill as a symbol of the limits to a hitherto ‘can do’ spirit
• Fear re the rise of China as the world super-power but one with no Christian heritage
• Conservatives opining that Iraq was a mistake and Afghanistan is a never-ending quagmire
• Conservative Christians saying that they were taken for a ride by the Republicans in the 1980s Moral Majority era and having no hope in the political process or parties
Is this the audacity of hope or its end?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
iphone 4
Today I held an iphone 4.
It feels and looks good.
I’m told it’s faster, has better battery life and has a video-cam.
I admired and returned it, then turned to my iphone 3. It looked and felt old.
Until iphone 4, I delighted in iphone 3 – wonderfully useful and far superior to my old phone.
What is it that holding 4 breeds discontent with 3?
You shall not covet ..
… greed which is idolatry
It feels and looks good.
I’m told it’s faster, has better battery life and has a video-cam.
I admired and returned it, then turned to my iphone 3. It looked and felt old.
Until iphone 4, I delighted in iphone 3 – wonderfully useful and far superior to my old phone.
What is it that holding 4 breeds discontent with 3?
You shall not covet ..
… greed which is idolatry
Thursday, June 24, 2010
On Coming and Going
Things have changed when people come and go.
Once-distant people looked anticipated meeting – real time for unknowns to become known.
But now most of us are in constant and close contact in virtual time. The only unknown is that which we don’t want to be known. There is no catching up, for that which is desired to be known is already known.
And thus departures and returns are also diminished, for those who go and those who stay need never lose contact.
Once-distant people looked anticipated meeting – real time for unknowns to become known.
But now most of us are in constant and close contact in virtual time. The only unknown is that which we don’t want to be known. There is no catching up, for that which is desired to be known is already known.
And thus departures and returns are also diminished, for those who go and those who stay need never lose contact.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
All Things Good?
It is most encouraging thing to know that God not only works all things according to his big and good plans in Jesus (Eph 1:11) but he also works them for the individual good of his beloved people (Rom 8:28).
This gives consolation that the worst of times are also the best of times. When life seems overwhelming and the valley of despair just gets deeper and deeper we can comfort one another with the knowledge that God knows, God cares, God is in charge and God is working for our good and his good.
This teaching is known as providence. Here is a summary: God, the great Creator of all things, does uphold, direct, dispose and govern all creatures, actions and things … by his most wise and holy providence … to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice and mercy (Westminster Confession V:1).
However, providence gives problems. God … makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above and against them at his pleasure (West Confess V:3). The problem is that God may work through the ‘means’ of the sinful behaviours of people. Does this make God the author of sin? Does this condone sinful behaviours and make them ‘good’ because God uses them to achieve his good purposes?
Such problems arise in the cases of David and also of Jesus. David’s son Solomon was a product of his sinful relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. Yet from this sin came the family line that led to the ‘good’ of Jesus (Matt 1:6. Note how Matthew draws attention to the sin). Jesus’ death was an evil act of Roman and Jewish officials who defied God, yet it achieved the immense ‘good’ of redemption (Acts 2:36).
God is not the author of sin (2 Chron 19:7; Jas 1:13,14,17) but rather sometimes allows it and works through it. That is encouraging. Sin and evil did not have the first word and will not have the last word. God’s good is both the first and last word of creation and the word of sin is woven into good by his providence.
We cannot use God’s providence to condone or excuse our sin. God did raise Jesus from the line that worked through David’s sin with Bathsheba, but it was still a sin for which David was accountable (eg 2 Sam 11:1-13; Ps 51). The Jewish and Roman officials who sent Jesus to die were part of the good redemptive propose but were likewise accountable for their sin (eg Acts 3:36).
God indeed works all things for good, even the bad things that we and others do. That does not excuse or condone sin. Rather it ought to encourage and comfort us as we see his good triumph through and despite evil.
This gives consolation that the worst of times are also the best of times. When life seems overwhelming and the valley of despair just gets deeper and deeper we can comfort one another with the knowledge that God knows, God cares, God is in charge and God is working for our good and his good.
This teaching is known as providence. Here is a summary: God, the great Creator of all things, does uphold, direct, dispose and govern all creatures, actions and things … by his most wise and holy providence … to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice and mercy (Westminster Confession V:1).
However, providence gives problems. God … makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above and against them at his pleasure (West Confess V:3). The problem is that God may work through the ‘means’ of the sinful behaviours of people. Does this make God the author of sin? Does this condone sinful behaviours and make them ‘good’ because God uses them to achieve his good purposes?
Such problems arise in the cases of David and also of Jesus. David’s son Solomon was a product of his sinful relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. Yet from this sin came the family line that led to the ‘good’ of Jesus (Matt 1:6. Note how Matthew draws attention to the sin). Jesus’ death was an evil act of Roman and Jewish officials who defied God, yet it achieved the immense ‘good’ of redemption (Acts 2:36).
