The Hunt For Gollum

Fan Fiction is big business, and The Lord of the Rings is no exception. Fans have recently worked on a forty minute film, which is to be released this weekend on the internet.



I heard about this on Radio Ulster earlier in the week, as the producer is a guy from Portadown. I wonder what JRR Tolkein would make of it!

Baby Beautiful

We're hitting the B's this time in "what's on your iPod?"

Baby Boy - Beyonce
Baby, Now That I've Found You - Alison Krauss
Bad - Michael Jackson
Bad Medicine - Bon Jovi
Bailero - Katherine Jenkins
Ballymac Set - Haste to the Wedding
Ballymoor Grousebeaters - Clubsound
Bathroom Floor - Booley
Bat Out Of Hell - Meatloaf
Beat It - Michael Jackson
Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
Beautiful Day - U2

Haste to the Wedding were our wedding band (as their name even suggests!). Favourite song in this collection is Bad, but only if it's the John Piper edition:

The Challenge of Islam: Book Review

Recently, we had Patrick Sookhdeo of the Barnabas Fund speaking in our church, and after the services there was the opportunity to pick up some of his books. This one, to give it its full title of The Challenge of Islam to the Church and its Mission, was a great introduction to the beliefs and behaviours of Muslims, and provided some pointers on how to tell Muslims the good news of Jesus Christ, God's Son.

In the first section, he sets out some background to understanding Islam. Interesting topics such as Muhammad, the Qur'an, and the five pillars of Islam. Despite Islam being in the news so much, there's probably a general ignorance as to what it's all about, and the book helpfully highlights some of Islam's claims.

These claims are then weighed against the claims of Jesus Christ, with a useful comparison to show that, in the words of Al Mohler, 'We may find common ground on some issues, but the Muslim worldview and the Christian worldview differ radically. No informed person should be unaware of the basic incompatibility of Christianity and Islam.'

The key difference (among many others) is centred on the person of the Lord Jesus. Sookhdeo demonstrates that the Islamic declaration that 'There is no god but God (Allah) and Muhammad is his prophet' is aimed directly against the Son of God, Jesus Christ. By claiming that only Allah is God, they deny the divinity of Jesus Christ, and by claiming Mohammed as the only prophet, deny that Jesus Christ is the Word became flesh, the final revelation of God the Father, the one true capital P Prophet.

Certain key issues are then discussed, relating to cultural and social aspects, including the treatment of women, and the implementation of shari'a law in Western countries. In this section, Sookhdeo describes the reluctance of Islamic states to modernise, holding on to their customs which would horrify any liberal human rights lawyer, while seeking to try to introduce such laws and customs into the United Kingdom.

The final section of the book then seeks to help Christians, and especially Christian leaders to think through the issues involved in Christian-Muslim dialogue and shared projects. Here there is to be found some timely advice on inter-faith issues, particularly where the pattern appears to be that Christians bend over backwards to facilitate and welcome Muslims to speak in pulpits, but without any opportunity on the other side.

Patrick Sookhdeo has been a controversial figure - a google search of his name confirms this almost immediately - and yet the book is extremely important as we think through the issues and strategy to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God and of Jesus the King to all people, and especially Muslims.

April Review

This is my 50th posting in April, again, the most of any April on the blog. This year is definitely setting records in blog postings! We also had our first ever guest post on the Emmaus Road.

April is the month for fools, and on the blog, I was no exception. There was the sermon on the fool from Psalm 1, a foolish TV news announcer, some foolishness of my own in Lanzarote about the Amy Grant museum, and a round-up of links to other April Fools blogging.

Easter fell in April this year, so there were lots of reflections on Holy Week, with a special focus on the betrayal of Judas, parts 1, 2, 3, and 4. There was music for Good Friday, a sermon on the Wednesday of Holy Week, and some thoughts on the resurrection from Eugene Petersen and Bruce Milne.

Book reviews featured this month were on The Cross of Christ, The Horse and His Boy, Christ in the Passover, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Living the Resurrection, and The Kite Runner.

Sermons were from Psalm 14, Luke 4 (audio), Galatians 6 (audio), and Titus 2 (audio) and 3 (audio).

