Last night was our first meeting of 'God's Design For Women'. As the books only arrived yesterday afternoon I didn't really have time to prepare anything and so the meeting was really a chance for us to discuss how we wanted our meetings to run and what material we wanted to cover week by week. Reading through the introduction together raised a few questions too which we heartily discussed.
The only problem I see that could possibly arise is over language issues. We'll be doing the Bible Study in english and german, mainly reading in english and speaking german though I reckon we'll probably switch between the two.
When I think of how this all came about I actually find it quite astonishing that I now seem to be hosting, organising and partly leading this string of studies on biblical womanhood! Let's just say I'm more than glad that the material and questions are already prepared! God inspired and used conversations I have had over the last few weeks to make up a group of six women who are eager to learn what it means to live as godly women in this age. It is just so thrilling to see God working and bringing things so perfectly together! I know that I am inadequate and weak but to see God still desiring to work through me is just incredible.
I think it's also now that I'm realising just what spiritual need there is here among women in Germany. Womanhood, according to how God has defined it, just doesn't seem to be being talked about at church, or if it is, I get the feeling from talking to some of my friends that the teaching tends to either be insufficient and never really gets to the heart of feminine issues, or is biased toward societal beliefs. So please pray for us as we meet up over the next few weeks, that we'd have open minds and hearts to receive what the Bible says about how we ought to live.
Thursday 24 February 2011
Wednesday 23 February 2011
Schokolade bitte!!
Why is it that the chocolate section in the supermarket is about 3 times bigger than the aisle for anything else?! It's terrible. Not only is it massive, sporting a phenomenal range of sweet, fattening goodies but it's usually placed strategically just before you get to the till... save me. These last two weeks I've been craving chocolate like mad! I have no idea what's happening to me. It's a good job I cycle everywhere.
It says something about our consumerist culture though I think when the cheaper and more plentiful goods are such things as chocolate. I can actually buy a pack of biscuits for less than a bag of carrots!
It's also often the food stuff women turn to (that and Ben and Jerry's) when we're feeling a bit down and need a pick-me-up. Funny that eh, that we complain about being fat but when we're miserable we turn to things that will most probably make us even fatter. What a cycle!
Chocolate seems to be the accepted drug almost, even amongst christians. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against eating chocolate pudding on Sunday! I think the problem is more that we eat far too much of it and I place myself on the guilty, first row. We binge and tell ourselves the excuse that it's Sunday, we've worked hard all week and so deserve a plate-full that could feed half of the African continent. Ok, yes, men eat more. Fact. I do have a brother and so am not ignorant of these things, but why is it deemed ok (sometimes even healthy) for a man to gorge himself at the dinner table, whereas a lady is often deemed to be unladylike if she takes a second helping? (Yes, I do frequently take a second helping) 'He's a growing lad': ever heard that one before?
Ok, so I do find it all quite humourous how my family especially -my other Grandma particularly when she was still alive- is bent on keeping me and my brother well fed. Whether I've been eating well enough is usually one of the first questions I'm asked when I come home.
Self-control though should be one of the marks of our salvation, yet I fear it is in this area that we most often fall down (she types while munching on a choccie biscuit that goes rather nicely with her cup of tea) You see the problem? I love chocolate. I love refined sugar. A little bit of what you fancy does you good apparently, the problem is it's usually quite a bit more than a little. There's the perfect snack for every occasion; the tit-bit biscuit you can dip into your tea or the crunchy snack bar perfect for slipping into your hand bag when you're on the go. The list of chocolate or sugar based snacks is endless and, more than that, there is an abundance of amazing chocolate here in Germany!
Who could resist such things as Kinder Riegel bars?
This website is also rather amusing: http://kinderriegel.de/
Now I have a greater excuse for eating them! Not only are the adverts really cute but it's got milk in it, right?
