By way of 1) filling the yawning void that is this dustblog and 2) informing whoever possibly might be reading it, it's probably time to mention that we're moving in a couple of months, to Shoalhaven Heads. I'll be looking after the Anglican Church there...which I believe is the only church there, to save anyone getting confused. It's a branch church for Gerringong parish, still on the small side, in a town of 3000 or so.
By way of adding some useful thought content to an otherwise purely informative post, here's an idea from an essay I'm writing (or at least, should be writing) at the moment on The Pilgrim's Progress.
Very early in the book, Christian is shown a portrait of what's usually perceived as the ideal pastor - full of God's word, pleading with men to follow God, focused more on the world to come than the trappings of this one. J. I. Packer says so, and he knows more about the Puritans than me.
What's caught my eye, though, is what happens next in the story: in short, Christian receives assurance of salvation, and instantly starts pastoring those he meets. It appears to be a deliberate attempt by Bunyan to show the 'average believer' has a pastoral ministry. It's an idea that seems to have been missed by the scholars, and it's always fun to find something that the great ones have missed!
Wednesday 26 November 2008
Wednesday 23 July 2008
Thursday 10 April 2008
The Messiah in the Details
Wrote an exegetical paper yesterday on Daniel 6, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Usually, I love the thinking, but hate the writing, as astute readers might have observed by now (perhaps this is a slog, not a blog).
Here's what I liked.
A conspiracy is hatched to take down one in whom no fault can be found. The only way to get him is by trapping him in his obedience to God. The secular ruler doesn't want to condemn him, but finds his hands tied. The pressure of the mob is too great. The order for execution is given, and the victim is left where his bones will rest, and a stone is placed over the entrance.
But against all hope, at dawn comes the discovery: he is not dead, but alive! Death could not take him because he was innocent...because he had trusted in his God.
Daniel, or Jesus?
"In every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves..."
And so the good news went to all peoples, nations and tongues...and so it did.
I wonder whether Daniel sang Psalm 22 for the lions to pass the time?
Here's what I liked.
A conspiracy is hatched to take down one in whom no fault can be found. The only way to get him is by trapping him in his obedience to God. The secular ruler doesn't want to condemn him, but finds his hands tied. The pressure of the mob is too great. The order for execution is given, and the victim is left where his bones will rest, and a stone is placed over the entrance.
But against all hope, at dawn comes the discovery: he is not dead, but alive! Death could not take him because he was innocent...because he had trusted in his God.
Daniel, or Jesus?
"In every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves..."
And so the good news went to all peoples, nations and tongues...and so it did.
I wonder whether Daniel sang Psalm 22 for the lions to pass the time?
Friday 22 February 2008
Ah, progress!
You've gotta love technology. She promises so much, delivers so little. Yesterday's news (and calling it that seems quite appropriate) included the revelation that science has discovered a way to create a self-healing elastic band. You know the problem: you've got a perfectly good elastic band, but it breaks, and tying a knot in the ends is just too fiddly. Well, here's the solution - simply hold the broken ends together for a minute, and it's good as new.
Brilliant!
But my question is, how many of these bands will they sell in a packet? And do you get your money back when you find them all stuck together? Or do you just go to Guinness to ask about the current world record for rubber band balls?
This post was written on a machine walking Windows Vista.
Brilliant!
But my question is, how many of these bands will they sell in a packet? And do you get your money back when you find them all stuck together? Or do you just go to Guinness to ask about the current world record for rubber band balls?
This post was written on a machine walking Windows Vista.
Monday 14 January 2008
Just another piece of inspired writing...
Preached on Luke 7:1-17 last night - we're doing a series on people's encounters with Jesus, from Luke, this month, and was struck again by how often the Bible contains some little gem that doesn't call attention to itself, instead waiting to be discovered and treasured.
In this case, it's the identity of the two characters that drive the two pericopes. There's a soldier, and a widow...kind of like the examples that happened to come to Jesus' mind in chapter 4, as he predicted his rejection by his hometown. That's how things always go with the prophets, after all.
Which makes it just lovely that in 7:16-17, Jesus is hailed as what? A prophet! And the news spreads through Judea... and beyond!
You just gotta love Jesus - he always exceeds expectations, and in this case, he's lined up pretty good help in Luke, to make sure we get it.
'A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel' (Luke 2:32) - Simeon got it right.
In this case, it's the identity of the two characters that drive the two pericopes. There's a soldier, and a widow...kind of like the examples that happened to come to Jesus' mind in chapter 4, as he predicted his rejection by his hometown. That's how things always go with the prophets, after all.
Which makes it just lovely that in 7:16-17, Jesus is hailed as what? A prophet! And the news spreads through Judea... and beyond!
You just gotta love Jesus - he always exceeds expectations, and in this case, he's lined up pretty good help in Luke, to make sure we get it.
'A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel' (Luke 2:32) - Simeon got it right.
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