Dinner with friends

It's interesting that in Jesus' ministry he chose as one of his focal activities to eat with people. It caused quite a stir actually, in that the poeple he chose to eat with were the moral outcasts.
More than just eating with 'sinners', Jesus made it quite clear that these meals were an anticipation of the great celebration meal of God's returning to his people.
My wife and I shared dinner recently with some close friends. We are all followers of Jesus, and I must admit that as we gathered together, in a celebration of all God has given to us as friends, fellow disciples and human beings it felt like God's kingdom was indeed upon us.
I can't help though, at times such as these, thinking about all those who went hungry that night... who will go hungry tonight! I also can't help thinking of all those who hear Jesus invitation to come to him and eat of the bread of life, who gorge themselves only on the grains 'under the sun'. I mourn for those who are too busy to rsvp to the wedding banquet. When will we see the kingdom come?

The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Postmodern World

I thoroughly recommend you all listen to a talk given by Tim Keller on the topic 'The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Postmodern World' that was given at the 2006 Desiring God Pastors Conference. Tim Keller focuses on what it will take to do evangelism in a Postmodern context.
All the talks from the conference are available online for free, and all are worth listening to, but I would recommend Tim Keller's word in particular.

The direct link is.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByDate/1832_The_Supremacy_of_Christ_and_the_Gospel_in_a_Postmodern_World/

underarm hair

What is it about underarm hair,
such that it matters if it's there?

Without it a boy is not a man,
with it a girl is like a... well you know what I mean.

Are we culturally limited by this hair within our pits?
Does it cause us to reject those without such limits?

I don't know, you don't care.
But still, what is it about underarm hair?

The servant

We have talked about the way in which Jesus enacted the return of God to Zion, but there is more to Jesus' consciousness of what he was doing during those fateful days in Jerusalem.
There are extensive references made in the gospels to what have come to be called the servant songs in the second half of Isaiah (other parts of isaiah are referred to aswell of course!).
If one accepts that it is likely that Jesus and subsequently the gospel writers are not simply using snippets of Isaiah out of context with some other agenda in mind, but are referencing Isaiah to point to Jesus as fulfilling the totality of the work of the servant, it is worth reminding ourselves of who this servant is in the book of Isaiah.
The focal texts are Isaiah 42:1-7, Isaiah 49:1-6, Isaiah 50:4-9, Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
The title of 'servant' is used to speak about Israel as a whole, but also to one who is chosen out of Israel to represent them. This representative will be empowered by the Spirit of the Lord to bring justice, liberation and light. He will extend the Lord's favour to the Gentiles. He will display the Lord's glory, and bring salvation to the nations. He will be attentive and obedient to the Lord, but He will be mocked and charged with wrongdoing by men. He will be rejected by men, and also by God. He will receive the punishment due to wrongdoers (Israel? see Isaiah 51), he will bear their sin and so bring peace and healing. Though crushed by God he will be vindicated, he will prosper by the Lord's hand.
Could it be that this representative of Israel was none other than Jesus of Nazareth, and that as he returned to Jerusalem he understood the rejection and suffering he anticipated in terms of being this representative, the 'servant'?

Phews 12: Fri, 08 Jun 2001.

PASSING AWAY:
A guy from my year at school was killed in a car accident a week ago. I, along with 90 others from the year attended his funeral service on wednesday. It was one of the saddest experiences of my short life. I watched the tears of a family whose hopes and dreams are shattered. I watched the disillusionment in the eyes of my peers. A life tragically ended, and a church full of people left without answers.
I found myself trying to rationalise this situation, to understand what was happening, what had happened. At the same time I was wary of the error of Job's companions, being too quick to express false wisdom. Where are you God?
Later, by grace, I was reminded of Jesus answer to similar questions when quizzed by His peers. He reminded them of their sinfulness and the necessity to repent. For we are sinful people, living in a fallen world and these are signs that it is passing away. Oh, how I am reminded when I think of those tears in the Trinity chapel last wednesday, or when I think of the hundreds of children who will die of starvation by the time my head touches the pillow tonight, or when I think of a nation thrown into turmoil by the malicious killing of its royal family... or when I think of the pain I cause my friends and family, the harshness of my tongue and the evil in my heart. May God have mercy on us all, in Him alone will I hope.