In the "what's on your iPod?" feature we had Candy to Chocolate, I, I, I, Red River, and music for Good Friday.

My favourite blog posting from April was Weeds and Sins.

Four months are gone in 2009, a third of the year. So far in 2009 we have had 168 blog postings, which is getting close to the total number for 2008. Here's to May...

The Unpopular Calling

Isaiah 6 is probably one of the favoured passages for those 'called' of the Lord. There we read the call of Isaiah to be a prophet, with its stirring imagery of the LORD seated on the throne, high and lifted up. There's the sound of the seraphim, the angels calling to one another "holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" There's the drama of the moment when Isaiah cries out 'woe is me' which is resolved when the burning coal from the altar is touched to his lips. There's the resounding question "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

But herein lies the problem. Normally when we read this, particularly in church, we stop when Isaiah heroically steps forward and says "Here am I! Send me." Verse 8, quick, close your Bible. He's going, and so should you!

Yet when we read on, we find that the 'call' Isaiah responds to wasn't easy, and certainly wasn't going to be popular. His message is one to the people, telling them to keep listening but not understanding, to proclaim the word of the Lord in order to harden the hearts of the people so that they won't turn or be saved.

Now then, are we so willing to respond? You might come back and say, ah but that was the Old Testament - now as Gospel ministers we call people to be saved with the good news of the Kingdom.

Yes, and yet at the same time, our message is still not popular. Our message that salvation is possible and available is not welcomed by some. And in the end, our message continues to harden some people who will never respond to God, continuing to reject God's word as we all naturally do.

So why respond to God's call? Why proclaim God's word? Because there is still hope - that some will respond! Not all turn from God's word, and as the final words of his commission declares: 'The holy seed is its stump' Even though the most of the nation will be destroyed because of their disobedience, there remains a holy remnant, who will be saved. God's word is effective and powerful.

There's an old Puritan saying: The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay. God's word melts the hearts of some, while hardening others. Our job is to faithfully proclaim and let the word do the work.

Old Getting

Today I've been marking my 28th birthday. The day started down in Newcastle, finishing off the retreat with a reflective session and then a feedback on the past year of CME. This was the last time for Adrian and Craig, but come September we'll be joined by the new Deacons in the diocese. At lunch, there was a birthday cake, a pleasant surprise.

Then it was off home to see Lyns and spend some time together. 28 years ago I was born, and dad missed going to see Northern Ireland beat Portugal 1-0 as he had to come and see me! Incidentally, Northern Ireland went on to qualify for the 1982 World Cup in Spain through that victory.

So now I embark on my 29th year. Only God knows what's in store. Here goes!

Retreating

Just a quick posting from Newcastle, where I'm on our CME retreat. CME stands for Continuing Ministry Education, and is a programme for ministers in their first three years of Curacy. As well as providing a monthly get-together for curates gathering around the Word of God with a meal, it allows us to discuss issues we encounter and continue to learn!

At the end of each year's series there is a retreat in the Glenada Centre. The venue is excellent, food great, and as I discovered earlier, WiFi in the main building! As we meet in the conference room, or eat meals, we're looking out onto Dundrum Bay and towards the Irish Sea. Even better, the weather has been mostly good.

Part of the idea behind the retreat is to de-stress, so I was out last night with the camera in Kilkeel- expect photos when I'm home again. This afternoon we had some free time and I did an impromptu tour of the Kingdom of Mourne, round by Bryansford, Spelga Dam, discovered the ruins of Clonduff old church, Hilltown, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor and back by Kilkeel and Annalong.

However the main reason we're here is to do business with God, being sustained and refreshed by His Word. Bishop Ken Clarke has been leading our sessions. Last night he spoke on our call to follow Jesus. Sometimes we can be so busy leading others we forget to follow. Further, the call to follow means leaving the nets behind, the old habits which have a hold on us. While there is the initial leaving of nets when we come to faith, there are other things we also need to leave behind as we continue on the journey.

Today has been spent looking at the privileges and pressures of ministry, and dealing with stress. Lots to think about and act upon. Back to home tomorrow and back to parish life.

