Waiting for a train

Well, you've got to love the weekend. A time to let the week and its many cares dissappear, while preparing for the next wave to break ...

It's been a good day so far. I caught the train down to see my family, and celebrate my sister's birthday.

I had an interesting experience on the way down. If you know Sydney's trains at all, you know in the morning commuters communicate with silent growls, grrs and hmphs. Any attempt at conversation is seen as an invasion of privacy and met with a polite grr, and raised eyebrows.

Today I was sitting at Sydney's Central Station, reading the Lonely Planet's guide to Ireland when a guy sat next to me, and we talked all the way back home. He shared his plans, and I shared mine.

He told me, he was going to read the bible through from Genesis, and objectively look at it, then he was going to read the Koran and the Jewish bible. Please pray for him. That as he reads the Bible God would show him mercy and open his eyes.

And speaking of eyes, I looked into the eyes of my workmates newborn - Grace, 2weeks old. today.

That is a remarkable experience. Sometimes it makes me grieve, as I look out in the world into which they are born. A world torn by greed, wrecked by hate, yet in God's Grace a world to which mercy will come.

The Rustling Breeze

One of the passages I have loved ever since I first read it, is Ezekiel 37. In the text it is given the heading the "Valley of Dry Bones". The poem below is my reflections on those verses.

The Rustling Breeze

A freshening wind, stirs within
my dryness consumed
the breath fills my flesh

A voice sitrs; commands
and stiff joints feel life creak in
the voice whispers before I form

My soul captive to the voice
carried by the wind
the word fulfills my call

A word of love, undeserved, unearned
a word before time, before my life
A word that knits me together, that holds life to my bones

A word, stirrs me into being
The word, carried on the breeze.

March 20, 2003.

Had some good news today too - I was told today that I have an interview for the Office Manager's position at the Social Policy Research Centre were I currently work.

A Year Ago

Below is the poem I wrote on September 10, 2002, it was my way of reflecting on the events of September 11 and following.

A Year Ago

A night unlike any other
The lines of TV drama, and reality blurred
From Bartlett to Bush, in a second
The breaking news vague, smoke on a tower

God is our strength and Refuge,
Our rock, as our world falls

Transfixed, staring at the screen
Unsure were we had left drama, and entered reality
Then news of a crash
Smoke at the Pentagon.
Was Barlett or Bush under attack?

God is our strength and Refuge,
Our rock, as our world falls

Disbelief, gives way to shock,
Shock to anger, and anger to fear,
Transfixed, the cloud of smoke surges,
a building collapses before our eyes

God is our strength and Refuge,
Our rock, as our world falls

A year on, bombs from “freedom” fallen
Other innocents died, the lesson unlearnt
Our world changed, changed terribly.
Safety, became vulnerability
The conflict brought to us, as borders fall.

God is our strength and Refuge,
Our rock, as our world falls

As the conflict engulfing the world
Touches us too close to home
A glimpse of how the rest live
Our isolation removed,
So we exclaim with blind eyes and hearts
Our world has changed.

Light a candle, say a prayer, our hope begins in you
Learn the lessons of the past.

September 10, 2002.

Refugee Sunday

Yesterday was Refugee Sunday. It's a reminder for us all to think about those who for whatever reason are forced to leave their nation of origin.

I don't think immigration policy is something that I'm equipped to deal with. I am not sure on a sustainable population for Australia, I am not sure on the impact of raising our refugee intake.

But what I am sure of, is that people are to be treated humanely, I am sure that we are to look after those who are weak, we are to treat the vulnerable with compassion. And in fact, they way we treat the weakest amongst us is a judge of our humanity.

Friday, an Australian Family court ruled that indefinite detention of children is illegal. It blows my mind that we needed a court to tell us that.

Surely there is a better way ...

Yesterday was Refugee Sunday, it reminds me of a bleak chapter of Australia's history.

Some more ramblings on Harry Potter...

I've been thinking about the Harry Potter craze again ... The two vocal camps, one condemning Harry Potter as encouraging witchcraft, and the other claiming thats its harmless fun. Well okay I've probably overly simplified it ...

But what has been on my mind this morning is that there are battles we need to fight as Christians, we need to claim the divinity of Christ, we need to claim Jesus' life, death and resurrection.

Those are the battles we need to fight - and they are battles we need to fight as one body.

Reading the Psalms.

Over the last few weeks I've been speding time reading the Psalms. As I have read through the book this time, I've noticed that the Psalmist often asks that God will "shame" the wicked.

I've found that really interesting because, as I pray and hear congregations pray for the unbeliever, we ask that God would open their eyes to the message of the Gospel.