Images of scripture

I wondered whether, in the style of my previous post 'Light', other bloggers out there might have photos they have taken which help to add colour and texture to certain bible verses/passages.

If you do, I'd love to build up a 'gallery' of sorts as part of this blog. Could you email me the photo with your attached scripture to phil_and_al@yahoo.com.au (I'm aware that for some of you this will involve sadly involve scanning film based prints!).

I look forward to where this goes.

Thunder road

You will recall one of our definitions of The promised land was;
a place or situation believed to hold ultimate happiness.

Thunderoad
The screen door slams, Mary's dress sways
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely,
Hey that's me and I want you only.
Don't turn me home again, I just can't face myself alone again.
Don't run back inside, darling you know just what I'm here for.
So you're scared and you're thinking
That maybe we ain't that young anymore .
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night;
You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright.
Oh and that's alright with me.
You can hide `neath your covers and study your pain;
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain.
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a saviour to rise from these streets.
Well now I'm no hero, that's understood,
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood.
With a chance to make it good somehow,
Hey what else can we do now?
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair.
Well the night's busting open
These two lanes can take us anywhere.
We got one last chance to make it real,
To trade in these wings on some wheels.
Climb in back, Heaven's waiting on down the tracks .

Oh-oh come take my hand,
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land.
Oh-oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road.
Lying out there like a killer in the sun,
Hey I know it's late we can make it if we run.
Oh Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road.

Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk,
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk,
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride it ain't free.
And I know you're lonely and there's words that I ain't spoken,
But tonight we'll be free, all the promises'll be broken .
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road
In the skeleton frames of burned out Chevrolets.
They scream your name at night in the street,
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet.
And in the lonely cool before dawn
you hear their engines roaring on,
But when you get to the porch they're gone
On the wind, so Mary climb in
It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win.


For those of you who have not heard this song, I can only ask, have you truly lived?
What is noteworthy for our purposes is The Boss's treatment of 'The promised land'. It is a reference to a local drag racing spot (likely illegal). More than that, as the song reveals, it is a memory of youthfulness and life free from care. An opportunity to fulfill dreams, to be a hero. It's a place to show off your girl, show off your 'wheels', break away from the drudgery of daily life. I think he speaks deeply about a common human sentiment; the disappointment with what life has become, the romanticising of the past or other peoples experiences and the desire to escape.
Is this really the way to the promised land?

Light

This is a picture taken by my mate scott. I liked it so much, I thought I'd feature it (permission pending). The attached verse is from me.


John 1:4-5.

The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

His Sky

The Jolly beggars were: Phil Britton (guitar, lead vocals), Chris Gray (guitar, piano, bass guitar, vocals), Nic Koeck (bass guitar, piano, drums, vocals), Matt Clark (drums).
Lyrics were often written together.

His Sky.

The grass is green; I don't know why;
Just in my place under the southern sky.
The flowers bloom as my teardrops dry;
Here in my place under the southern sky.

A butterfly grooves, and the birds oblige;
They're in their place under the southern sky.
A dancing breeze; Its rhythmic sigh;
Those melting clouds up in the southern sky.

The warmth of love; in His will I hide.
I'm in my place under His southern sky.

Jerusalem and Temple

The promised land for Israel was and, in the belief of many, remains a geographically localised region in the middle east.

The promised land, however, was more than simply a place for Israel to settle (as opposed to being nomadic), or a place to live freely (as opposed to being slaves). It was the place in which Israel was to live as God's people, a place where he was to be their God before the Nations.
This reality finds its focus in the city of Jerusalem, and in the Temple. In particular we see it in action in the high point of Israel's inhabiting of the promised land, that is in the reign of King Solomon (1 Kings 4:20 - 10:9).
1 Kings 8:10-11 is noteworthy,
"When the priests withdrew from the holy place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, the glory of the Lord filled his temple."

The significance of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians that results from the disobedience of Israel (Its kings in particular) is realised in these terms. It is a rejection of Israel (within the covenant) as His people. It is removing His presence from them (Lamentations).