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Tonight in St Elizabeth's we had a service of Confirmation with the Bishop of Down and Dromore, Rt Rev Harold Miller. Six young people (and another from Killyleagh) stood up in front of the congregation and declared that they are following Jesus.

I had the privilege to lead the Confirmation course this year, and really enjoyed the time spent with these guys teaching them the basics of Christian faith and doctrine, and trying to answer their questions.

Please do be praying for them as they continue to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Red River

Another in our What's on your iPod feature.

Red and Black - Les Miserables
Red Sea - Prince of Egypt Soundtrack
Redeemer - Heart of Worship
Rehab - Amy Winehouse
Rejoice Greatly - Handel: Messiah
Rejoice With Trembling - Matt Redman
The Reprimand - Prince of Egypt Soundtrack
Return To Sender - Elvis Presley
Returning Home - Emma Johnson
Revelation - Matt Redman
Revival Town - Delirious?
Ride of the Valkyries - Wagner
The Right Time - The Corrs
Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
River Lullaby - Amy Grant (Prince of Egypt Soundtrack)
River of Dreams - Hayley Westenra

This version of River of Dreams is considerably different from the famous Billy Joel song also called River of Dreams, which I now realise should be on my iPod! Also, The Ride of the Valkyries has to be one of the best pieces of classical music, ever.

Marketing Failure?

Last week it was reported on the BBC news website that Hamley's the toy shop was pulling out of Victoria Square shopping centre.

This was a big shock to me - not at the loss of another trader from Belfast's newest development, but because I didn't even know it was in Victoria Square in the first place!

The company is claiming that they are ending their association with House of Fraser, and pulling out of having small Hamley's branches within big House of Fraser stores, to instead concentrate on having stand-alone Hamley's stores.

I'm sure I'm not the only person in Northern Ireland that didn't know that there was a Hamley's store in Belfast. In fact, I only realised it was there when I saw a friend's photo of the House of Fraser store on Flickr. Situated on the top floor of House of Fraser, it wasn't somewhere I had ventured, and there didn't appear to be any signs highlighting its existence.

It will be sad to see it go, and perhaps is another sign of the uncertainty of the times, as it leaves in the wake of Zavvi, Crombie, and even possibly French Connection.

Is it simply a marketing failure, by not getting its message out, so that people weren't even aware of its existence? Perhaps. Farewell Hamley's. I'll see you in London!

Discipleship Explored

Last night we kicked off on a new programme of Fellowship Groups across (and even outside) the parish. Small groups of Christians are meeting together to study Psalms, Daniel, Ephesians, and in the Upper Room, Philippians through Discipleship Explored.

Discipleship Explored is, as the name suggests, the follow-up course to Christianity Explored, specifically geared towards new Christians, but suitable for all Christians who want to grow and mature in their faith. The format is similar, with group discussions, and the DVD presentations.

The first session is on being Confident in Christ, from Philippians 1:1-11, and specifically verse 6: 'And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.'

This is my first real exposure to the ... Explored material, and I'm impressed with the DVD presentations and the supporting material for group discussion. Barry Cooper presents the talks in the DVD series, filmed in and around London, and helpfully explains the passage and some of the implications, before the discussion questions help participants to apply it to their lives and situations.

The next session is in two weeks time, and hopefully I'll remember to blog on it too!

The Kite Runner: Book Review

Khaled Hosseini has produced two epic stories of life in Afghanistan, both of which are great reads. Earlier I blogged about A Thousand Splendid Suns, and mentioned that having run out of books on holiday, I had to buy something to read on the way home. Having spotted Hosseini's first book, I immediately bought it.

Unlike the other novel, though, The Kite Runner is told through the eyes and views of a single narrator, Amir. Amir lives with his father in Kabul, along with their servant and his son Hassan. The title comes from the old custom of kite competitions in Kabul where each competitor attempts to break the string of their opponents' kites, which are then fair game for anyone to capture. The kite runner is the one who runs after the freed kite to catch it.

Hosseini provides a realistic, vivid picture of life, and the reader is transported to the joys of childhood in Afghanistan, before experiencing the horrors of war and terrible personal circumstances. Things aren't quite as simple as they may appear to Amir, and the story develops into him seeking to redeem and make up for both family and personal wrongs and failings.

