Melek Yahweh

So in hindsight (or from the vantage point of the observer) we know this guy is an angel, but what does Gideon see?

Radient white, shimmering celestial entity with pure white wings and a glowing halo?

No.
Gideon sees a stranger relaxing whilst he is doing all the work!

What does Gideon hear?

A cherub choir of angelic voices proclaiming "Hosanna!" from heavenly heights?

Or even a thunderous roar of the Zion Lion, proclaiming God's awesomeness and power?

No.

He comes to Gideon (and to us) in our boring normal days.

We must be careful how we treat strangers. (Hebrews 13:2)

An ordinary looking God reveals Himself to an ordinary looking man but has some extra-ordinary information.

*Remember_ God comes to the ordinary.

Love you x

Threshing stick

Judges 6:11

Joash (his name roots back to Joseph) means 'Yahweh has given'. This guy is an Isrealite, a man of the tribe of Manasseh, of God's chosen race. But now he worships baal. Although he ain't royalty, he is quiet well off. He has some power, land, livestock and servants. One of his sons is called . . . .

Gideon. His job (at the begining of this story) is to help bring in the 'secret harvest' of grain. Using an old winepress by Terebrinth (sacred tree). If the Midianites found out they would take it for themselves. He was the youngest son (so had nothing going for him!)

Inside the winepress there was no room for oxen or sledges to aid the threshing. They were forced to use a threshing stick to beat the grain and took it in turns. This was a slow, back-breaking process. Gideon would have been humiliated by 1 of 2 things (or maybe both!);

1) The pagan neighbouring tribes couldn't even be bothered to conquer the Isrealites and claim their land. They just sat back, waited for harvest time and swooped in and took the fruits of their labour and left. (A bit like the grasshoppers in the film Antz)

2) The fact of having to use a threshing stick. This was a farm tool used by the poor (Ruth 2:17)

The winepress should have been a place of joy, rejoicing, celebration at the prospect of new wine ("woo hoo! Party!"). But now it was the scene of humiliation, anger, bitterness and fear (?) [Lamentations 1:15 / Joel 3:13]

Now Gideon notices someone watching them working . . . "How dare he! every man should be helping with the harvest!"

More next time

Love you X

For all the cows

From the outset we see that AGAIN the Isrealites did wrong in the eyes of the Lord.

They were stuck in a cycle . . .

Rebellion. Retribution. Repentance. Rescue.

This wasn't just forgetting to say grace before meals or not saying bless you when someone sneezed.

This was heavy stuff.

Despite that the Lord brought them out of slavery from Egypt and constantly tended for them, they turned away AGAIN and began worshipping false gods and idols. They adopted the gods of their neighbours.

Alters dedicated for Baal and Asherah poles were everywhere in the promise land.

The Isrealites had been falling down like this for hundreds of years. Whilst Moses was up talking with God and getting the 10 Comandments, the people were worshipping a golden calf.

Its all about cows.

Baal (Canaanite) is depicted as a bull. Amon-Re (Egyptian) is a bull. Asshur (Assyrian) is a bull.

There was times when the Lord was with the Isrealites (through the Shofets [Judges]) and the neighbouring nations lived in fear of them. And then there are times when they turned away from the Lord and had to live in fear of the pagans.

In history, this is where we find ourselves in the story. The Isrealites are running scared and hiding in caves. Waiting for the inevitable capture, torture, rape, murder.

Ending on a high!

Love you X

Funky Gideon

OK.

The time has come to begin another bible study (using the wonderful media tool known as 'blogging').

Im currently running through various studies in my quiet time (as well as the studies we do at Oakham), these include . . . .

*Exodus _ Egypt to the promise land

*David _ Shepherd to King

*Nehemiah

*Paul's letters

*Genesis (with thursday youth)

*Ephesians (Sunday mornings)

*Esther (Sunday nights)

Plus, my word for today.

But this isn't enough! We need more bible!

So, via this blog, I'm gonna start a study on Gideon.

I don't know much about Gideon (hence the study!) other than he is one of the judges in the book of Judges and he was a bit of a wuss AND he leaves little bibles in hotels!

So, we set the scene with the Isrealites (God's chosen race) to-ing and fro-ing between worshiping the LORD and various other false gods. Everytime they turn from God something bad happens, everytime something bad happens the turn back to God and cry out to Him for help. (this happens a lot in the whole of the old testament!)