Prophetically (eschatologically) this focus of the promised land is spoken of as Mount Zion.
The Lord is enthroned on Zion (Ps 9:11, 50:2, 74:2, 76:2, 78:68, 99:2, 110:2, 132:13, 135:21, Is 8:18), Salvation/blessing was to come from/spread from Zion (Ps14:7, 20:2, 53:6, 133:3, 134:3, Is 2:3-4), It is the source of hope for the nations (Ps 48:2, Is 52:10).
In the context of exile, the return of God to Zion, and the re-establishment of his reign there is associated with the forgiveness of sin (Is 4:4, 59:20, Jer 31:34, Zeph 3:14), the making of things right (Ps 147:2ff, Is 61:3ff, 66), the vindication of God and his people (the establishment of righteousness)(Ps 102:15, 102:21, 126:2, Is 1:26-27, 14:32, 33:5, 34:8, 46:13, 62:11, Jer 51:10, Joe 2:23, 3:17ff, Ob 17), the judgement of evil (Is 24, 28:17, 31:4, 33:14, Jer 50:28, 51:24, Joe 2:3ff), the coming in of the Nations (Is 18:7, 56:7, Jer 3:17, Mic 2:4ff) and peace (Ps 147:12, Is 33:20, 35:10, 40:10, 51:3,11, Jer 31, Zech 8).
The result will be God dwelling again on Zion with His redeemed people.

The prophecy of Zechariah in chapter 9 is then so significant,
"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
Jesus is enacting this (consciously I think) on what we have come to call Palm sunday. He is the King, the Lord, God returning to Zion (the enormity of this reality is staggering!!!). It is then so significant that he 'clashes' with the Temple, and announces that he will tear it down and rebuild it in 3 days. John puts this together for us in ch 2:21-22.

Could it be that the Lord has returned to Zion bringing forgiveness, vindication and righteousness, judgement of evil and peace? Could it be that, unexpectedly, this had not happened at the end of time, but in the middle of time? Could it be that somehow a new age has been ushered in?

Phews 7: Fri, 04 May 2001.

I was reminded by Scott that I used to publish a newsletter called 'Phews-Phil's news'. I have another mate, shamus, who has collected up a number of the Phews editions. So, indebted to these brothers, I give you some classic Phews.

IDOLATORY>>
I wondered to myself the other day what was it in my life that could potentially become an idol. As I pondered it got me thinking about what people my age pursue, in general, most in life. I think the great idol of our time is Lifestyle. What I mean by that is a combination of money, possessions, satisfaction, food, health, friends etc. I think that people these days don't want to be filthy rich, or have a huge house, or drive a $100,000 car, or have the most friends or... They want some comfortable combination of the lot. Thus some people may live in a shack to satisfy their desired lifestyle, some may forego a car so that they can eat at restaurants every week, or others may forego possessions so that they can afford to travel... I think that this is an insidious idol because we can convince ourselves that we are not being extravagant, or we can focus on things we are giving up to make ourselves feel righteous, while at the same time still pursuing our lifestyle with incredible commitment. Any thoughts?

blue sky

I have been known to put pen to paper in verse over the years. I will share some of this poetry under a series called 'The incomplete works'. Some are not so good, but here is one of my better ones, I think.


Blue Sky, Why?
Muttered Hermann to himself, in a moment of profound reflection
...or was it introspection.
Light scatters,
whether wave or matter,
at right angles to itself.
(Hermann paused to consider whether light was schizophrenic or just multi-talented)
The shorter waves,
create the blue haze,
projected i/onto the occipital lobe.
...
Blue Sky, Why?
Shrugged Hermann, unsatisfied with such de(con)struction.

suffering as a christian

I must recommend you go to Jill weekes blog and read her latest post on suffering. Jill is a friend of mine who has bipolar disorder.

navigate there via the link on the side menu under 'blogs I visit' - wheredoesshegofromhere.

Canaan

You will have noted in the introductions section that one of the definitions given (again, not my own!) for the promised land was;

Canaan, the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants. Gen. 12:7.