Along with the gut-wrenching sadness of some of the twists, this is a novel with a glimmer of hope. It has also been released on DVD, so I'll maybe try to see it sometime soon, to see how the adaptation has been handled.

On The Inside

Last Saturday, I was inside a prison. Hadn't been charged for anything (except the entry), and wasn't locked up in a cell. In fact, we had free access, and a wee man showing us round.

Flickr is, as I've previously said, a little community of people who enjoy photography and meeting people. Through it, I've made some good friends, and so on Saturday I met up with two of them in Belfast city centre.



By pure randomness, we headed up towards the Crumlin Road, where we discovered that there are now guided tours around the prison. The slightly annoying thing was that you can't pay for the tour there, but have to buy the tickets at the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, which we had walked past. The guides were helpful, though, and provided a mobile phone and a call through to the centre to pay for tickets by credit card.



The tour itself lasts an hour, and is well worth the £5 admission fee. On the tour, you hear stories from the building of the prison, the common experience of prisoners, and also some Troubles related material.



*Spoilers* Along the way, you see the 'reception room' - where prisoners were strip-searched, then washed, the governor's hall (which prisoners wouldn't have seen), the circle, then down into the tunnel beneath the road which links the Crumlin Road Courthouse to the Crumlin Road jail. From there, you're taken into C wing, shown the prison routine and various cells before being taken into the condemned cell - where those awaiting execution by hanging were kept. After seeing the execution place, you're taken outside to see the place where some prisoners are still buried, within the prison grounds. The tour ends in B wing, where Rev Dr Ian Paisley spent some time in the 1960's, and a look into a padded cell (which is not where Paisley was housed!).



The tour moves quite quickly though, as there are tours about every fifteen minutes, so there wasn't much time for photos to be taken. But all in all, an interesting part of Belfast's history, and well worth a visit! At least you're guaranteed to be released after an hour and not kept for twenty years!

Refreshing The Vision

Last night I was present at the evening in St Saviour's Church, Dollingstown (one of my training parishes), hosted by the Evangelical Fellowship of Irish Clergy (EFIC). The speaker was the Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, who spoke on 'Refreshing The Vision.'

The vision to be refreshed is that of the (Anglican) Church's commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ over His Church, and of recognising God's authority in the Bible. It was a stirring, and very challenging, call to stand for the faith once delivered to the saints, in the midst of worldwide turmoil as the Church departs from the Scriptures in the area of human sexuality.

Speaking from Jeremiah 9:12-26, he pointed out three major things, as God spoke to the Old Testament Church, which God is still speaking to the Church today:

1. The crisis Jeremiah is dealing with came about because the people of God turned away from his word. It was, essentially, a crisis of authority - would they listen to and obey God's voice, or would they listen to and obey the world, the flesh and the devil? 'Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it, but have stubbornly followed after their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them' (verses 13-14)

2. The crisis is the unleashing of God's wrath against his disobedient people. In verses 15-22, we see the terrible picture of the Lord's judgement in Israel, and judgement always comes first on the Church. Part of the current problems is that we haven't taken sin seriously at all - rather there is the 'sanctifying of sin' - saying that sin and our sinful actions aren't actually a problem. The 'inclusive Jesus' is spoken about, without the call to repentance, the call to change.

3. The Lord's people ought to be like the LORD - both in understanding and knowing Him, and in practicing steadfast love, justice and righteousness, because in these things, the LORD delights.

In another post, I'll write some more on his thoughts on the implications of the current crisis in Anglicanism, as well as what is needed in this hour. But even the above provides food for thought.

Sermon Audio: Titus 3: 1-7

Here's last night's sermon, Gospel Transformation, from Titus 3. How should Christians relate to government and society? What is the change in Christians that happens at and after conversion? We also look at why the Christian life isn't a list of moral do's and dont's, but rather a life of grateful response to God's mercy and grace.




