Last week I read a fascinating story of one woman's conversion. She talks openly about her search for faith, the appeal of the community she would be joining, and the huge changes there have been in her lifestyle. At first glance this was like many testimonies I've heard from young adults who have come to faith in Christ.
But this woman hasn't become a Christian - she has converted to Islam.
I was struck by the seeming similarities, so I looked again a bit closer. Yes, many of the personal and lifestyle comments rang bells, but then I noticed what was missing. There's no mention anywhere of God. Her conversion is based on a community to join and a way of life to embrace.
How different to a new Christian, who has discovered the joy of forgiveness through Jesus, and the privilege of knowing God as their loving Father, and being a brother or sister of Christ.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
A _____ is for life, not just for Christmas
While waiting at Heathrow Terminal 5 last night for a late missionary (delayed, not deceased), I decided to draft a blog on my iPad (ie: a pad of paper I own). You know those bumper stickers that say "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas"? I've realised that the same is true for hot-cross buns!
The shops are currently heaving with trees, decorations, stockings and cards - which will all disappear after Dec 25th. But the hot-cross buns that came out for Easter are still with us. They've become an all-year treat.
Wouldn't it be great if the same was true for people's view of Jesus. He's not just for Christmas (a baby in a manger) but for Easter (a man on a cross) and for all of life (the King who rules). Jesus is for life, not just for Christmas.
Friday, 19 November 2010
The undeserving poor
Lots of discussion in the news at the moment about "the undeserving poor". Are there some people who don't deserve help and should be "getting on their bikes" to help themselves instead? How do we weed out the scroungers from the truly deserving?
The thing that struck me was the assumption that "the undeserving poor" is a label that people don't want - either because of the insult, or because it might mean they don't get anything.
How different it is for Christians. Because we know that we are the undeserving poor:
Undeserving: I'm just finishing off some sessions that I will be leading tomorrow at a training day on Grace. Our summary is that Grace is "an undeserved gift". God, in His mercy, doesn't treat as as we deserve. Instead, He accepts rotten sinners like me because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - an undeserved gift to all who put their trust in Jesus.
Poor: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5 v 3
It's great to be one of the undeserving poor.
The thing that struck me was the assumption that "the undeserving poor" is a label that people don't want - either because of the insult, or because it might mean they don't get anything.
How different it is for Christians. Because we know that we are the undeserving poor:
Undeserving: I'm just finishing off some sessions that I will be leading tomorrow at a training day on Grace. Our summary is that Grace is "an undeserved gift". God, in His mercy, doesn't treat as as we deserve. Instead, He accepts rotten sinners like me because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - an undeserved gift to all who put their trust in Jesus.
Poor: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5 v 3
It's great to be one of the undeserving poor.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Making generalisations about the generations
At the end of a blustery four-hour journey today, back from holiday, I squashed onto a packed commuter train; then gained great popularity by squeezing in a rucksac, suitcase and giant box of Lego with me. (More about the Lego in another blog...) As the train pottered along, people got off at each spot while others vied for their seats. Eventually there was only me left standing - my precarious pile of luggage wedged vertical(ish) with my knee - and that's when I saw them.
A twenty-something, who had been sitting for a while, saw a space open up opposite. She called to her boyfriend to come and sit down, but he didn't hear her - engrossed as he was in his iPhone. He was about ten feet away - but neither heard nor saw her beckoning signals. So what did she do? Shout louder? Pop over and get him? No, she sent him a text to tell him about the spare seat.
My initial thought was: "Isn't that just typical of the younger generation - too lazy to walk ten feet to speak to someone. There must be some deep moral there." But then I tried looking at it from another angle. Faced with a problem, the young woman had come up with an effective answer. She spotted where the bloke's attention was focused, and used it to her advantage. She wasn't being lazy - but ingenious. And I berated myself for making generalisations about the younger generation.
So taken with this scenario was I - and my thoughts on the implications - that I almost forgot to get off at my own stop. Which, of course, is just typical of my generation!
A twenty-something, who had been sitting for a while, saw a space open up opposite. She called to her boyfriend to come and sit down, but he didn't hear her - engrossed as he was in his iPhone. He was about ten feet away - but neither heard nor saw her beckoning signals. So what did she do? Shout louder? Pop over and get him? No, she sent him a text to tell him about the spare seat.
My initial thought was: "Isn't that just typical of the younger generation - too lazy to walk ten feet to speak to someone. There must be some deep moral there." But then I tried looking at it from another angle. Faced with a problem, the young woman had come up with an effective answer. She spotted where the bloke's attention was focused, and used it to her advantage. She wasn't being lazy - but ingenious. And I berated myself for making generalisations about the younger generation.
So taken with this scenario was I - and my thoughts on the implications - that I almost forgot to get off at my own stop. Which, of course, is just typical of my generation!
Friday, 22 October 2010
Why?
I love the free catalogues that you find tucked inside magazines. It's such fun seeing the stuff that other people buy! But one of them has me stumped. The motorised coin sorter. You throw your coins in the top, and it sorts them out for you, and tells you how much they're worth.
I've just done an experiment—emptied my purse, sorted and counted the contents. The coins add up to £9.33. It took me 19 seconds.
So who spends £30 on a machine to do it for them? And why?
Apparently it's a catalogue bestseller. I can only think that it must be men who need them…
Monday, 18 October 2010
The advent of…
I spotted two Playmobil Advent Calendars in a toyshop window. Great fun. Nicely made. A new figure or object to add to the 3D model each day of Advent.
One of them built Santa's Grotto. Ah well, a secular product, I guess you can't expect too much.
The other built a stable. Ah, that's better - even though a stable isn't actually mentioned in Matthew or Luke (Jesus was probably born in the animal's section of someone's house) - but at least we're in the zone of the biblical account.
Oops. No we're not. Great stable - lots of glowing horses and grooms to take care of them. Stalls for each animal. Plenty of tack. Even riding helmets (a 21st century nativity scene). But… no baby.
I always thought that Advent was about the coming of Christ: looking back to the time when He was born as a human being; looking forward to His return as King over all. But I must have got that wrong. To the delight of little girls everywhere, it's actually the advent of a riding school.
One of them built Santa's Grotto. Ah well, a secular product, I guess you can't expect too much.
The other built a stable. Ah, that's better - even though a stable isn't actually mentioned in Matthew or Luke (Jesus was probably born in the animal's section of someone's house) - but at least we're in the zone of the biblical account.
Oops. No we're not. Great stable - lots of glowing horses and grooms to take care of them. Stalls for each animal. Plenty of tack. Even riding helmets (a 21st century nativity scene). But… no baby.
I always thought that Advent was about the coming of Christ: looking back to the time when He was born as a human being; looking forward to His return as King over all. But I must have got that wrong. To the delight of little girls everywhere, it's actually the advent of a riding school.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
A ritual black tie
I was struck by this recent quote from the historian David Starkey:
I like the modern approach to funerals that sees them as a celebration of a life; an opportunity to look back fondly and with gratitude. But when it comes to "something to stand between you and the rawness of death", I don't want a ritual - I want a Saviour.
Ritual is necessary. You want something to stand between you and the rawness of death. I'm a ritualised athesit; the big moments need marking.
I like the modern approach to funerals that sees them as a celebration of a life; an opportunity to look back fondly and with gratitude. But when it comes to "something to stand between you and the rawness of death", I don't want a ritual - I want a Saviour.
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