Another Study Year Up!

A frantic last month or two has rocketed past - and here we are in the middle of my final week in the Hawkes Bay this year.

   I've just completed my final exam and sent it off....

   My Mum arrives tomorrow afternoon....

   I get my first tertiary qualification on Saturday (a diploma from The Shepherds Bible College)....

   The CD I've made arrived in the mail this morning, and will be available next Friday....

                  Lots is happening. 

Next Monday I travel down with my Mum to Dunedin for five weeks down in the deep south, mostly working on the farm up in the scorching Central Otago heat. Following that I return north to set off for three weeks of music ministry in churches around the upper North Island.

Then next year I'll be doing a internship in music (what else) at Onekawa Bible Church, where I've been since February. Very excited about this opportunity. Also I'll be continuing to take papers at The Shepherds Bible College (tsbc.org.nz). Then after that.... we'll see. In other words, I don't know yet. But God does, and I'm resting in that. What's the point in being anxious about the future? God has it already all mapped out.

What a year of study its been. I continue to say that this is the most enjoyable study I've done in my life. Just a pity it took me 25 years to discover that (it could have been 50 I guess). The Bible is continuing to come alive for me! I continue to understand God's ways and nature more and more each week, and growth is often slow, but I think I have been slowly growing in different ways.

Theology has never been so practical! The Bible has never been so real-life! Now I just want to get out there and teach others - impart some of what I've learned, and help others grow and mature in their faith.I think growing in my desire to live my life alongside and disciple other Christians younger in the faith.

Discipleship. It may not be easy, it may not always be fun - in fact it generally will take patience, sweat, tears, prayer, humility, honesty, and a lot of time. It's what we're called to.

Is Christ Fully God and Man?

Recently I took some time to think though a major question about the nature of Christ - that I'm guessing a fair few Christians think about and wrestle with from time to time:

How can Christ be 100% God and 100% Man in His Incarnation?

To see my thoughts on this question, which seems on the surface to be an impossibility, have a read of this essay that I wrote for theology at Bible College. I discuss what the Bible has to say about the nature of Christ, and what our response should be.

I tell you, it should be exciting and encouraging as you come to a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ. It was to me!!

Have a read here

Optional Prayer?

Prayer is powerful.

It really is!

But though I say that, does my life reflect that I really and genuinely believe that? Sometimes perhaps, but generally I'd have to confess no. If we say we wholeheartedly believe in that statement 'prayer is powerful', ought not our lives continuously and undeniably be not only interspersed with, but characterised by intimate and faith-filled communion with our heavenly Father?

So is it true that prayer is only for those Christians who have 'more faith'? Those 'spiritual' ones? Well let's hear what God says in His word - the Bible - regarding this matter of prayer. Is it an optional extra to the Christian life?

'Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.' (Col 4:2)

'pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.' (1 Thess 5:17)

'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.' (Phil 4:6)

'Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! (1 Chron 16:11)

These verses explain that it's not just what God expects, but what God commands all Christians to do: to seek God and His strength continually instead of walking in our own reliance, wisdom and strength. To pray relentlessly, passionately, regularly, humbly, and with thanksgiving. Wow. My endeavor isn't so much just to grow in prayer for my own gain and benefit - first and foremost it's to grow in obedience to my Lord in prayer. And to conform my life more and more to the image of Christ - who set us the perfect example of one who completely depends on our heavenly Father in prayer and submitted to His will and authority.

Here's our example in devotion to prayer - Jesus...

'And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.' (Mark 1:35)

I wonder how things would look different in our lives, churches, and the world around us - if it were true that Christians everywhere would confidently believe that prayer is powerful, and live out that belief in the pattern of their daily lives? 

It can start with me, and it can start with you.

We've been commanded. Let's pray.