God hears their cries and sends a saviour (of Judge) to help the out. Already in this book we have seen the Isrealites screw up at least 4 times, and God has sent 'judges' to help out (Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar and Deborah).

To help keep the story of Gideon moving AND to keep it relevant to life today I shall be adopting a method called Midrashim.

Midrashim is a teaching (storytelling) method that Rabbis have used since forever. It simply means "to inquire" or "to go in search of", a Rabbi would basically look at how a story could be brought up to date or made more accessable to people here and now.

My next blog will see the start of our study into Gideon. So please familiarize yourself with history [his story] Judges 6,7 & 8.

Also please use this blog to voice your points of view or for any questions through the comments, any feed back will be much appreciated.

Love you X

Questions . . .

I lent a book from Pete's imense library.

It's a book about the questions Jesus asked and why He asked them.

It's a really good book with many interesting ideas for discussion.

I love the different sides to Jesus.

He had so many opposite emotions (or attributes).

I love the way He almost always answered their questions with more questions.

It has opened my eyes to the life of Jesus and how He was so much more than a healer or good teacher.

This will make a very good future sermon or bible study.

Love you x

Growth

In my prayer time yesterday, God revealed a very simple but very real truth.

As a person (physically) the act of growing is to gain your own indepedance and to move away from parents.

This is not the case with God.

When we grow (spirtually) it's the act of losing our independance and growing towards God not away from Him.


Thats it.

Short and sweet.

Love you x

I'm a loser

I like Paul.

He's a great character with a fantastic background.

Just to read where he came from and the journey he took is SO cool.

He started off as a Jew (but no ordinary Jew). His job was to find, hunt down, and persecute christians.

The Pharisees and 'religous' leaders of that time would have thought that when they got rid of Jesus all their problems would be over. However, after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples and they all started performing miracles and seeing the early christian church grow, these 'religous' leaders would have been a bit worried again.

They needed to nip this 'cult' in the bud, before it got too out of control.

Saul (aka Paul) was a very effective persecutor, and his name was feared throughout the early christians. But God chose Saul, and after revealing Himself in 'illuminating' ways, Saul finally 'saw the light'.

Paul (no longer Saul) now made it his mission to spread the word of Jesus throughout many lands.

It amuses me that in Galatians, Paul is defending the right of the gentiles (non jews) to know the Lord and not to have to become a Jew. Previously, this same dude was killing christians because they didn't follow the law of Moses!

Ironic.

I guess I like Paul's story because God took the most unlikely character, someone who was going out of his way to prevent the spread of the gospel, to be one of the fore-runners for missionary.

We see this all the way throught the bible.... Abraham (too old), Moses (had a stutter), Noah (a drunk), David (danced in his pants), Jonah (racist and coward).

The list goes on and on.

God uses normal people.

God uses losers.

He's got nothing else to work with!

Love you x

Cry out to Jesus

To everyone whose lost someone they love

Long before it was there time

You feel like the days you had were not enough

When you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains

Keeping you back from your life

You believe that there's nothing and there is no one

Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless

Rest for the weary

Love for the broken heart

There is grace and forgiveness

Mercy and healing

He'll meet you wherever you are

Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on

They've lost all their faith in love

They've done all they can to make it right again

Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains

You try to give up but you come bakc again

Just remember that you're not alone in your shame

And your suffering

When you're lonely

And it feels like the whole world is falling on you

You just reach out

You just cry out to Jesus

Cry out to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone

Wiping the tears from her eyes

For the childrens around the world without a home

Saya prayer tonight

How good are Third Day ?

Theif in the night

Its my day off today (which is nice 'cause I had to work all weekend!).

Anyhoo, a guy from Barrats came to take photos of our house to put in their ad to sell our house.

I knew he was coming at 13:00 and so I could get the house looking 'up to scratch'.

Because I knew when to expect him I could get all the hoovering, dusting, polishing, washing up done aswell as putting away anything that didn't need to be out. And to improve the overall appearance of the house.

It got me thinking about the second coming (and Phil's song from sunday night!), but if we knew Jesus was coming back at 13:00 then we'd get all our stuff sorted.

All the mess that had accumulated over time would be dealt with, not straight away, but just in time to see His return. We would leave everything until the last minute.

I thank God that we don't know when Jesus is coming back, because the world would be more of a mess than it is now. Sure, we'd see mass conversions hours before He was due to return, but that isn't the point.