090419pm Titus 3 1-7 Gary McMurray.mp3

Sermon: Titus 3: 1-7

I wonder if you’ve ever seen the Channel 4 programme, How Clean Is Your House? Each week, Kim and Aggie go to the house of someone who is in dire need of help. Their house hasn’t been cleaned in fifteen or twenty years. The living is a mess of papers or takeaway wrappers or whatever, and it needs to be transformed. After a lot of hard work, some cleaning secrets, and half an hour of television, the house is like new. You wouldn’t recognise it. Something dirty, unclean, is transformed by cleaning.

In the Bible reading tonight, we see something similar happening. Paul is writing to his young colleague, Titus, who is on the island of Crete. He’s there to help establish the church, and teach sound doctrine. But just as important as getting the doctrine right, Paul also wants to see the Christians live out what they believe. As we saw right back in chapter 1, ‘knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness.’

But unlike the cleaning programme on TV, or indeed any of the makeover kind of programmes, Paul sets out right at the start of this passage how the Christians are to behave. In the programmes, you see the state of the house, then all the effort to get it set right, and only in the last couple of minutes, the finished article. Yet here, Paul says how the Christian should behave straight away.

Earlier in the letter, he dealt with behaviour in the church (chapter 1, with his emphasis on leaders), and in the home (chapter 2). Now he turns his attention to the state and society. How should Christians behave in relation to the government?

In verse 1, Paul says we should be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, and to be ready for every good work. Is this the mark of Christians today? Are we submissive and obedient to the authorities? You might even be offended by me asking that question - and yet it’s still an issue for us. Do we obey the laws of the land, or bend some of them? For some, it’s straightforward - we don’t kill people, and we don’t rob banks. But what about laws like speed limits? Or traffic lights?

The reason Paul sets being ready for every good work here is because over in Romans 13 (:3-4), he writes of the duties of government - to approve the good and punish the evil. As we submit to government, then, we support them in being ready to do good, just as they approve what is good. Yet, as can sometimes happen, the government perverts things, and approves what is evil, and punishes what is good - in these circumstances, we must recognise God’s over-arching authority, and obey God rather than men.

Widening the picture from government, to those around us, Paul gives us four patterns of behaviour, two negative and two positive: speak evil of no one, avoid quarrelling, being gentle, and showing perfect courtesy towards all people. Are these how we are known around Dundonald? Are these the things that non-Christians would say or notice about us?

This, then, is the standard that Paul sets out for Christians. It should be so different from those around us, because, as Paul goes on to point out, this isn’t how things are. It also isn’t how things were for Paul and the other believers before they became Christians. Notice at the start of verse 3: ‘For we ourselves were once...’

Here’s how it was: Rather than being obedient and submissive to authority, we were foolish, disobedient, led astray, and slaves to various passions and pleasures. It’s not a very positive picture Paul paints, is it? Because, you see, he’s not just thinking of human authority here. He’s also thinking of God’s authority, which we disobey, and turn astray. As Isaiah 53:6 says: ‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.’

As well as this, our attitudes to those around us wasn’t much better: ‘passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.’ This is fairly bleak stuff. Rather than seeking the best for others, putting them before ourselves, the picture of those without Christ is one of me first - viewing others with malice and envy. Malice is wishing the worst for others, while envy is being jealous of what others have. The summary at the end there, hated by others and hating one another seems harsh, and yet, in the core of our being, this is probably true.

We’ve seen what Paul calls for in Christians, and we’ve seen how things were before. The two are completely different - there’s obviously a change involved when we come to faith, when we turn to Christ. But what is it brings about the transformation? Is it some lessons in treating others nicely? Is it having our backbone removed? Is it something that we work up within ourselves, so that we try really, really hard to be nice to people?

No. None of the above. To be blunt, nothing that we can do can make us change from hating others to being submissive and obedient. Just as in the How Clean Is Your House programme, it takes something from outside, to do what the person themselves cannot do.

Paul says: ‘But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us.’ It took the intervention of God our Saviour, and specifically the Lord Jesus (who seems to be referred to here as the goodness and loving kindness). And how was it that God our Saviour saves people?

Notice that Paul spells out that it’s not because of us, or what we have done: ‘not because of works done by us in righteousness’ - that would have been impossible. Malice, envy, hatred aren’t exactly what God is looking for! This is entirely Paul’s point. Because our actions are always evil, we can’t expect to be saved by them.

