Chrissy's Day 12: Some answers!

Doing something a bit different today. Instead of the usual read a passage, summarise it, reflect on it and pray, I'm just going to write a reflection because I feel like God spoke to me today.

After writing yesterday's post I was talking about it with Mike. He asked me how I felt the lenten project was going and if I had learnt anything. I expressed how I felt that I was asking lots of questions but not getting any answers.

Well, God must have heard my frustration because he answered some questions for me today. God is good!

So yesterday I was saying that I was confused about what sin actually is. I'm not convinced that our focus on individual sin is what God is really concerned about. Did God die because I am impatient with my husband? There has to be more to it than that.

Today's sermon at church was on Romans 1:18-32.

Garry started the sermon by saying "today I'm going to talk about sin". (My paraphrase!)

I sat up in my seat. Really?

Garry said "I don't think God's primary concern is individual sin".

I almost jumped out of my seat. Wow! God's talking to me.

He went on to explain that he believes God is more concerned about corporate sin than individual sin.

Hallelujah! That's it. I knew that this sin business had to be bigger than me.

So what does that mean? Here's what I reckon.

Our culture views everything on an individual level. Everyone is responsible for their own actions and can have influence over others but can't be held responsible for bad stuff others do. According to our culture, salvation is individual too. Everyone must say the sinners prayer and have a personal faith in God.

Those concepts haven't sat right with me for quite some time but I haven't really known why or what I do believe.

I think God sees things differently from us. God is not confined by our culture.

There are things that we as a group - whether the family unit, local community, nation, human race - do that is sinful. Child abuse is one example, neglect of the environment is another.

Certainly we don't all abuse children physically, but we do contribute to a society and culture that allows people to live in poor housing, without education or adequate nutrition - all things that are associated with child abuse. We allow hopelessness and hurt to rule people's lives. You and I are responsible for child abuse.

Romans 1:18-20 says that the truth of God is plain but we suppress the truth. However, because the truth is plain to see we are without excuse.

I'm at the end of my thoughts for now. I realise I've cut it a bit short but I think I need to sleep on these ideas some more.

x
Chrissy

Chrissy's Day 11: "Sin no longer has dominion over me"

Summary of Romans 6: 1-14

So, should we willingly keep doing bad stuff so that God can be more gracious? Don’t be stupid! Sin no longer has a place in our lives so we can’t!

When we tied ourselves to Jesus, we tied ourselves to his death AND his resurrection. Our old sinful lives died when Jesus did so that we no longer have to be slaves to sin. We are free!

Jesus can’t die again (he’s already beaten it!) so death has no power over him.

So we too shouldn’t let sin have power over us. Don’t give yourself to sin – give yourself to God! Sin has no power over us because we live according to grace not according to the law.

Reflection

Sometimes I get myself all tied up in knots and get myself very confused. You’d think that after a lifetime (30 years tomorrow!) of being in the Christian church, I would have a handle on the basics. But I find them more confusing now than ever!

• What is sin?
• What does it mean to be a slave to sin?
• What does it mean to be free from sin?
• What does it mean to be alive in Christ?

 Is sin just doing bad stuff like lying, eating too much junk food, watching rubbish TV or being judgemental? Or is it more than that? Is it about attitudes of the heart? Or is it even more than that? Is it about the way we treat others? Or is it more than that?

I admit that I find the concept of sin hard to relate to. I’m a good person. Yes I do mean things sometimes and definately have a wrong attitude a lot of the time but is that really what Jesus was all about? Is this whole life really just about being ‘saved’ from bad thoughts and feelings? Surely there has to be more to this?

I guess one of my issues with this way of viewing things is that its so individualistic. Are my personal shortcomings really that important? Did God really make his only son a mortal and allow him to die just to ‘save’ us humans from our pride and subborness? Surely there has to be a bigger purpose to all this.

Perhaps its just the romantic in me but I much prefer the idea of Jesus coming to reconcile whole families, communities, nations. Humans with humans. Humans with nature. Humans with God. Nature with God. I want something bigger! Something grander! Surely my sin is too small and insignificant to be the main purpose.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the work of the cross.
Thank you that sin no longer has dominion over me.
Thank you that I have abundant life because of your reconciling work.

Please help me to understand what sin is and what your work on earth is all about.
Whatever it is, I want to be a part of it.

