I know it's not Christmas but this video is good.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Placement
I started my ministry placement last week. I'm doing it in my old school, The School of the Lion. Really enjoying it and I think God is confirming something of his calling on my life. Christian education is a vision I believe really needs promoting. That is the focus of my time here though I'm also helping with some lessons. The other day one of the children was reading from his workbook to me about plants and trees:
"God's Word says a man who knows and studies God's Word will be like a tree. We know that a tree takes in a lot of water. We should be like trees. We should take in God's Word, which God calls 'water' in His Word. We should give out large amounts of God's Word to others like the trees give off water into the air."
I love the way children can learn about the things God made. That even as he so wonderfully created them, he teaches us lessons through them in His Word.
It's been good to read some books about education. Here's a review I did for one:
“Where are the people who will feed my children with the Living Bread?” asked Betty Harris. With this burden, the first new Christian school began in 1968 and since then, over a hundred others have sprung up over the United Kingdom. The Love of God in the Classroom tells the story of many of these schools. It is a story of battle; a story of sacrifice and struggle; a story filled with opposition from all around. Yet it is an amazing story of God's grace and power, of incredible miracles and a story of young people loving Christ Jesus with all their heart, soul and strength. Whatever your conviction concerning the Christian education of children, you will not fail to see the way God has greatly blessed and used it."
As you can see, I recommend this book! If you want a copy, I'll give you one. One more week of work placement to go and there seems a lot to do. By God's grace, we are seeking to raise the profile of Christian education and the awareness of its value.
By the by, I've also made a poster (with a lot of technical help - thanks Joe) for an event in March. Definitely one for the diary.
"God's Word says a man who knows and studies God's Word will be like a tree. We know that a tree takes in a lot of water. We should be like trees. We should take in God's Word, which God calls 'water' in His Word. We should give out large amounts of God's Word to others like the trees give off water into the air."
I love the way children can learn about the things God made. That even as he so wonderfully created them, he teaches us lessons through them in His Word.
It's been good to read some books about education. Here's a review I did for one:
“Where are the people who will feed my children with the Living Bread?” asked Betty Harris. With this burden, the first new Christian school began in 1968 and since then, over a hundred others have sprung up over the United Kingdom. The Love of God in the Classroom tells the story of many of these schools. It is a story of battle; a story of sacrifice and struggle; a story filled with opposition from all around. Yet it is an amazing story of God's grace and power, of incredible miracles and a story of young people loving Christ Jesus with all their heart, soul and strength. Whatever your conviction concerning the Christian education of children, you will not fail to see the way God has greatly blessed and used it."
As you can see, I recommend this book! If you want a copy, I'll give you one. One more week of work placement to go and there seems a lot to do. By God's grace, we are seeking to raise the profile of Christian education and the awareness of its value.
By the by, I've also made a poster (with a lot of technical help - thanks Joe) for an event in March. Definitely one for the diary.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Children of God
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1 here blows us away with the love of Father God. We have been adopted into his family. In Philippians 2, Paul asks the believers to make his joy complete "by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." In this way they point to Christ.
We can show humility by "considering others better than ourselves". Paul was an amazing example of this. Think of it: prison, stoning, whipping, false accusation, hunger, thirst and it goes on. Why did he go through with it? That Christ might be proclaimed; in order that Christ might be fully developed in believers' lives.
Usually my chief concern seems to be my own spiritual growth. Yet we are called to be active in building each other up in the Lord, challenging each other to live a life worthy of Him. The whole body grows together - all parts nourishing and supporting one another. We must have a deep concern and resolution for one another's growth in Christ. And if we don't, we must pray for it.
What you hear from God in personal devotions, pass on. If you're reading a book that is building your faith, share what you are learning. Be easy about discussing things in life that need discernment from God. Perhaps someone else is the tool for your growth. Maybe you will be used to encourage them.
God desires his church to be a body that is balanced - each part having a deep concern for all the others. Sharing in each others joys and sorrows. Together becoming a light to the world.
1 John 3:1 here blows us away with the love of Father God. We have been adopted into his family. In Philippians 2, Paul asks the believers to make his joy complete "by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." In this way they point to Christ.
We can show humility by "considering others better than ourselves". Paul was an amazing example of this. Think of it: prison, stoning, whipping, false accusation, hunger, thirst and it goes on. Why did he go through with it? That Christ might be proclaimed; in order that Christ might be fully developed in believers' lives.
Usually my chief concern seems to be my own spiritual growth. Yet we are called to be active in building each other up in the Lord, challenging each other to live a life worthy of Him. The whole body grows together - all parts nourishing and supporting one another. We must have a deep concern and resolution for one another's growth in Christ. And if we don't, we must pray for it.
What you hear from God in personal devotions, pass on. If you're reading a book that is building your faith, share what you are learning. Be easy about discussing things in life that need discernment from God. Perhaps someone else is the tool for your growth. Maybe you will be used to encourage them.
God desires his church to be a body that is balanced - each part having a deep concern for all the others. Sharing in each others joys and sorrows. Together becoming a light to the world.
Monday, 5 January 2009
Family Frictions
A man was building a house. There was no doubt that he was an expert. The ground was rough, but he painstakingly removed the weeds and stones. Then he prepared the ground until it was perfectly smooth. He measured it – the level was straight, the ground was ready. He laid the foundation with care and precision, until it was solid and unshakeable.
The man went to select some bricks. Strangely, they all seemed to be of different shapes and sizes. But that's not a problem for a master builder. Yet when he put a brick in a certain place, it complained (yes in this story the bricks actually speak). “This isn't the place for me, right up against that odd shaped brick and underneath this heavy one. No, I'd rather go somewhere more comfortable. Look, over there is a very smart brick and just the other side a pretty looking one. That gap will do nicely for me.”
Sadly in this story the brick gets his way. In many cases, his way was just to sit outside the building or with a couple of buddy bricks. And isn't this so typical of us as Christians. What does the scripture say? “We are living stones” (1 Peter) and in Ephesians, “In him [Jesus] the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Are we willing to be built together with others believers in the church? Or do they have to fit with our ideals; to make us feel comfortable? I pray that I would be sincere in saying: I'd rather be built together with bricks that rub a bit, so long as we are a house Jesus will live in.
The man went to select some bricks. Strangely, they all seemed to be of different shapes and sizes. But that's not a problem for a master builder. Yet when he put a brick in a certain place, it complained (yes in this story the bricks actually speak). “This isn't the place for me, right up against that odd shaped brick and underneath this heavy one. No, I'd rather go somewhere more comfortable. Look, over there is a very smart brick and just the other side a pretty looking one. That gap will do nicely for me.”
Sadly in this story the brick gets his way. In many cases, his way was just to sit outside the building or with a couple of buddy bricks. And isn't this so typical of us as Christians. What does the scripture say? “We are living stones” (1 Peter) and in Ephesians, “In him [Jesus] the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Are we willing to be built together with others believers in the church? Or do they have to fit with our ideals; to make us feel comfortable? I pray that I would be sincere in saying: I'd rather be built together with bricks that rub a bit, so long as we are a house Jesus will live in.
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