Rather, our only hope is being saved by God’s mercy and his grace. Those twin characteristics go together, and we see them here in this passage too - verse 5 and verse 7. We are saved by his mercy and justified by his grace. Mercy is when God does not give us what our deeds deserve. Grace is when God gives us what we don’t deserve.

Our evil deeds deserve the judgement and condemnation of a holy God. Yet that holy God, in the person of the Lord Jesus, took our sins, died for them, died for us, taking the punishment that we deserve. He doesn’t give us what we deserve. But more than that, he then gives us what we don’t deserve. We don’t deserve to be welcomed into heaven, to be seen as justified (just as if I’d never sinned), yet he does this for us too.

Yet, as if even this weren’t enough, Paul goes even further in describing how God’s mercy and grace have been given to us. Earlier we were talking about the cleaning of the houses in the TV programme. Here we see the washing of regeneration. God brings about his transformation in us, not through brainwashing, but through soul-washing! The washing, the cleansing that comes about through Jesus’ blood is that which regenerates us - makes us new, and changes us. Another picture is that of renewal - renewal of the Holy Spirit, which again makes us new.

[Some might think that this washing of regeneration refers to Baptism, so that when we are baptised, then we are born again, but this is inaccurate. Baptism is a symbol of the regeneration, the washing or cleansing of the believer, which has already happened. Baptism is the public sign of what has already happened in the individual’s life, as a believer, or of what we pray will happen as we baptise the children of believers.]

This passage is, if you will, the testimony of a believer. Here is how I now live, but it was not always like this. And here is how the transformation came about. As we’ve seen already in Titus, a change in behaviour comes as a result of the gospel, as we respond to what God has done for us in Christ.

So where are you in this scheme? Are you a believer already? If so, then how does this appear in your life? Can those around see something different in the way you live, compared to the others in the factory or office or classroom? Let’s be clear that the passage isn’t asking you to pull your socks up, or to try a bit harder. Rather, it’s a call to recognise what God has done for you, and to live in response to that.

Or maybe you’re not yet a believer. You identify very well with that description of the non-Christian - malice, envy, hating others and being hated. You don’t like how things are, you want to change, but you don’t know how. Look to Christ, and find the grace and mercy that he provides - he who was hated and despised, who went to the cross to bear the punishment for your sin. He can wash you clean, and save you tonight, if you will ask him.

This sermon was preached at Sundays at 6.30 in St Elizabeth's Halls, Dundonald on Sunday 19th April, 2009.

If You Don't Want To Know The Score

... look away now.

So said the lady doing the sports report on the late BBC news bulletin last night. It's a moment of warning that the results from the Premiership football matches will be shown on the screen, and if you're waiting to watch Match of the Day afterwards, then you can avoid knowing how your team has done, and see how it transpires in the highlights.

Which made what happens next quite funny, but probably also horrible for those in this boat. Imagine avoiding all news and sports coverage all evening, stopping friends from telling you how your favourite team got on, being two minutes away from the start of Match of the Day, and then this happens:

The results are shown on the screen, and then the sports reporter reads them out as well! She had said to look away, but you haven't closed your ears, and so the suspense is ruined, the results are broadcast.

Reminds me of this world. Some people run about, not wanting to know what's coming next, or how it's all going to end up. Yet the answer is there for us already, in the Scriptures. Revelation (while some of it may be hard to understand), plainly shows that the Lord Jesus has won and that he is going to return as King and Judge, to send the guilty to hell and to usher in the new heavens and the new earth in his perfect reign forever.

Why anyone wouldn't want to know the final score astounds me - because it gives us confidence as we live for Christ and witness for him - he will return and take us to be with him.

This Little Light of Mine

There seems to be a current fashion for advertisers to use songs from Sunday School. Previously, we noted the corruption of 'He's got the Whole World in His Hands' for PSP. The other day, I noticed another in this trend, using the song 'This Little Light of Mine, I'm gonna let it shine' to advertise the new Honda hybrid car.



