Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Book Review.
Galli, Mark. Chaos and Grace. Discovering the liberating work of the Holy Spirit. Baker Books. 2011.
M.G.- senior managing editor of Christianity Today.
Comment. Henry.
Mark has taken on a topic that has always, it seems, been surrounded with confusion, controversy, and disrupting interpretations. He clearly demonstrates that historically the Holy Spirit and His work have always been accompanied with a high level of ‘chaos’. In a culture that ‘worships’ control and order this characteristic of the Holy Spirit is not welcome, in fact, it is vigorously rejected. Herein lays a very real hindrance for the development of the church’s effectiveness and impact in a needy world. Readers can expect this book to be ‘disturbing, upsetting, and disrupting’.
“Christ has come to offer us- the most unsettling gift imaginable (the Holy Spirit), for this is the gift that brings both grace and chaos.” (Intro)
There is no provision made in the gospel for the tolerance of religion. “It’s about the Holy Spirit introducing holy chaos.” (31) Worship is much more than “mere religious edification”. (32) Creation, as the work of the Holy Spirit, is described as a “eucatastrophe, a good catastrophe’. (38) The fall of man and its consequences is the second eucatastrphe.
The story of humanity is an “ongoing saga of humankind’s addiction to order and control- and the divine response of judgment and mercy.” (53) e.g. Abram. The stories of the Old Testament consistently tell “of a God who offers the freedom of obedience to a people addicted to control.” (62) The book of Acts is full of chaos produced by the Holy Spirit.
Liberation is God’s work and it begins with tension and chaos, e.g. Moses. Freedom is all about obedience. The life of freedom must be characterized by a movement from the horizontal to the vertical, from justice to grace, etc.
“Resurrection (eternal life0 without the crucifixion (death) is empty optimism.” (133) Our culture is in denial when it comes to preparing for and facing death. Churches place a higher value on marketing than witnessing. Instead of focusing on management the emphasis should be on being managed by the Holy Spirit, e.g. Philip and his witness to the Ethiopian Eunuch. The fear of embarrassment and shame will prevent us from obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Our Utopian view of the New Testament church (when things were done right) creates problems for the acceptance of a much less Utopian church of our personal experience.
“You cannot have a dynamic relationship with the liberating Spirit without there being questions, confusions, excesses, and mistakes- chaos.” (184) A transforming work of the Holy Spirit, however, can be our experience of faith.
henrydirksen.blogspot.com.
Monday, April 16, 2012
God Is Here.
Book Review.
Case, Steve. God Is Here. Connecting with Him in everyday life. Relevant Media Group. 2005.
S.C.- author, pastor. Lives in Florida.
Comment. Henry.
Steve does a “commentary” on Brother Lawrence’s book, ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’. There are many practical truths presented that are helpful in having an ongoing (daily, hourly,) relationship with God. Brother Lawrence lived out such a life and was effective in teaching others about that life through his writings. Steve applies those writings to life in our present day culture.
Born in 1611, in Hermenil, France, Brother Lawrence became a Carmelite monk. He worked in the kitchen of his monastery with pots and pans. “Rich and poor, old and young, educated and simple- all found that a conversation with Brother Lawrence was most rewarding.” (9)
“Acquiring a spiritual life is all about recognizing God, making time for God, admitting shortcomings to god, and understanding that God is here.” (35) “God is in all things.” (50) Brother Lawrence explained the union of the soul with God as existing in three degrees,” general, virtual, and actual”. (60-62) He suggested seven steps that were part of acquiring the presence of God.
“The whole substance of religion was faith, hope and charity, by the practice of which we become united to the will of God.” Br. Lawrence. Remaining focused at all times (in prayer) takes practice.
“Think and thank.” (152) The practice of the presence of God requires attention and focus. Our heart is where our treasure is.
“All things are possible to him who believes, they are less difficult to him who hopes, they are more easy to him who loves and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues. -Brother Lawrence.
Case, Steve. God Is Here. Connecting with Him in everyday life. Relevant Media Group. 2005.
S.C.- author, pastor. Lives in Florida.
Comment. Henry.
Steve does a “commentary” on Brother Lawrence’s book, ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’. There are many practical truths presented that are helpful in having an ongoing (daily, hourly,) relationship with God. Brother Lawrence lived out such a life and was effective in teaching others about that life through his writings. Steve applies those writings to life in our present day culture.
