God Spot

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God Spot
This Christian Resource Blog has been created by a group of friends from around the world. Our purpose is to provide links to useful resources, some commentary on topical or doctrinal issues, a place where anyone can come with questions and a means whereby we can share our faith. And above all, to grow and encourage each other. As Christians, we believe we bear God's image in this world, and seek to glorify God's name in this endeavour. Any Christian who wants to join with us is very welcome!

Friday, April 30, 2004

Quote

"I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
C.S. Lewis

# posted by geoff @ 5:06 pm

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Hebrews 1&2 Study

I know some of you will have read this on another List we're on, but this blog is for others too, so I'm doubling up.

This week's bible study of Hebrews 1&2 was inspiring. Two good ch's to look at together. As someone said in our study, the first ch. focuses on the deity of Christ, while the second emphasises the humanity of Christ.

For instance, in Heb 1 it says of Christ "having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs", whereas in Heb 2 we read of Christ "we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels". So we see those two sides of Christ, both co-existing.

These are remarkable ch's really, for what they present of the nature and glory and majesty of Christ and his many roles (eg. Heb1&2 present Christ as creator, heir of all things, image of God, ruler of all, Son of God, eternal unchanging Spirit, Saviour of mankind, Sanctifier of mankind, conqueror of the devil, High Priest and intercessor). Very rich ch's. I liked the glimpse we get into the throne room in heaven, we get to see some of the relationships (Father, Son, angels) and the power structure, the majesty and glory in the place from where the creation (and our lives, should we choose) is ruled from.

Interestingly, here (Heb1:8) God himself refers to Christ as God:

"But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom."

It appealed to me that in the throne room of heaven, it is right for us to consider God the Father on the throne, and Christ ruling all creation on His right hand, as co-equal God. The reality perhaps of Jesus' prayer in Jn17 "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us".

The remarkable thing is that we are invited - nay, it's God's purpose for us - to enter into that union between Father and Son, to somehow share in that unity between Father and only begotten Son. It suggests this in Heb 2 also "For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers".

It all brought to mind the hymn "How Deep the Father's Love" (Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer - below).

How deep the Fathers love for us,
how vast beyond all measure,
that he should give his only Son
to make a wretch his treasure!
How great the pain of searing loss:
the Father turns his face away
as wounds which mar the chosen one
bring many sons to glory!

Behold the man upon the cross,
my sin upon his shoulders;
ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held him there
until it was accomplished;
His dieing breath has brought me life-
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
no gifts, no power, no wisdom;
but I will boast in Jesus Christ,
his death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from his reward?
I cannot give an answer;
but this I know with all my heart,
his wounds have paid my ransom.

# posted by geoff @ 12:33 pm

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King David's Sin

While I'm on a roll about forgiveness of sins, will post this too. Dave, I was going to use the title "David's Sin" but thought you might have got twitchy, thinking I was going to spill the beans on you!!

A friend wrote of King David:
David has been on my mind that last few days also. The fact that someone mentioned recently that if David lived now he would not be able to participate in our church because he was an adulterer. Well maybe he would have been able to after he killed Bethsheba's husband. :-) David a man after God's own heart.

Yep, he resorted to murder to cover his adultery. And do you know what he then said about himself? Here:

2Sam22:21-22 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God"

This was after David's sin with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. Was David kidding himself, talking about his (David's) righteousness, clean hands, not turned from God? The remarkable (absolutely fundamental to our Christian lives, I believe) truth here is that David, a very obvious sinner, after he turned (in repentance) back to God after that horrible time in his life, was in fact totally reinstated into a position of righteousness in his relationship with God.

That's grace!

David didn't go about in sackcloth and ashes after his repentance, feeling unworthy and living like a failure - rather, he rejoiced in God's forgiveness and his restored righteousness. Praising God in 2Sam22.

True repentance brings assured forgiveness (God is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness), and we are saved from the penalty and power of sin in our lives. But God never promised to save us from the natural consequences of our sin - which in David's case manifested themselves in his children (also sexual immorality), the nation he ruled, and in his own inability to build the temple he desired for God.

And yet he is totally forgiven and deemed righteous for all eternity by his heavenly Father.

Sadly, as my friend says above, part of the natural consequences of sin (that we're not saved from whether we repent or not) is man's judgement and long memories!

# posted by geoff @ 12:04 pm

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God - Both Merciful and Just

This has always intrigued me, that God has these two attributes (God is merciful and just), and yet being God, he is always perfectly true to both. Now for us poor humans, being both of those things together is a dreadful burden.