I want to be your servant, you vessel.

Amen

Chrissy's Day 9: "The aggressive force of grace"

I had trouble understanding this passage in both the NIV and NRSV but then I opened up The Message. Wow! The words just jumped out at me and grabbed my heart. So my summary will probably be more in the words of The Message than in my words...

Summary of Romans 5: 12-21

Sin came into the world through one person, and then sin and death spread to everyone. Sin and death separated us from God from the time of Adam to Moses. "But Adam, who got us in to this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it."

"If one man's sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God's gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do!... The verdict on that one sin was the death sentence; the verdict on the many sins that followed was this wonderful life sentence."

"Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it... One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right."

"But sin didn't and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it is sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and thats the end of it."

Reflection

Aren't those words cool?

• "One man said yes to God and put many in the right."
• "When it is sin versus grace, grace wins hands down."
• "All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it."

In this passage Paul is comparing and contrasting Adam and Jesus. Adam did one thing wrong and put us all in the schtuck but Jesus did one thing right and got us out of trouble. But more than that, Jesus didn't just neutralise the situation, he gave us abundant life, everlasting life, free access to God!

And I love the idea of 'the aggressive force of grace'. How cool is that? Grace is so strong and all-encompassing that all sin does is threaten us. That's so affirming and reassuring.

Verse 20 puzzles me though "The law was added so that the trespass might increase." It sounds mean to me and is a concept I've always struggled with. Why does God allow sin? And why do we all have to pay the price of Adam's sin?


Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the aggressive force of grace.
Thank you for sending Jesus to rescue us.
I love the symmetry of your work Lord, it makes it easier to comprehend.

But Lord, there are still so many things I just don't get.
Why even allow sin in the first place?
Why did the rest of us have to be born sinful? Why didn't we get a chance?
Or am I misunderstanding?

Please continue to teach me throughout this lenten period.

I want to be your servant, your vessel.
Amen

Mike's Day 8: Be gracious to me ... for I am languishing

Summary: The Psalmist is waiting for God to show grace, to turn and deliver him from death and enemies (v.7). He is weary from crying and moaning. Finally, a declaration of victory as the LORD hears the Psalmist, and his enemies are put to shame.

Again, like Ps. 2, 3, 4, 5, in Pslam 6 there is a distinct narrative (could I say dramatic?) structure. The Psalmist is in some strife, asks for God to intervene (often against some form of enemy), and finally... God does! It would be interesting to compare the narrative of these songs to the dramatic structure of other songs, even modern pop songs.

In this Psalm again we have statement of the problem, and the problem in this case is: "Where is God?". There is also an acknowledgement that God is not passive in the face of evil (Ps. 5: 4-6), and the Psalmist seems to be aware that God's absence in this case may be a form of rebuke or discipline.

A take home might be: say it like it is. State your state before God. If you are 'languishing', 'shaking with terror' then this is the right Psalm for you.

Remind him of his steadfast love (actually, remind yourself of this). Finally, realise that God 'accepts' your 'prayer'.

Psalms of course are prayer. But they are also a state of being, a way of being before God.

Psalms set the music, the mood for the relationship between Israel and YHWH, or the LORD and his anointed, and the music often is raw and passionate cries for deliverance accompanied by the realisation that in the end God will deliver.

In the Psalmist coming to God with a frank mindset, we are reminded of the God who turns, delivers, hears and accepts for the sake of his steadfast love (v.4,9).

Chrissy's Day 7: Peace and Joy

Summary of Romans 5:1-11

Because we have been made right through faith, we have peace with God. We gained access to God through Jesus Christ.

We can celebrate the glory of God and we can also celebrate when we are suffering, because we know that suffering teaches and changes us. It teaches us to keep going on and teaches us to hope. And we won't be dissapointed because the Holy Spirit is pouring out love into our hearts.

Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. That's an unusual thing to do. Someone might die for a good person but a bad one? This shows how much God loves us.

Imagine how much more love and forgiveness God has for us! If he died while we were still bad, imagine how much more he will do for us now that we are on his side!

Reflection

I'm loving this idea of being at peace with God. Fully reconciled and restored. And I'm also loving the ideas in verses 9 to 11.  I like the way The Message puts it, "If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God... now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen..." That sounds like a reason to celebrate!