It says something about our consumerist culture though I think when the cheaper and more plentiful goods are such things as chocolate. I can actually buy a pack of biscuits for less than a bag of carrots!
It's also often the food stuff women turn to (that and Ben and Jerry's) when we're feeling a bit down and need a pick-me-up. Funny that eh, that we complain about being fat but when we're miserable we turn to things that will most probably make us even fatter. What a cycle!
Chocolate seems to be the accepted drug almost, even amongst christians. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against eating chocolate pudding on Sunday! I think the problem is more that we eat far too much of it and I place myself on the guilty, first row. We binge and tell ourselves the excuse that it's Sunday, we've worked hard all week and so deserve a plate-full that could feed half of the African continent. Ok, yes, men eat more. Fact. I do have a brother and so am not ignorant of these things, but why is it deemed ok (sometimes even healthy) for a man to gorge himself at the dinner table, whereas a lady is often deemed to be unladylike if she takes a second helping? (Yes, I do frequently take a second helping) 'He's a growing lad': ever heard that one before?
Ok, so I do find it all quite humourous how my family especially -my other Grandma particularly when she was still alive- is bent on keeping me and my brother well fed. Whether I've been eating well enough is usually one of the first questions I'm asked when I come home.
Self-control though should be one of the marks of our salvation, yet I fear it is in this area that we most often fall down (she types while munching on a choccie biscuit that goes rather nicely with her cup of tea) You see the problem? I love chocolate. I love refined sugar. A little bit of what you fancy does you good apparently, the problem is it's usually quite a bit more than a little. There's the perfect snack for every occasion; the tit-bit biscuit you can dip into your tea or the crunchy snack bar perfect for slipping into your hand bag when you're on the go. The list of chocolate or sugar based snacks is endless and, more than that, there is an abundance of amazing chocolate here in Germany!
Who could resist such things as Kinder Riegel bars?
This website is also rather amusing: http://kinderriegel.de/
Now I have a greater excuse for eating them! Not only are the adverts really cute but it's got milk in it, right?
Thursday 17 February 2011
Hauskreis
In about an hour I'll be off to house group and will be leading the Bible Study on Romans 3. Amazingly I don't feel nervous about it and I can only see that as answer to prayer. I'm not wholly convinced that what I've prepared is going to be awe inspiring, but I trusted God when I started it and still trust Him now to challenge the hearts of those in my house group, particularly as we're dealing with the righteousness of God and our justification. Please pray that this would be a God-centred study and that we wouldn't get side-tracked. We desperately need to understand what it means for our hearts to be totally depraved and how and why such a righteous God should choose to make such sinful people righteous in Christ. Pray for a deeper and more God-glorifying understanding of the gospel in all of us.
'For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.' Romans 3:22-25
'For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.' Romans 3:22-25
Sunday 13 February 2011
I read this gem of a verse recently, which I then forgot to post:
'Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.' 1 Peter 2:11
I was doubting a lot of things at this point. I was uncertain of much concerning God and felt very distant from Him. It then struck me reading this that there were certain things that I was, or perhaps had been involved in, which were waging war against my soul and thus contributing to my doubting and general contempt.
How blind I am in spiritual things. I find myself very unwise when it comes to discerning between what is allowed and also good for my soul, and what is also allowed but not necessarily wholesome. The passions of the flesh, in whatever form they come, are juicy and tempting. They bring temporary pleasure but equally a knawing, spiritual ache. It shouldn't be 'how far can I go before I sin,' but rather, 'how far can I stay away'! The trouble is, I often don't think like that, or am unaware of the dangers because I don't pray for guidance. Reading through Joshua has highlighted the importance of complete and utter consecration to God and how prayer is so vital before everything that I do. I think perhaps the first question I ask should be, 'what does God say?', rather than, 'what does corrupt, blind Vicky say?' All too often I have the final word on what I say and do.
I think I often also abuse the freedom I have in Christ. Yet the following verse exhorts me to do otherwise.
'Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.' 1 Peter 2:16
And why should I do this?
...because I am now no longer living in ignorance of God or of His plan of salvation, and therefore should not be conformed to the passions of my former ignorance, but rather live as I am called, which is to be holy as God is holy.
...because I am a 'living stone' 'being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.' I have been grafted into a body, a people, a nation over which God says 'Mine!' I am no longer my own person, but am rather constrained by the love of Christ to 'proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.'
...because I have received mercy.
...because those who are not saved will look on and, even though they may condemn you, 'may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.'
...because I am called to 'be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution'. I am called to bless my nation, my rulers, my government, my neighbours, even when they hate me for it, for God's sake.
In short, I am called to use this freedom wisely so that God is glorified the most. I am not constrained by a law that beats me to a pulp until I call to His throne room whimpering just hoping to be able to plead for some of His grace and mercy. I am constrained rather by a law of love, that makes me humbly bow before a God who righteously condemns sin and who would be in the right if He should choose to destroy me for my own sin, which so offends Him, and yet who declares me free, forgiven and living because I am in Christ Jesus. What a gracious, patient, wise and loving God we have. I'm continually amazed by His wisdom.
'Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.' 1 Peter 2:11
I was doubting a lot of things at this point. I was uncertain of much concerning God and felt very distant from Him. It then struck me reading this that there were certain things that I was, or perhaps had been involved in, which were waging war against my soul and thus contributing to my doubting and general contempt.
How blind I am in spiritual things. I find myself very unwise when it comes to discerning between what is allowed and also good for my soul, and what is also allowed but not necessarily wholesome. The passions of the flesh, in whatever form they come, are juicy and tempting. They bring temporary pleasure but equally a knawing, spiritual ache. It shouldn't be 'how far can I go before I sin,' but rather, 'how far can I stay away'! The trouble is, I often don't think like that, or am unaware of the dangers because I don't pray for guidance. Reading through Joshua has highlighted the importance of complete and utter consecration to God and how prayer is so vital before everything that I do. I think perhaps the first question I ask should be, 'what does God say?', rather than, 'what does corrupt, blind Vicky say?' All too often I have the final word on what I say and do.
I think I often also abuse the freedom I have in Christ. Yet the following verse exhorts me to do otherwise.
'Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.' 1 Peter 2:16
And why should I do this?
...because I am now no longer living in ignorance of God or of His plan of salvation, and therefore should not be conformed to the passions of my former ignorance, but rather live as I am called, which is to be holy as God is holy.
...because I am a 'living stone' 'being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.' I have been grafted into a body, a people, a nation over which God says 'Mine!' I am no longer my own person, but am rather constrained by the love of Christ to 'proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.'
...because I have received mercy.
...because those who are not saved will look on and, even though they may condemn you, 'may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.'
...because I am called to 'be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution'. I am called to bless my nation, my rulers, my government, my neighbours, even when they hate me for it, for God's sake.
In short, I am called to use this freedom wisely so that God is glorified the most. I am not constrained by a law that beats me to a pulp until I call to His throne room whimpering just hoping to be able to plead for some of His grace and mercy. I am constrained rather by a law of love, that makes me humbly bow before a God who righteously condemns sin and who would be in the right if He should choose to destroy me for my own sin, which so offends Him, and yet who declares me free, forgiven and living because I am in Christ Jesus. What a gracious, patient, wise and loving God we have. I'm continually amazed by His wisdom.
Thursday 10 February 2011
Books Galore
I've recently been inspired to read more after checking out the latest three TGC interviews with some prominent church leaders, christian thinkers and writers on what their reading habits are.
I used to love reading at school. I remember the time at primary school when I had gone through the twenty or so book-reading list that my teacher had given me and through all the books in our small year 5 library in less than half a term. I never read because I was forced to read. I loved it. I loved the way the stories gripped me, sucking me into their world and the inventiveness of the author in creating all sorts of strange plot twists and turns.