For instance, in a court of law if we plead guilty, what we desperately need is mercy from the judge - ie. "I deserve to pay the penalty for my guilt, but please give me something that I don't deserve - which is my freedom from that penalty".

The court, being a legal instrument, has two options. The judge can exercise justice and, having found us guilty, enforce the just penalty. Or the judge could exercise mercy, and give us what we don't deserve - an exoneration. But in this case, justice wouldn't have been done.

In human systems, we can have one (justice) or the other (mercy or grace), but not the two together.

The remarkable thing is that God in His wisdom has organised for grace and justice to come together at the cross, so that justice is satisfied (which is particularly important, because God being a just God must punish sin - He can't just wink and say "you're forgiven" - altho we'd be quite happy with that!). Jesus took the penalty, the wrath of God, so that we, the undeserving sinners who are without doubt guilty, walk free (God's grace, we get what we don't deserve).

We walk free (even though we're as guilty as all heck - and we as Christians acknowledge it - no argument Lord!) because someone else has paid the penalty to the Judge's satisfaction, on our behalf. We don't even need to feel guilty about it (just very grateful), rather we step out with the spring of freedom from guilt in our step, confident that we stand right (righteous) before Holy God!

# posted by geoff @ 11:50 am

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Carol - Your Old Friend

Carol, I enjoyed what your "old friend" (trust they're not TOO old!) emailed you on the topic of salvation. I found it excellent. What about inviting that old friend to join us on the blog?

The bit on "justification" reminded me that this is a legal term. Forgiveness for our sinfulness is legally determined by God, one of whose attributes is that He is a perfectly just God. Unlike some judges and magistrates that we encounter in our court systems!

It tells us this in 1Jn1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".

If we were writing this rather than John, we might have been tempted to write "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and merciful to forgive us". But John (inspired by the Holy Spirit) wrote the right word, just (rather than merciful). Our forgiveness is basically an act of justice on God's part, rather than mercy. Mercy is behind the cross, but because on the cross the penalty for all of mankind's sin for all time was paid in full and to God's satisfaction, then we rely on God's sense of justice for our forgiveness.

Which is why we can be confident, as we come in faith with repentant hearts, that our sins are forgiven - God is just, and thus must justify us according to His promises. We don't come grovelling before God, begging for mercy.

# posted by geoff @ 11:25 am

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Adoption

(Dave) Adoption: A changed position. The believer is no longer a child of the world but is given the position of an adult son in God's family.

Yes, I see what you mean. I have heard this preached about over the years. Must take a while for an adopted person to feel accepted and really a part of the family?
However, a combo of gratitude on the adopted persons part, and unconditional love on the part of the new parent (God), elder brother (Jesus) and siblings (all our christian siblings?) would make this transition smooth.

Hmmmmm, unconditional love from the siblings.

This causes a small spike in my heart ..... I ask myself, is Carols love for these people UNCONDITIONAL?

Carol is not available for comment right now as she contemplates this answer and feels a great lack!

Fortunately, "New each morning are His mercies" and we can start afresh!

I heard of a person who said to his minister:
"I have to give up. I see my life stretching on and on and I can't face being a christian all those years, and serve God for the rest of my life.. its too hard"!

The minister answered:
"Can you do it for one day?"

The man said:
"Oh yes, thats easy! One day is easy!"

The minister replied:
"One day at a time is all you need to think about! Tomorrow, do it for one day. The next day, do it for one day. Thats what serving God is all about"!

And true too! Mans way is to plan ahead, have goals, have retirement funds ready for a comfortable retirement and so on.

Gods way, is for now and today. Those lillies in the field only think of the present moment. Gods way is so different and opposite to mans way.

The answer lies in being able to trust and have faith!!!!!

# posted by Caroline @ 8:28 am

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Simply Amazing

Isn't it amazing how things happen all at once!

I have never THOUGHT of all those "new to me" names before, Dave, and then this morning I received an email from an old friend and I will paste it here below for you. You know, these things are not flukes! How did this friend KNOW I had been asking you about them!

Here we go:

IV. Salvation

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.

Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.

B. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.

C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.

D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.

# posted by Caroline @ 8:06 am

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Thursday, April 29, 2004

Dave - Scholar Exemplar!

Dave - excellent summaries of those doctrines, I would love to study each one in depth with you guys, maybe we could organise this? But in the meantime, I'm beginning to see you as untapped potential Dave for tutoring us with simple explanations of what are sometimes complex matters!

Carol, you asked:

Geoff) Paul is pastor or whatever the Anglicans call them at Gary's church (Holy Trinity), and he's one of about 3 or 4 teachers who I would rate as 10's.

