Posts Tagged With: Devotion

Unapologetic – an emotional defense of the faith

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Pieter Stok

A Review:

Unapologetic:

Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense

By Francis Spufford

If you like Theme Parks and fast rides you may very well like this manic excursion of Spufford’s heart and mind.

The author takes on the thinking of the New Atheists and others but not by engaging in the “God is dead debate” from a calm, rational, fact and logic perspective (which, incidentally will never work, as both Christianity and Atheism must come from faith perspectives). He tackles it from the heart wrenching depths of the human experience. He looks at God’s encounter with his life from the point of view of someone who has to go through the mire of life.

Warning: if you are offended by language, particularly a word starting with the sixth letter of the alphabet you may wish to read a book by Max Lucado instead. This word is repeated or implied often. As much as I don’t like it, it is effective because it does describe our propensity to completely foul our lives.

Spufford brings us to the foot of the cross – the God/man who not only lives our lives but takes on himself, our foulness. The image Spufford paints with his words is uncomfortable, yet profound.

The author confronts the image of the church and acknowledges that it has done itself a disservice in history. Yet also reflects on some of it wins. However, the strength of the book lies in the personal journey of the author coming to grips with the personal reality of grace in in his own mucked up life and in a mucked up world.

I have a few quibbles. Spufford glibly glosses over some important issues with a dismissive wave of his hand, such as the creation/evolution debate, same sex marriage and homosexuality. I would rather he hadn’t mentioned these as they detracted from the main thrust – and quite frankly his approach annoyed me. At another point Spufford speaks flippantly of the Kingdom as a Republic. This muddies the beautiful picture of Christ the King and the Kingdom, and also takes away from the main thrust of his un-apologia.

His writing style is manic. I described it to a friend as “Stream of Consciousness on Steroids”. I found myself rereading paragraphs and pages just to remind myself where he was going with his thought. But that may just be me.

Overall: not a book for everybody, but for those who see life as it is – warts and all, it is a great reminder of a God who steps into this walk with us and for us. It is also a challenge for those who see God as non-existent, absent or remote –Spufford’s God is none of these.

Categories: Book Review, christian, Christianity, Faith, Uncategorized | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith | Leave a comment

Divine Patterns of Comfort

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Pieter Stok

Or, why is there a time for every season?

Spring

Have you ever stopped to wonder at the cycle of a year. We not only have the seasons, but there is also the Christian calendar. Our workplace or school will have a definite yearly order to it. In Australia our school year finishes with the calendar year but when I was in the UK the two were unrelated, but rather, the transition occurred after summer – at the end of August. But there was still a pattern. There are cycles in our families which are often determined by important birthdays and anniversaries. And there is of course, the dreaded financial year and tax time!

Our lives have a cycle too. An elderly lady once described the three ages of humanity: Youth, Middle Age and “My, you do look well!”

The writer of Ecclesiastes speaks of it in chapter 3. “There is a time for everything … under heaven.” People of a certain vintage with paisley shirts in their wardrobe will remember The Byrds singing these words in the tumultuous 1960s.

Now to my musing: Why has God ordained creation in this way? Life is linear but also circular. There is a progression but also a repetition. The new arrives daily and yet the familiar encircles us yearly.

A fool camping in Spring – in Sweden

Is this a means that God uses to comfort us? Are the patterns in a life part of His divine embrace? In the confusion of the big dipper of life, there is the regular pattern of the comfortable that comes year after year. In the midst of new craziness, the leaves still fall in autumn and the shoots still leap forth in Spring. So even though life can sometimes seem a little, or a lot, out of control, there is Divine reassurance that life is still held together. There are threads of regularity that weave the fabric of life together. God is still in control.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Reflections | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith | 6 Comments

Old Testament Advent Poems No. 8

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Pieter Stok

Hallelujah – Isaiah 9: 6&7

The next O.T. Advent poem comes straight from Scripture. As a piece of poetry it is untouchable. As gospel, it is beyond price.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

Categories: Advent, christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Poem, poetry, Uncategorized | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith, Poem, poetry | 5 Comments

My Brother’s Sin is Always Worse Than Mine

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Pieter Stok

The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. Psalm 9:15

The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” John 4: 25& 26

Back in the mid 1980s the verse above from Psalm 9 and others like it were quoted to “prove” that AIDS sufferers deserved what they got. I have to confess that, at the time, the thought crossed my mind too. In our family the AIDS crisis came to a head when doctors didn’t want to give my wife and baby a blood transfusion during the premature birth of one of our daughters, as they couldn’t trust the blood supply.