It's about living every day as if it's our last here on earth.

It's about looking at how and why we live our lives and asking ourselves "is this what Jesus wanted from me ?"

Jesus is coming back . . . so don't look busy, get busy!

Love you X

Mountain of God

Im currently working my way through Exodus.

Ive got to the bit where Moses is the go-between for God and the Isrealites.

It makes me chuckle to think of Moses running up the mountain (at the age of 80 ish!) and God saying "tell the people the LORD says..." and then Moses running back down to the Isrealites and telling them what God has said. Then the people say "Moses, tell the LORD...." and Moses runs back up the moutain.

This goes on for chapters!

I struggle with the fact that I'm human (and destined to screw up!), I think if only I'd have been around back then when God revealed Himself in fire and thunder and wind and through Moses.... THEN my faith would be unshakable! But we see that the Isrealite (inspite of this very visual God) still make the same mistakes we make.

Moses comes down the mountain (after getting the 10 commandments) and finds that the Isrealites have made a golden calf and are worshipping it!

Third Day have done a song caled Mountain of God (chorus)

Even though the journey's long

And I know the road is hard

Well, the One whose gone before me

He will help me carry on

After all that I've been through

Now I realize the truth

That I must go through the valley

To stand upon the mountain of God

Love you x

John 2

Everyone knows the story.

Jesus is at a party (a wedding reception), the social event of the Jewish year!

He's there with his mom (family was very important). And in this story we see Jesus first miracle (or sign).

Running out of wine wasn't just a pain in the ass, it was seen as shame or disgarce upon the family name.

John suggests that miracles (signs) were always pointing to something else.

Even though Jesus said this, what He really meant was that...

Jewish comparrisons:

When Jews would hear (or read) these stories it would conjure up other images in their head.

Regardez . . .

Wedding - This story is set in a wedding. Weddings were always large occasions in the bible, and almost always represented the relationship between God and people. The church is Christ's Bride (for example)

"The master was pleased" - God is our master. (pretty simple!)

Third day - (not the band!) The wedding party takes place on the 3rd day.... hmmm what else in the bible could of happend on the 3rd day? The Resurrection.

Wine - Heaven.

This 1st miracle was the anticipation of heaven and earth coming together.

We all know this story as Jesus turning water into wine, BUT nowhere does it mention this fact.

Its through Jesus power and authority, but its more about the servants doing what Jesus tells them to do.

Jesus DOES turn the water to wine, BUT he does it through others.

Real miracles happen when we do what Jesus tells us.

This is what it looks like when heaven and earth meet.

Love you x

EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL

Worn out, wasted

Like a bird with broken wings

Sometimes, grace reminds me

I don't get to be the king

But love it washes over

Love it pulls me closer

Love it changes everything

So everything is beautiful

Even when the tears are falling

I don't need a miracle to believe

Even in the crashing down

I can hear redemption calling

And everything is beautiful to me

Sweetly, You release me

From the weight of what I've done

The trigger trips the hammer

But the bullets never come

And love like a landslide

Like the wind

Spins around me pulls me in

At it's unveiling, I begin

This song just nails it.
This band knows what it feels like to live as Jesus' hands and feet in the world today.

Scared?

Since I last blogged 2 things have happend . . .

1) The first of our two evaluations on the house have been done

2) I have been "moved" to the Bilston store

BOTH of the events scare the hell out of me!

It is said that humans are creatures of habbit.

This is most deffinately true of me.

I like to know where I'm at and what I'm doing.

The idea that mine and Janine's future is in the hands of some random guy (from Skitts!) is terrifying!

The very thaught of not doing "auto-pilot" at work is worrying.

Ive read that worry is a sign of lack of faith (and/or trust) in God.

I don't want to have a lack of faith!

I want to be full of faith . . . . Faithful!!!

Anyhoo, I have spoken to Stef (assistant manager at Bilston) and she has put my mind at ease (a little!), but I don't want anymore nights of broken sleep over this.

Its just a job.

Its not me.

Its not what I am.

Is it?

Please pray for me, I could do with the backup!

Many thanks and blessings.

Love you X

iPod goodness!

Well, its finally done!
My iTunes is copied and my iPod is synched!
I have music (with album artwork), music videos, short films, podcasts and Noomas!
Oh yes! Rob Bell is on my iPod (no Jon, its not like looking in the mirror!)