The whole celebrating while we're down business, now thats a little tougher for me to get my head around. I guess the idea is that we shouldn't celebrate the bad stuff thats happening, rather we should praise God for hwat he has done and for his generous love. We should 'look on the bright side' and realise that 'what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger'. These sayings are a little glib but they do have some truth in them also.
But I think this is a lesson we have to learn through experience rather than just by reading it in on a page. I think that maybe the more tough stuff you face in your life the more you know that you'll grow because of it.

I now know, looking back that the toughest time in my life (when I lost my two precious babies through miscarriage), that I did grow and learn some stuff. I have those experiences now to draw on in the future both for myself and to help others cope with similar grief. And I do praise God for pouring out his love on me at that time. I have to admit that I didn't feel it then, but I know in retrospect that the Holy Spirit was there, helping me, comforting me and holding me together.

So perhaps thats what this passage is saying. That we praise God during our suffering because we know that the Holy Spirit will be with us, and we know that we will grow and learn through the experience and we know that God will have something great in store for us when it's all over.

Prayer

Lord,

Thank you for loving me when I was useless.
Thank you for making me useful!

It's exciting to think that you might have great things in store for me.
Prepare me Lord, may I be open to your leading.

Help me Lord to remember the lessons I've learnt in the past.
Help me to remember them when things are tough.
Help me to keep worshipping you no matter what.

I want to be your servant, your vessel.

Amen

Mike's Day 6: Psalm 5

The Psalmist asks God to consider his sighing, his cries for help, which he
brings before God on a daily basis. God does not take pleasure in evil, and
abbhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful. In contrast, the Psalmist's way will be
made straight as he worships God at the temple. He reminds God that the
wicket cannot be trusted and asks God to banish them for their rebellion.
Finally he asks God's blessing on the righteous.

This is one of the dualisms in the book of Psalms: the difference between the wicked and the righteous.

The wicked are right royal schemers, manipulators, liars etc., who create intrigues in which others fall like an 'open grave'. On the other hand, the righteous (or 'the godly' Psalm 4) are not only those who do the opposite of lie, take pleasure in evil, but, primarily, take refuge in God.

So, the difference is not only moral, it is theological, that is, it relates to the character of God - Psalms is defining God as the god who hates evil and loves righteousness, and a key feature of evil is that is that it is 'rebellion' against God.

I should add, there is not a hint of smug self-satisfaction. Instead, the approach of the Psalmist is one of reverence and humility in coming to God for salvation. Jesus would have known such Psalms well.

Like Ps. 4, Ps. 5 has an opening call or invitation/request to God, and ends with a declaration of his protection and the vindication of the righteous: "For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with favour as with a shield."

Chrissy's Day 6: "Credited to him as righteousness"

Hmmm, I missed days 4 and 5. Felt guilty but hey, life happens all I can do is my best. I'm realising that as a mum, the best way to worship God is to love my girl the best I can. And thats what I've been trying to do this weekend. Phew. Exhausted.

Summary of Romans 4

The scriptures say that Abraham was made right with God because of his faith, not because of anything he did. If someone does a job, they receive wages. But when someone trusts God to do a job they can't do, they are given the gift of righteousness.

And this blessing is for the uncircumcised as well as the circumcised. In fact, Abraham received his gift before he was circumcised - the circumcision was a symbol and way of confirmaing what God had done. So that means that Abraham is the father of all those who are not circumcised. He's also the father of those who are circumcised and follow God.

Abraham didn't receive his promise from God because of anything he did. No, it was because God had made him right through faith.

The promise comes through faith so that it can be a gift to everyone.

Abraham became the father of many nations because he believed and had hope. He had faith even though he was old and his wife had been infertile for many years. He didn't waver in unbelief; rather his faith was strengthened because he believed God had the power to keep his promise.

That's why God made Abraham right with him. But this is also a promise for us! For us who believe in God who raised Jesus from death.

Reflection

I've really been struggling over the phrase 'credited to him as righteousness'. At first while writing my summary I decided to ignore it as I couldn't work out how to simplify the term. But unfortunately when I got to the end of the passage I realised that Paul repeats the phrase. In fact, I think it is the crux of the whole passage.

Bummer. I'm gonna have to try and work out what it means!

With a little help from some online dictionaries:

Righteous means 'free from guilt or sin'.
Credit means 'to consider that someone has a particular quality'.