God is not the author of sin (2 Chron 19:7; Jas 1:13,14,17) but rather sometimes allows it and works through it. That is encouraging. Sin and evil did not have the first word and will not have the last word. God’s good is both the first and last word of creation and the word of sin is woven into good by his providence.
We cannot use God’s providence to condone or excuse our sin. God did raise Jesus from the line that worked through David’s sin with Bathsheba, but it was still a sin for which David was accountable (eg 2 Sam 11:1-13; Ps 51). The Jewish and Roman officials who sent Jesus to die were part of the good redemptive propose but were likewise accountable for their sin (eg Acts 3:36).
God indeed works all things for good, even the bad things that we and others do. That does not excuse or condone sin. Rather it ought to encourage and comfort us as we see his good triumph through and despite evil.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
I don't get it
I don't get it ...
Tens of thousands sit on their backsides in a stadium while a small number of super-fit men kick a funny ball around trying to get it between some sticks at the other end. Meanwhile millions around the world sit transfixed eating and drinking unhealthy stuff while watching the spectacle.
A website offers random web-chat conversations with people anywhere in the world randomly linked. Meanwhile we neglect talking to the real people who are closest to us and with whom we are linked with filial and other bonds.
And on it goes .... its an upside-down world
Tens of thousands sit on their backsides in a stadium while a small number of super-fit men kick a funny ball around trying to get it between some sticks at the other end. Meanwhile millions around the world sit transfixed eating and drinking unhealthy stuff while watching the spectacle.
A website offers random web-chat conversations with people anywhere in the world randomly linked. Meanwhile we neglect talking to the real people who are closest to us and with whom we are linked with filial and other bonds.
And on it goes .... its an upside-down world
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
A Son and the Son
Have you tracked your family tree? It can be interesting to see where our ancestors came from and to have a sense of where we fit it. Many in our congregation are of immigrant stock – with ancestors who came from the southern Chinese provinces or via a time as Straits Chinese. My ancestors are also immigrants: from Celtic stock in Ireland and Cornwall.
King David of Israel also came from migrant stock. His grandfather was the child of a Moabite immigrant who moved to Israel in the tragedy of young widowhood and then married a local boy after an interesting courtship (Ruth 4:13-20). David was the youngest of eight sons and, as the youngest, was given the lowly job of looking after the family herd while his brothers had the glamour of military service. (1 Sam 16:8-11).
The Bible tells us that David was good looking (1 Sam 16:12) and apparently presumptuous – a typical youngest son? Thus he asserted that he would do what his older brothers and the rest of the army could not do, namely defeat Goliath the Philistine (1 Sam 17:26-32). His brothers were not amused!
However, there was more to this episode that a presumptuous youngest son and sibling rivalry. For David was not only Jesse’s son but was also destined to be ‘son’ of God. Put simply, he was the one chosen to be God’s king – a choice that was validated when he was the Lord’s anointed servant to defeat the enemies of God’s people (1 Sam 17:34-47). Psalm 2 makes much of this as it speaks of how God vindicates his son (Israel’s king) and establishes his rule.
At this point David’s sonship to God overshadows his sonship to Jesse.
The New Testament traces Jesus’ earthly line back through David (eg Matt 1:1; Rom 1:3) and explicitly applies Ps 2 to him (eg Acts 4:25-26; 13:33; Heb 1:5; 5:5). This has big implications for God’s people. David’s parents and brothers took shelter from their enemies under his protection in later life (1 Sam 22:1-4). In the same way, Christian people gather under the protection of Jesus, God’s Son and our big brother. As the son of Jesse’s son and as God’s son, Jesus is our protector from our enemies.
David and Jesus both came from odd family lines. Both had special places in God’s salvation plan. Both were to be trusted and followed as the one sent from God for his people’s deliverance. It must have been hard for David’s father and older brothers to submit to him as king. Likewise, pride can make it hard for us to trust Jesus and submit to him. However, let’s swallow that pride and keep our faith in Jesus who is God’s son and saving king for us.
King David of Israel also came from migrant stock. His grandfather was the child of a Moabite immigrant who moved to Israel in the tragedy of young widowhood and then married a local boy after an interesting courtship (Ruth 4:13-20). David was the youngest of eight sons and, as the youngest, was given the lowly job of looking after the family herd while his brothers had the glamour of military service. (1 Sam 16:8-11).
The Bible tells us that David was good looking (1 Sam 16:12) and apparently presumptuous – a typical youngest son? Thus he asserted that he would do what his older brothers and the rest of the army could not do, namely defeat Goliath the Philistine (1 Sam 17:26-32). His brothers were not amused!