OK Geoff, what denotes a 10 pastor? Can I be a 10 christian????
Seriously, how can we be this?

I was referring to Paul B as getting 10/10 for teaching; I don't know what he's like as a pastor. Gary??? I don't think you would want to be a 10 as a teacher (depends on the gifts God through the Holy Spirit has given you (1Cor12) - but I have a feeling that women ideally teach children and other women, according to God's order.)

But you can be (and are, I believe) a 10 as a Christian, just as soon as you become a child of God, with his Spirit dwelling in you. Makes you a 10 instantly!

# posted by geoff @ 5:26 pm

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Regeneration

Dave: Regeneration: A changed nature. The believer is no longer a child of wrath, resulting from being born in sin, but is born again and given Christs nature.

Hey I wasn't too far out in this when I said is it something to do with being born again!

Thanks so much for the nice explanations Dave .... it is giving me things to think about.
I think, reading your explanations, that some kind of overlap?
In fact, in a way they are a bit like the colours of the rainbow.... they kind of go from one to the next and all with a slight difference. But it all goes to make up the larger meaning of salvation!

And so ..... as far as the regeneration goes.... a change of nature ...... is it like a seed? It sits there planted, and only slowly slowly it obviously loosens up and finally splits and bursts through the ground. The new nature is a growing thing, and when it bursts through the ground, that is when others (not just God) might begin to see the change the new nature is bringing!

I will think about the next one overnight:))

Thanks again!

# posted by Caroline @ 5:26 pm

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All those things

(Dave) I was thinking of eight major doctrines (there may be more),which define salvation: regeneration, adoption, justification, imputation,sanctification, reconciliation, propitiation, and redemption. I think it is important to understand these to appreciate fully what Christ has done for us, and is seeking to do in our lives daily.

I must be a bit thick (well at least three people here already know that!) but I don't really understand all these things much.

Regeneration: Being born again?
Adoption: Is there a huge doctrinal topic hidden behind this simple word??
Justification: Grace? I'm reading that Philip Yancy book about Grace right now ....
Imputation: Oh help! Never heard of this word.
Sanctification: Kinda of like the blood of Christ cleansing us??
Reconciliation: Isn't reconciled a 'getting back together' thing? So....... um...........
Propitiation: Like propigating plants or something???
Redemption: Ah, this is starting to sound like a familiar church word!

And so..... now you know the truth:(

Do you still want me on this blog?
As I offered earlier, perhaps I could make the tea?

Dave, I sure don't wish to sound like a weirdo, but you know, I have this amazing realtionship with God. I have now heard Gods actual voice 7 times, but speak with Jesus most days.... dialogue fashion. We discuss things etc. He is like my beautiful elder brother who I can freely love and adore with no repercussions..... and who has the BEST advice for EVERYTHING, and who can "kiss it all better"! And I am really enjoying His Word. But I don't know about all those things you mention!!!!!

Perhaps I am alive but handicapped?
I sure know I am alive in Him.
I also know that I will be spending eternity with Him.

Can you teach me about these doctrine things......please? Perhaps one at a time, and speak as tho to my 8 year old. Then I might have a chance at understanding!

Love to you!
Carol

PS I truly DO want to understand this stuff. Even reading this book of Mr Yanceys I am feeling even more in awe of the great God of Heaven and earth!

# posted by Caroline @ 9:51 am

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Esther

Geoff, one other thing I have been doing recently is renting dvds from the Christian Superstore and watching them! They are all OT at the moment and I am in raptures about them!

Last Saturday I had Esther!!!!!! So I phoned up my Dad and wife and they came round to "fish and chips" and we all (only one of my 4 kids watched) watched this gorgeous movie! It was outstanding, and my Dad, who is a good Bible scholar, pronounced at the end that it was very true to the original story!

It gave me a real look at the times and how things were done.

Wow, womens roles have changed since those days.

We have also watched Solomon, and I notice in these dvds how the ruler of the day (whether King or whatever) always seemed to have various advisors surrounding them, who they actually listened to and took their advice! The various advisors often seemed to have their OWN agenda, and slanted comments to their King towards what they wanted. (Usually political moves, or wanting to overthrow that ruler!) They were soooo cunning, and it made me sick actually!!!!!

I am glad that today, WE can individually have our own inbuilt advisor! Yes, we can listen to wise counsel, but in the end to do things right ... if thats what we want to do ..... then we must ask God.

