Devotional

Finding News in Other Places

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Pieter Stok

Yesterday I suggested seeking alternative sources for news. Below is a very small cross section of the places one can go. You may wish to suggest others. There are both Christian and secular websites referenced. The point is simple: in this Internet age there are websites as well bloggers on the ground who can inform us across a wider spectrum and remove us from the need to source our news exclusively from the commercial news giants. After all my aim in life is not to make Rupert Murdock, for one, richer and even more influential.

Home

http://Ywam.org

http://www.wvi.org

http://www.compassion.com.au/content/newsroom/gjso08

http://www.icrc.org/eng/

http://www.tear.org.au/projects/news

http://www.msf.org.au/

https://www.oxfam.org.au/media/category/releases/

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Education, Faith, Reflections, World Views | Tags: News | 7 Comments

Community – My Responsibility

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Pieter Stok

I was teaching teachers the other day. I had to do the same sample lesson twice to two different groups. On this occasion my computer decided not to speak to the data projector so all the sample material I wanted to use couldn’t be displayed. Instead, I would have to tell them about it. Not an ideal but a workable, if clumsy, alternative. I explained this to each group. In one group they took this in their stride and made the most of the situation. The time allocated was nearly too short. In the other, no matter how positive I was there were one or two negative people who pulled down the group. It was hard to believe I was teaching the same lesson.

I made a couple of mental notes: teachers can be just as helpful, or annoying, as students. But I also reflected on my own behaviour in group situations. Did I always try to build up the group, especially when not everything was going as it should? How does my attitude affect those around me?

In community, our attitudes are so important. Community is such a precious and fragile treasure. Nurtured and supported it is beautiful and life affirming, but if it is neglected, or worse, deliberately sabotaged, it becomes a place of pain and anger. Broken community displays the uglier aspects of our human nature.

This incident reminded me that healthy community requires a deliberate attitude on my part. It requires a sense of grace and forgiveness – it requires me to treat others just as I wish to be treated.

Now where have I heard that before?

Categories: community, Devotional, Faith, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tags: Christian, Devotion, Faith, forgiveness | 2 Comments

A Trove of Memories

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Pieter Stok

Yesterday I reflected on the importance of local museums to keep the culture and history of an area alive. Some countries, such as Sweden, do this very well. Spiritually this is important too.

In the OT in Joshua Chapter 4 God ordered his people to collect 12 stones from the river bed as memorial to what he done for His people. In contrast, we have not been good at remembering our past in recent times. One can enter many modern churches and could nearly believe that faith started with them. The songs are new, there is no reference to the the traditions or history of the church. It is as though 2000 years of church history doesn’t exist. Hasn’t happened. Even the Bible is used as a lucky dip of quotes or examples of warm and fuzzy ideas. There is a spooky sense of being disembodied from the church universal.

We see this self centredness in a variety of other ways too. God is all about keeping me happy. Prophecies and Bible predictions are about now and our time in history and no thought is given to the context of the Bible passage. My pet peeve is the way Jeremiah 29:11 (He has plans to prosper you) is bandied about without any thought to why God said it and when. The modern attitude is: It feels good to me so I will apply it. We aren’t so glib with passages that promise punishment or disaster however – that won’t make me happy.

We need a trove of memories of how God has dealt with his people in the past – both from Biblical times and 2000 years of church history. This gives perspective, balance and puts God and His purposes in the centre of the picture and not ourselves.

Categories: Bible, christian, Christianity, Church, Devotional, Faith, Uncategorized | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Church, Devotion, Faith | 6 Comments

Walking

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Pieter Stok

I have been walking most of my life. I believe I was about 10 months old when I took my first step but it has been only in recent years that my wife and I have taken up walking as a pastime – hiking.

Over the last week and a half we have been doing a lot of day walks and one overnight stay. We clocked up quite a few kilometres. Apart from the obvious physical benefits there are many others as well.

Personally, the most amazing revelation is the beauty of creation from the smallest flower to the largest tree and from a ferned gully to a majestic mountains and cliffs. One’s heart cannot fail to declare, “O Lord our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth.” That is reinforced when out in the blackness of the bush at night away from city light pollution; the numbers of stars in the sky is breathtaking.

As a couple another benefit is time together. We don’t talk the whole time but we can simply enjoy each other’s company away from the hurly burly of life. In some places we walked we wouldn’t see other people for many hours. We had to like each other because there was no one else. We can sometimes become so busy we fail to acknowledge the importance of those around us. Walking is an antidote to that condition.

But there is also time time to reflect within yourself. It is a good time for a personal audit of your priorities, relationships, faith, work and life in general. One can stop, breath and be reminded why God has placed us on the earth in the first place.

My knees and ankles are, for the moment, thanking me that I have stopped. The problem with taking up serious walking later in life is that body is in a state of shock – for days.