And then I got a life... well I actually just grew up, became interested in other things; started to learn to play the piano, took more dancing lessons, made more friends and also discovered that I just loved to be outside and doing things rather sitting down to read; and school got harder, I received more homework, had more revision to do, tough exams to sit and plenty of core reading material to chew on, so unfortunately I read a lot less.
I found it often so at university that after a long day (especially after the trek onto campus and back from Leamington Spa!) and after reading for pretty much the whole day, that I couldn't bear to turn my eyes and hands to open another book, even if it was just for pleasure. I also experienced the dangers of getting caught up in reading by feeling so utterly consumed by the volume of it. It became a chore, probably because I was forced to read; it was a requirement.
So here's the funny thing. Now that I am not obliged to read anything (well, ok so the Bible is a must really) I find myself very, very content to sit for hours and read a book. I don't get bored, tired or even resentful because I am not forced to sit there. I am doing it because I want to do it. Oh how that rebellious streak comes out in such weird ways. It's the same with quiet times. I will do them, but not when someone tells me I have to do them. I'll wash-up, clean, cook...but not when someone is forcing me to do it there and then, or at least I will do it but I will become resentful. How ridiculous that attitide is not to mention how far from being Christ exalting!
Anyway, these three interviews are quite interesting in the way that these three different men approach reading. Fred Sanders, I think, is very wise in being strategic in what he reads and in deciding beforehand which texts he will deal with. I feel this is especially useful:
I think the above quote could also be applied to university studies. It is very easy when preparing for seminars to simply read the prescribed material without guarding your mind and heart first. Only last year did I realise the folly of firstly not praying before I engage with a text (christian or secular), and secondly how quickly the tally of time I spent on reading secular, philosophical texts soon outweighed daily Bible reading, and believe me, that began to take it's toll on my mind and soul!
Our eyes, ears, mouths, hearts and minds all need to be guarded well and this only comes by feasting daily on God's revealed truth: 'Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.' Psalm 119:11. By having the Word in our hearts constantly, not only is our conscience pricked thus deterring us from sinning, but we have in our minds the things of God, those 'higher things' that we are told to keep our minds on. I believe then we begin to see other texts in the light of God's glorious wisdom and so are thus more able to weigh up the text's worth, how much (or little) of the truth and of Christ is displayed, and whether or not it is edifying to the reader and so worth our time.
So the books I'm currently/have just finished reading/on my reading list are:
Franz Kafka, Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis). --Very interesting read. Reading up a bit on Kafka was pretty interesting too! Thank you Warwick University for Research Pro.
John Piper, Think -The Life of the Mind and the Love of God
Eberhard Bethge, Bonhoeffer -- so I reckoned it was about time I read up on this guy seeing as I am in Germany and everyone at church seems to be talking about him!
James G. McCarthy, The Gospel According to Rome.
Rainer Moritz, Madame Cottard und eine Ahnung von Liebe -- this is quite an easy read novel that was a christmas pressie from a colleague. There's a publisher called Piper here (in massive white letters), which really confused me at first; no points for guessing why.
Randy Alcorn, Heaven --yes. I am still reading this book! It's quite dense to be fair and so it's not exactly a pocket-guide heaven travel book that I can skip around town with. Still, it is making me think :)
Yet to read...
Nietzsche, Also sprach Zarathustra -- both names I find incredibly difficult to spell! This was a hard-back gem that I picked up in Leipzig for less than 5 Euros, woop!
Balzac, Le pere Goriot - started and got bored so must return to it at some point. I got bored probably because the french was a bit of a chore...
Helen Roseveare, Digging Ditches.
Faith Cook, Lady Jane Grey
Werner Gitt, Zeit und Ewigkeit and FRAGEN.
* My aim is to finish at least all of these books before returning to the UK in June (where I have yet more books on my impending waiting-to-be-read-getting-dusty-on-the-shelves reading list)... hehe it means I can post them and not go over the 40 kilos at the airport and still keep my books!!