So if Abraham was 'credited with righteousness' it means God considered him to be free from guilt or sin. That was the gift he received because he believed and trusted that God would keep his promise and make him a father.

Paul is trying to make it very clear that Abraham didn't earn his gift. It's not like wages for a job, because God did the work, not Abraham. What Abraham did was trust - even when all the evidence pointed to a negative outcome - that God could make him the 'father of many nations'.

The great thing is, and Paul really wants to point this out too, is that we can be considered free from guilt or sin (credited with righteousness) too!

What do we have to do? Nothing! Just trust God to do the work. Believe that he has the power. Believe that he raised Jesus from the dead.

I'm thinking of that worship song "It's all about you, it's all about you Jesus". It's so easy to think that salvation is all about us. "I've been saved, I've been made righteous." But that is missing the point I think. I think what we should be saying is "God saves, God is righteous".

Needs more thought I think.

Prayer

God,

It is you that saves.
It is you that is righteous.

Please help me to forget about myself and focus on you.

Amen

Mike's Day 4: Let the light of your face shine upon us

I am in distress!
Show mercy!
Relief! Please!

How long will you people
make Things
only things for heavens' sake
that aren't god,
into God.

Instead
Search Silently.
Offer right sacrifices.
Come Simply.

It's all you can do.

You may
not get yet
you will have.

So Simply Come.

They ask:
"Who can show us any good?"

I answer: You alone.

Mike's Day 3: "You are a shield around me, Oh LORD"

Psalm 3: David is crying out to YHWH. In the face of all his enemies who are out to get him, he asks for and reaffirms the fact that from the LORD comes deliverance.

Here, I think, we have a common characteristic of the Psalms: an 'I' Psalm. Compared to the 'man' of Psalms 1 and the 'nations' of Psalm 2, this is the Psalm of an individual to his God in the face of what he percieves to be insurmountable opposition.

Yet in the midst of this he is able to declare that God will deliver him. From this comes his sustenance, the ability to lift up his head.

Gosh don't we sometimes feel like we are over our heads, and need to read Psalms like this every second of every day?

No, I am not surrounded by 10,000 drawn up against me on every side, but sometimes facing the tasks of the day, whatever they may be, can feel like a challenge of these proportions; and in reading this Psalm we are reminded of the source of our courage: God - Shield, Sustainer, Deliverer.

We follow a God who delivers: and that goes for whoever you are, whereever you are whatever you have done, as Chrissy read today in Romans 3.

Chrissy's Day 3: I just don't get it

Summary of Romans 3

You can read Romans 2 at BibleGateway.

So, what value is there to being a Jew? One advantage is that they've been given the scriptures.

The fact that some Jews have lost their faith doesn't effect God's righteousness. In fact, their faithlessness makes God's faithfulness even more clear.

But that doesn't mean we should think that its ok to sin cause it will just make God look better - thats stupid.

Everyone is the same. We are all sinners.

But now, we can be put right with God through Jesus. And that's for everyone, Jews and non-Jews. It is a pure gift.

We are made right with God through faith. It's not about what we do but about what God does.

So does that make the law redundant? No, by living a life of faith and focusing on what God has done, we confirm that law.

Reflection

Ooh, this chapter is a bit tougher. I'm not sure really what to say. And to be honest I'm not sure if I understood it really. I struggled to write that summary and still don't think I got it right.

I found reading this, and other writings of Paul, kind of like hearing a lawyer state a case. He sets up an argument then proves or disproves it, talks around the different angles and asks strange questions.

Another picture I get from reading this is of someone having a conversation with himself. I can imagine Paul pacing inside a small room, talking out loud as he nuts through the ideas then racing over to his laptop to quickly get down his thoughts. (I can relate - I'm often caught talking to myself!)

Or perhaps, if Paul had been a 21st Century man, this chapter would have been the FAQ page on his website. If he wrote this as a letter to the Roman church - did they write letters to him? Perhaps he was answering some of their questions.

Yesterday the question I posed at the end of my reflection was How do I obey? What do I need to do? I think that was answered in part by Mike's reflection on Psalm 1. Verse 2 says "...on his law he meditates day and night."

As I confessed in my introduction to this project, I have not been faithful with my bible reading. Mostly because I'm stubborn and lazy. But also because it's hard.