Born in 1611, in Hermenil, France, Brother Lawrence became a Carmelite monk. He worked in the kitchen of his monastery with pots and pans. “Rich and poor, old and young, educated and simple- all found that a conversation with Brother Lawrence was most rewarding.” (9)
“Acquiring a spiritual life is all about recognizing God, making time for God, admitting shortcomings to god, and understanding that God is here.” (35) “God is in all things.” (50) Brother Lawrence explained the union of the soul with God as existing in three degrees,” general, virtual, and actual”. (60-62) He suggested seven steps that were part of acquiring the presence of God.
“The whole substance of religion was faith, hope and charity, by the practice of which we become united to the will of God.” Br. Lawrence. Remaining focused at all times (in prayer) takes practice.
“Think and thank.” (152) The practice of the presence of God requires attention and focus. Our heart is where our treasure is.
“All things are possible to him who believes, they are less difficult to him who hopes, they are more easy to him who loves and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues. -Brother Lawrence.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
They Smell Like Sheep.
Book Review.
Anderson, Lynn. They Smell Like Sheep. Leading with a heart of a shepherd. Howard Books. 2007.
L.A.- president of Hope Network. Lynn has been in ministry for thirty five years.
Comment. Henry.
The analogy of the shepherd and the sheep is a classical illustration in Scripture to demonstrate servant leadership. Christ referred to himself as the Good Shepherd. There are many lessons and principles taught in this analogy. A concern that I have had in processing lessons from this analogy has to do with the reality that the ‘shepherd’ (spiritual leader) is also a sheep and therefore has needs that need ‘shepherding’. There tends to be view of shepherds as a group that considers themselves apart from the sheep. This all has to do with servant leadership. When the author puts the heart at the centre of effective shepherding he identifies the key of the topic.
Shepherd leadership is all about the heart. “God’s glory is the object of, the motive for, and the measure of ministry.” (25) Jesus modelled such ministry. Not all can lead but all can pray. Prayer releases the Holy Spirit for ministry. Pray the Psalms.
Faith develops through stages; infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, aka, “experienced, affiliative, searching, and owned”. (58) This journey of faith comes at a price. The standards of holiness cannot be violated without consequence. Accountability, transparency, and reflection are marks of purity.
“It’s all about people.” (95) Shepherds must have a priority for needy sheep (people). This calls for serious feeding on the Word, for sheep and shepherd. A loving heart is a serving heart. A serving heart is often a broken heart. In our change driven culture seniors and their contributions often becomes a casualty.
We live in a world that is dominated by the “rational, informational, and linear/sequential” (181) Many other good and necessary things, mystery, majesty, etc., are being crowded out. ‘Shepherding’ is indeed a noble calling.
henrydirksen.blogspot.com
Anderson, Lynn. They Smell Like Sheep. Leading with a heart of a shepherd. Howard Books. 2007.
L.A.- president of Hope Network. Lynn has been in ministry for thirty five years.
Comment. Henry.
The analogy of the shepherd and the sheep is a classical illustration in Scripture to demonstrate servant leadership. Christ referred to himself as the Good Shepherd. There are many lessons and principles taught in this analogy. A concern that I have had in processing lessons from this analogy has to do with the reality that the ‘shepherd’ (spiritual leader) is also a sheep and therefore has needs that need ‘shepherding’. There tends to be view of shepherds as a group that considers themselves apart from the sheep. This all has to do with servant leadership. When the author puts the heart at the centre of effective shepherding he identifies the key of the topic.
Shepherd leadership is all about the heart. “God’s glory is the object of, the motive for, and the measure of ministry.” (25) Jesus modelled such ministry. Not all can lead but all can pray. Prayer releases the Holy Spirit for ministry. Pray the Psalms.
Faith develops through stages; infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, aka, “experienced, affiliative, searching, and owned”. (58) This journey of faith comes at a price. The standards of holiness cannot be violated without consequence. Accountability, transparency, and reflection are marks of purity.
“It’s all about people.” (95) Shepherds must have a priority for needy sheep (people). This calls for serious feeding on the Word, for sheep and shepherd. A loving heart is a serving heart. A serving heart is often a broken heart. In our change driven culture seniors and their contributions often becomes a casualty.
We live in a world that is dominated by the “rational, informational, and linear/sequential” (181) Many other good and necessary things, mystery, majesty, etc., are being crowded out. ‘Shepherding’ is indeed a noble calling.
henrydirksen.blogspot.com
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