Its SO pretty!

Now I just need our evaluation on our house to be what we want, and then we can move into our 3 bedroom 3 floor town house!

God is good!

What ?!!!

1% of the worlds population uses 40% of the worlds rescources.

To completely solve the worlds health and nutrition problems it would cost $20 billion.

Thats how much a year Americans spend on icecream.

Switchfootage 2 (Electric Boogaloo)

Today is my birthday.

One of my presents from Janine was Switchfootage 2 (Switchfoot DVD), and for the last 2 years those 5 guys have (Monday - Friday) woke up late(in San Diego!), surfed until dinnertime, then practiced songs and recoerded tracks for their last 2 albums in their own practice room/recording studio. (Saturday - Sunday) Woke up late, travelled in a VW Van, rocked out for Jesus infront of thousands of people.

Not a bad way to spend 2 years!

Oh! Gravity! is awesome too!

Love you x

Think YOU have problems?

Everything in this world screams for the self.

Jesus tells us of another way.

Adverts and other culture medias tell us that if we just concerntrate on what we need.... then our lives will be complete.

Jesus say love God and love others.

Where is the "I" in thast last sentance ?

The world says if only you live in this house, drive this car, drink this beer, use this shaver, get this aftershave, eat in this resturaunt, go on this holiday, have this job, wear these clothes, earn this much a year, get this kinda girl (or boy!) on your arm . . . THEN you know you've made it.

Jesus says sell your stuff, give the money to the poor, and follow me.

Our problems are usually to do with us. Money, bills, our wants (not needs). There are loads of self-help books out there now, but the truth is they can't help. Just as soon as you deal with one problem another one pops up in its place.

Offer them to God along with everything else. Say. . .

"I'm not gonna carry this junk around with me for one more second".

Take a look around you, find someone who seems really happy in themselves, someone who really seems to milk life for all its worth, someone who seems to have no worries in the world.

Got them in mind ?

Chances are that they have taken the focus of themself and are using there time and abilities to serve others.

Try serving instead of being served today.

Love you X

My Everything

I give You everything

even my failure and my mistakes.

I give You all of me

'cause I have nothing elese to give to You (my everything).

Maybe someday You will show me exactly my true purpose

what I'm capable of.

'Cause now I feel so helpless, so undeserving

of Your love.

I understand this questions why, we come to You in prayer

with our heads bowed down.

And now I'm the lost son, and You've welcomed me back

with open arms.

And when I think about Your Son, all the pain He went through

He died for me.

The sacrifice has been made, my debt has been re-paid

and now I'm free.

All the things I once thaught precious, that held some value

count for none.

God waits for our return home, His heavenly throne

for everyone.

Love you x

Hallel

Are you familiar with hallel ?

Probably not (unless you're Amy Knight!)

Hallel translates as "Praise [God]" and is a collection of 6 Psalms (113 - 118) that is read / chanted / sang on Jewish holy days and 'joyous occasions'.

Hallel is usually chanted as part of Shacharit (morning prayer service) following the Shacharit's Shemoneh Esreh ("The Eighteen", main prayer).

It is recited during the first night of Passover as well as Shavuot, Sukkot, Hanukka and Rosh Chodesh (begining of a new month).

Interestingly enough, (or perhaps not!) it is from these recitals we get many of our modern worship songs. His Love Endures Forever is a prime example.

So at the last supper, it is very probable that Jesus and His disciples would have endulged in this Hallel. And if we believe that the scriptures are inspired by God or "God-breathed" (well...Do we?). Then is it at all likely that God had inspired David to pen these Psalms that He knew would be used and part of this ceremonial singing/chanting (worship), so that He could use it as a form of expression when He is on the Earth in human-form?

This is HUGE!

Esentially God wrote that song for Himself !

It brings a whole new level to the way in which we veiw Jesus. We know He was fully God and fully man. But here we see a much more vulnerable Jesus.

A Jesus who prays and asks that this purpose and direction He's headed be taken away from Him.

A Jesus who sweat blood with worry and concern.

A Jesus who, in the most sensative time with His disciples, needed a song.

Just like we need a song.

Go ahead! Hallel yourself!

Love you x

Everything for Jesus

Whatever you're doing today . . . Do it for Jesus.

Send me comments and let me know what stuff you've done for jesus today!