I don't understand the Bible and I find it frustrating. Like this chapter - I just don't get it. It takes a lot of work to understand what Paul is saying and then I have no idea what relevance it has for me. What does all this argument about Jews and non-Jews have to do with me? I don't think I even know any Jewish people!

Mmm. So thats my reflection on Romans 3. Reading back over what I've just written I realise it isn't really a study of the passage. But I think it is valuable nonetheless. I has helped me realise that I need to ask God to help me understand. And so, to my prayer...

Prayer

Dear God,

It's so cool that we have your word. It is this great book full of stories and thoughts and songs.
But I find it so hard to read.
Sometimes it is all so clear and seems so relevant.
And other times it feels like its 2000 years old!

Please help me to understand it.

Help me to hear the voice of God speaking to me through these ancient pages.
And most importantly, help me to respond and obey.

I want to be your servant, your vessel.

Amen.

x
Chrissy

Mike's Day 2: “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill ...”

Psalm 2: a prayer of defiance. Though the nations conspire against the LORD (thus against Israel), the Anointed-King, the one LORD names as his own Son and rules from Zion (Jerusalem), will rule with an 'iron sceptre'; therefore those plotting kings should 'be wise', 'be warned', 'Serve the LORD with fear','rejoice with trembling' and ultimately 'Kiss the Son' in order to stave off his anger.

This is a bit of an angry one. It is a Psalm about the Messiah (Anointed One), probably David, chosen by God to both rule his people and defeat the enemies of the people of God. One of the functions of the Messiah was to defeat the enemies of Israel, thereby bringing salvation. The Messiah's victory would be God's victory, and perhaps the high point of David's reign is captured in the millitary victories of 2 Samuel 8 & 9 (before the Bathsheba incident) and preceded by God's message to David through Nathan (2 Sam 7), which reads:

"I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be distrubed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies."

Psalm 2 recalls this 'promise', if you like. Note that it is against the nations that rage and conspire against Israel, not against the nations per se. The function God had for Israel was twofold, to defeat evil, and be the the source of blessing for the nations.

This Psalm had special meaning for the early church: read Acts 4:23-31. It is attributed directly to their 'father' David, who spoke the words of God by the Holy Spirit (v.25). The peoples are all those who conspired against Jesus, whom God anointed (v.27). The Psalm of salvation for Israel has then been fulfilled in Jesus; the successor mentioned by Nathan in 2 Sam vs. 12 is Jesus.

'Blessed are all who take refuge in him.'

Beauty4ashes: "Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!"

Tonight was my first time that I can recall receiving the imposition of ashes during a liturgy that began the season of Lent. This is my first year worshipping in a liturgical church, and I am really finding great value in the seasons of the church. I had hoped that by the time the 7pm service rolled around, I would have figured out how I was going to observe Lent. The usual thoughts went through my head--Give up chocolate? I don't think so. Meat? But why? Maybe I should only let myself get no more than seven hours of sleep each day. In the end, had no plan for self-discipline that inspired me by the start of the Ash Wednesday evening service. The thought spoken by my pastor as he made the sign of the cross on my forehead seemed a good place to start though: From dust you have come, and to dust you will return. He wasn't talking just to me; he was talking to all of us side by side, gathered around the altar.

I have tried to observe Lent on my own for several years, but doing it apart from a community of other Lent observers has made keeping my focus difficult. I guess that is why I was so glad to hear Mike and Christine were undertaking this lenten project. We all grow better in community, right? But this year has been one of transition for me in many ways, and I am removed from the community of my past. Work has kept me from being as engaged as I would like to be in the Christian community where I am now, and even my husband is traveling much of the time. I am a bit isolated.

I guess that is why it stood out to me to hear this call to community repentance in the Old Testament reading in tonight's liturgy: "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments."...Call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber...Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare your people, O LORD...Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" (excerpts from Joel 2 verses 12-17).

After reflecting on this passage, I think my lenten observance will be found in a solemn assembly with God's people, reflecting on our need for him, all he has done for us, and our representation of his great name and love to the world. I am looking forward to this blog for this purpose. I also am going to make a plan to participate in the special services and Sunday school class our church is having to focus on Lent.

Thanks, Mike and Christine, for starting this site!

Chrissy's Day 2: I need to obey, I need to do

Summary of Romans 2

You can read Romans 2 at BibleGateway.