In the midst of this crisis in the mid 80s I was asked to visit a couple’s son who was in his mid 40s and suffered from AIDS. With my recent blood transfusion experience I wasn’t feeling any grace towards AIDS sufferers. However, we have a providential God. On the morning of my first visit I read John 4 as part of my daily devotions, which relates the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. Jesus treats this outcast with firm grace: not accepting the sin but loving the sinner and offering her life. During my one hour journey this passage, like an indigestible meal, would not leave me alone. The Word was confronting.

When I arrived at “Michael’s” home, he shook my hand, welcomed me in, offered me a a coffee and then told me a tragic story of family and marital breakdown, losing his children and finding companionship in the homosexual community of the town. This was a “feeling”, he confessed, that he had always been drawn to but had never, previously, given in to. This community, incidentally, took care of each other with an amazing love and grace. I witnessed this on many future occasions. At one point, Michael said to me, knowing that he had a death sentence, that even knowing that he was going to die, if he could live his life again he would be drawn back into this lifestyle – that draw was so strong.

What I encountered was a struggle with sin. But we all struggle with sin. The only difference is that we minimise our own and maximise others – especially sexual sins. For example if our weakness is greed, we prefer to judge people on their sexual behaviour. If our weakness is gossip then the sexual promiscuity of the other is far worse.

Psalm 9 reminds us that all sin is deadly – eternally. It is only with a relationship with God that an adulterous murderer like David could be confident in his salvation. In himself David could not find redemption . He could only rely on the promises of God – the promise of a Messiah – a Saviour. That same Saviour is our only hope – no matter what our sinful condition might be.

On leaving Michael that first time, I asked him why he had been so open with me; never having met me before. He answered, “You shook my hand, came in and drank my coffee.” In the paranoia of the mid 80s that had been his test to see if he could trust me. I had never thought of that. But God had.

P.S. Michael died a few years later having returned to a relationship with Christ.

Categories: christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Uncategorized | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith | Leave a comment

Raised With Christ

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Pieter Stok

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

Narrating the World to Your Child

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Pieter Stok

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deut 6:6&7

This morning I was listening to a radio program about teaching young children to read. Two experts in the area were reflecting on the important factors that encourage literacy. In amongst the usual ideas (read to your children, have books lying around the house, find good apps etc.) one idea resonated in particular. That is: Parents with young children should narrate the world to them. “Mummy is going into the kitchen to get the red bowl.” “Daddy is putting on a woolly jumper.” The idea is that you introduce the child to both words and conversation at an early age while going about your daily duties. Many parents do that quite naturally. Objects and names are connected and actions identified. There were also another host of positives.

But do we narrate the the world to our children at a spiritual level? Are we developing their spiritual literacy? In our words and actions, are we reinforcing Christian values and Biblical concepts? Our actions have moral and value laden implications – our children need to know the underpinning that informs what we do. Our children need to learn right behaviour but what is even more important is the right thinking that shapes our behaviour.

Moses, in Deuteronomy 6, understood this. In an age when values are thin on the ground the child of Christian parents needs to be continually shaped by Biblical standards. “We are helping at the the shelter on Christmas Day because Jesus wants us to look after the less fortunate.” “You don’t talk to your mother like that because God wants us to honour our parents.” That second example needs to be demonstrated when you visit your parents or when you talk about them at home.

If we consciously narrate the world spiritually, whether watching TV with issues that arise, debriefing a day at school or simply having dinner, we and our children will be blessed as both parent and child are reminded of the “reason why” we behave and live in a particular way.

