When Wisdom isn’t Wisdom: Proverbs and Sayings to Challenge
People often ask what my new writing project is and I tell them I’m working on 30 Proverbs to Live By. It still has a fair way to go, but I like the idea of a book that gives a key thought to ponder each day of the month (and a favourite one to come back to on those 31 day months). Having said that, I’ve been taken by some proverbs and common sayings that I think are simply misleading. It’s a sad state of affairs when what initially sounds sage like and profound turns out to be unhelpful, and sometimes even destructive. I will explore this over the next two weeks –...
Read MoreBecause God is with You…
A pastor whom I respect greatly emailed me and instead of finishing with a friendly “all the best” or a more formal “yours sincerely” said simply, “God is with you.” At the time I found it very encouraging and told him so the next time we met. He replied “I end all my emails that way. I figure that it is the most important thing I want people to know, because you see and experience everything differently when you know that God is with you.” I have thought about that simple conversation many times since, and the more I think about it, the more I...
Read MoreWhen the Mountain is You: Three Habits that Lead to Self-Sabotage
Most of us (and I include myself here) are instinctive blamers. When something goes wrong, it’s obvious whose fault it is. It’s theirs, and if it wasn’t for them, life would be so much better. The trouble is that every now and then we realise that that simply isn’t true. It is alleged that when asked the question “What’s wrong with the world?” the great G.K.Chesterton replied “I am”. You’ve completely missed the point if that makes you think we should blame Chesterton for everything! His counsel is wise. When looking for the cause...
Read MoreOn Turning 69…
My long term readers will know that as the 13th of July approaches I write a reflection on turning a year older. It’s part of my attempt to follow the instruction of Ps 90:12 “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. And yes, a day after this post appears it is my birthday, a full 69 years since I gave my first wail on the 13 July 1957. Relax, no presents are required, but good wishes are always welcome! While getting older is sobering, it has many genuinely pleasing features. Increasingly people assume I am retired (I’m not – and work 4...
Read MoreOn Searching Your Heart: Reflections on Psalm 4:4
Recently I have been taking time to reflect more deeply on a few verses of scripture that have spoken to me. The latest is Psalm 4:4 “when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent”. I love the “and be silent” at the end. In other words, search your hearts, but don’t be super defensive. Don’t rush to a thousand excuses for why this is. Search your heart and sit with what you find. Think about it. Let it challenge you. Would you like what you find to be different? If so, what might you need to do? I’m also impressed that we should do this...
Read MoreTo be Known and Remembered: Reflections on Psalm 103:14
Sometimes a verse from the Bible jumps out at me and I know I need to journey with it. I’ve always loved Psalm 103, but verse 14 recently spoke to me in a fresh way: “for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” Immediately before the Psalmist had reassured us “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” (v13). While there is some Hebrew parallelism at play in “he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” when the poet essentially repeats a sentiment for emphasis, I...
Read MorePermanence, Pervasiveness and Agency: Three Questions that help to get things into perspective
The old ditto goes “Two men looked out through prison bars, the one saw mud, the other, stars”. I have always been intrigued by the very different responses people have to the same situation. What is a catastrophe for one, is an exciting adventure for another, what leads to a response of indifference from one person, sees another almost besides themself with indignation. While the difference in people’s responses is interesting, I have come to realise that far more is at stake. Some responses are life serving and lead to health and wholeness, while others shrink us, and see...
Read MoreOn Beauty, Tragedy and New Possibilities…
Being in a brief nomadic phase, the final touches still being added to our new home, we decided a trip to Tasmania was in order. It’s been a great decision. I’ve only been here once before, and that was on a speaking tour which allowed limited time to explore the natural beauty. For Rosemary it is a first time visit. Each day has been filled with “wow”, “wow” and “wow” again. The natural beauty of Tasmania has to be seen to be believed, and I’m saying that during a winter visit, the time it’s least recommended to be here. Actually the weather has been...
Read MoreOn saying goodbye to a loved home…
As I write, our home packers are filling boxes and blanketing furniture. Tomorrow the removal van will whisk our earthly goods into storage for a month as we wait for our new home to be completed. When you read this it’s likely that our possessions will be in storage and we will be in our nomadic month, housed courtesy of family, friends and timeshare. Yes, our house (no, our home) of 17 years is sold, and will soon be part of an earlier chapter in our life. True, each ending is also a beginning and Rosemary and I have much to look forward to and gratitude is an underlying theme of our...
Read MoreBuilding in a Pause: Observing, Welcoming and Naming as a Path to Spiritual Growth
I’ve spend a fair amount of time thinking about spiritual formation – perhaps not too surprising since I’ve written a book on it (Stirrers and Saints) and have spent most of my life as a pastor or trainer of pastors. Naturally I always point people back to the tried and trusted resources of scripture, prayer, confession, worship, study, service, church involvement and the like. More recently I have been paying attention to what fosters deep inner growth – not simply the change of a few obviously unhelpful behaviours, but a genuine shift in posture to God, others, self...
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