I have ten days of sleep-in! Nine now, I suppose, given I just slept in. I swapped shifts with one of my co-workers, meaning I am working only half days, from 11-3. Sleep in, home early. Lovely!
Me being me, I have a list of things I want to do for the week. I think I've gone slightly overboard.
- Read Cancer Ward
- Read The Rights of Man
- Read Requiem for a Nun
- Read The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat
- Read Ring of Bright Water
- Read Revolutions in Worldview
- Read The Feast of July
I'm also hoping to get through several art books, a few cook books, to snd a fair amount of time reading the Bible, and listen to all the audio sermons I have building up on my computer. Over 40 I haven't listened to.
I also hope to cook, to tidy through the house, run a few dozen errands, and clean. And blog about the books. They're a wide range, and I probably won't keep serveral of them - I don't know how I'm going to like Feast of July - it's by H.E. Bates, whose writing I love but whose themes I detest. I picked more 'heavier' books than I normally would, because I have so much more time. It'll be interesting.
On to my reading!
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Who's Greater Glory Are You Working For?
It amazes me how God uses things from our less-than-perfect past - even from before we become Christians - to speak to us today.
I recently was thinking about pride, and remembered watching Charmed. Not exactly a Biblical TV show. But God was able to use the memory of one episode to teach me.
You see, in this episode, the three sisters (and the husband of one of them) get infected with one of the seven deadly sins. One gets lust, one sloth, one gluttony, and one pride. They don't know that they have them, but they can get rid of them if they do one truly selfless act, in opposition to the vice they have been infected with.
The two sisters with lust and gluttony get free, as does the slothful husband. The girl with pride does not, and has to be rescued.
Later, they are analysing the events, and the girl with pride says, "I don't understand. You all did one selfless act and got free, but I did MANY selfless acts, and I didn't."
"Perhaps it was because it was all for the greater glory of Prue," another of the sisters says.
That's the real issue with pride. It's all about OUR greater glory. It isn't about God at all, even if we are 'serving' him. It's about US.
Who's greater glory are you working for?
I recently was thinking about pride, and remembered watching Charmed. Not exactly a Biblical TV show. But God was able to use the memory of one episode to teach me.
You see, in this episode, the three sisters (and the husband of one of them) get infected with one of the seven deadly sins. One gets lust, one sloth, one gluttony, and one pride. They don't know that they have them, but they can get rid of them if they do one truly selfless act, in opposition to the vice they have been infected with.
The two sisters with lust and gluttony get free, as does the slothful husband. The girl with pride does not, and has to be rescued.
Later, they are analysing the events, and the girl with pride says, "I don't understand. You all did one selfless act and got free, but I did MANY selfless acts, and I didn't."
"Perhaps it was because it was all for the greater glory of Prue," another of the sisters says.
That's the real issue with pride. It's all about OUR greater glory. It isn't about God at all, even if we are 'serving' him. It's about US.
Who's greater glory are you working for?
Friday, 15 May 2009
Friends
I used to wonder about my friends. Seriously, we're all a bit loopy. Okay, a lot loopy. But we're all the kind of highly intelligent, highly educated young adults that most people wish their children would grow up to be. Most of us play musical instruments, speak a second langauge, and pretty much all go/went to uni.
My church friends are similar - loopy, but of the incredibly smart kind.
It used to get me thinking. Because in the past, changes usually came about through groups of friends. The Reformers were frequently in contact with each other. The literary 'giants' of the lat 19th and early 20th century all hung out together. The revolutionaries of France and Russia all knew each other long before they actually took over their respective countries. Why is this?
It's like Ecclesiastes 4:10, If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Friends achieve things together. They encourage each other when the other is down, they help each other in their work. When one is successful he often will use his influence to help the others.
Friends help each other - but not always in the right way. I mentioned earlier the literary 'giants' of the late 19th and 20th century. Sure, they produced some amazing novels and other works of literature. But they didn't exaclty help each other in many other ways. Let's just say that the moral life of those novelists wasn't exactly up to par.