This is of course correct. You know the story well. God spoke to Abram the nomad promising him that his offspring would become a nation, that they would be given a land, that they would receive blessing and that they would be a blessing. God used Moses to bring Abraham's (God changed Abram's name) descendents out of Egypt and into Canaan, the land that God identified as the one promised. Of course Israel, abraham's 'nation', had to go on and inhabit this land, which they achieved with some questionable success in terms of obedience to God. The high point is Solomon, God's king to whom other nations came to seek wisdom and bring homage.
Several hundred years later Abraham's nation was exiled out of the land because of their disobedience to God (God had said he would do so!).
They came back (after some middle eastern regime change) under persian rule to re-establish their nationhood of sorts, but the glory days were behind them. Their destiny determined by whichever world power held sway at the time.

In Jesus day the Jewish people (Abraham's descendents by ethnicity) had various approaches to rationalising the way in which God's promise of land was being experienced in their time. Some were pragmatists, believing that they could have a kind of self rule and self determination by 'getting along' with the current world power (Rome). Some were political zealots, believing that the promise required them to rise up and take the back the land that was theirs by divine right. Some were religious zealots (humanists of a sort?), believing God would give them back the land if they could demonstrate a great enough devotion to him.Some were spiritualists, believing that land was not so significant anymore and that they were to carve out their identity in other ways (torah, teaching, wisdom).
Jewish people to this day fall into one of these, or a combination of these, categories.
As an aside I think the conservative political movements within the county of Israel today would best be categorised as Jewish political zealots, and you can maybe see why they are so militant in their ways, and how they might interpret the 'attacks' on their land.

But, is God's promise of land relevant to any of these groups anymore?

alternatives

Just thought as we were framing the promised land discussion I should check out some of the alternative websites out there.

www.promisedland.org
It seems Pastor Grace and his people are building a new church in Rochester, New York. Big name, big dreams.

www.promisedland.net
Want to purchase 'Christian' merchandise. Here is the place to go apparently.

www.thepromisedland.org
How's about investing in property? Yes! This site promises land.

www.promisedland.com
My personal favourite. A Christian Paintball park.
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Wines worth trying

It occurred to me that people might be reluctant to go seeking these wines if the cost is not specified. I am endeavouring not to recommend any wine that has cost me more than AU$15.

For this months tasting, I recommend:
Taylors, Clare Valley, South Australia.
2004 - Estate Merlot.

Though Clare is not necessarily well known for Merlot, this drop is a lovely wine. Full bodied and fruity, but with that merlot-esque soft texture.
Great with Moroccan meatballs, or a nice home-cooked pizza.

The Sheep and the Goats

I thought I might share some of the passages in scripture that I find particularly formative in determining my approach to living the Christian life. I hope you find them as compelling as I do.


Matthew 25:31ff.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

birth

In my current work I see a lot of babies born. It strikes me that the process of birth gives us a helpful insight into the being and becoming involved in living as a christian. The having it all and yet knowing it all is yet to be (see 'whispers' - jolly beggar lyrics). A full-term baby in utero has all the faculties of a newborn, all the capacities, but it is yet to have those faculties exercised fully, or those capacities realised. The process of being born is wonderful, exciting, exilarating, but it is also hazardous, painful and risky. It involves embracing a whole new, vastly different and superior existence, but also involves being separated from what was previously so important.
Paul of course points to this reality in romans 8, not in reference to individuals, but the whole creation (The way in which the promised land is realised?).
The genesis 3 narrative also focuses us on childbirth as a place at which the curses of sin are felt most acutely.
Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

whispers

One of those days,
when my dreams feel like they're floating on the breeze;
And my heart just cries out,
to be wrapped in arms of love.

'Cause I've walked these old roads before,
And I've talked this same talk before.
Still each step I take, leads me home,
And there's whispers of the journey's end.

Feels so strange;
to have it all, yet know it all is yet to be.
Still my heart just cries out,
to breathe eternal peace.

'Cause I've walked these old roads before,
And I've talked this same talk before.
Still each step I take, leads me home,
And there's whispers of the journey's end.

... there's whispers of the journey's end.