I used to love reading at school. I remember the time at primary school when I had gone through the twenty or so book-reading list that my teacher had given me and through all the books in our small year 5 library in less than half a term. I never read because I was forced to read. I loved it. I loved the way the stories gripped me, sucking me into their world and the inventiveness of the author in creating all sorts of strange plot twists and turns.
And then I got a life... well I actually just grew up, became interested in other things; started to learn to play the piano, took more dancing lessons, made more friends and also discovered that I just loved to be outside and doing things rather sitting down to read; and school got harder, I received more homework, had more revision to do, tough exams to sit and plenty of core reading material to chew on, so unfortunately I read a lot less.
I found it often so at university that after a long day (especially after the trek onto campus and back from Leamington Spa!) and after reading for pretty much the whole day, that I couldn't bear to turn my eyes and hands to open another book, even if it was just for pleasure. I also experienced the dangers of getting caught up in reading by feeling so utterly consumed by the volume of it. It became a chore, probably because I was forced to read; it was a requirement.
So here's the funny thing. Now that I am not obliged to read anything (well, ok so the Bible is a must really) I find myself very, very content to sit for hours and read a book. I don't get bored, tired or even resentful because I am not forced to sit there. I am doing it because I want to do it. Oh how that rebellious streak comes out in such weird ways. It's the same with quiet times. I will do them, but not when someone tells me I have to do them. I'll wash-up, clean, cook...but not when someone is forcing me to do it there and then, or at least I will do it but I will become resentful. How ridiculous that attitide is not to mention how far from being Christ exalting!
Anyway, these three interviews are quite interesting in the way that these three different men approach reading. Fred Sanders, I think, is very wise in being strategic in what he reads and in deciding beforehand which texts he will deal with. I feel this is especially useful:
'It’s especially important to keep your wits about you like this in reading theology. Oswald Chambers asked himself, “In my study, am I a woolgatherer, or like a man looking for his Lord?” Attention is a precious commodity: we pay it. We should pay it well, with the right currency for the right books.
By the way, this need for pre-deciding about your level of reading commitment is one of the reasons that our new and emerging habits of reading online are dangerous. When we’re browsing and scrolling and following links, we tend to make all those decisions about attention with less reflection. We tend to make them with our eyeballs, fingers, and central nervous system. These technologies make it easier and easier to fall into bestowing our limited reading time on things that don’t deserve it.'
...hm, I guess I'm guilty of that! It is definitely one of the reasons why even now I am probably not reading as much as I could. I spend too much time on the internet reading things that I have stumbled across, which yes could be interesting and even quite edifying, but which often simply diminish the time I have to sit down and actually do some self-prescribed reading! Technology has made it easier to impart knowledge but it has likewise made it easier to ignore wisdom. Only the most disciplined can really stay afloat and not fritter away precious time -which is very short (1 Cor 7:29)I think the above quote could also be applied to university studies. It is very easy when preparing for seminars to simply read the prescribed material without guarding your mind and heart first. Only last year did I realise the folly of firstly not praying before I engage with a text (christian or secular), and secondly how quickly the tally of time I spent on reading secular, philosophical texts soon outweighed daily Bible reading, and believe me, that began to take it's toll on my mind and soul!
Our eyes, ears, mouths, hearts and minds all need to be guarded well and this only comes by feasting daily on God's revealed truth: 'Your Word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.' Psalm 119:11. By having the Word in our hearts constantly, not only is our conscience pricked thus deterring us from sinning, but we have in our minds the things of God, those 'higher things' that we are told to keep our minds on. I believe then we begin to see other texts in the light of God's glorious wisdom and so are thus more able to weigh up the text's worth, how much (or little) of the truth and of Christ is displayed, and whether or not it is edifying to the reader and so worth our time.
