A strange land
‘How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?’ (Ps 137:4)
I write this just one week after arriving in Australia after 11.5 years living elsewhere.
There are all kinds of things that presumably seem normal and unremarkable to the native population but which stick out in my view. They will doubtless soon enough become unremarkable to me, thus I record them while I still notice them.
Shops and businesses that open and close early.
I am used to offices opening at 9am (but don’t expect too much then) and shops not open until 11am. But the other side of that is the difference between everything closing at 5pm and offices that are open until 6pm+ and shops until 10-11pm.
Restrictions on alcohol sales.
Australian alcohol sales are restricted such that it is available only from controlled venues and not until certain hours. I’m used to seeing alcohol available at any supermarket, servo or mini-market and anytime they are open. Yet beer is sold and consumed in ‘slabs’ of many bottles or cans in Australia as compared with people buying what they want to drink at the time. I wonder is these well-meant restrictions are not helping foster binge drinking and over-consumption?
Free parking and many parking spaces available.
I’m used to paying for parking almost everywhere and expected to queue and squeeze for parking lots. What a welcome contract to have much free street parking or long fee-free parking in malls etc and to drive straight into a parking spot.
Shaky communications.
Mobile calls drop and fade here and likewise with wireless internet signals. Thus landline phones and cables internet assume greater significance. That’s an irritating change from a place where handphones are strong almost anywhere and likewise for wireless national net signals.
Flag-showing patriotism.
National flags are only allowed in Singapore for a restricted period around national day and with controlled exposure and handling. Flag-displays were quite uncommon for private Australians when I left. But now every second car / house seems to be sporting a flag and there is much more flag merchandise for sale in this present season of Australia Day. But guess where the flags and merchandise are made? Yep – mainland China!
Broad Aussie accents and idioms.
The Australian accent seems pronounced in its broad vowels and also in its distinct idioms. Eg, a preacher who described something as being ‘bonza’. I’m self-conscious, when speaking, of how my accent has neutralized in 11.5 years away and how Australian idioms are much-removed form my speech. It will be interesting to see if I revert to a more local accent and idioms over time.
These things indeed seem strange to me and at times I feel a stranger in this land of my birth. I’m not saying better / worse, just ‘strange’ for the present.
And yes, I will learn how to sing the Lord’s song in this strange land.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Bonhoeffer on the Bible
Bonhoeffer on reading the Bible
First of all I will confess quite simply – I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions, and that we only need to ask repeatedly and a little humbly, in order to receive this answer. One cannot simply read the Bible, like other books. One must be prepared really to enquire of it. Only thus will it reveal itself. Only if we expect from it the ultimate answer shall we receive it. That is because in the Bible God speaks to us, and one cannot simply think about God in one’s own strength, one has to enquire of him. Only if we seek him will he answer us. Of course, it is also possible to read the Bible like any other book, that is to say from the point of view of textual criticism etc, there is nothing to be said against that. Only that is not the method which will reveal to us the heart of the Bible, but only the surface, just as we do not grasp the words of someone we love by taking them to bits, but by simply receiving them, so that for days they go on lingering in our minds, simply because they are the words of a person we love, and just as these words reveal more and more of the person who said them as we go on, like Mary, ‘pondering them in our heart’, so it will be with the words of the Bible. Only in them we will venture to enter into the words of the Bible, as though in them God were speaking to us who loves us and does not will to leave us alone with our questions, only so shall we learn to rejoice in the Bible. …
If it is I who determine where God is to be found, then I shall always find a God who corresponds to me in some way, who is obliging, who is connected with my own nature. But if God determines where he is to be found, then it will be in a place which is not immediately pleasing to my nature and which is not at all congenial to me. This place is the Cross of Christ. And whoever would find him must go to the foot of the Cross, as the Sermon on the Mount commands. This is not according to our nature at all, indeed it is entirely contrary to it. But this is also the message of the Bible, not only in the New but also in the Old Testament.
