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Not in Vain
I have been reading a biography of JS Bach by John Elliott Gardiner. In it he points out that Bach begins his famous St John Passion with a chorus based on Psalm 8. As the prelude to the great story of our Lord's suffering and death, Bach begins with a celebration of the majesty and power of God. “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Was Bach confused? Or did he understand John's gospel? The latter, I think, since John has a big theme of Jesus being glorified in his death. The death and resurrection of Jesus show him to be the Lord of all. The one who drives out the ruler of the world, and the one who overcomes the power of death.
It is his majestic power, shown in the cross and in the resurrection, that gives the lie to the futility of human life and effort. At least for those whose life and effort is part of the life and effort of Jesus himself.
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Chasing the wind?
The “Teacher” (of Ecclesiastes) thinks that life is meaningless and futile, and a chasing after the wind. I wonder what he would think about the life of the church.
Sometimes it can seem a bit like that. Is there anything to be gained by coming to church each Sunday, listening to sermons, praying and taking part in the Communion? Does it get us anywhere? Is it useful? Does it give meaning to life?
We have all asked questions like that I suppose. They could be the questions of the cynic, or the disillusioned, or the discouraged. Of course the questions aren't all of the same kind. “Is it useful?” Is a modern kind of question. Not everything we value is useful. Somethings are just good. Or beautiful.
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God's Farm
Over the last month or so we have been deluged with lemons. It seems Willetton has good lemon tree soil. At least the season seems to have been good. There is nothing like a fruit tree that gives lots of good fruit. And nothing easier than picking fruit that virtually falls off the tree.
But not all food is gained so easily. Most of what we eat is produced by hard work – even with the help of modern machinery. Of course the work has to be put in at the right time. In the past many crops were only harvested once a year. Nowadays many of our foods have been modified so that they produce more often.
Sometimes it seems that our spiritual harvest is still in the very old days. Not too much and not too often. Jesus told his disciples a couple of times that they should look more closely at the harvest because it was already ready.
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Good Fathers
What are a couple of good things you remember your father doing with you or for you? For most of us we won't be able to stop at a couple of things. Memories will provoke other memories, some as recent as this week (if our father is still alive) some as long ago as we can remember.
Fathers are all different. And each is different at different stages of his life. But good fathers have some things in common.
You can rely on them. They are kind of stable and strong on the inside. They seem to weather the assaults of teenagers that know too much, and the boisterousness of boys who have too much energy, and even the peculiarities of daughters.
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What's Good about Christ the King Church?
Lots of things. Well, for today, here a few things that encourage me.
People who pray. It is so encouraging to hear people pray. Our first Monday morning Bible Study group last finished with lots of prayer. I am thankful for the people who meet in twos or threes and in small groups to pray.
People who are having a go at connecting with not-yet-believers. Some do this on their own. Others team up and try different ways of building bridges to the gospel and Christ's church. Some of our attempts don't work. But that is good. It is good to have had a go and tried something. Some of the things that have worked best in my experience have been things that needed two or three attempts to get them going.
Read more: What's Good about Christ the King Church? 31Aug14
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Choices
We feel great relief when a decision that has been looming over us is finally made. We feel we can leave that issue behind us and move forward.
But some decisions don't seem to hold their ground. Or if they do it is because of a struggle against forces that seem intent on undoing them. Sometimes circumstances change and we see our earlier decision in a broader or clearer context. Should we change our mind?
It depends of course. Take marriage. Marriage depends on two people making a promise to each other. Nothing holds them together except their word. Sometimes attractive reasons present themselves as to why the promise could be broken. Sometimes difficult circumstances seem to demand that the promise should be broken. What usually happens is that people decide to stay by the original decision. In some ways this new decision is stronger as a result of being made under difficult circumstances.
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Introducing the Anglican Church: 8. Church Traditions
We are looking at some of the key teachings of the Anglican Church as found in the 39 Articles, one of the foundation documents of the Anglican Church of Australia. This is a simple modern English version (the original 16th and 17th century version is in the Prayer Book).
Article 34. About the Traditions of the Church
It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies are the same in every place. They have always been different. They may be changed for different countries, times, and cultures, as long as nothing is ordained against God's Word. Anyone who, because of their private opinion, purposely and openly breaks the traditions and ceremonies of the Church, which are not against the Word of God, and are approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly (so that others may fear to do the same). This is an offence against the common order of the Church, which hurts the authority of the government, and wounds the consciences of the weak.
Every national Church has authority to ordain, change, and abolish, ceremonies of the Church which are ordained only by human authority, so that everything results in edifying.
This Article is related to Article 20. At the time of the Reformation it stated the view of the Church of England over against that of the Roman Catholic Church which claimed to have authority over all churches in every country.
The Article also stated the view of the Church of England over against the individualism of some of the Protestant groups.
The authority of national churches to make decisions about ceremonies is limited by the scriptures and by the principle of what is edifying. This is an important issue in our day as the scriptures are no longer regarded as authoritative by all members of the church.
Dale