So the books I'm currently/have just finished reading/on my reading list are:
Franz Kafka, Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis). --Very interesting read. Reading up a bit on Kafka was pretty interesting too! Thank you Warwick University for Research Pro.
John Piper, Think -The Life of the Mind and the Love of God
Eberhard Bethge, Bonhoeffer -- so I reckoned it was about time I read up on this guy seeing as I am in Germany and everyone at church seems to be talking about him!
James G. McCarthy, The Gospel According to Rome.
Rainer Moritz, Madame Cottard und eine Ahnung von Liebe -- this is quite an easy read novel that was a christmas pressie from a colleague. There's a publisher called Piper here (in massive white letters), which really confused me at first; no points for guessing why.
Randy Alcorn, Heaven --yes. I am still reading this book! It's quite dense to be fair and so it's not exactly a pocket-guide heaven travel book that I can skip around town with. Still, it is making me think :)
Yet to read...
Nietzsche, Also sprach Zarathustra -- both names I find incredibly difficult to spell! This was a hard-back gem that I picked up in Leipzig for less than 5 Euros, woop!
Balzac, Le pere Goriot - started and got bored so must return to it at some point. I got bored probably because the french was a bit of a chore...
Helen Roseveare, Digging Ditches.
Faith Cook, Lady Jane Grey
Werner Gitt, Zeit und Ewigkeit and FRAGEN.
* My aim is to finish at least all of these books before returning to the UK in June (where I have yet more books on my impending waiting-to-be-read-getting-dusty-on-the-shelves reading list)... hehe it means I can post them and not go over the 40 kilos at the airport and still keep my books!!
Sunday 6 February 2011
Prayer works.
Sunday has been coming around quick the last few weeks! I feel like I haven't quite had time to sit down this week and think because everything has been so mashed up and a little chaotic. Still, there are lots of things worth mentioning.
This week has shown me just how much more I need to pray and have faith when praying. The outreach I did with my 2 friends yesterday in town was so encouraging! We prayed a lot about it individually and together as we were pretty anxious about the whole thing. The thing that made it harder was the fact that we felt so alone in the work. Well God had an answer to that too.
As we were making our way down the main street in Göttingen looking for a place to set up and sing, we bumped into a couple of people my friend knew from a local church. When we explained what we were going to do they thought it was a great idea, said that they would go back to their church to get some Bibles, tracts and books and that they'd come back and help us!! The whole thing was so clearly orchestrated by God, it was wonderful. God knew the desires of our hearts and what would encourage us. Just that we would meet other christians on the way who were not bothered in the slightest at giving up their afternoon of shopping to come help us, was a divine appointment. Up to this day I have seriously underestimated the power of prayer. I hope I don't do that any longer. I'm very, very glad I watched Francis Chan's talk on prayer.
My voice got progressively worse yesterday but God graciously made it hold out until we'd finished. I couldn't sing but I could speak and for that I was grateful... and it meant couldn't get out of it! Standing in the middle of a busy street and handing out christian literature helped very much to crucify my pride but it also kindled such deep joy in my heart at being able to converse in german about the gospel, which certainly was such an answer to prayer.
One person I particularly remember was a teenage boy who simply walked up to me, asked me a few questions as to why my friends were singing christian songs in the street and even wanted to give me money for a few tracts! It turns out that he's not saved but he has a lot of christian friends who have often brought him to church. He is really searching for God. His name is Robert, please pray for him.
I was invited to lunch this afternoon with a group called Studentenfutter, a church which the people who helped us yesterday attend. I'd heard varying reports about them and didn't quite know what to expect. However I was very warmly welcomed, had some great conversations with the people I met and will hopefully get involved in some of their street evangelism with them.
Something that really struck me was their love for others. They have a real burden to share the gospel with those living in Göttingen and it really shows. What I find sad however is that there seems to have been some kind of disagreement with the other local churches some years ago, which has resulted in some bad feeling or at least some wariness between them all.