Paul warns that we shouldn't pass judgement on others because we're just the same as the wicked people described in chapter 1. God will give everyone what they deserve, both Jews and non-Jews. Infact, Jews will be held to a higher standard because they have God's law. Because it is not hearing that is important it is obeying. In fact, those people who have never heard of God's law but follow it by instinct prove that it is the truth.

If Jews want to brag about having God's law, their relationship with God and try to teach others, they had better be careful to obey the law themselves. For example, they can't teach against stealing and then steal themselves. The scriptures say "It's because of you Jews that non-Jews ignore God".

Circumcision is only valuable if you keep God's law. If you don't, then it's better to not be circumcised. It's what is happening in your heart that matters.

Reflection

I know you should be careful about taking something written a couple thousand years ago to a specific group of people and try to apply it directly to your own life but...

I do wonder how similar we Christians are to the Jews of that time. We smugly think we can tell others how to live because we are 'saved' but don't really change our lives all that much. We claim to have the inside scoop on love but exclude people from our churches if we don't approve of their lifestyles. We go on about how God created the world in 7 days but continue to trash it. We talk about how we are free from condemnation but judge other Christians mercilessly.

Well, if we can apply this passage to ourselves, Paul is telling us to be careful. We who have heard will be held to account for our actions. We won't be able to plead innocence cause we should have known better.

Here again Paul is saying. It's not enough just to hear the gospel - we need to hear it. Verse 13: "For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous."

So where do I sit in all this?

I confess, I sit back and say 'oh, I'm a Christian, I have been saved by God's amazing gift of grace', and think that that's enough. Yes, God has extended a free and undeserved gift to me and it is enough. And yet it's not.

Clearly, this passage (if it is ok for me to apply it to my life...) is telling me that it's not enough to rely on my religion and think I have a free ticket to the Kingdom of God. I need to obey. I need to do.

So my next question is: How do I obey? What do I need to do?

Prayer

Father, Son, Holy Spirit,

Thank you for this opportunity to spend time exploring your word.
Thank you for the journey you are taking me on and how far I have already come.

Lord, I confess that I am lazy. I have willfully misinterpreted your message to suit myself.
Please forgive me.

I want to obey. Please show me how. Please show me what you want me to do.

I want to be your servant, your vessel.

Amen

x
Chrissy

Mike's Day 1: Psalm 1

The psalmist describes a blessed man and the wicked. The blessed man 'delights in the law of the LORD' upon which he meditates day and night, prospering, producing fruit in season. This is unlike the wicked who are 'like chaff that the wind blows away'.

So for this season of Lent I will read, and talk about, the Psalms, Psalms 1-46. I love the Psalms, but, I think, they are deceptively simple. The Psalms is a songbook, however the focus for this one is on the words, not on the tune. Compare this to contemporary worship songs, which probably focus on the melody more than words (I could be wrong, but I doubt will we carrying around collections of modern worship lyrics in a thousand years time). Plus, the words are all we have: you could set the Psalms to music, and there are helpful headings if only we understood e.g. Psalm 6 – 'according to sheminith'.

Anyway, back to Psalm 1. We begin with contrasting approaches to living in relation to God: the 'way of the righteous' and 'the way of the wicked' (v.6). The Psalm might be a poetic summary of Deuteronomy 28, calling Israel to remember the Blessings of Obedience and Curses for Disobedience, and reaffirm their commitment to walk in the way of Blessing. Meditate upon the Law, so that you are enabled to fully obey and carefully follow God's commands, and you will be counted among the righteous, and experience the Blessings of the Covenant. Conversely, ignore this (and get carried away with mockers etc.) and you will experience the Curses in Deut 28.

In Matthew 5 Jesus says something fairly similar with the wise and foolish builders, re-focused this time around himself and his teaching. This might be the Christian lens for reading Psalm 1. It is highly unlikely the Pslamist is advocating a simple minded 'meditation'/'hearing the word' which does not result in some kind of life-response, as Chrissy touched on this in terms of 'hearing the word' in her Day 1 Blog, though surely there is an argument to be made for the influence of thought patterns, vis-a-vie meditation, on state of mind and consequent behaviour.

'Refreshment' is another word that springs to mind re: Psalm 1 'like a tree planted by streams of water'. The kind of ever-green person Psalm 1 describes certainly is worth aspiring to become, someone who can weather the storms of life when (not if) they come and produce fruit in season.

