Here are the last two of Wordles from Josh Donegani.
Psalm 118 Wordle
Psalm 119 Wordle
Enjoy…
A new look at the Bible
A friend of mine, Josh Donegani, has created some interesting graphics using Wordle.
The way these work is the size of a word is proportional to its frequency within a given text. So, at one level, the more important the word in a text, the larger it will be.
I will post a couple today, and some of the others at a later stage. But for now, have a look at the difference between the Old and the New Testament when viewed through the eyes of a Wordle based on the ESV. It highlights some interesting features…
Old Testament Wordle
New Testament Wordle
Enjoy…
God is back? Or maybe not?
And I didn’t realise He had gone!
Two interesting articles in The Times in the last few days.
On Saturday we heard that Ned Flanders and his evangelical buddies have ‘won the evangelical crusade.’ Whilst I wouldn’t agree with everything in the article, it is encouraging that there is the recognition that the myth of modernity (that we would all rationalise away God) is being recognised for what it is - a myth - in the national press. Read more here.
The (inevitable?) backlash came today when we learned that Rumours of God’s return are greatly exaggerated. A slightly more annoying article, this one, returning to the usual cheap jibes.
Questioning the statistics is fine; even suggesting that pet-ownership is better for you than religion is an interesting claim. But the unjustified assumption that religion is something that should be private not public (why? says who? on what basis?) cannot just be stated.
And the implicit criticism of ‘religious conservatism’ being a danger when it affects the sexual education of our children is an another example of the double standards of the secularists. Where is the evidence that this early sexual education is helpful in reducing teenage pregnancies etc.? There isn’t any. It is assumed without any evidence in support of it, and in spite of the tangible evidence of the lack of effectiveness of this policy in our own country.
I can do all things?
In my youth all things seemed possible to me. As I have grown a little older I have realised that this can be put down partly to the ‘arrogance of youth’ and partly (as I would read it now, looking back) the goodness of God in blessing many of the things I turned my hands to.
But I have been reflecting recently on what happened to that ’spirit of the possible.’ In particular, I have been wondering if there is something inherent in my Christian faith, or more worryingly part of our ‘Christian subculture’ which squashes that attitude. Here are a few reflections without any sense of a conclusion.
- There is a right sense in which I am now less reliant on my self and place less confidence in my own abilities than when I was younger and not a Christian.
- But this should surely be balanced by a greater sense of confidence in God (and I think on a deep level it is).
- There may be other theological reasons. For example, as a tentatively amillennial Christian, I may be less optimistic in my outlook than my postmillennial brothers and sisters, especially when I live in a country where there is relatively little Gospel growth.
- Maybe I do not hear enough preaching (within the churches in my rather conservative constituency) about the power and glory of God, which would give me more of a vision of what He could do - in my life, in my land. Perhaps some of my more charismatic brothers and sisters are better at this, and as a result, more visionary.
- Perhaps Tim Keller’s critique of British churches as generally ‘not entrepreneurial enough’ has some substance.
- Perhaps I don’t pray enough, so I don’t see God answering prayers enough, and so again, I lack vision and excitement.
So I need to pray more. I need to reflect (personally) on God’s character and power to give me greater confidence in what He could do.
And as churches, we need to do the same. We need to develop a richer, more fully-orbed theology which shows us how God is part of all of our life - not just Sunday worship, but our work and rest and play. We need to be encouraging each other to use the gifts that God has given us (and in our churches recognising that Word gifts aren’t the only gifts - and that all gifts can be used for the edification of the body of Christ). We need to trust that God is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do.
And then, with Paul, we can declare, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Twenty Four
Whilst I hope this site won’t just become a place where I pop book recommendations, I felt I had to mention this little book by Krish Kandiah. A friend of mine mentioned it to me and I have been reading it recently. It is a really helpful look at how we can integrate our faith and life - ways to turn our thoughts to our God in every aspect of our daily routine, and how to honour Him in the details of our life, and not just on Sundays. An easy read and really worthwhile.
Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!
He is risen indeed. Hallelujah!
For your encouragement
Two things which have been a blessing to me. They’re not new, but they’re well worth a look…
First, Woodland Presbyterian Church. This is the church where Dale Ralph Davis pastors, and they are publishing his sermons online. Always worth hearing. (But be warned - some of the older ones are in .wma not .mp3 format.)
Second, Future Grace. This is a wonderful book by John Piper, first published many years ago, but I recently picked up in a second hand shop. It is a really encouraging read. He seeks to motivate us to live the Christian life in the light of God’s promises for the future. Wonderful.
If you want a free preview - chapters 1-3 are available at Desiring God. Or you can pick it up at Amazon…
Grace and Truth
We had an encouraging exposition in chapel this morning of 2 Kings 5. We were reminded of the incredible grace of our God as worked out in the life of Naaman – an enemy of God’s people, and yet miraculously healed at no cost. Our attention was brought to the way he became, as it were, like a little child (5:14) – and the parallels there with the little child (5:2) who’s own forgiveness was demonstrated in seeking the good of the one who had “carried her off” from her land and family. There were wonderful reminders of the costliness of forgiveness and the grace of our God – what a powerful challenge to live as people of grace.
I have been reflecting on this whole question of grace quite a bit recently. I am saddened by the way my own particular constituency of Christ’s church, which is (often) so good at preaching grace, often seems so poor at living grace (and of course I am including my own failures when I make this sweeping generalisation).
I think it is Tim Keller who reminds us that “religion is the default mode of the human heart” – and perhaps herein lies one of the reasons for this particular shortcoming. We can be so keen to believe and hold on to the truth (a right instinct) that we inadvertently make our own ‘system’ and understanding of ‘orthodoxy’ the religion that we follow – our own neat conceptions of what God is like (and likes!) become the idol of our heart. And anyone that doesn’t quite measure up is somehow ‘outside.’
And even as I write this, there is a voice in my heading telling me that some people will think I’m going liberal if I suggest that God’s own view of things might be slightly larger than our own carefully worked out systems. There is a sense that the ‘eyebrow of orthodoxy’ might be raised quizzically at the suggestion that loving Jesus and trying to follow Him might be enough – even if we don’t tick all the theological boxes we have tried to put Him into.
And that is why, as we were meditating on 2 Kings 5 this morning, that my eyes were drawn to verses 17-19:
17 “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. 18 But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this.”
19 “Go in peace,” Elisha said. (NIV)
I take it that the request of verse 17 (and the declaration of verse 15 - “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.”) is meant to demonstrate that Naaman had come to some kind of faith. And yet verse 18 shows that in the messiness of his life, he wasn’t going to be able to live quite the life a more orthodox Israelite would have demanded. Whilst I am aware that the issue here is one of praxis rather than belief, we see God’s grace on the lips of God’s prophet – “Go in peace.”
Lord Jesus, help us to live and speak likewise.
Bible by the Beach
I’ve recently got news of an exciting new Christian conference called Bible by the Beach.
It will be happening in Eastbourne (on the South Coast) on May 1-4th 2009 and would be a great opportunity to have a little weekend away, maybe with friends or as a church.
The cost is £50, £1 for kids so it represents great value. There’ll be main sessions, seminar streams and a full youth and children’s programme.
The people involved this year include - Wallace Benn, Terry Virgo, Kent and Barbara Hughes, Paul Williams, Mike Ovey, Ben Kwashi, Andrew Baughen, Phil Moon, Simon Vibert, Stef Liston, as well as Stuart Townend, Phatfish and Simon Brading. As you can see the event offers a great selection of speakers, from a good range of churchmanship - plans are already in place for an equally strong lineup in 2010.
Find out more at www.biblebythebeach.org