Categories: Child Theology, christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Reflections | Tags: Christian, Christian Education, Christianity, Devotion, Faith | Leave a comment

Old Testament Advent Poem No. 7

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Pieter Stok

Old Promises New Realities

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.Isaiah 7: 13 & 14

To be slow to believe

and hard to hear

is not a new thing.

Human hearts

are not soft to

God’s miracles

and promises.

In turmoil

God pointed to hope

a King

defeater of enemies.

When all is dark

and the gloom descends

remember

a child was born,

promises fulfilled,

a King delivered.

Categories: Advent, Bible, christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Poem, poetry, Uncategorized | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith, Poem, poems, poetry | 5 Comments

People I Admire No. 2

Posted on December 6, 2012 by Pieter Stok

There are students at school who do not desire popularity but reflect a maturity and Christ likeness that some adults never attain. At an age when being accepted by the group is seen as so important there are those who, rather, look at for the lonely, the uncool and others on the fringe. These students understand what it means to be selfless.

I admire these young people because they have grasped what it means to follow Christ.

As a teacher it is easy to be swamped with the needs of the moment. There are demanding students, either from a behavioural or learning perspective. We can be blind to the student who is quietly reflecting Jesus in their daily life. They are in the schoolyard befriending the lonely, being aware of, and coming along side, the student with the personal trauma. These students are aware of their teachers’ human needs and encourage them with a word or gesture. They can be seen sharing in games with younger students and drawing them into community. I am privileged to know a number of young people like this and I am humbled by them.

I admire these young people because they have already grasped what it means to be counter cultural. Their values and beliefs are anchored in a Christ shaped view of the world. So often, we Christian adults try to keep a foot in each world. We have learned the “arts” of compromise and pragmatism. Whereas it is a joy see that that the Word and Spirit of God has already, at a young age, formed the new Jeremiahs, Daniels and Timothys for the C21st.

Categories: christian, Christianity, people i admire, Reflections, Uncategorized | Tags: Christianity, Devotion, Faith | Leave a comment

Mentors

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Pieter Stok

What are some of the most beautiful relationships in Scripture? There are many to chose from: Moses and Joshua, David and Jonathan, Jesus and his disciples, Jesus and John, Eli and Samuel, Naomi and Ruth … the list can go on. However I want to reflect on a particular type of relationship, which if we practise, can result in blessing for years, if not generations to come. This important relationship is the mentor, that is, the older person who takes a younger person under their wing and sacrifices time, energy, effort and most importantly of all, themselves, for the growth of the young person.

One of the most beautiful examples (outside of Christ and his disciples) is Paul and Timothy. Timothy, a young man of mixed descent has a faithful mother and grandmother. Paul takes him on his second missionary journey and ultimately places him as a young pastor in Ephesus. Then, despite his imprisonment (at least by the Second Epistle to Timothy) Paul writes letters in which he teaches and encourages Timothy in his important task.

In 2 Timothy Paul calls Timothy “my dear son” and expresses a passionate longing to see him. We have no record of Timothy’s response but we can surely imagine the wisdom and strength he gained from Paul’s input. As a young man in a tough pastoral environment, having Paul’s backing and support would have been a huge blessing.

Today we live in an era of social and family fragility. Not every young man or woman grows up with healthy role models let alone committed mentors. There is a crying need for “Pauls” (men and women) who are prepared to lead and nurture the young in wisdom. I believe it is a role, no, a calling, the church has today. One way for the church to make a lasting and positive impact is to be “living gospels” to the young, in order that these young people can see, hear and emulate a faith filled and directed Christian life. Then we may say as Paul did, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, …” (2Tim 3:10).

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

Old Testament Advent Poem No. 6

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Pieter Stok

The King and the Everlasting Kingdom:

1 Samuel 16:13 & 2 Samuel 7:16

The oil trickled

down his hair

and handsome young neck.

Before David’s kin

the Spirit plunged into his being.

A new king was made.

Another time:

A chilled night,

No oil,

but the Spirit hovered

lovingly, mightily:

The Everlasting King

was born.

Categories: Advent, christian, Christianity, Devotional, Faith, Poem, poetry, The Christmas Poems | Tags: Christian, Christianity, Devotion, Faith, Poem, poems, poetry | 3 Comments