However, there was more to this episode that a presumptuous youngest son and sibling rivalry. For David was not only Jesse’s son but was also destined to be ‘son’ of God. Put simply, he was the one chosen to be God’s king – a choice that was validated when he was the Lord’s anointed servant to defeat the enemies of God’s people (1 Sam 17:34-47). Psalm 2 makes much of this as it speaks of how God vindicates his son (Israel’s king) and establishes his rule.
At this point David’s sonship to God overshadows his sonship to Jesse.
The New Testament traces Jesus’ earthly line back through David (eg Matt 1:1; Rom 1:3) and explicitly applies Ps 2 to him (eg Acts 4:25-26; 13:33; Heb 1:5; 5:5). This has big implications for God’s people. David’s parents and brothers took shelter from their enemies under his protection in later life (1 Sam 22:1-4). In the same way, Christian people gather under the protection of Jesus, God’s Son and our big brother. As the son of Jesse’s son and as God’s son, Jesus is our protector from our enemies.
David and Jesus both came from odd family lines. Both had special places in God’s salvation plan. Both were to be trusted and followed as the one sent from God for his people’s deliverance. It must have been hard for David’s father and older brothers to submit to him as king. Likewise, pride can make it hard for us to trust Jesus and submit to him. However, let’s swallow that pride and keep our faith in Jesus who is God’s son and saving king for us.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Our Families: Pain and Pleasure
Many find that people bring us our greatest pain and pleasure. Both pain and pleasure increase as the distance between people diminishes in our families.
Why is this so? The answer is simple. God made us for relationships (Gen 2:18). This is no surprise, since the ‘us’ of the triune God is essentially relational (Gen 1:26). It is his gift to place the lonely in families (Ps 68:5-6a) and most us find it true that there is strength in numbers when it comes to family (Eccles 4:9-12).
The Bible holds out a high ideal for family life with its picture of devoted and lifelong monogamous marriage complemented by wise and godly parenting to which children respond with respect and faith (Gen 1:18-25; Ex 20:12-14; Matt 19:1-9; 1 Cor 7: 1-16; Eph 5:21-6:4). Phew!
Is your family like this? Mine isn’t and I have yet to meet a family that is. It was a wise person who said: Every family has its shame and every family is hiding something.
Consider these families:
• A husband and father took extra women to his bed and then committed murder to cover up yet another acquisition.
• One son of the same man raped one of his sisters and another son publicly slept with one of his father’s ‘other’ women.
• A respected leader of the eighteenth century revival didn’t attend his own wife’s funeral.
• Another leader’s wife left him and he said: I did not ask her to go and I will not ask her to return.
The first two stories are especially interesting because they concern King David from whom Jesus was descended and who is the model king of which Jesus is the fulfilment. Even David’s origins are a little murky in his maternal great-grandmother’s behaviour with the man who was later her husband.
What’s the point? The point is not to lower our aspirations for our family away from God’s ideal. Nor is it to condone sin. But the point is to encourage us.
What’s the encouragement? God was and is present in our complex, messy and less-than-ideal families. Our family is the place where grace is mediated. There is hope as his good purposes are worked out there.
Let us always strive to lift family life closer to the ideal. But let us not despair when they are places of pain as well as pleasure. God is still there.
Why is this so? The answer is simple. God made us for relationships (Gen 2:18). This is no surprise, since the ‘us’ of the triune God is essentially relational (Gen 1:26). It is his gift to place the lonely in families (Ps 68:5-6a) and most us find it true that there is strength in numbers when it comes to family (Eccles 4:9-12).
The Bible holds out a high ideal for family life with its picture of devoted and lifelong monogamous marriage complemented by wise and godly parenting to which children respond with respect and faith (Gen 1:18-25; Ex 20:12-14; Matt 19:1-9; 1 Cor 7: 1-16; Eph 5:21-6:4). Phew!
Is your family like this? Mine isn’t and I have yet to meet a family that is. It was a wise person who said: Every family has its shame and every family is hiding something.
Consider these families:
• A husband and father took extra women to his bed and then committed murder to cover up yet another acquisition.
• One son of the same man raped one of his sisters and another son publicly slept with one of his father’s ‘other’ women.
• A respected leader of the eighteenth century revival didn’t attend his own wife’s funeral.
• Another leader’s wife left him and he said: I did not ask her to go and I will not ask her to return.
The first two stories are especially interesting because they concern King David from whom Jesus was descended and who is the model king of which Jesus is the fulfilment. Even David’s origins are a little murky in his maternal great-grandmother’s behaviour with the man who was later her husband.
What’s the point? The point is not to lower our aspirations for our family away from God’s ideal. Nor is it to condone sin. But the point is to encourage us.
What’s the encouragement? God was and is present in our complex, messy and less-than-ideal families. Our family is the place where grace is mediated. There is hope as his good purposes are worked out there.
Let us always strive to lift family life closer to the ideal. But let us not despair when they are places of pain as well as pleasure. God is still there.
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