However, it doesn't seem to matter to which church I go to, there seems to be this underlying current of competition. It's in the way people express the differences of their church over and against the other churches. I've heard some of this stuff even in sermons as well as in general conversation. I understand some of it; people don't like to be associated with something they don't agree with and they're often desirious to know that they're in the 'right church'. But I must admit that I don't really see a whole lot of difference between them all especially when it comes to mission. Sure, they have different worship styles, some preach for longer, some for less, some have bigger congregations and great youth work, others are struggling a bit more. However, when it comes to outreach in the town there seems to be a real reluctance amongst christians to do something eternally worthwhile and the sad thing about that is that it's widespread. I'm sure it's the same in the UK too, maybe it's just a little more obvious here to me.
Perhaps some of it has to do with a lack of teaching on evangelism and mission being related to an action verb; 'going'. Some will be down to a lack of 'leading by example' from some of the church leaders. Still, some believers may be plainly disobeying God, whereas others may never have even thought about the issue. Others will be quite comfortable at church and believe that church events and the occasional invitation handed out is all that's required of them concerning mission. I have seen/experienced all of the above in my own heart as well. Mission or even just local evangelism is easy to put off, even easier to think that someone else will do it or that someone else still is better qualified. I can't point the finger at all as I've done the same myself. God, however, has greatly (and graciously) challenged me on this over the last few years. I do find it sad however that the situation seems to be so with a lot of christians. Another point for prayer.
Given the numerous lessons in prayer I've had/heard this week, I guess I don't have an excuse for not praying!
This week has shown me just how much more I need to pray and have faith when praying. The outreach I did with my 2 friends yesterday in town was so encouraging! We prayed a lot about it individually and together as we were pretty anxious about the whole thing. The thing that made it harder was the fact that we felt so alone in the work. Well God had an answer to that too.
As we were making our way down the main street in Göttingen looking for a place to set up and sing, we bumped into a couple of people my friend knew from a local church. When we explained what we were going to do they thought it was a great idea, said that they would go back to their church to get some Bibles, tracts and books and that they'd come back and help us!! The whole thing was so clearly orchestrated by God, it was wonderful. God knew the desires of our hearts and what would encourage us. Just that we would meet other christians on the way who were not bothered in the slightest at giving up their afternoon of shopping to come help us, was a divine appointment. Up to this day I have seriously underestimated the power of prayer. I hope I don't do that any longer. I'm very, very glad I watched Francis Chan's talk on prayer.
My voice got progressively worse yesterday but God graciously made it hold out until we'd finished. I couldn't sing but I could speak and for that I was grateful... and it meant couldn't get out of it! Standing in the middle of a busy street and handing out christian literature helped very much to crucify my pride but it also kindled such deep joy in my heart at being able to converse in german about the gospel, which certainly was such an answer to prayer.
One person I particularly remember was a teenage boy who simply walked up to me, asked me a few questions as to why my friends were singing christian songs in the street and even wanted to give me money for a few tracts! It turns out that he's not saved but he has a lot of christian friends who have often brought him to church. He is really searching for God. His name is Robert, please pray for him.
-----
I was invited to lunch this afternoon with a group called Studentenfutter, a church which the people who helped us yesterday attend. I'd heard varying reports about them and didn't quite know what to expect. However I was very warmly welcomed, had some great conversations with the people I met and will hopefully get involved in some of their street evangelism with them.
Something that really struck me was their love for others. They have a real burden to share the gospel with those living in Göttingen and it really shows. What I find sad however is that there seems to have been some kind of disagreement with the other local churches some years ago, which has resulted in some bad feeling or at least some wariness between them all.
