Category Archives: Jesus

Surprised by grief

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It crept silently upon me from behind, disarming me in an instant, sweeping and swamping my emotional world. A sudden, perplexing grief I’d neither courted nor coaxed with negative thoughts, disaffected grumbling, hidden resentments nor murmuring discontent.

I’d not invited it, encouraged it, nurtured it, nor desired it. But, there it was…

This overwhelming sense of loss at never having, knowing, nurturing, or tenderly loving in the Lord, my own children…
Inexplicably and without warning, there it was.
It wasn’t that at that moment, or in the days and weeks that followed I didn’t ‘know’ with absolute certainty God’s love for me, or have an unswerving confidence in his sovereignty, or a trusting belief he’d not withheld anything good from me. I did.
Likewise, it wasn’t that I didn’t ‘feel’ with a heartfelt assurance my heavenly Father’s love for me, compassion for me, that he wanted only the best for me. Not once did I ‘emotionally doubt’ that he was intimately engaged and tenderly attuned to me, to all I was thinking, feeling & experiencing. All this I knew. All this I was confident of. All this I was comforted by – deeply so. And yet, there it was…
But, I also knew that for a single person to acknowledge such a grief, or express such a grief was not without its complications. Complications of perception, validation and acceptability…what do I mean?
Read Sarie’s beautifully honest post here.

More from Lady Gaga: Judas

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Whatever you think of Lady Gaga, her videos are certainly spectacular. Her new song Judas is no exception.

Obviously lots of biblical imagery here. Over at Pop Culture Christ Joel tell us what he thinks she is doing with this mash of Bible stories.

See, this song is not about Jesus, Judas or any other Biblical figure. It’s a song about betrayal and an unhealthy relationship. The imagery skirts around the real issues and in some ways acts as a smoke screen for what is really going on. The woman at the heart of this song is a woman betrayed by the man she loves. He sleeps around on her and she knows it. And she keeps coming back to him. Her self-esteem has been devalued to such an extent that she doesn’t feel she is worthy of a loving relationship. Her “Judas” has manipulated her and abused her emotionally. She is the victim of an abusive and destructive relationship. She wants to love the virtuous “Jesus” but “Judas is the demon [she clings] to”. She is trapped in a relationship where she is not truly loved but has been fooled into thinking that she doesn’t deserve better. She believes that she is beyond repentance and he is more than happy to perpetuate this lie.

Read this whole article here.

How the gospel shapes my life as a single woman

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Katie writes …

I don’t know what your circumstance is but I’m almost positive that if you’re single you’ve been on the receiving end of someone who is married taking pity on you in some way (I don’t believe that this is ever intentional). Most people argue that it is the world’s media & culture that has caused us to feel that being single is a type of incompleteness – which is definitely true, but I also think that the church has been involved… controversial I know!

I agree. Read her article here. It’s a good read.

Identity & Sexuality: Born this way??

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Is our sexuality just one of the characteristics we are born with and can’t do anything about?

Lady Gaga’s latest song makes some very interesting claims about wo we are, including our sexuality. And while she isn’t a source of theologically genius, she probably is a good barometer of culture.

WHETHER YOU’RE BROKE OR EVERGREEN
YOU’RE BLACK, WHITE, BEIGE, CHOLA DESCENT
YOU’RE LEBANESE, YOU’RE ORIENT
WHETHER LIFE’S DISABILITIES
LEFT YOU OUTCAST, BULLIED, OR TEASED
REJOICE AND LOVE YOURSELF TODAY
‘CAUSE BABY YOU WERE BORN THIS WAY
 
NO MATTER GAY, STRAIGHT, OR BI,
LESBIAN, TRANSGENDERED LIFE
I’M ON THE RIGHT TRACK BABY
I WAS BORN TO SURVIVE
NO MATTER BLACK, WHITE OR BEIGE
CHOLA OR ORIENT MADE
I’M ON THE RIGHT TRACK BABY
I WAS BORN TO BE BRAVE   
full lyrics here

What do you think she’s saying??

Grow Up and Get Married

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An excellent post from the Village Church on what’s wrong with preachers telling ‘singles’ to grow up and get married.

But singleness is not synonymous with immaturity, and singleness is not inherently problematic. While many singles are immature, the correlation is not direct. Many married men and women are just as immature. By and large I agree with the pastors attempting to engage the culture of “extended adolescence.” I simply disagree with their choice of language. “Grow up and get married” is too simplistic and dangerous.

First off, it sounds too easy. Anyone who wants to be married can simply do so at will?