And I would now like to tell you quite personally: since I have learnt to read the Bible in this way – and this has not been so for very long – it becomes every day more wonderful to me. I read it in the morning and in the evening, often during the day as well, and every day I consider it a text which I have chosen for the whole week, and try to sink deeply into it, so as to really hear what it is saying. I know that without this I could not properly live any longer.
(From: Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Eric Metaxas, Thomas Nelson, 2010. pp136-7)
First of all I will confess quite simply – I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions, and that we only need to ask repeatedly and a little humbly, in order to receive this answer. One cannot simply read the Bible, like other books. One must be prepared really to enquire of it. Only thus will it reveal itself. Only if we expect from it the ultimate answer shall we receive it. That is because in the Bible God speaks to us, and one cannot simply think about God in one’s own strength, one has to enquire of him. Only if we seek him will he answer us. Of course, it is also possible to read the Bible like any other book, that is to say from the point of view of textual criticism etc, there is nothing to be said against that. Only that is not the method which will reveal to us the heart of the Bible, but only the surface, just as we do not grasp the words of someone we love by taking them to bits, but by simply receiving them, so that for days they go on lingering in our minds, simply because they are the words of a person we love, and just as these words reveal more and more of the person who said them as we go on, like Mary, ‘pondering them in our heart’, so it will be with the words of the Bible. Only in them we will venture to enter into the words of the Bible, as though in them God were speaking to us who loves us and does not will to leave us alone with our questions, only so shall we learn to rejoice in the Bible. …
If it is I who determine where God is to be found, then I shall always find a God who corresponds to me in some way, who is obliging, who is connected with my own nature. But if God determines where he is to be found, then it will be in a place which is not immediately pleasing to my nature and which is not at all congenial to me. This place is the Cross of Christ. And whoever would find him must go to the foot of the Cross, as the Sermon on the Mount commands. This is not according to our nature at all, indeed it is entirely contrary to it. But this is also the message of the Bible, not only in the New but also in the Old Testament.
And I would now like to tell you quite personally: since I have learnt to read the Bible in this way – and this has not been so for very long – it becomes every day more wonderful to me. I read it in the morning and in the evening, often during the day as well, and every day I consider it a text which I have chosen for the whole week, and try to sink deeply into it, so as to really hear what it is saying. I know that without this I could not properly live any longer.
(From: Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Eric Metaxas, Thomas Nelson, 2010. pp136-7)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Miango Ministry
I was in Miango (Plateau State Nigeria) from 4-10 January 2011 doing some Bible talks for the SIM annual Spiritual Life Conference. What follows is a daily blog from those days.
Sun 2 Jan.
Left Singapore at 11pm for London. Slept well and watched Agora which is an interesting movie re the spread of Christianity in Alexandria C5.
Mon 3 Jan.
Largely spent in the luxury of the Qantas lounge in London – frankly indulging myself. Overnight flight to Abuja: asleep before take off and waking just an hour before landing.
Tues 4 Jan
First day on this second visit to Nigeria. A vehicle breakdown meant a long wait in Abuja (during which a guest house hostess thoughtfully provided a bed for some catch up sleep) and then a late trip up in the company of the youth ministry team. Settled into a sparse but adequate ‘villa’ which I had to myself. Slept before 10pm and only woke once before arising at 6am.
Wed 5 Jan
First day on the job.
As people arrived for the conference my brother Peter arranged for three Nigerian friends to take us on a district tour. This included the site where Christianity first arrived among this tribe, a hydro-power station in the middle of nowhere – but non functional since July due to a blocked water intake and a picturesque but polluted waterfall. Also did my first talk (Jer 1). My theme title is ‘Confidence in the Lord, confidence in his word’ and I’m looking to encourage people to persist in word-based ministry.
