a classic re-read

Last month, I read Basic Christianity by the late John Stott again. Here are some of the things I highlighted again. This title’s on the slate for a re-release this summer.

Whenever our behaviour is inconsistent with our belief, or our practice contradicts our preaching, we take God’s name in vain.
Religion is man-initiated. Christianity is God-initiated.
A man may study Jesus with intellectual impartiality, but he cannot do it with moral neutrality; we must declare our colours.
Jesus is the only preacher who could preach a self-centred message.
Charles was great. Napoleon was great. Jesus was the Only.
Legislation exists because humans cannot settle their own disputes with justice and without self interest.
All the sins we commit are assertions of self, either against God or man.
Serious illnesses need urgent cures.
Christianity is a rescue religion.
Atonement is two conflicting parties made one. Sin leads to estrangement but the cross leads to atonement.
An example can stir our imagination, kindle our idealism and strengthen our resolve, but it cannot cleanse the defilement of our past sins. Jesus was more than an example!
Jesus interpreted his mission in light of the Old Testament Scriptures. Especially Isaiah 53.
The quality of the fruit depends on the quality of the tree. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit cultivates the orchard.
The church is an expression of common life and common love.
Jesus included a demand as well as an offer. The demand was as total as the offer was free.
Large numbers of people have covered themselves with a decent, but this veneer of Christianity.
There can be no following without forsaking.
Repentance is a definite turn from every thought, word, deed and habit known to be wrong.
Godly work is cooperating with God in the service of man.
So called private affairs like money and sexuality must be brought under the Lordship of Christ.

I’d call you back to this wise, true and solid title.  At the heart of this book like the central tenants of the faith – more clearly and well articulated than most places. It’ll call you back to the basics, not the theories or distractions!

we need witnesses

We’re called to be alive to all that Jesus has done.

As you know one of my favourite books of 2013, is Prototype from Jonathan Martin.

“What the world needs now are signposts of what’s ahead, markers for the new world just around the corner. The world does not need heroes; the world does not need more messiah complexes. The world does not need Christians who want to ride in on a white horse to save the day. What the world needs are witnesses. Nothing more and nothing less. The earth needs people who can bear witness to the ways in which the world has already changed through the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth” p197.

making manifest

Dave Harrity’s unique offering ‘On Faith Creativity and the Kingdom at Hand’ is made possible through, Seedbed Publishing.

It’s a creative, inspiring and wise guide towards divine mystery. A helpful settler for the soul. It invites your participation in spirit, thought and voice. It’s a book of devotional meditations and exercises designed for spiritual growth and imagining community differently.

This workbook style title is roomy and invites much reflective re-imagining as to how the kingdom of God is realised in your life. Full of scripture, insight and creativity. This will drive you towards silence, free-thought, meditation and new insight, made possible by the Holy Spirit. It’s fused with lots of creation inspiration stirring the reader to whole-life renewal, reigniting wonder and all contributing towards deeper formation in the pattern of Jesus Christ.

It’s compelling and poetic material that’s structured in a 28-reading pattern with brilliant applied theology, warmth and endless invitation. Devotion, the power of language, love and incarnation are the initial creative forces that are at the heart of this. The creativity is the powerful stuff and the uniqueness of this title is unparalleled.

Harrity won’t let you miss his core thesis: you are created, designed and intentional. So go and live that ‘one beautiful life’ with purpose, delight and joy.

five on Friday

Mike Breen says it this way:- “The church is the effect of discipleship, not the cause of it. For most pastors, the operating system is not discipleship, but the church. The problem: the church is not the operating system of Jesus. The Gospel was meant to be simple, but hard. We’ve made it complicated, but easy. “

1 As inspired by Brennan Manning:- “The life of Jesus suggests that to be like God is to show compassion”, Trystan Owain Hughes really helpfully writes on gay marriage and the local church. 
2 please stop it Primark! ‘Habit, convenience and culture will eventually silence conscience.’ More behind the labels from the brilliant Threads.
3 God does not walk on by…….”For I have chosen you and will not throw you away!” David Westlake’s great offering here.
4 +Tim Truro speaks of shaping ministry and vicar-training differently.
5 Verge resources on being practical in mission: lots here!

fruit more than gifts!

a short paragraph from the timeless: ‘Disciple’ by Juan Carlos Ortiz. It’s a classic, well worth the effort.

