Month: August 2014

Reflection on Exodus 1:1-2:10

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Scripture

And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

Observation

Generations pass by and the Israelites prosper in the land of Egypt. The king becomes afraid of them, fearing they are a threat to national security. He brings in a regime of forced labour for the Israelites and treats them harshly. Still they prosper in adversity.

The midwives are commanded to kill any newborn baby boy, but they refuse to carry out this order. When questioned about this, the midwives say that the mothers give birth too quickly. So the king orders all Egyptians to throw any Hebrew baby boy into the Nile.

One of the Hebrew women gives birth to a son and manages to hide him for three months. She gets a wicker basket, makes it water proof and floats the boy in the water. Pharaoh’s daughter comes to bathe as the baby’s sister looks on. She discovers the baby, and the sister offers to get a woman to nurse the baby for her. So the baby’s mother is paid by Pharaoh’s daughter to nurse her own baby, now named Moses.

Application

Recently we have seen many scenes of violence and oppression in the world. People might ask “Where is God?” This story shows that God is working even in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations.

God blesses those who remain faithful in impossible situations. The women of Israel were determined to bring life and not death, despite the opposition of the king. And God blessed them, even giving the midwives families of their own as they refused the evil demands of a despot.

Whatever our situation, we need to be asking ourselves every day, “What is God wanting me to do here and now?” “How can I bring life rather than death?”

Prayer

Lord please help me to be light in the darkness today, life in a culture of death, a faithful follower of Jesus. Amen.

Church Growth in London

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Some great news from the UK, where despite reports of the near death of the Church of England there is quite spectacular growth happening.

From the Bible Society:

Good news from the UK: the Church in London is growing

The Church in London has been put on a growth path using techniques learned from business turnarounds according to the Financial Times. One in nine Londoners now go to church, the paper reports.

“Church attendance in the capital grew by 16 per cent in the seven years to 2012, boosted by immigration from countries with large Catholic and Pentecostal communities.”

The FT article focuses on the Anglicans who, because they were previously in decline, can boast (if Christians are allowed to boast) a significant turn-around.

The FT pinpoints two key “mega” churches: Holy Trinity Brompton in Kensington (home of the Alpha course and a significant church planting movement) and St Helen’s Bishopsgate, surrounded by skyscrapers in the city (and a close ally of the Sydney Anglican diocese).

The FT is talking about the Diocese (church region) of London, north of the River Thames where the growth is concentrated. The more liberal Diocese of Southwark, south of the river, has not seen the same sort of growth. Overall the Church of England figures are steady or in biz speak “bottoming out”.

Research by academics at Cramer Hall, a theological college in Durham entitled Church Growth in Britain from 1980 to the Present  in 2012 revealed:

  • There are 500,000 Christians in black majority churches in Britain. Sixty years ago there were hardly any.
  • At least 5,000 new churches have been started in Britain since 1980 – and this is an undercount. The true figure is probably higher.
  • There are one million Christians in Britain from black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities.
  • The adult membership of the Anglican Diocese of London has risen by over 70 per cent since 1990.

Australia’s Hillsong also has a strong presence in London including a successful transplant of the Hillsong Conference, usually held in London’s o2 arena. Eternity understands that Hillsong and Holy Trinity are good friends.

This success is matched by a plethora of African Pentecostal movements, including  the Nigerian Kingsway International Christian Centre, and the local Pentecostal Kensington temple.

– See more at: http://www.biblesociety.org.au/news/good-news-uk-church-london-growing#sthash.JnQvayXV.dpuf

Wind farms paid record sum not to produce electricity

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The true cost of renewable energy is that it is still dependent on subsidies to be commercially viable. Despite all the claims of the activists and the lobbyists, there is no renewable energy that comes close to good old coal and gas. 

From the Telegraph (U.K.):

Wind farms paid record sum not to produce electricity

Windy weather and low demand for electricity led to wind farm owners being paid a record amount to switch off turbines on Monday

Strong winds caused a spike in the amount of electricity produced by wind farms, leading to a “bottleneck” of energy leaving the network from Scotland Photo: Les Gibbon / Alamy

10:00PM BST 12 Aug 2014

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Wind farms were paid a record sum of almost £3 million in a single day this week not to produce electricity.

Strong winds amid the remnants of Hurricane Bertha left the electricity network unable to cope with the amount of energy being produced by turbines on Monday.

As a result National Grid paid owners £2.8 million to shut down their wind farms, at up to double the rate they would have received in subsidies had they actually generated electricity.

A further £1.1 million was given to other power stations to generate electricity to make up the shortfall created by shutting the wind farms down.

The money – detailed in figures provided by National Grid – will ultimately be added on to household bills and paid for by consumers.