The Psalm I've quoted below, really challenged me to ask, what it does it mean to ask God to shame someone, and particularly the petitions in v16 to v20, when should we pray like that? Or should we ever pray like that?

Psalm 109: (ESV)
1 Be not silent, O God of my praise!
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
but I give myself to prayer.
5 So they reward me evil for good,
and hatred for my love.

6 Appoint a wicked man against him;
let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;
let his prayer be counted as sin!
8 May his days be few;
may another take his office!
9 May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow!
10 May his children wander about and beg,
seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
11 May the creditor seize all that he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
12 Let there be none to extend kindness to him,
nor any to pity his fatherless children!
13 May his posterity be cut off;
may his name be blotted out in the second generation!
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!
15 Let them be before the Lord continually,
that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!

16 For he did not remember to show kindness,
but pursued the poor and needy
and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him!
He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!
18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
may it soak into his body like water,
like oil into his bones!
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,
like a belt that he puts on every day!
20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
of those who speak evil against my life!

21 But you, O God my Lord,
deal on my behalf for your name's sake;
because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
22 For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is stricken within me.
23 I am gone like a shadow at evening;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting;
my body has become gaunt, with no fat.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
when they see me, they wag their heads.

26 Help me, O Lord my God!
Save me according to your steadfast love!
27 Let them know that this is your hand;
you, O Lord, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but you will bless!
They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;
may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

Any thoughts??

Half a World Away

I've been involved in a Christian chatroom for about the last , oh four or so years, and one of things I find hard sometimes, is that there are people who are hurting ... and I long to do something, but realise in essence you are powerless ... yet all people ask is for an ear, not advice ... they ask to be heard, and their feelings acknowledged.

The poem below, was something I wrote as I reflected on that.

Half a World Away

Half a world away
powerless yet
If I had courage to speak
what would I dare say

Words of comfort?
tears shed in sympathy
wishing there was more
my heart could do.

Knowing all you ask
is that I let you cry;
and cry with you

Quick to listen? Slow to speak
my words are not the medicine
You ask that I understand, I just listen
and my mouth opens
screaming "this is what you must do"

I know that all you ask
is that I let you cry
and cry with you.

May I cry with you.

Meme

These questions come courtesy of Rachel (Life Being Beautiful). If you would like to be interviewed leave a comment and I’ll send five questions on to you, for you to answer on your blog. Preface the questions with a comment such as this.

1. What song do you wish you had most written and why?
At the moment I think it would be either One (Images: U2, Words: Bono) , In Christ Alone (Stuart Townend and Keith Getty) or It is Well with My Soul. (Horiato Spafford)

‘One’ is such a beautiful song, about relationships … the music and words combine beautifully ... And its a treat to hear live.

'In Christ Alone' is just a wonderful song … every line is thought-provoking and challenging ... but at the moment my favourite lines is the conclusion of the fourth verse:

Now power of hell, no scheme of man
Can e’er pluck me from his hand
Til he returns or calls me home
Here in the power of God I stand…

I would long to think that in such circumstances I could write a song such as Horatio Spafford did after his wife and child were lost at sea.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul

That’s would I’d want my songs to do, to challenge and encourage.

2. What is your favourite childhood memory?

I think that my favourite childhood memory is my time in Germany when I was growing up. One of the things I remember was that when you started school in Germany you get a long cone (Called a Tute I think) with lots of chocolate inside it. But the whole experience was awesome.

3. Describe your parents and their good qualities...

Both my parents are great listeners and they have let me make mistakes, they have accepted that I am different, and while I may not follow the path they chose, they have accepted and encourage me to develop my own identity.

My parents have encouraged me as I have been thinking about ministry, but at the same time they have provided a great sounding board, for any question I have. My parents are my friends …

I think that’s something I often take for granted but should never cease thanking God for, he gave me parents who took me to church, and who have been supportive and prayerful throughout my life.

4. Describe one thing about yourself that you really like?

I think I value my listening skills and the gift of encouragement that God has given me.

5. What are five things you would like to achieve before you die?

Hmm. Five things to do before I die… I would like to travel to each continent. I would like to be able to say that I have lived for the LORD. I would like to be a Father, and have seen my kids and there kids grow up. Part of me would like to see some of my poems published.

But I think the biggest thing I want to achieve is to speak truth to people’s life, and in God’s mercy see the fruit of the Gospel in their lives.

On Jesus' return

On Sunday night at church we were asked do we really believe Jesus will return?

The service leader made the comment that the difference between the early church, and the church today is the early church believed in the imminent return of Christ and that church today does not as obviously believe that truth.