Categories: christian, Devotional, Faith, Hiking, Walking | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith | 2 Comments

A Criminal’s Amazing Insight

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Pieter Stok

There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “ Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:38-42

Koln Dom

There is remarkable incident is recorded by Luke in the 23^rd chapter of his gospel. Jesus is on the cross and the Roman soldiers have mockingly added a sign that declared that Jesus was the king of the Jews. One of the criminals joined in the abuse of Jesus, but the other, in what can only be described as Spirit filled insight, rebukes his comrade in crime and asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus enters his kingdom.

Jesus replies with those amazing words, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

In a moment of revelation the second criminal understood he was in the presence of a king – more than a king, but THE king. This king wasn’t just the king of the Jews but the king of all creation. In a few days this crucified king would reveal the extent of that kingship when he arose from the dead. Jesus was the conqueror of death, destruction and decay!

This single event, the death and resurrection of Jesus, is the motivating reason for Christian education. Christian education has the role of declaring that Christ is truly the king over all creation. From Art to Maths, and Food Tech to English, these areas of creation (and every other one) are also what Jesus died and arose for. Christ died, not just for a loose collection of individuals but for the kingdom that Adam and Eve had plunged into disarray at the dawn of creation.

A Dutch theologian, Abraham Kuyper, famously put it this way, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!”

This Easter it is crucial to remember that Jesus died for our sins but let us not forget that he also died for a creation that, like us, needs to be redeemed. Jesus is our Saviour and also our King!

Categories: Bible, christian, christian education, Christianity, Devotional, Faith | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Easter, Faith, Good Friday | 5 Comments

Jesus, Our Personal Trainer – Not!

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Pieter Stok

“Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Joshua 5:13

Lord’s Day 1 Heidelberg Catechism

1. Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?
A. That I, with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who with his precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, wherefore by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Window in Chartres Cathedral

There is a common thread that runs through these three texts, that is, we are here to serve God, not the other way round. In western culture there has been a strong tendency for Christians to treat God as a personal trainer, a guru or spiritual aspirin. In other words God is there to serve us, make us comfortable and look after our needs. We are then massively disappointed and angry when this doesn’t occur. We have turned our Saviour into a servant and Lord into a lacky. We see it in so many sermons which have become “feel good” ear ticklers filled with trite psychology. Prosperity theology and the gold dust idiocy of recent years are just some of the more extreme examples of our tendency to twist Scripture to serve our purposes.

How has that happened? In part it is because we have failed to look at the more comprehensive picture of Jesus. Yes, he is a Saviour and he did come to save us, but he is also a king who has come to reclaim his kingdom. If we forget the second half of this picture it is easy to see how we fall into a self focussed faith.

As Joshua found out as he prowled around Jericho, and David when he was anointed King, and as Paul declares every-time one of his letters heralds “therefore” and as the Apostle John was enlightened on the island of Patmos, Jesus has a rightful claim on our lives, our service and our obedience, not the other way round. As his adopted brothers and sisters we have been co-opted into the Father’s business which is Kingdom building – rightfully declaring, claiming and striving for Christ’s rule over all things.

Looking at faith from this perspective removes our human tendency to self absorption and spiritual pride. Christianity would have died in the first century if the early church had our modern self centredness. Following Jesus was the cause of their problems not the solution, yet they rejoiced in the calling they had to serve the king.

Between Palm Sunday and Easter is a most appropriate time to reflect that the one who was crucified, rose from the dead as a triumphal King and liberator. We are privileged to be called citizens in this eternal kingdom!

Categories: christian, Christianity, Church, Devotional | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Church, Devotion, Faith | 8 Comments

Geddington, Grief and the Eleanor Cross

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Pieter Stok

The Eleanor Cross, Geddington on a gloomy day

In the delightful little village of Geddington in Northamptonshire there is a fine example of an Eleanor Cross. Edward 1st was so grief stricken by the death of his wife, Eleanor of Castile in 1290, that he erected fine stone crosses from Lincoln to London to mark where the body had rested on its journey. They are an amazing record of devotion. Today three of the 12 crosses survive and the Geddington cross is considered to be the best of these.

Edward had the power and wealth to manifest his grief in this physical manner. For the commoner on the other hand the memories and grief are usually less tangible. We may erect a headstone or another small plaque but our expression is limited.

What is the best memorial to erect? I believe the best memorial is the legacy that we leave to others and to a large degree that is in our own hands. And of all the legacies to leave, rather than wealth, fame, land and possessions, we cannot do better than pass on the power of faith in Jesus Christ. I know that each person must make their own decision with regard to faith. However our lives can declare its reality and appeal. We can make it attractive. I have written on previous occasions of my dad whose faith struggles manifested, for me as a child, the reality of the relationship one can have with God. To this day the memory and image of my dad living his life before God is extremely powerful for me, even though he has been dead for nearly 19 years.