A Happy Story

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Amidst all of the news coverage of ISIS, Boko Haram and Hamas wreaking death and suffering on so many people it is good to remember that these terrorists don’t speak for ordinary Muslims. The stories of crazy Australians living on  the disability pension and going off to jihad with their little boys and posing with severed heads shock most people.

Let me tell you a happy story about some decent Muslim people.

Margaret had been looking on EBay for a new (slightly used) lounge suite, and she wanted the best. King Furniture use the same manufacturer of springs as Porsche, and their furniture is nice but expensive. She found one in Sydney that seemed ideal but was pipped at the post. As a result, she found out about a web-site where you can ask for a quote and independent trucking companies bid for the job. There was one bid and the price was under $500 which seemed excellent.

On Thursday, another lounge came up, right manufacturer, good colour and excellent “Buy it now” price, located at Katoomba. She contacted the carrier to find out if he would do this job for the same price and he said “yes”.

She bought it, paid for it and organised the carrier. It was here before lunch today, two days later.

The team was a man and wife, she dressed in the traditional Muslim head covering. They are just the nicest, friendliest people and make you feel good even just being around them for the 15 minutes to unload the furniture.

The couple work hard- they must have started out at 6 this morning to get to Katoomba by 7.15. They would have been lucky to make $200 for the day’s work when you take the fuel and other running expenses out. They are friendly, do exactly what is promised, going the extra mile with a smile. They see Australia as a country with endless opportunities to build a business (oddly enough called Schemozzle) and earn enough to give their children a good education.

So next time you see the latest atrocity or the violent demonstrations or the demands of activists that our nation bends to conform to Arabic culture and Sharia law, just remember Khaeld and his wife- two hard working Aussies who happen to be Muslims.

 

Three Types of Tongues

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paraclete

In the Bible, there is often more description of the way things are or should be than analysis of events. If we are not careful, we can easily be confused because we try to impose an order or a structure onto the scriptures that is not meant to be there.

The gift of tongues (sometimes called “glossolalia” from the Greek word meaning literally to speak in tongues) has three different applications in the New Testament and in contemporary experience. We need to be aware of these different usages in order to read the scriptures properly.

1. Sign of the Baptism in the Spirit

In Acts 2:4 we are told: “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

When we receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (or are filled with the Holy Spirit), God releases a special spiritual language that enables us to pray to God from our spirit to God’s Spirit. This is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11.

In Acts 10:46 (the conversion of Cornelius’ household) and in Acts 19:6 (Paul in Ephesus) there are two more descriptions of the giving of the Holy Spirit and the sign of this is speaking in tongues.

Someone might ask what is the purpose of this prayer language? There are several:

  • There are times when I simply don’t know how to pray, so in tongues my spirit communicates directly with the Holy Spirit.
  • There are times when my human desire might be contrary to God’s desire in a situation. How can I pray without being directed by the Holy Spirit?
  • Some people claim that the Devil cannot understand glossolalia so this intimate communion with God is important in times of intense spiritual warfare.
  • It is a reassurance that the Holy Spirit is still with me, even when I feel inadequate or unworthy.

This is a private, personal use of tongues.

2. Tongues as an Interpreted Miracle

In Acts 2, the disciples were speaking in languages that were, to them, unknown. Yet the gathered crowds heard them speaking in their own various languages. You can argue whether there was a miracle in the speaking or in the hearing, but in either event people heard a tongues phenomenon in which they heard people speaking familiar words.

There have been numerous accounts of people speaking in tongues in a gathering discovering that someone present was hearing a message in a human language or dialect unknown to the speaker. This kind of event is quite rare in practice. When it happens it brings deep conviction to the hearer who is usually an unbeliever.

3. Tongues as a Public Utterance

There have been times when I have experienced in an open meeting someone standing up and speaking a message in tongues. Following this, another person (or sometimes the same person) will give a message in English which is an interpretation of the glossolalia. Together the tongues and interpretation amount to a form of prophecy.

In my experience, the language of the public tongue is different to the private prayer language. It feels different inside as if the Holy Spirit is pushing something out. I have also experienced the interpretation part of the equation whereby as another person is spekaing in tongues, I an hearing the words in my head in English.

In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul addresses the proper ordering of charismatic worship. His concern was not so much about which gifts were best, but facilitating the most helpful way of people participating so that the Holy Spirit could minister and everyone could have a turn.

Paul gives guidelines for the proper administration of this mode of speaking in tongues.

  • Don’t overdo this or prophecy. Let a few people each have a turn, speaking one at a time.
  • There must be an interpretation. The speaker must pray for the interpretation, and if there is no interpretation coming then there should be no more public tongues.
  • People are able to speak in tongues privately to God without restriction

These three modalities of the gift of speaking in tongues are quite different in their operation and usage. We need to learn to flow in the power of the Holy Spirit in whatever way He wishes to work.

