This is just brilliant – enjoy!
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Lent is over, Easter is here
I made a decision a few weeks ago, impromptu and spur of the moment, to have a break from blogging during Lent.
I wanted to spend more time with God – but I failed! I just ended up filling my time with other things rather than being quiet and focussed….
To some degree I am ashamed – but I am also not surprised.
I was reading through the Passion story this week – and what really stood out was how the disciples constantly underwhelmed….they argued, they fell asleep, they denied and betrayed….they weren’t exactly totally engaged when Jesus needed them.
They let him down – probably because they didn’t really get what was going on. Would Peter and the sons of Zebedee have fallen asleep in Gesthemene if they knew what was going to happen to Jesus the day after?
Well, yes, I think they probably would have, because they were human….
To some degree though, isn’t that what Lent is all about – recognising our humanity, accepting our fragility and failings, our need for salvation and redemption?
But Lent is over, and Easter is here. This is the night before Resurrection Day – Easter Sunday is tomorrow.
Last Easter I wrote about Resurrection Day:
“Today is the day when we remember that Jesus rose from the dead – death could not hold him, because there was nothing about him that deserved to die.
On Good Friday we remembered he was crucified, hung on a cross along side common criminals. Then after death laid in a borrowed tomb.
But on Sunday morning, the tomb is empty. The body is gone. Not stolen, but risen!
Death beaten. Sin conquered. Payment made.”
Payment has been made!
Made for people like me, and Peter and Judas, people who don’t focus, who don’t find time…who underwhelm and fail to understand what is going on….
I may fail, but thankfully He didn’t. I may underwhelm, but thankfully He doesn’t.
He paid because I couldn’t pay for myself. He rose so that I can live in Him.
And tomorrow, I am going to praise and worship Him because that’s what He deserves.
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine
Alan Hirsch – Organic Systems
24-7 Prayer – Lent ‘prayer spaces’
24-7 Prayer are posting a series of short videos during Lent in order to ecourage reflection and give space for God over the period leading up to Easter.
Here are the first two reflections – for yesterday, Ash Wednesday, and today:
Check them out – they are excellent!
Keep an eye on the 24-7 Prayer YouTube channel here for further videos.
Link to 24-7 Prayer website here.
Rob Bell and marketing madness
Tony Jones has given an interesting perspective of the recent Rob Bell and univeralism fuss on his blog – noting that Bell’s new book ‘Love Wins’ is already number #20 in the Amazon top sellers list, even before the book is released for shipping:
I can tell you that it’s very difficult in Amazon’s system for a book to rank when it is not yet shipping.
So, of course, what’s interesting is that all of the consternation from John Piper and Justin Taylor has served, if nothing else, to drive hordes of people to pre-order Rob’s book. And no one did anything underhanded to achieve this spike in interest. All they did was produce a book on a topic that lots of people are interested in and float some marketing material in the cloud that hints at what the book’s about. Rob’s theological frenemies took it from there.
Wow – how about that for a bit of marketing madness? Or is it marketing genius?
Read the full article here.
A Review: ‘Mystically Wired’ by Ken Wilson
‘Mystically Wired’ by Ken Wilson is a good book, mainly because if you take what he has to say seriously, and put it into practice, then you will discover new intimacy with God and start the long journey of a life of prayer.
It’s as simple as that really.
I loved the book, I loved Wilson’s writing style and I really enjoyed his blend of mysticism, practical advice and scientific explanation. Throughout the book Wilson deals effortlessly with the transition from mystic and scientific theory and fact into prayerful practice, giving loads of good ideas and tips to assist the reader in developing an effective and intimate prayer life.
The book is divided into two main parts. The first deals with the truth behind our mystical wiring – blending together the spiritual and scientific aspects into a easily digestible whole. The second part then explores ‘new realms in prayer’ considering ways to focus, meditate and develop intimacy with God, including praying at intervals.
Having said all this, Mystically Wired is not a book for easy reading. You won’t read it through in one sitting and I would even suggest that you read it at intervals over a number of months, putting into practice its advice as you go along – and almost stopping at times to reflect on your prayer walk as a result of reading the book.
I would not hestiate in recommending this book to anyone who wants to deepen their relationship with God through prayer and mediation. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this book is essential reading for all who want to focus more on the ‘quiet place’ and it is already back on my reading list for future ‘re-reading’ and reference – as a means of reflecting on my own prayer practices going forward.
If you let Him, I think God will change your life as a result of this book.
It just depends on whether you will let Him.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the US Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Alan Hirsch – Apostolic environments
John Piper – The distraction of technology
Just to balance the last video I posted about social networking, here is a short but poignant reminder by John Piper about the temptation to distraction that technology can be, with specific reference to the time we spend communing with God in prayer and Bible reading.
Any thoughts?
HT: Chris Elrod
Social Media Revolution
It’s all video today on the blog – here is another interesting one about how social media is changing our lives – as Adrian Warnock commented about it on his blog:
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes a video is worth a whole book. This is one of those times. I dare you to watch this video, and not conclude that social media really is a revolution. As Christians we have to embrace this, aware of its dangers, but becoming experts at using these tools for the glory of God.
Well put. This is so true!
Watch the video and see what you think. Is it me, are are the statistics given frightening?
Any thoughts?
Deliberate Disciple 