Sunday evening, we watched Abraham! What a MAGNIFICENT story that is. My 8 year watched it with me, and since then he has read all the story again in the Bible (KIng James at that!) and written a family tree starting at Nahor (Grandaddy) through Terah, Abe and right down to Jacob's kids. He's even got the wives worked out!

I didn't realise how much idols were part of their living back then ..... and they all mocked Abraham for not bowing to these idols so that Sarai could have a child.
(Well, I wonder if THAT bit is in the Bible? They do take a little bit of licence sometimes!!!!!)

Another thing I noticed was that we must be patient!
Abraham was promised by God, all sorts of things, and some took years to pass... but pass they did!!!!

I have Jacob out to look at next, hopefully tonight! I'm on a roll with these. They have made us really look into some of these people more... and the various names like Beniah and Zadok who never meant a thing to me once, now take on real meaning! They are real people now to me!

Sorry to go on......

# posted by Caroline @ 9:24 am

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Paul the Pastor

(Geoff) Paul is pastor or whatever the Anglicans call them at Gary's church (Holy Trinity), and he's one of about 3 or 4 teachers who I would rate as 10's.

OK Geoff, what denotes a 10 pastor? Can I be a 10 christian????
Seriously, how can we be this?

# posted by Caroline @ 9:07 am

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Oh dear......

Geoff,

Carol, I know you didn't post this on the blog, but can I just say I admire your relaxed, care-free lifestyle - going back to bed on school holiday mornings, and letting the kids take care of themselves and come and see you "in your office" (the bedroom) sounds a lifestyle to envy

This is a bit embarrassing when I see it in print like this!!!!!!

Well, can I make it sound better by telling you that every afternoon we "did things". Went on long walks...... went to Caddyshack (mini golf) ......... (I detest golf whether mini, maxi, indoor or outdoor) ...... went biking in the Forest ........ went to ScoobyDoo ....... (hmmmmmm, can't remember what else now!!).

OK I am going to clean up a few banked up comments here!

# posted by Caroline @ 8:55 am

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Wednesday, April 28, 2004

Maralinga Easter Peace March

I've copied this from a slightly irreverent blog on radioactive waste - but it's cross-cutting in that it mentions certain Anglican Canons; by a guy of same name as me!

This little-known piece of Australia's rich nuclear history is courtesy of David Lloyd LCOL (Retd), former member of the Australian Health Physics team, and from time to time OC the Australian Radiation Detection Unit at Maralinga. Also clandestine hippy peace activist, as it turns out!

The story begins back in Pommy Land, where in 1958 the first of many "Easter Peace Marches" from London to the Brit's A-bomb-making facility at Aldermaston occurred. One of the leaders of the Peace March was one Canon Collins (the Pom's Jim Cairns!).

One Easter, David Lloyd and a few others with that strange Aussie sense of humour (which delights in taking the mickey out of Pom's in particular, and of anyone in authority) decided that their very serious British colleagues, in between letting their bombs off, were almost certainly missing being at home for the annual Peace March. So they decided to stage one for them.

Resourceful lot, they discovered that one of them by name Brindley had an uncanny resemblance to the Anglican Canon Collins. They dressed him in the clothes of the Maralinga RC priest (a shortish Italian, half Brindley's size apparently). The Range Commander and head of the Commonwealth Police ("Peace Officers") were both advised of the prank, and both thought it very funny. The night before, a notice was put over the Tannoy PA system at the Maralinga camp that a group of shabbily-dressed protestors had been seen getting off the train across the Nullabor, and were thought to be heading Maralinga's way.

Next morning, the group headed by "Canon Brindley" assembled at the Maralinga security gate, and the announcement went out that all hands were required to stem the flood of demonstrators. Our David Lloyd had long straw locks of hair, courtesy of some old rope cut and held in place under his hat. Other "protestors" carried signs "Peace not Pearce!" (Noah Pearce of AWRE was the Brit in charge of much at the site at that time, and authored the infamous "Pearce Report" - Final Report on Residual Radioactive Contamination of the Maralinga Range and the Emu Site AWRE Report O-16/68 of January 1968 - the one that said all was hunky dory at Maralinga following the Operation Brumby clean-up in 1967).

Anyway, for a time the Brit's were completely fooled by this unruly mob of "protestors", and "Canon Brindley" even managed to threaten a few with ex-communication. David Lloyd presented a credible speech about the evils of nuclear weapons, to all assembled on both sides of the security fence. And Pearce, ever the gentleman, timidly approached "Canon Brindley" with a gracious offer: "Excuse me Canon, care to have morning tea with us?"