However, it doesn't seem to matter to which church I go to, there seems to be this underlying current of competition. It's in the way people express the differences of their church over and against the other churches. I've heard some of this stuff even in sermons as well as in general conversation. I understand some of it; people don't like to be associated with something they don't agree with and they're often desirious to know that they're in the 'right church'. But I must admit that I don't really see a whole lot of difference between them all especially when it comes to mission. Sure, they have different worship styles, some preach for longer, some for less, some have bigger congregations and great youth work, others are struggling a bit more. However, when it comes to outreach in the town there seems to be a real reluctance amongst christians to do something eternally worthwhile and the sad thing about that is that it's widespread. I'm sure it's the same in the UK too, maybe it's just a little more obvious here to me.
Perhaps some of it has to do with a lack of teaching on evangelism and mission being related to an action verb; 'going'. Some will be down to a lack of 'leading by example' from some of the church leaders. Still, some believers may be plainly disobeying God, whereas others may never have even thought about the issue. Others will be quite comfortable at church and believe that church events and the occasional invitation handed out is all that's required of them concerning mission. I have seen/experienced all of the above in my own heart as well. Mission or even just local evangelism is easy to put off, even easier to think that someone else will do it or that someone else still is better qualified. I can't point the finger at all as I've done the same myself. God, however, has greatly (and graciously) challenged me on this over the last few years. I do find it sad however that the situation seems to be so with a lot of christians. Another point for prayer.
Given the numerous lessons in prayer I've had/heard this week, I guess I don't have an excuse for not praying!
Friday 4 February 2011
What have a horse, a frog and sandpaper got in common?
It's Friday and I have almost lost my voice. In fact I couldn't speak this morning and only regained just enough of my voice by the time I got to school to get through the lesson. I don't just sound like I've eaten copious amounts of sandpaper, but like I've eaten a horse that's eaten a frog that is now lodged in it's gullet, which has eaten sandpaper for the best part of six years. Oh dear... time for the expensive, german, environmentally friendly medicine and lots of tea.
Given that tomorrow morning I'm meant to be singing some christian songs and handing out christian tracts in Göttingen with a friend, I'm a little puzzled as to why I should get ill now. Part of me is like, 'yes! this means that I won't have to sing and embarrass myself...' or, 'whoop, maybe I can get out of the whole thing altogether'. Then the other half of me is saying, 'ah no... what a disappointment after all of the prayer and the excitement at the prospect of getting out to on the streets to tell others the gospel. Oh how lamentable that it's all going pear-shaped! Does God not want me to do this?'.
How fickle I am! On the one hand I delight in my illness because it may save my ridiculous and shamefully sinful pride, and on the other hand I am disappointed because things aren't going the way I want them to go! And these are all thoughts that I've had running through my head the whole day.
God is sovereign, maybe I just have to learn to be patient and wait for the answer rather than rushing ahead with my quick-fire logic to work out what's happening. Still, tomorrow hasn't yet arrived...
Given that tomorrow morning I'm meant to be singing some christian songs and handing out christian tracts in Göttingen with a friend, I'm a little puzzled as to why I should get ill now. Part of me is like, 'yes! this means that I won't have to sing and embarrass myself...' or, 'whoop, maybe I can get out of the whole thing altogether'. Then the other half of me is saying, 'ah no... what a disappointment after all of the prayer and the excitement at the prospect of getting out to on the streets to tell others the gospel. Oh how lamentable that it's all going pear-shaped! Does God not want me to do this?'.
How fickle I am! On the one hand I delight in my illness because it may save my ridiculous and shamefully sinful pride, and on the other hand I am disappointed because things aren't going the way I want them to go! And these are all thoughts that I've had running through my head the whole day.
God is sovereign, maybe I just have to learn to be patient and wait for the answer rather than rushing ahead with my quick-fire logic to work out what's happening. Still, tomorrow hasn't yet arrived...
Tuesday 1 February 2011
Desiring God is streaming the Conference for Pastor's Live. A schedule is also available. Although it's directed at pastors I reckon it'd be tasty and meaty for you all. Have a listen :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)