Before I spoke an American doctor gave testimony to his experience during a home invasion during which he was shot and held for 48 hours until ransom was paid. After treatment, he returned to the field to keep serving as a surgeon. But then the doctor who prayed for him had also been shot in such an invasion. These people know suffering for the Lord in a way that I do not. Yet I will speak on suffering for the Lord in a talk from Jer 20 on Friday.
I think there’s about 200 all-up at this conference. For many, it’s the annual spiritual tonic much as Spurgeon Sabbatical at Gordon-Conwell has been for me. That motivates me to push myself and prioritise so I feed them from the word as well as I can.
Meanwhile at home: Glenda dealt with the movers who came to take our goods for shipping to Sydney and then started the clean up. Her heroism is quiet and supportive.
Thurs 6 Jan
Second talk, making two back to back evening / morning. The pace now steadies to one a day, leaving plenty of time for one on one talks plus some of my own projects. Its dry season here which means dryness and lots of airborne dust. That’s irritating my sinus as well as leaving my tropics-adapted skin needing plenty of moisturizer.
Fri 7 January 2011
People tell me that I’m being useful in the talks. One evidence of that to me is that good one on one conversations are opening up on issues arising. I guess this is so, but I’m also conscious of the privilege of being here and listening to these people.
There are so many rich stories of grace in people’s lives and being worked through them. Eg: at testimony time last night ‘Ray’ spoke of an early life of abandonment and crime being now turned into usefulness for the Lord in prison ministry in Nigeria. And heroism ... eg, any number of these folk staying here despite being victims of home invasions, robbery and shootings. Eg, an 80 year old man still serving on the mission field even after his wife died some years back.
I spoke on suffering today from Jeremiah 20. But these people are the ones who speak from experience, not boastfully but just with a sense of this is what happens and this is how God stood with them through it. I guess that my role is to help give a Biblical framework in which to understand and especially to cope with their sufferings.
I’m glad I came and consider that I gain more than I give.
Sat 8 January 2011
A cold wind blowing dust off the Sahara desert at night means an early evening retreat from outdoor activities for me and delaying my morning emergence.
Fourth talk today, from Jer 52 and tracing the theme of confidence in God’s word. After morning tea I attended a general briefing and discussion on security issues. There are real and rising concerns and I especially feel for the young families and single women.
I also wandered through the graveyard attached to the conference centre. The silent wander between rows of graves from new borns and infants makes me appreciate the cost that some pay to fulfil their calling. Likewise with the graves of adults in their 30s and 40s. Jesus warned about taking up our cross to follow him and I guess this is the other side of it. How many of us waste our lives in temporal trivialities when the eternal cause awaits our best years and energies?
Sun 9 Jan
Final talk linking Jer 31 to the new covenant in Heb 8 etc. The Korean pastor who conducted the communion made a nice link from the sermon to the sacrament. Farewells etc and was touched by a number who came and spoke of my material being Biblical, relevant, within grasp and useful. Slow trip to Abujah by road (2-7pm) due to an enforced doubling back. Several road blocks along the way slowed things even more and a there was a soldier’s gun near my face a few times over. Spent the night in a church guest house with no dinner available. Glad to be still and have an early sleep before the flights up to London and down to Singapore. Thus end my first mission trip for 2011 and thus also ends my last preaching until late July.
Heard that ten people were killed yesterday in violence near the area where I was staying. A grim reminder of the daily realities for those who stay behind.
Sun 2 Jan.
Left Singapore at 11pm for London. Slept well and watched Agora which is an interesting movie re the spread of Christianity in Alexandria C5.
Mon 3 Jan.
Largely spent in the luxury of the Qantas lounge in London – frankly indulging myself. Overnight flight to Abuja: asleep before take off and waking just an hour before landing.
Tues 4 Jan
First day on this second visit to Nigeria. A vehicle breakdown meant a long wait in Abuja (during which a guest house hostess thoughtfully provided a bed for some catch up sleep) and then a late trip up in the company of the youth ministry team. Settled into a sparse but adequate ‘villa’ which I had to myself. Slept before 10pm and only woke once before arising at 6am.