So when people grieve at our passing what will they remember, cold stone crosses or a life well lived that pointed beyond itself to greater and eternal realities?

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, History, Reflections | Tags: Devotion, Eleanor Cross, Geddington, history | Leave a comment

Great Preaching

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Pieter Stok

This long weekend, being hot, and therefore not conducive to physical work, gave me an excellent opportunity to read some old sermons. I read through sermons by George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon. It was a great way to while away the hours. While reading the works of these great men a number of thoughts struck me:

Source: pbs.org

1. All the sermons I read were crammed with Biblical quotes and examples. These preachers used the Bible as their primary source. It was the well they constantly drew from; their first port of call. Even though they used the topics of their day, it was God’s Word that they stood on. There were no examples of pop psychology and glib jokes. They spoke on God’s behalf. Their aim was not to tickle ears.
2. The overarching story of Christ, promised in the Old Testament and delivered in the New was always central to their message. I found the cross constantly placed before me. I couldn’t dodge and weave. The Bible was a grand story not a series of fairy tales or even worse, a source of trite examples.
3. Finally, these sermons struck at my heart. They were passionate and didn’t allow me to simply listen for information, feel entertained or do some psychological self examination. Each preacher demanded that I consider my relationship with God and my place in His Kingdom. I was confronted by my brokenness and offered a solution to my condition. Whitefield, in particular, confronted fellow clergy as well.

I am not saying this style of preaching doesn’t occur today. It does, but it is in short supply. I have been to many different churches over the last 30 months. Psychology, information and a lack of passion is easy to find. I have also found passion without content. But Biblical passion, anchored in Biblical teaching seeking souls and declaring a Kingdom are, sadly, in short supply. Any person who feels called by God to preach could do well to go to these preachers of yesteryear and learn a thing or two. Even though I haven’t preached for a while, I felt convicted by these servants of God.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, George Whitefield, preaching, Uncategorized | Tags: Charles Spurgeon, george whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Preaching | Leave a comment

The Christian and Generation Changes

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Pieter Stok

Much is made of the various generations nowadays – from Baby boomers, to Gen X & Y and whatever other nomenclature is attached. What it tells us is that every generation is impacted by the previous generation and the social environment of the time. Baby-boomers arose out of the dust of war and entered a prosperous new age. “The Pill”, the sheer numbers of young people, wealth and education all had their impact. Today’s young people have a totally different set of influences that shape their view of themselves and the world.

My aim isn’t to analyse the influences on each generation, many sociologists and psychologists have done that, but rather, ask the question: What is the Christian response to this?

I would suggest that every era has had to weigh its life in the light of the gospel. In the time of the disciples, Greek and Roman culture were massive influences on the people of the day. They needed to ask, what is Godly and what isn’t? How has my thinking and behaviour, values and world-view been influenced in ungodly ways by the environment in which I live? The apostle Paul continually reminds his readers about the culture from which they have come: “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth…”(Eph 2:11) “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.” (Gal 4:8) “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of this world rather than on Christ.” (Col 2:8)

Paul is passionately aware that we are shaped by our environments – by the popular world-views of the day. He reminds his readers that it is time to be shaped by their new relationship with God through Christ. This is a radical (from the root up) new way of looking at life and the world.

Image:stickergiant.com

That is no different for us or for our children. Our lives should be continually lived in the light of the gospel. Our use of time, wealth, gifts and talents, technology, leisure, social media, entertainment, relationships and so on, all need evaluation in the light of what it means to live a Christ-like life. Our very perspective of how we live life and why we live live life the way we do, should be anchored in Christ.

My dad grew up in the “radio” era, I grew up in the TV era and my kids in the IT and social media era. Each had different challenges and subsequent generations will have new challenges again. The one certainty in all of this is that Christ and the gospel don’t change. It is the constant lens through which every generation must look at the world in which it lives and ask the question: Does my life honour God?

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Ethics, Faith, Family, Uncategorized, World Views | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion | 7 Comments

The Sabbath

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Pieter Stok

From John Lennox’s book, “Seven Days that Divide the World”:

Jesus’ invitation is clear. That rest comes when we are prepared to come to him and accept what he calls “my yoke,” that is, accept his authority and leadership. At the heart of Christianity is a willingness to trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and thereby receive forgiveness and peace with God. The problem is that, in a world where achievement and merit count for so much, we human beings find it difficult to understand and accept that God’s forgiveness and peace cannot be earned by our work, effort, or merit, but must be received as a free gift.

Zondervan (2011-08-09). Seven Days That Divide the World: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science, Kindle Edition.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tags: Devotion, Faith, John Lennox | 2 Comments