Brindley and his "protestors" accepted the offer, and enjoyed a very salubrious morning tea before exposing the joke to all and sundry. Apparently the Brit's took it very well, and (as is the British habit) were quite happy to laugh at themselves. It is important to mention that the Brit's behaved impeccably in this "incident", because in what will follow their behaviour is nowhere near as admirable.

# posted by geoff @ 5:39 pm

Stan, Stan the Bible Man! (& Q. for Gary)

Stan, you wrote:

"You always give me far more credit than I deserve! But it didn't take long to find out the site is full of unsound doctrine..."

Well, anyone who takes a wheelbarrow of bibles (didn't know there were that many translations, actually) to convention has certain credibility (aura, maybe) as a "man of the Word"!

Our BSF notes for this week (study was Ezra - name means "help") record "Ezra had saturated himself in the OT scriptures (Ezra7:6-10)" and "Ezra made the OT live for King Artaxerxes - presumably spunky Esther's son? (7:6,25) - and he also made the OT live for the repatriated Jews in Jerusalem (Neh8:2-3, 18)". BSF didn't use the word spunky, actually.

Then the application is stated "Does this portrait of a man saturating himself in God's Word to help himself and to help his people describe you? Are you preparing for spiritual revival in your generation by understanding the bible so fully yourself that, like Ezra, you cause your own family and friends to love and understand it also? Do people know you as one whom God helps and one who helps others?" Stand up, Stan!

Gary, enjoyed your post. You said "Most bible teaching today, is exploratory, ie expanding and adding to a chapter or chapters, that's b.s.f. and stays away from concepts and terminology". Can you amplify that, for my addled brain? (keep it simple!) Good post, ta.

# posted by geoff @ 5:22 pm

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Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Doctrine

Dave,

We (you and I, Geoff and or wives) basically know the doctrines of the church, from good study and reading and talks at various places. Most bible teaching todays, is exploratory, ie expanding and adding to a chapter or chapters, that's b.s.f. and stays away from concepts and terminology. Rightly or wrongly b.s.f. teachers have no theological training, (is going to San Antonio sufficient).
The great references include the New Bible Dictionary, and Dictionary of Christian Ethics. I have both here, but not the latest editions.

The early church starting around 54 ad, and probably jesus died in 30 ad. wrote letters and asked questions and discussed doctrine. That's what Pauls letters and Peters letters are about, but we are not always sure of the questions asked of either Paul or Peter. At this time the Church had expanded into many places and to people who had never seen Jesus, many were not jewish, so the focus of the writings is to convince people to believe in Jesus as the messiah and live rightly in a pagan world, but these new people were being 'asked' to do a lot, to believe that a human being was God on earth, one who died the death of a common criminal.

And the most important truth is that of the trinity, Jesus is an equal personality part of the total of God, therefore he could complete God's plan to bring back mankind.

Come to Holy Trin. Gary

# posted by Anonymous @ 10:02 pm

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Sunday, April 25, 2004

Paul Barker

Another great talk from Paul B today, speaking on Joel, ch. 2 -- yes I stayed awake!

Paul is with us for also weeks then takes long service leave, but just as good are the associates Paul Dudly and Carol Elfverson. And the program given out today says that Peter Adams is coming, (prinicpal of Ridley College), Michael Cassidy, (African Enterprises) and Andrew Shead, (OT teacher from Moore College).

Then yes Geoff, we are letting Paul do Belgrave teaching this summer.

# posted by Anonymous @ 8:46 pm

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do it

I just deleted the first thing I wrote. I was cynical about big words. Add attonement and substitution to your list, and transsubstantion and anthromorphism for later times,
(whose a smart alec, not me).

Yes understanding concepts is helpful, but behind believing the truth and living the truth. Ah but what is truth, the great question asked by the wrong person. And how many theological arguments happen over minor things and major issues of doctrine.

Next week a female theological student from Moore College in Syd. is staying with us. Now in her diocese she has no right to be ordained, but in Melbourne archbishop Watson is itching to ordain a woman bishop. (Is Joy Letts the hot favourite?). Geoff and Dave, you fundamentalists, what is the truth on that one.

Gary

# posted by Anonymous @ 8:37 pm

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Friday, April 23, 2004

The Importance of a True Knowledge of God

Interestingly, if you ask many people who say they don't "believe" in God to describe the God they don't believe in, it seems likely that we wouldn't believe in the God of their imaginations either. In other words, they don't have a factual knowledge of God, their beliefs are awry. So, no basis for faith.

A useful definition of faith: "faith is a disposition towards as object (eg. the one true God) that allows the object (God) to act on our behalf". Put heaps of faith in a gold-leaf statue of Buddha and see how much that statue can do for you, notwithstanding your huge faith in that object. But I suggest, try a little faith in the living, sovereign creator God... (after trying to get to know who He really is).

