Mothering Denied

For free download of Peter Cook’s book: Mothering Denied. The sources of love and how our culture harms infants, women, and society.

Note that Peter Cook is a secular child psychiatrist and many of his presuppositions are in direct discord with a Christian view. This doesn’t mean that his research has nothing to say to our modern world, or to thinking Christian people. Mothering is yet another area where Christians have sadly dropped the baton, forgetting that we should speak God’s thoughts to the world on all the issues of life.

Luther’s Preface to the Book of Romans

Here is an excerpt: This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian’s while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.

When you love the book of Romans already and you read something like this, it almost makes your heart miss a beat. Imagine if we took it this seriously!

the same ancient truth, a new way of expressing it…

Check out this website for a new way of ‘doing’ church: Somachurch and music @ Somachurch

(I’m interested of course, because my kids are involved – that’s my boy!)

When fiction becomes reality

The movie The Island is an interesting watch. I didn’t think it was as ground breaking as some movies of the same genre from earlier in the ’00s or even ’90s but I enjoyed it. I thought it raised some valid ethical questions about cloning and where it was heading. But I had no idea that the concept was NOT new, and was already being used in the USA and UK several years before the movie was made. See for yourself and then, let’s ask some questions about the ethics of it all.

A thought from across the Tasman

This thought from Catherine spoke to me this morning: If I want God to be glorified in my life…pressure must come if God is to be seen. Grapes don’t produce juice unless trampled…

Sigh…a little less whine, and a little more wine please Father.

(I had to blow plenty of dust off my blog this morning before I could post this. lol)

coldplay in a different light.

As I quickly scanned a few blogs this morning, I thought these comments about Coldplay were of interest, esp since they are playing in Sydney next month and some of my fam have tickets! (HT josh harris)

next step for a girl of faith

To do:

tomorrow – drive to sydney and drop frances at SMBC
tuesday – drive home without her
for the next three years – pray for her every day

particulars to pray and thank god for:
- not having lived anywhere but armidale means there are some nerves, but she is sure of god’s loving hand marking out her steps.
- she’s been given advanced standing for greek and hebrew which has a number of benefits but one of those is that she’ll have less to study to begin with.
- the masters degree she is doing in just another step…adding theology to her substantial greek studies will allow her to move into bible translation at wycliff in melbourne (god willing)

The photo here was taken in ‘92 in the library at English L’Abri. Her input valves have been open since she was little and she just keeps taking more in… I’m so grateful to God for all that he has done in this precious life.

Raspberry Focaccia

This delicious bread has been our favourite dessert over the holidays. Fantastic with Brie and either Fig and Chocolate Jam or Guava and Almond Paste, two yummy treats we picked up at Two Rivers, a winery in the Hunter Valley over New Year. For an (almost as delicious but) low fat treat try Low Fat Philly Cream Cheese!

Because it’s reasonably filling, it is a great compliment to light, summery, raw meals.

This pic is of the loaves I baked (for an order…ie: customer!) this morning. The original recipe was found here

Summer School summary: Perseverance

Calvin Coolidge remarked that, Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

When Jesus calls us to follow Him, it is to finish the race. He said that, “s/he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13) Hebrews 12:1-3 has a similar exhortation.

Modern people are not very good at persevering! Hugh MacKay, Australian social commentator described the ‘lucky generation’ as those who experienced the depression and World War II. Lucky, because hardships left them with a legacy…of frugality, appreciation of needs met and resilience.
- it is increasingly difficult to staff beach missions, sunday school and other regular ministries.
- S.T.A.B.O. (Subject To A Better Offer) has become endemic in our community and churches.

The consequences are disastrous in every aspect of our lives. Just three areas – marriage, church life and self-esteem – illustrate the need and value for perseverance.

In marriage perseverance plays a central role. Modern expectations can be hopelessly unrealistic given there will always be differences that must be worked through – and by two sinners to boot. See the notes for a wonderful analogy of new car/used car model. Training for perseverance (whether in marriage or life in general) should start early in our life. Our whole culture with its obsession with immediacy and variety makes this difficult but doubly necessary.