The belief that Jesus would return soon defined how they lived. We all known that Jesus return will bring in the new heavens and the new earth, no more pain, no more tears. But, as I often forget, the bible teaches that He does not only bring mercy. He comes as judge, and if I did believe that would I not walk over hot coals or broken glasses to tell people of Christ.

What if I looked at what I valued in this world … How would a right understanding of the imminent return of Christ impact it? On Sunday night I realised I don’t live as though I believe in the coming return of Christ.

Jonathan Edwards was someone who understood what the return of Christ meant; let me quote from his famous sermon Sinners in the Hand of An Angry God. Let me encourage you if you have not already, to read this sermon in full.

The use of this awful subject may be for awakening unconverted persons in this congregation. This that you have heard is the case of every one of you that are out of Christ.-That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell's wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of, there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.

But indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his band, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it.

Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a falling rock. Were it not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment

The bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood.

You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any Mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment.

How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in the danger of this great wrath and infinite misery! But this is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation that has not been born again, however moral and strict, sober and religious, they may otherwise be. Oh that you would consider it, whether you be young or old! There is reason to think, that there are many in this congregation now hearing this discourse, that will actually be the subjects of this very misery to all eternity. We know not who they are, or in what seats they sit, or what thoughts they now have. It may be they are now at ease, and hear all these things without much disturbance, and are now flattering themselves that they are not the persons, promising themselves that they shall escape. If we knew that there was one person, and but one, in the whole congregation, that was to be the subject of this misery, what an awful thing would it be to think of! If we knew who it was, what an awful sight would it be to see such a person! How might all the rest of the congregation lift up a lamentable and bitter cry over him!

It challenges me … People I love, do not know Jesus. And the bible teaches this is what they face. How can I sit idly by, while people board the Titanic …

And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God.

Behold now is the favourable time; Behold now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2b)

Reflections on Parting

One of the things I wanted to do with this blog, was to use it to publish some of my poetry. I do value your feedback. These poems are works in progress. The one I will post tonight is my reflections upon leaving my church in February as I moved to Sydney.

As Iron sharpens iron
you have sharpened me
your faith anchored me;
your hope strengthens me;
your love inspired me

As Chisels carve wood,
as hammers bend steal
my life was sharpened by you
my character molded by Christ in you;
by your blows of faith hope and love

As we sang, knelt and ate together
I changed, I grew
As we talked, listened and fought
we were joined as we spurred each other on

We've walked side by side
through the storms and in the sun
we've shared laughter, and our tears laid side by side
Now we part, held together in each others heart

As Iron sharpens Iron, I've been sharpened by you
I am made who I am, through Christ in you
My Prayer on parting God sharpens you.

Feb 18 2003 AD. Inspired by Proverbs 27:17.

Walk On

I visited the U2 website this morning and found the following news item.

Amnesty international are asking radio stations to play 'Walk On' to highlight the plight of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ten days ago Aung San Suu Kyi, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, was detained by the military government running Burma after clashes between her supporters and pro-government groups in the north of the country. Read more

In response I thought I'd quote the words of the U2 song "Walk On" here. Walk On in the sleeve notes to the album All That You Can't Leave Behind was dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi.

Walk On
Images: U2; Words: Bono.

And love is not the easy thing
the only baggage you can bring
And love is not the easy thing
the only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
and if they daylight is a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no be strong

Walk On Walk On
What you got that can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk On, Walk on
Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom

Walk On Walk On
What you got that can't deny it
Can't sell it, can't buy it
Walk On, Walk on
Stay safe tonight

And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk On, Walk On

Home .... hard to say what it is if you've never had one
Home .... I can't say what it is but I know I'm going home
Thats where the hurt is

I know it aches
and your heart it breaks
and you can only talk so much
Walk on, Walk on

Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you can leave behind
All that you reason
All that you sense
All that you speak
All you dress uo
All that you scheme.

Walk On.

I wanted to post here as well, a big thanks to Rach, of Life Being Beautiful for her help in getting this online. :)

Bloginality

I did the Bloginality test this evening and this is what it said:

My Bloginality is INFP!!!

Having reflected a little on the result.. both tonight, and previously, the constants are NF. I am the idealist type. And I think that its not far wrong.

When thinking about personality, I think this quote from another idealist is helpful:

It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn
to see the other and honor him for what he is.
Hermann Hesse

And I think thats not far off what the bible would have us do either. Learning from each other, learning how who we are "rubs people up the wrong way", and seeking to recognise that as parts of the body of Christ we all have a role to play however God has made our personality.

A voice ....

Welcome to my blog... I've been writing journals for some time ... and as I begin
each, I tend to write something paraphrasing Psalm 19. So I wanted
to quote that here

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

So thats my prayer as I start this blog, that all the words on this site will be honouring to God.

Soli Deo Gloria