# posted by geoff @ 9:47 am

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Our Visitors

Somehow, strangely, we are now getting a respectable number of daily visitors to our blog (current count is 5 visitors per day). Not all of these are members. To check this out, go to the very bottom of the blog and click on the number of visitors (778 just now). Then on the left-hand side of the "Sitemeter" page, under "Recent Visitors", click on "By Details" and you can see the variety of domains that are accessing God Spot.

This is a sincere invitation - any of you visitors who can give us some feedback, answer any of our queries, or would like to join in (or have better ideas for the purpose of a blog for Christians) please contact us (email link at top of blog).

BTW, the domain 203.49.15.# is me!

# posted by geoff @ 9:34 am

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Trinity Site - Our Mission Statement?

They have a grand aim (the maintainers of the "Trinity" site linked below):

We want to believe whatever the Word of God says, and we hope that what you find herein is representative of that. God bless you richly!

The Truth or Tradition Staff

- the problem, of course, is that all manner of weirdos and cults have the same high ideals, and sadly all believe fervently that they (often alone) are sole guardians of "true understanding" of God's Word. We probably share their aim, and also believe just like them that we've got it (more or less) right.

Which got me thinking, how do others (especially non-believers or those shaky in doctrine) know who and what to believe? The obvious answer is "the Holy Spirit" but not everybody knows his voice from others.

Which somehow led me to wonder, could this blog benefit from some kind of mission statement - something to give some focus, and help others know quickly where we're coming from? Any suggestions??? (to add to the queries already posted yesterday - responses please)

# posted by geoff @ 9:24 am

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Thursday, April 22, 2004

Stan - (Un)Sound Trinity Teaching???

OK Stan, here's one for your scrutiny. Noticed this ad on top of our blog, for Researching the Trinity: Free in-depth Bible based research articles for you to make your own.

We are glad you are looking for information, clarification, or enlightenment (perhaps either substantiation or refutation) in regard to "the Trinity" and related issues, and we welcome you to our research website: Searching for information on "the Trinity"?

Actually, I've just read the introductory page, and (for my beliefs and understanding) would doubt the soundness of what is presumably presented deeper into their www site. But it's perhaps of interest to read (think I know someone who would love this information!!! - now Carol, wipe that grin off your face!).

Comments please - it does us good to think about these things (but I'll remove all reference to this site, if others strongly want me to - certainly I don't want to endorse it, on the little I've just seen).

# posted by geoff @ 3:39 pm

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Stan the (Almost!) Stalwart

Stan, you get a wildcard entry into the stalwart club! Dave & I appreciate your staunch support of sound doctrine, here and in other places, so you're in - like it or not!!!

Now, to the practical issues you raise. My computer (at work) is a whizzy black (very tiny) box, looks very impressive, and the screen is one of those light-weight lcd ones - surprisingly bright, and the blue-on-white writing of our blog looks smart (and easily readable). The text size in my Internet Explorer browser is set to "medium".

Wonder do others have problems like Stan has indicated? I am happy to alter things, so long as they're improvements. Let's have everybody's suggestions and then we'll see what the consensus is, and what we can do to improve.

Things to comment on are the format in general, column width, text size and colour, background colour and anything else.

As for having a "weblog", the idea is that it's available for not just a select membership, but for the world at large, should anyone stumble here.

Are others happy with using a "blog" for our communications?

And two further questions, that seem rather important.

1) How to make the topics more relevant or of wider interest (if I was in advertising, I might be tempted to ask how to "sex it up a bit" to get others to come here, and keep coming back)?

2) How to attract interesting, informative and even perhaps, controversial members?

Answers please...

# posted by geoff @ 3:23 pm

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Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Stalwarts - Carol & Gary (& Esther)

'Cos that's what you guys are. A few others (notably Dave & Janet) contribute a bit here; the others have gone very quiet. So, unless we hear something soon, I'm proposing that we take a good hard look at our blog membership, cull some and add some fresh legs. Send suggestions this way...

Carol, I know you didn't post this on the blog, but can I just say I admire your relaxed, care-free lifestyle - going back to bed on school holiday mornings, and letting the kids take care of themselves and come and see you "in your office" (the bedroom) sounds a lifestyle to envy - practising the biblical exhortation of "being careful for nothing!" (see, it's scripturally sound as well as being relaxing!!!)