“Some people fool themselves by seeking the Spirit’s gifts instead of His fruit. Even though we appreciate the gifts, we must be careful where we put the emphasis. Jesus never said, ‘You will know them by their gifts.’ He said, ‘You will know them by their fruits.’ Matthew 7 v 20”

Pentecost Day

Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? The answer is yes–all the time! It must be that way, for God’s glory and kingdom.

If we function according to our ability alone, we often claim the glory; if we give ourselves over to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets all the glory. This is just a glimpse of the Pentecost life……

I’m always needing renewed Holy Spirit life. The oldest prayer is the greatest truth:- “Come Holy Spirit!” The beauty of Pentecost is that its Babel reversed, we’re invited to a pattern of obedience, prayer is central, unity gets forged in these unlikely discipleship, and through it all the disciples remain utterly open! They are courageously patient for ten days together in the unknown. Waiting & then receiving all that Jesus promised. Acts 1 & 2 are worth close attention!

I am really helped by what Michael Green says about Pentecost and these first disciples:-

”Unless we are in vibrant touch with the Holy Spirit, little of his character will be seen in us, and our impact will be negligible. I do not imagine the disciples waiting for the Holy Spirit before Pentecost knew quite what they were waiting for. They had seen one outstanding life which seemed to them full of the that great Spirit of God, the life of Jesus. They had his promise that the Spirit would be passed on to them. They did not fully know what that meant but they were open. They didn’t deny the possibility of some of the ways of the Spirit becoming real to them, while welcoming others.”

Romans 8 v 2 in The Message, captures it brilliantly. ”The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.”

You can be forgiven! You can be healed. You can be found. You can have hope. You can be filled with the Spirit and be used to draw people closer to Him. That’s the radical optimism of Pentecost! They waited and prayed: those first disciples desired to be changed.

Today, on this Pentecost Sunday, I pray with joy and anticipation. You are actively making all things new! Bring life—your life, to our places of dryness and death. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, the hope of your resurrection, a passion for your glory.

Do you want Pentecost life afresh? Let us desire (again) to be changed…….

five on Friday

its a new day and a new end-of-week opportunity for fresh grace!

“Grace beckons us to new places in our lives, to become new persons shaped by the love of Christ.” Pete Scazzero.

1 the me, me, me generation article from Time Magazine is well worth a read
2 radical missional Christianity through the lens of Ed Stetszer: “At this time and in our culture, a consumer church is a greater danger than a radical Christianity [focused on making disciples].”
3 a helpful Gmail keyboard shortcut cheat-sheet here for luddites like me!
4 David Keens conference summary notes from ++Justin on evangelism, renewal and church growth
5 Angelina Jolie’s story of immense courage and character, and Pete Scazzero’s reflections.

Romans 8 inspired prayer….

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
All who are led by the Spirit of God
are children of God and fellow-heirs with Christ.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people.
Renew the face of your creation, Lord,
pouring on us the gifts of your Spirit,
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
For the creation waits with eager longing
for the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.

unconditional love

The God I have come to know loves me as much in a state of disgrace as He loves me in a state of grace, for His compassion is never ever based on performance. It knows no possibility of alteration or change.

Grace is getting what you don’t deserve and not getting what you do deserve.

Grace is the opposite of karma.

Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely, the peace of God given to the restless, the unmerited favour of God. Grace is free sovereign favour. Grace is unconditional love towards the one who does not deserve it.

Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues.

Grace is God reaching downward to those in rebellion against him. Grace is one-way love.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Isaiah prophecy: the bruised reed of your life He will not crush, and the smoldering wick He wont snuff out, until He’s led  your life’s story to victory, and finally home!

Will you let Him love you as you are, and not as you should be?

Just as Brennan used to say: “Cause nobody..is as they should be.”