"Everyone wants to be good. And now, there's a hybrid for everyone. The affordable Honda Insight." So declares the commercial. Therefore, to be good, you should buy this car - it's the secret to the world's problems. To use the title of Nick Hornby's novel, it's How To Be Good.

While the idea for the ad is certainly clever, it's almost distracting. Shining your little light might be about being good, but certainly not in a being good for the sake of it kind of way - no, it's about witnessing for Jesus Christ, shining the light of the gospel for Him in this dark world.

So while buying a hybrid car might be slightly better for the environment, this suggests that you can be "good" based on your choice of car. I don't think so!

The Resurrection and Us

Earlier in the week I blogged about Eugene Peterson's Living The Resurrection. It didn't really help me understand or relate to the resurrection. It's funny how things can come together - God-incidences, I suppose, but I was doing some reading for TASTE * and the set reading happened to include a section from Bruce Milne's Know The Truth on the Work of Christ.

It was heartwarming to read just why the resurrection matters, and then later, how it should affect us in responding to (or you could say, living) the resurrection.

The resurrection matters because it:
- fulfills Christ's priestly work. 'In the resurrection God the Father in effect pronounced his divine 'Amen' on the priestly work of his Son. He openly declared it effective; real atonement has been attained... Further, in the risen Christ we see our flesh-and-blood humanity preserved and affirmed before God on the further side of condemnation, wrath and all the assaults of evil. Here is humankind beyond the reach of judgement.'

- manifests his kingly work. 'His resurrection proclaims his victory over all three (sin, death and the powers of darkness)... The risen Jesus is the evidence of God's victory in him over all challenges to his lordship and rule and therefore demonstrates the establishment of the kingdom of God.'

- embodies the promise of his future reign. 'The risen Jesus is the 'first-fruits' of the coming harvest of the dead at his return in glory.'

The resurrection means the following for the Christian: joy, peace, worship, hope, and victory. In view of Christ's resurrection, we know that we reign with him, are seated with him, and our life is hidden in Christ. Therefore, we set our minds on the things that are above, living to please him, as we know the joy of the Lord, the peace that comes from knowing we are under no condemnation, worshipping the one who has been revealed as the Son of God, looking forward to his return, and celebrating in the victory he has won for us.

What does the resurrection mean? Everything for the Christian!


* TASTE stands for Training at St Elizabeth's, and is a monthly meeting of people eager to learn the tools of word ministry, preaching, doctrine, training papers and discussing leading the people of God.

I, I, I

Eyes Down, this is a full house of songs starting with I, the latest in our What's on your iPod? series.

I Adore - Piano Chill
I Am Yours - Matt Redman
I Believe - Andy Park
I Believe - Hillsong
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - Lemar
I Believe In Jesus - Heart Of Worship
I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever - Sonicflood
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever - Delirious?
I Dreamed A Dream - Les Misérables
I Heard the Sound of Voices - Robin Mark
I Know A Place - Piano Chill
I know that my Redeemer liveth - Handel: Messiah
I Know You By Heart - Eva Cassidy
I Love You Lord - Summer Madness
I Never Loved You Anyway - The Corrs
I Saw Him Once / In My Life / A Heart Full Of Love - Les Miserables
I Sing A Simple Song Of Love - Piano Chill
I Stand Amazed - Summer Madness 1999
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
I Try - Macy Gray
I Walk the Line - Johnny Cash
I Want To Know You - In The Secret - Sonicflood
I Will Follow - U2
I Will Get There [Acappella] - Boyz II Men
I Will Love You For The Cross - Heart Of Worship
I Will Never Be The Same - Summer Madness 2001
I would beside my Lord be watching - Bach: St Matthew Passion
I.D. - Kasabian
I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) - Meat Loaf
I'll Be There For You - Bon Jovi
I'll Fly Away - Bond
I'll Stand by You - Girls Aloud
I'm Forever Grateful - Heart Of Worship
(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles - Maxïmo Park
I'm Not Ashamed - Delirious?
I'm Scared - Duffy
I've Been To A Marvellous Party - The Divine Comedy
I've Found Jesus - Delirious?

Quite a collection. I think my favourite song of this bunch is Johnny Cash: I walk the line.