Gary, I am really looking forward to hearing Paul Barker teach us as Belgrave Hts Convention next summer - could you convince him to do a series on Revelation? (I know you're a man of great influence!) For others not in the know, Paul is pastor or whatever the Anglicans call them at Gary's church (Holy Trinity), and he's one of about 3 or 4 teachers who I would rate as 10's.

Speaking of 10's, Esther (this week's BSF study) must have been a bit of a spunk (am I allowed to say that?). Incredible story actually. And an amazing society - King Xerxes ruled an enormous kingdom (stretching from Egypt to India), and little wonder things got out of control at times (as our deputy leader went to some pains to explain, they had no internet communications in those days!). Actually, I feel King Xerxes got some bad press (by BSF at least, who had the temerity to suggest he was a despot).

But I am still bemused by his harem arrangements (Esther ch.2):

Then the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Then let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it. (I bet it appealed to him!!)

The girls had it pretty good, according to one of my lovely female friends today (who wouldn't have minded this next bit):

Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. (12 months of continuous beauty treatment and pandering!)

Seems the girls got one night to impress the king:

In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.

And guess what, Esther made good use of her opportunities (why I'm thinking of her as a spunky 10):

When the turn came for Esther (the girl Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Go Esther!

# posted by geoff @ 6:30 pm

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Friday, April 16, 2004

learning

All.
I'm learning quite a lot doing the BSF study again albeit about 10 years apart. i hope to be always learning. Sometimes I think that i start reading my bible and read the footnotes more than the scripture. I have ben known to read commentaries, had quite a few here once but I don't believe in hording so I put them in the church fete.

Geoff your friend Paul Barker thinks that is a great crime: he has never disposed of a book, ever.

May I suggest that he 'opened his mouth' was an expression of the first century meaning that he spoke clearly and with authority.

# posted by Anonymous @ 8:55 pm

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Friday, April 09, 2004

Well well well........

I have never noticed that portion before, about writing it down etc.
This post was worth waiting for:))

Thanks again.

# posted by Caroline @ 12:10 pm

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Thursday, April 08, 2004

Habakkuk

At our BSF study, this book was divided into two:

1) Questions for God - Habakkuk 1 & 2
2) Hope and faith - Habakkuk 3 (help for facing difficulties)

And we had a third part to the study - Obadiah, which tells of Edom's doom (and perhaps more applicable for non-Christians)

Here are some points that Grant made on this study.

As Christians, learn to bring our questions to God and live by faith, trusting God's answers. It's not wrong to ask questions of God. Habakkuk himself has his perspective turned back to God (he starts with the wrong perspective - the book starts with a sob - but God turns his thinking - finishes with a song!).

Habakkuk starts by querying "why do the evil prosper and the good suffer?" This seems the wrong way round - but God says "look - see what is happening" (see from God's perspective).

In our prayer time - spend time of silence, waiting. When God answers, write it down, take note! Record it. Habakkuk 2:

Then the LORD replied:

"Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time"

This was for you, Caro. There's more, but I've run out of time. Pity you haven't got our Easter weather in NZ - it's about 25 deg, no sign of rain and continuing warm all Easter. Enjoy, and have a blessed time!

# posted by geoff @ 4:23 pm

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Sackcloth with ashes

You said, Geoff, you were forced to wear this today..... is everything ok? Wow, I always thought it meant repentance, but see it means mourning etc. Thanks for the page.

# posted by Caroline @ 7:26 am

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Took a look....

at the Speakers list, thanks.

Interesting that they know in advance what they will speak on and I am presuming they have spirit guided talks. I am sure they do.

Of course I come from a completely different perspective here: I (as you know) am in a home church situation, and I get to have my little word every Sunday morning in the group. I used to read and plan this in advance. For the last 12 months I've been living on the edge and on an early Sunday morning walk, getting the main body of it, and then when the crunch comes and having to deliver what you gleaned, it's often pure hope and faith which gets me there! However, some of what one speaks is based on previous experiences..... and not too bad.

If I was speaking at a world/large convention, I guess a simple little walk and talk a couple of hours beforehand wouldn't do the trick:(

Do you think Peter (for example) in Acts 10 spent time beforehand with God to find what he should say? Or did he just "open his mouth" and out it all flowed?

Oh well.. lots of chitter chatter early in the morning..... not all with too much clarity, I suspect. I'll tell you what! I won't edit this, and lets see how it comes out.....

Have a nice Easter folks, and a VERY NICE Belgrave convention....

# posted by Caroline @ 7:25 am

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Wednesday, April 07, 2004

'Nuffin Much

Got a nice Easter card from someone special - it said "Somebunny loves you!" Thank you!