Reflection on Matthew 15:10-28

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Scripture

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

Observation
Jesus tells the crowd that holiness is not about what we eat but more about the words we speak. The disciples don’t understand him so he explains further. The food we eat passes through the body and doesn’t stay in us so it cannot defile us. The words we speak show the sin in our heart and that is what makes us unclean.
A Gentile woman comes to Jesus pleading for deliverance for her daughter. Jesus first ignores her then fobs her off. She persists and Jesus tells her that her great faith has healed her daughter.

Application
What is more important- acting in certain ways to seem good or having our heart transformed by God’s goodness?
Most religious behaviour aims to win God’s approval through doing something good. God doesn’t judge by visible actions but the motives that drive us.
It is faith that connects us to God- the desperate, unshakable faith that holds on to God even when He seems to not care. Persistence is the key to breakthrough.

Prayer
I am desperate for you Lord- desperate enough to know that faking goodness won’t impress you. Help me to hang on to you. Amen.

Unmitigated Evil in Iraq

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Apologists for Islamic extremists take note of this. There is no justification for this kind of atrocity

From perscution watch group ICC:

5-Year-Old Christian Boy Cut in Half by ISIS Terrorists

Heart-wrenching stories continue to pour in from areas in Iraq and Syria taken over by the Islamic State (IS, better known as ISIS). Following last week’s capture of Qaraqosh, formerly home to Iraq’s largest Christian community, thousands of Christians fled for their lives from the ruthless IS. Two of these Christians were the parents of a 5-year-old boy who was cut in half by IS militants during the attack on Qaraqosh. As IS forces are now pressing into regions previously controlled by Kurdish peshmerga fighters, many Christians are fleeing for their lives once more.

Iraqi Christians continue to appeal for prayer and monetary support, of which they remain in dire need. Learn more about what ICC is doing in Iraq and how you can help Iraqi Christians.

By Melissa Barnhart

8/11/2014 Iraq (CP) – A 5-year-old boy, who’s the son of a founding member of St. George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad, was slaughtered by Islamic State terrorists, better known as ISIS, who cut the boy in half during an attack on the Christian town of Qaraqosh.

“I’m almost in tears because I’ve just had somebody in my room whose little child was cut in half,” Anglican Canon Andrew White of St. George’s Church told the Anglican Communion News Service Friday. “I baptized his child in my church in Baghdad. This little boy, they named him after me — he was called Andrew.”

Christian refugees who fled to Qaraqosh seeking shelter in the Christian town were forced to flee again by the tens of thousands Thursday as Islamic State forces began invading the peshmerga-controlled regions of the country.

The deceased boy’s parents and brother, George, who’s named after the Anglican church in Baghdad, have reportedly fled with other Christians to the city of Arbil where the U.S. consulate is located, which President Barack Obama said would be protected by the U.S. military through targeted airstrikes against Islamic State convoys.

Groan. Sometimes I Despair

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Apparently Westboro Baptist Church is at it again

From Christianity Today:

Westboro Baptist church to picket Robin Williams' funeral over gay roles
Controversial Westboro Baptist Church organisation, known for their “God Hates Fags” slogan, has announced they will picket the funeral of Robin Williams.

The actor, whose death on Monday shocked the world, portrayed a gay man in the 1996 film The Birdcage and cross-dressed in hit comedy Mrs. Doubtfire, roles which led the Topeka-based church to claim Williams made “merchandise of filthy proud sin”.

Of all the Hollywood actors and producers you might want to protest at or even consign to hell, Robin Williams would have to be one of the least likely. I’m not saying he was born again or anything like that, but really guys, pick your battles.

I’m not going to judge the organisation except to say this: Westboro Baptist Church does not represent real christian belief or action. They need to get over all the hate preaching and start showing Jesus who was a friend of sinners, so much so that he died to set them free from their sin. 

Not the Same

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It’s just great to see that while the terror group ISIS is rampaging around the Middle East crucifying, beheading and raping people, that our more enlightened politicians are trying to tell us that Islam is really not that bad, and certainly no different to Christianity.

Most people were shocked at the sight of a young boy from Sydney holding up a human head like a trophy. The gallant people of the political left told us to get over it and move on.

The Australian reports this:

Opposition assistant treasury spokesman Andrew Leigh said the image was “horrendous” and noted “extremism comes in all sorts of guises”. “We need to celebrate the Australian Muslim community to recognise that there are many peoples of different faiths in the world and extremism comes in all sorts of guises. The Oklahoma bombing was carried out by a Christian.”

Mr Leigh should do some basic research. There is a thing called the internet and a quick check of Google or Wikipedia would have shown him that the Oklahoma bombing was in fact carried out by a guy who would best be described as agnostic and who had turned his back on the Catholic faith that he was raised in.

Extremism does come in all kinds of guises, but the most deadly and barbaric at the moment all happen to be Islamic, not christian. We worry about people returning from jihad in Syria, but not about anyone coming back from Rome.