Who are your friends? And do they encourage you in the faith? Or do they drag you away from it?
My church friends are similar - loopy, but of the incredibly smart kind.
It used to get me thinking. Because in the past, changes usually came about through groups of friends. The Reformers were frequently in contact with each other. The literary 'giants' of the lat 19th and early 20th century all hung out together. The revolutionaries of France and Russia all knew each other long before they actually took over their respective countries. Why is this?
It's like Ecclesiastes 4:10, If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Friends achieve things together. They encourage each other when the other is down, they help each other in their work. When one is successful he often will use his influence to help the others.
Friends help each other - but not always in the right way. I mentioned earlier the literary 'giants' of the late 19th and 20th century. Sure, they produced some amazing novels and other works of literature. But they didn't exaclty help each other in many other ways. Let's just say that the moral life of those novelists wasn't exactly up to par.
Who are your friends? And do they encourage you in the faith? Or do they drag you away from it?
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Giveaway at Life In A Shoe
Kim C of Life in a Shoe is giving away a complete set of Reclaiming the Culture DVDs from Vision Forum.
Pretty exciting! Hop on over and enter. Though choose somethig other than Christianity and Science Fiction - I want that one ;p
Pretty exciting! Hop on over and enter. Though choose somethig other than Christianity and Science Fiction - I want that one ;p
Monday, 4 May 2009
Simon the Sorceror
I'm reading the book of Acts at the moment, and in chapter 8 (Acts 8:9-25) there is a character named Simon the Sorceror. He's usually held up as a hugely evil person, someone who tries to buy the Holy Spirit.
But he's not. Simon once had been a sorceror; he had had all the people of Samaria impressed with his powers. But he has turned away from his past sins and has become a Christian. He's even been baptized, which was not exactly the safest thing to do. He's probably given up a fair amount to become a Christian.
And yet his past holds him back. He sees the power of the Holy Spirit and he wants it. And he wants to be able to give it to others. He wants it so much he offers what he can in return for it. He offers money.
Think about it. Money is probably Simon's only material sercurity. Most early Christians gave up family and friends and worldly position - and given Simon's past life there is little doubt in my mined that he had to give up many of his. He's part of a religious group that will see you killed by several different people. He's given up his livlihood (sorcery). Money is all that Simon is likely to have. And he wants to give it up for the Holy Spirit.
Simon is heartily rebuked for this. Peter says, "You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
Simon is not completely hardened; he asks Peter to pray that none of this will happen to him.
Two thoughts:
1. How many others today have had more than slightly shady pasts that hinder their walks with God? I know my past gets in the way if I let it.
2. How many Christians try to 'buy' things from God - His Holy Spirit, His favour, even His grace - with things that are precious to them... revealing hearts that are not right before the LORD; hearts that value both what they are offering and what they hope to receive more than they do the sacrifice of Christ.
But he's not. Simon once had been a sorceror; he had had all the people of Samaria impressed with his powers. But he has turned away from his past sins and has become a Christian. He's even been baptized, which was not exactly the safest thing to do. He's probably given up a fair amount to become a Christian.
And yet his past holds him back. He sees the power of the Holy Spirit and he wants it. And he wants to be able to give it to others. He wants it so much he offers what he can in return for it. He offers money.
Think about it. Money is probably Simon's only material sercurity. Most early Christians gave up family and friends and worldly position - and given Simon's past life there is little doubt in my mined that he had to give up many of his. He's part of a religious group that will see you killed by several different people. He's given up his livlihood (sorcery). Money is all that Simon is likely to have. And he wants to give it up for the Holy Spirit.
Simon is heartily rebuked for this. Peter says, "You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."
Simon is not completely hardened; he asks Peter to pray that none of this will happen to him.
Two thoughts:
1. How many others today have had more than slightly shady pasts that hinder their walks with God? I know my past gets in the way if I let it.
2. How many Christians try to 'buy' things from God - His Holy Spirit, His favour, even His grace - with things that are precious to them... revealing hearts that are not right before the LORD; hearts that value both what they are offering and what they hope to receive more than they do the sacrifice of Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)