Our 3-week break is a break from BSF (which as Gary has plainly indicated is much needed and appreciated by all).

Sadly, Charles Price won't be at BHC, but look here for the speakers and topics - it sounds good.

It was a good idea to ask Gary the question from that other place, about how the Holy Spirit deals differently with different people. I still believe He's not fickle, so all the limitations (and errors) come from us! But we'll hear what Gary's got to say (or anyone else... awake!).

And today's been hectic, trying to do 5 days work in 4 (which, between long coffee breaks, doesn't leave near enough time). And today, I was forced to wear sackcloth (with ashes) - so looked it up and there's an interesting study of "Clothed in Sackcloth". Now, how does this differ from putting on the hair-shirt? Whatever, getting into sackcloth makes you feel like the Easter Bunny!

I promise to do Habakkuk tomorrow.

# posted by geoff @ 5:14 pm

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Belgrave convention

So Geoff, this convention is on again? Is Charles Price coming again?
Do you have a variety of speakers?

Carol

# posted by Caroline @ 9:55 am

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Question for Gary.

Gary, the question has come up ...... does the Holy Spirit always lead people to do the same thing?

This is a huge problem in the churches and religious world, and I feel can be the cause of selfrighteousness and rules in churches.

A leader in the church can feel moved to not do or do and so on..... something...... and then this is projected to all others down the line. Then the problems start. People judge people who don't think the same as them.... and yet they feel they got prompted by the HS.

Theres a famous christian woman (I've forgotten her name, but can get it) who got proposed to by 5 different good christian men... all claiming God prompted them to ask her to marry them. Hmmmmmm.......

Well Gary, I look forward to your reply here.

Have a lovely Easter.
Carol

# posted by Caroline @ 9:54 am

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Me offended?

Geoff, I would have thought YOU would be offended!!!!!!!!
I havn't written anything here at all for such a long time. Please forgive me.... it's been one of those few weeks where everyone seems to need me ...... f I can put it that way.

Is it nice to feel needed?
Hmmmm
Depends who needs you!
haha

I look very much forward to your posting today on Habakkuk. Thanks!

You referred to your three week break.
A break from work?
A break from the internet.... hence various lists and blogs???

I have one more question which I shall address to Gary (give him the hard work to do!) in a new post here.

Carol

# posted by Caroline @ 9:51 am

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Can we pray for football success?

Very good question, Gary.
I don't know!

However, the one thing I do know is..... that we can ask God anything ...... IF we have the right motives.

What are "right motives"?
I guess they are prayers motivated by Godly desires........ for the Kingdom in some way.

What do you think??

Love Carol:)

# posted by Caroline @ 9:46 am

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Tuesday, April 06, 2004

Praying...

... for my footy team! (because they certainly need it, but not as much as Dave's team just now)

Gary asked:
You should pray for your football team. Carol is it ok to pray for football success? He should pray for other reasons: two codes of football in Australia have been rocked by scandals of sexual behaviour by yobos of players. Yet some are good people. Nathan Buckley wrote the other day in the paper that he learnt discipline and many skills through football. The Buckleys are wild Port Adelaide people!

Is Carol the keeper of our morals here? I think she would do a good job. We could give her the nickname of our "Oracle" (am I being sacrilegeous??? - another one for the Oracle!) I have a feeling that you're right about Nathan Buckley being a reformed wild lad (his nickname was "fig jam" which doesn't bear thinking about here, amongst you genteel folk). But now as you say Gary, he's coming across as the moral fibre of the AFL. Sadly, Eddie Macguire in Sunday's Age was reported as suggesting "with people no longer turning to the church for 'moral guidance', the AFL and the clubs might step into the gap".

What is the world coming to? And what a sad indictment on the church!

Carol, if you're still with us and not offended by us all (hopefully!), I plan tomorrow to write something specifically for you, from our last BSF study of Habakkuk (before our 3-week Easter break, which we're all enjoying!).

What is everybody doing for Easter? We're meeting with lots of good friends at Belgrave Heights convention (teaching from Deuteronomy and Romans - great!)

# posted by geoff @ 5:10 pm

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Sunday, April 04, 2004

going to Queenscliff

My church has a number of social groups and yesterday the 50's aprrox. had a trip to Queenscliff. I'm writing this because

1. noone has put anything on this site for a week

2. I think that it is good to be in a church with a extensive range of activities. It is generally thought in the Anglican sceen that a church with a single clergy is too difficult & too stressful for one person. Of course the clergy could involve lay people more, but what would that do .....

Gary

# posted by Anonymous @ 6:54 am

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