Wed 5 Jan
First day on the job.
As people arrived for the conference my brother Peter arranged for three Nigerian friends to take us on a district tour. This included the site where Christianity first arrived among this tribe, a hydro-power station in the middle of nowhere – but non functional since July due to a blocked water intake and a picturesque but polluted waterfall. Also did my first talk (Jer 1). My theme title is ‘Confidence in the Lord, confidence in his word’ and I’m looking to encourage people to persist in word-based ministry.
Before I spoke an American doctor gave testimony to his experience during a home invasion during which he was shot and held for 48 hours until ransom was paid. After treatment, he returned to the field to keep serving as a surgeon. But then the doctor who prayed for him had also been shot in such an invasion. These people know suffering for the Lord in a way that I do not. Yet I will speak on suffering for the Lord in a talk from Jer 20 on Friday.
I think there’s about 200 all-up at this conference. For many, it’s the annual spiritual tonic much as Spurgeon Sabbatical at Gordon-Conwell has been for me. That motivates me to push myself and prioritise so I feed them from the word as well as I can.
Meanwhile at home: Glenda dealt with the movers who came to take our goods for shipping to Sydney and then started the clean up. Her heroism is quiet and supportive.
Thurs 6 Jan
Second talk, making two back to back evening / morning. The pace now steadies to one a day, leaving plenty of time for one on one talks plus some of my own projects. Its dry season here which means dryness and lots of airborne dust. That’s irritating my sinus as well as leaving my tropics-adapted skin needing plenty of moisturizer.
Fri 7 January 2011
People tell me that I’m being useful in the talks. One evidence of that to me is that good one on one conversations are opening up on issues arising. I guess this is so, but I’m also conscious of the privilege of being here and listening to these people.
There are so many rich stories of grace in people’s lives and being worked through them. Eg: at testimony time last night ‘Ray’ spoke of an early life of abandonment and crime being now turned into usefulness for the Lord in prison ministry in Nigeria. And heroism ... eg, any number of these folk staying here despite being victims of home invasions, robbery and shootings. Eg, an 80 year old man still serving on the mission field even after his wife died some years back.
I spoke on suffering today from Jeremiah 20. But these people are the ones who speak from experience, not boastfully but just with a sense of this is what happens and this is how God stood with them through it. I guess that my role is to help give a Biblical framework in which to understand and especially to cope with their sufferings.
I’m glad I came and consider that I gain more than I give.
Sat 8 January 2011
A cold wind blowing dust off the Sahara desert at night means an early evening retreat from outdoor activities for me and delaying my morning emergence.
Fourth talk today, from Jer 52 and tracing the theme of confidence in God’s word. After morning tea I attended a general briefing and discussion on security issues. There are real and rising concerns and I especially feel for the young families and single women.
I also wandered through the graveyard attached to the conference centre. The silent wander between rows of graves from new borns and infants makes me appreciate the cost that some pay to fulfil their calling. Likewise with the graves of adults in their 30s and 40s. Jesus warned about taking up our cross to follow him and I guess this is the other side of it. How many of us waste our lives in temporal trivialities when the eternal cause awaits our best years and energies?
Sun 9 Jan
Final talk linking Jer 31 to the new covenant in Heb 8 etc. The Korean pastor who conducted the communion made a nice link from the sermon to the sacrament. Farewells etc and was touched by a number who came and spoke of my material being Biblical, relevant, within grasp and useful. Slow trip to Abujah by road (2-7pm) due to an enforced doubling back. Several road blocks along the way slowed things even more and a there was a soldier’s gun near my face a few times over. Spent the night in a church guest house with no dinner available. Glad to be still and have an early sleep before the flights up to London and down to Singapore. Thus end my first mission trip for 2011 and thus also ends my last preaching until late July.
Heard that ten people were killed yesterday in violence near the area where I was staying. A grim reminder of the daily realities for those who stay behind.
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