Mike.

Chrissy's Day 1: Hearing and hearing

Here goes!

I've decided to write a summary of the passage, a reflection then a prayer.

You can read Romans chapter 1 online at BibleGateway.

Summary of Romans chapter 1

Paul (the author) really wants to go to Rome to meet with the Christians there, he prays for them all the time.

He says he is not ashamed of the gospel because he knows it has the power to save people.

He explains that God is angry because people are supressing the truth. The truth about God is easy for everyone to see, his power and divine nature is clear in creation. People know about God and they ignore him. They think they are wise but they are not.

So, God let them do what they want. They now sin in lots of ways, for example: sex, gossip, murder, stealing, fighting, boasting and greed. Although they know these things are wrong and will only lead to more heartache and eternal death, they do it anyway. But even worse than that, they celebrate people who do these stupid things!

Reflection

I am so challenged by verse 16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” Cause the truth probably is that I am ashamed of the gospel. I really struggle (like many Christians do I’m sure) to not only share my faith but even to admit to it sometimes.

Why is this? Paul (the author of Romans) says that he’s not ashamed cause he knows that God has the power to save. Basically cause he knows it is the truth.

I’m reminded of something our minister said in his sermon on Sunday (yes, I was listening). He was talking about the difference between hearing and hearing as the bible means it. I think that is the key. If I had really heard the gospel and understood it I wouldn’t even dream of being ashamed. If I really got it then I too would be shouting it from the rooftops.

I like the way The Message version puts verse 16: “It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him.”

So, why haven’t I heard? Why don’t I really understand?

I think the second part of the passage explains it.

Verse 18 -22 says “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.” (New Living Translation)

Basically, they refused to understand it. The passage says it is clear who God is (verses 19 and 20) just by looking around at this beautiful world we can see the power and divine nature of God.

And I confess, the same is true for me. I do know who God is, I do know the wonder of the gospel – that it has the power to give everyone healing, restoration and redemption – but I have hardened my heart and refuse to really know it.

Why? That’s a great question. I trust that this lent, God will show me.

Prayer

Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit,

Thank you for the gift of your word.
Thank you that something written so long ago is still relevant.
I read this passage, the description of people who have given themselves over to wickedness and it sounds just like my world, just like the people in my community.

But God, I confess, I am no different.
I too refuse to really acknowledge who you are.

I’m sorry.

Lord, please change me.
I’m putting this out there now, for all the world to see.
I want to know you. I want to really hear the gospel.
I want to be your servant, your vessel.

Amen.

x
Chrissy

Lent starts tomorrow

Our lenten project is all set to start tomorrow! I've decided to read the book of Romans to start with. I imagine that I'll finish it before the 46 days is up though so I'll move on to something else after that.

So, if you'd like to follow along with me, I'll be reading Romans chapter 1 tomorrow.

I've also been thinking that I'd like to say a prayer at the beginning of my 'quiet time' each day. So here is one I've written for that purpose.

Lord,
I come here now in search of you.

I've done some stupid and pig-headed things lately,
so please forgive me. Thank you for your amazing gift of grace.

There are so many things buzzing around inside my head,
so please help me to set them aside for a time.
I want to focus on you and your word.

Illuminate your word to me.
Speak to me. Open my eyes and ears and heart.

I want to be your servant, your vessel.
Amen

Catch ya tomorrow!

x
Chrissy

What is our lenten project?

The idea for our lenten project came to me at 4 one morning as I was breastfeeding my baby. I don't really know much about lent as it has never been a part of my Christian tradition, but the idea of it intrigues me.

Confession time: I don't read my bible regularly and my prayers are usually 'help!' So I thought that was a good place to start.

So, my lenten project is to read a passage of the bible each day, write a reflection and a prayer and publish them on this blog.

I shared my idea with Mike and he said "I'm jealous I didn't think of it first", so I invited him to join me. He can't commit to a daily post so will try for once or twice a week. As we talked about it we decided to extend the invitation to our friends and family and make it a community project!

So please, join us this lent. You might want to do the same as us or you might have something else in mind - perhaps you'll do a traditional fast.

Daily blogging is not necessary, your lenten project might be just to blog about your experiences once a week or perhaps only once during the 40 day period. It's up to you.

My prayer is that we'll uncover a little bit more of the mystery that is our God and his people this lent.

x
Chrissy