Isn’t a spouse a gift from the Lord?

Isn’t God sovereign in the distribution of His gifts?

As a 32-year-old single male shepherding in the midst of a large church filled with singles, I know firsthand the sting of such half-truths. Some people are single because they are lazy, fearful, lustful or proud. But some singles are simply single because God, in His infinite wisdom, sovereignty and grace has not granted them a spouse. Singleness is not a curse. If singleness were the universal consequence for our sins, marriage rates would plummet to zero. Marriage is a gift, and all of God’s gifts are graciously undeserved. There are many married men and women mired in sin, and there are many singles pursuing deep holiness.

There is no direct correlation between sin and singleness.

Read the whole post here.

Psalm 13: a good remedy

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I’m feeling sorry for myself today. Meditating on Psalm 13 is helping. God is good.

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

Canberra: Day 2 & 3

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Well, much has happened over the last 2 days in Canberra.

Monday was gentle ease into the week – we spent some time getting to know the Crossroads team, doing some walk-up evangelism training with the students at FOCUS at the Australian National University, then in the evening a few of us were able to take part in an open discussion night for people who were thinking about paid ministry and bible college for the future.

Today we put the walk-up training into action as we joined FOCUS for a few hours of walk-up at the ANU. By all accounts so excellent conversation were had and people showed a lot of interested in the other events that FOCUS is putting on across the week. Praise God for the students at FOCUS who are convinced that the gospel is true and boldly took the opportunity to share it today. Pray that those we spoke to will take the opportunity to go the other events and hear who Jesus is.

This afternoon 6 of us went to Turner Primary school to help out with an afternoon kids club called SUPA. The day started with leaders demonstrating Jesus servant heartedness by washing the feet of all the children. Thank God for the 3 kids who came today, for the first time.Pray that kids will remember that Easter is about Jesus, the king who washes our sin away.

But much more is still to come for day 3. Please pray for the 3 events on tonight

  • Cameron will be speaking on God’s grace at ADFA
  • Nick will be answering tough questions at a dialogue dinner
  • Adam will be answering whatever questions are thrown at him at a Q&A session at ANU. Pray especially for Adam who is unwell

Pray that many will come to these events, and be convicted of the truth of the gospel.

 

[republished from here]

Answering tough questions in Canberra

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Yesterday was a great start to mission in Canberra. Both morning services went well with Crossroads South having their biggest service yet.

Much of the day was spent meeting and getting to know the families we will be living with this week.

Kate and Cameron were lucky enough to be able to join a family who, in light of neighbour day, had invited their whole street over to the house for lunch. They have 8 neighbours visit, most of whom didn’t know each and yet stayed for over 3 hours. Thank God for the new friendships that were formed, and pray that Ken & Jo (hosts) would continue to work on those relationships, and embrace opportunities to share Jesus’ words of eternal life with their neighbours.

The whole team was together for the first time yesterday at Crossroads in the City, a night congregation that meets at the ANU.

The lecture theatre was just about packed out, and Con preached on the Invention of Dying (for sins) from Isaiah 53. After church, we had areas set up where people could come and speak to members of the team to get answers to tough questions such as

  • Are science and Christianity against each other?
  • Can we believe the Bible?
  • Does God really punish people who don’t trust in him?
  • Is Jesus the only way?

No-one was sure how or if this would work, but it was a great success! Most the discussion groups had a lot of interest – in fact the science and Christianity discussion have to split into 3 groups.

We also had some areas where people could go for prayer and to talk about how to become a Christian. Last night a guy who the church has contact with though ADFA finally made the decision to follow Jesus! Praise God for him and those who have been sharing, & will continue to share, God’s word with him.

Praise God for a great first day and please keep praying for the team’s preparation for various events, interactions with church members (especially our billets) and those doing work with the ANU team.

 

(republished from here)

Behind the scenes: Canberra

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Today was our final team meeting before we all arrive at Crossroads Church, Canberra, on Sunday morning.

We’re all really excited about the chance to partner with Crossroads for the week and we would love your prayers as we do so. Please pray for us as we prepare talks, kids programs, for door knocking, walk up evangelism and to answer difficult questions. Pray that we would always be prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope that we have and that we would answer with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Here is a snapshot of our calendar for the week

It’s going to be busy so please pray for the team as we navigate events in multiple locations. Pray that we would work well together, and with the team at Crossroads. Above all pray that we would be worthy ambassadors of Christ and that people would be compelled to consider who Jesus is.

(reposted from here)