Lakeland

I've just read an interesting couple of articles to do with the Lakeland outpouring controversy. I though I'd include these links because they give very balanced, gracious and repentant insights to a painful situation (which I've been genuinely confused by!)

The first is from Dutch Sheets and is well worth reading (particularly the 'Bigger Picture' section: http://www.dutchsheets.org/index.cfm/pageid/266

The second is written by Peter Wagner who was part of a group that anointed/commissioned Todd Bentley (the key figure in this outpouring) and is more informational: click here

I think it is helpful to hear from two men who are influential leaders in Charismatic churches in the USA and have been mightily used by God over many years.

God's grace to His people

I was suffering from Leviticus the other day. Not wanting to read that strange and messy book that God put in the Bible. But skipping books of the Bible is just immature so I laboured on asking the Holy Spirit for some spark, some revelation. The funny thing was that Proverbs and Luke were the same - dry, dull and not the joyful God-glorifying truth I'd read before.

There's some good folk living here. One prayed for me another told me to read the Bible on my knees (i.e. with reverance and humility). Later that evening - back to Leviticus I went. I was struck by the message ringing through chapters 18-20. God is saying "I am the Lord your God. I've prepared a land for you. Egypt was judged because of their great sin. I'll drive out the nations in Canaan because of their wickedness. This is because I'm holy - so utterly pure that I can't stand even a speck of sin. I want to know you (Israel), to be your God. Don't you see, if you obey me I will be your God, but if you don't, how can you stay in this land I've prepared for you. I want you to be my very own, set apart. Be holy, because I am holy."

Suddenly, a passage that seems so particular and fussy becomes so wonderful. God is so gracious that He made a way for His people to come to Him. Now, He has made a way - far more glorious - through Jesus for us to come to Him, to know Him, rejoice in His grace and so glorify Him.

I love Him!

Getting settled in

I can't believe it's already been two weeks. They've gone pretty quickly. God has been good. I haven't started to work hard yet, but I'm enjoying spending time with so many people who love God. Today I said goodbye to an American I got to know. He was telling me about his family and it was amazing to hear of God's grace in his life. His family were strongly Catholic (his grandfather even received a medal of service from the Pope) so when he was saved in college, there was trouble coming. His zeal for Christ led to his father disowning him - forcing him to leave the house, yet in every difficulty God would give him a verse (i.e. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life). It's wonderful how God was able to provide a family for him in the church. Eventually he saw five of his sisters and two brothers come to faith. He will baptising some this weekend.

It is such a blessing to meet people with stories like this of the greatness of God. I have been so encouraged by conversations with really mature Christians. I've also enjoyed helping out with a couple of things at the Christian school up the road. Today I did the P.E. lesson. It's nice to find somewhere I can serve a little.

I should mention how brilliant some of the lectures have been. Today we had Biblical Theology. We were learning about different methods of Rabbinical interpretation of the Scriptures. One method is to see many passages of Scripture and apply them directly to our own experience. This isn't wrong but the first step should always be to ask what it meant in its original context. Another method pulls verses together with a small link (perhaps the word 'love') and creates a new meaning from the two which wasn't present in either verse. It's funny these methods aren't restricted to some Rabbis but are seen in many Christian books and sermons.

We were encouraged not to impose a method or information from outside sources to the Bible but let it speak for itself. We need to pray that we develop a hunger for God's Word, not needing anything else to be our daily bread.

I'm probably going to post some slightly confusing things over the next few weeks. Hopefully by the time I have to hand in essays, things will be much clearer - especially my communication!

Blogging again - from Wales!

I'm back from Spain now. Back from Holland. Back from Uganda. Back to writing regularly again... I hope. It's been a good couple of months. A lot of re-adjusting. Now I'm writing from Wales Evangelical School of Theology in Bridgend where I'm likely to spend the next three years. I've found out that it rains constantly here so I'll need God's help to be positive as I'm used to more sunshine. It's nice to have friends here. I tried to reassure them today that my motive for visiting them was more than dinner. After the luxury of two months eating with my family, I'm back to cooking once again for myself.

Those of you who are reading this after such a long gap in blog posting, thanks for coming back. I'd appreciate your prayers as I begin studying again. This week I need to make some module choices. There's also some advanced reading I was supposed to do. Actually, it wouldn't hurt to start that now, so I'll stop here and invite you to come back... if you dare.

One final thought - if anyone has an idea for a new name to my blog with a more Welsh ring to it, then let me know!