Aug 7
You can tie yourself up in knots when it comes to risk. On one hand, we want to use the resources God has given us. On the other hand, such ‘wisdom’ is often a cover for wanting to be in control. Back on the first hand again, we know that faith is not the same as fatalism. So how do we balance wisdom and faith?
One solution we’ve been thinking about is choosing the second best option. Let me explain. Read more
Thus far in this series, I’ve considered some of the missiological issues involved in risk as well as the complexities of medical evacuation. But the point of this series is not just about making the ‘best’ decision: true wisdom must be grounded in faith, that is, in trusting God. There are three theological themes that help me here: creation, incarnation and victory. Read more
A few years ago, I wrote a series for this blog on weakness. I was coming at it from feeling reasonably competent in the tasks given to me and trying to work out if that was OK. My question wasn’t about whether I was competent enough to do what God had asked but about whether I was weak enough to bring God glory.
Now, nine months away from heading to another country and whole other culture, my issues are completely different. Because pretty much all my competencies are called into question by this new context. Read more
Mostly, our holiday was fun and relaxing but there was one dark day and evening. I wanted to sit on the couch and eat my feelings but Arthur thought it was more constructive to go for a walk along the beach. Read more
I’m mainly familiar with John Goldingay‘s work because he’s an Old Testament scholar but To The Usual Suspects, also published as Walk On, is a book of quite a different nature. More autobiographical, it’s a series of reflections on what it’s been like to live with his wife who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when they were engaged. The book is about his one word questions, like ‘calamity’, ‘darkness’, ‘friendship’, ‘hope’, ‘identity’, ‘trust’. Read more
May 14
‘For such a time as this’ may be the most famous phrase from Esther. It comes from the passage we looked at in Thursday’s chapel sermon. Taking a ‘slightly experimental’ approach to preaching, Peter told us at the beginning what the application would be, asking us to choose which was the challenge for us and to move to particular places in the room according to that. Those who needed to learn to love people more sat on the right side of the room and those who needed to learn to trust God on the left. I’ll quickly cover how Peter spoke to the ‘love’ people and spend most of my time here on the ‘trust’ people – no prizes for guessing which side of the room I was on! Read more