In churches perseverance is essential for building congregations that witness to the faithful perseverance of God toward us.

Our self-esteem is enhanced when we persevere.

Habits of Persevering (all of these padded out helpfully in the notes):

•    Obey your purposes, not your feelings.
•    Practice makes permanent.
•    Enlist a close friend to help you keep accountable. (Proverbs 27:6).
•    Those with children will do well to limit the range of a child’s activities and insist that if they sign up for a new activity, they stick with it for a season/course.
•    Do something in the way of Christian service. (Don’t wait to be asked – look around. Ephesians 2:10)
•    Don’t be put off by others’ criticism or coolness.
•    Keep looking to the final product – the establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom.
•    Never underestimate the value of turning up at church! Galatians 6:9-10
•    Turn off the T.V.
•    Pray and read.
•    Establish personal rules of discipline. Train yourself to be godly. (1 Timothy 4:7)
•    Prayer is essential.

Three passages that speak of perseverance (u(πομονή – hupomonē) and its consequences are  discussed in length in the notes: Romans 5:4-5, James 1:4 and 2 Peter 1:6.

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

James 1:2-8
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

2 Peter 1:3-9
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

All of this is grounded in ‘saving faith’ – a faith received (1:1 and cf. Romans 5:1 and James 1:18). We persevere because we are saved, not in order to be justified. One of the signs of saving, justifying faith is sanctifying, persevering faith. We take seriously our Lord’s words that “the person who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Don’t forget to check out the St Pete’s website for downloads of Bishop Peter Brain’s Summer School: Four Attitudes that can Transform Your Life.

My summaries all in one place

Summer School summary: Contentment

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6-8.)

Life is full of pleasures and troubles. These can give us grief or joy. The difference between how we live with our troubles and pleasures is what Paul calls the “secret of being content.”

The talks I am summarising detail God’s faithfulness and the responses we must make to live a life of Godliness in Christ. We need to be content. (nice word isn’t it?)

Reasons for discontent:
- Focus on what we don’t have. Satan’s successful strategy with Eve (Genesis 3:1-6), was that he managed to shift her focus from everything she *could* enjoy to the one thing *forbidden* her by God.
- things happen to disturb our peace; trouble or misfortune.

Godliness and contentment are so clearly linked. Numbers of scriptures speak of this either explicitly or implicitly: 1 Timothy 6:8, Luke 3:14, Philippians 4:11-13, Deuteronomy 31:6, Proverbs 19:23.

Our contentment does not see us untouched by troubles, but untouched by faithlessness and its attendant griefs of uncertainty, hopelessness and hardened independence toward God that can result when our peaceful existence is shattered.

Contentment is not an attitude we conjure up with self-effort, but rather the outworking of a living relationship with the loving God whose mind and ways are revealed to his children. The notes detail hymns, prayers and bible verses which speak of the reality of contentment (even during difficult times) when one has an understanding of God’s nature and his promises. They give examples to encourage us to stand against the pressures of the world and the flesh which would speak to us of discontent; Hebrews 13:4-6 speak of sex, money and contentment, Philippians 4:11-12 mentions varying circumstances which test us, Luke 3:14 records John the Baptist’s advice to the soldiers that they “produce fruits in keeping with repentance” (3:7-8), and they not “extort money and don’t accuse people falsely – be content with your pay”, 1 Timothy 6:6-10 reminds us that God is sovereign and that we are frail. See the notes for more detail.

Application:

1.    Contentment is not simply a disposition that we are born with.  Paul tells us that he learned it through circumstances (Philippians 4:12), but this learning was not isolated from –
i.    practiced rejoicing in the Lord (4:4);
ii.    prayer and thanksgiving (4:5-7);
iii.    a mind focussed or what is good, true, pure and right (4:8-9);
iv.    a life lived in consistent obedience (4:9).

2.    Since contentment and godliness go together (1 Timothy 6:6), we will need to be Bible readers who pray if our contentment is to grow.

3.    Learned and practiced contentment will keep us from overspending covetousness, pride and greed.

4.    The implications for us in raising children and in our example to each other in the church are significant.

Summaries all in one place