Our Family is Expanding

And so am I.

Yes, you read correctly.  It's not another furry or feathered friend this time.

This little one is cooking in my oven and should be ready around the 18th January. :)

Friday Funny

BLONDE POLE DANCER

I hope this doesn't cause offence.







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Bible Reading and Self Feeding

I've always been haphazard with personal Bible reading.  For a long time after I became a Christian, I rarely read the Bible on my own.  I almost completely relied on other people - church, Bible study, one-to-one - for my consumption of Scripture.  This wasn't because I hated reading the Bible; I just didn't think I needed to spend time sitting around reading it on my own.  I didn't get why so many Christians had 'morning devotions' or 'quiet times'.  It sounded all a bit too legalistic for me.

Emma, my dear housemate at the time, noticed that this was an area I struggled in, so she bought me a devotional book for a Christmas present in 2004.  I really enjoyed the book, but I still couldn't develop a consistent Bible reading habit.  They say it takes 21 consecutive days to establish a habit.  I never got close to 21 days.  By this stage, it was mainly due to my own laziness (busyness can only ever be so much of an excuse).

I've tried devotional books and reading plans, but they aren't really for me.  I found having set readings on set days to be quite unhelpful.  I would get stressed if I missed a day and get in a panic trying to catch up.  Eventually it would be all too hard and I'd throw in the towel.  Some of the devotionals were just way too light on for Scripture.  There would be a verse taken out of context, and the rest of the page would be the author's thoughts which often weren't even about the verse.  I know plans and devotional guides really help some people with self-discipline and structure, but that's not the way I learn best.  I think I need a mixture of discipline and freedom.  That is, I need a set time per day, but I need freedom to decide what I read.

Over the past few years, I've been challenging myself to read more of the Old Testament.  I started with 1 and 2 Samuel, then 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Jonah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.  Now I've decided that I need some New Testament for a bit of variety so I've been reading Hebrews.  I think that reading OT, NT and then doing a topical study is the way to go.  Often I try and get hold of a commentary or study guide to supplement my reading.

As far as times go, I've tried early in the morning before I get up (I fell asleep in bed again), and at night before I go to sleep (often I've been too tired to really concentrate).  Lately I've been reading the Bible while having breakfast and this seems to work well.  If it's a work day or I have to be somewhere early, I only read a chapter of the Bible.  If I don't have to be anywhere in the morning, I read a chapter of the Bible, and then do either a chapter of a study guide or read a chapter of a commentary.  Sometimes I pray for a country using Operation World or I write in my journal.  Other days, either prayer is very rushed, or it doesn't really happen (just being honest here).

I'm always wary in writing about Bible reading as I'm aware it can create a lot of guilt.  A friend of mine reckons that if you feel you HAVE to do anything, then it's legalism, and therefore we shouldn't do it.  I agree partly in that we shouldn't be reading the Bible to try and win brownie points with God, or so we can feel superior to others.  But we also need to acknowledge that self-discipline is a good thing, and that we are sinful people who often use any excuse NOT to delve into God's Word (I know I do).  Sure, there are different seasons of life, and spending time with God might be easier in one season than another.  At the moment, reading the Bible at breakfast is working reasonably well for me (I'm wary about saying that as it sounds like pride and it could all fall in a heap again), but it might not work so well in a different season.  Yet, we also need to stop making excuses and need wisdom to realise when a season has ended (unless we're retired and spend all our time at home, we're ALL busy in different ways).  We're always going to have mixed motives in whatever we do.  I pray that I will read the Scriptures because I want to love and honour Jesus more, and not for any other reason.

Since I read yesterday's verse in Hebrews, I've been thinking a fair about Christian maturity.  When someone says, "He/she is a mature Christian," what do they mean?  How do you become a mature Christian?  As I've reflected on this, I think a lot of it is due to God's Word.  We need God at work in us by His Spirit, yet we also need to co-operate with Him.  We need to WANT to mature in our faith, and not be infants.  I was having a conversation with someone recently and they asked how long someone else I know had been a Christian.  I said that they'd been a Christian for a lot longer than I had, but the person responded by saying that that doesn't necessarily mean they are more mature.  I'm beginning to see that my friend was right, that time as a believer doesn't always equal maturity.  I'm not saying that someone who sits around and reads the Bible all day is necessarily more mature and godly either, but we need to WANT to grow and take some responsibility in this.  If God has revealed Himself in the Scriptures, then that is the logical place to know more about Him.

This has been a big kick up the bum for me.  We can encourage one another, but no-one else can take responsibility for this.  I have been blessed by ready access to the Scriptures, churches, conferences, books, sermons....Christians in China would love to be in my position.  I can't rely on my church, other Christians, or even my husband in this.  There will be times in my life where I may not be able to get to church, but doesn't mean I stop seeking God.  I hear a lot of Christian wives (younger than me) say it is the husband's responsibility to lead his wife spiritually.  Yes, I agree with that, but that doesn't mean that I become this kind of dumb woman who turns off her brain and just drinks in whatever Duncan says without being wise and discerning.  Duncan is not God, God is God, and my ultimate allegiance is to Him before my husband.

I'm no champion when it comes to Bible reading.  Satan will do whatever he can to distract us from this.  He doesn't want us to love and trust Jesus more in the way we live.  I still find Bible reading hard, but when I do it, I wonder why I thought it was so difficult.  Let me encourage you in this - have a desire to grow in the Lord by reading His Word, but remember Romans 5:8 during the difficult days.

Bible Verse of the Day

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:13-14

Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be)

This was a book that made its way onto my to buy/to read list ever since Middo reviewed it here. If you've ever been curious about the emerging church movement, this is a great book. Of course, the movement dislikes being 'labelled' or 'defined', but the two authors, Kevin DeYoung (a pastor) and Ted Kluck (a journalist), note a number of characteristics about the movement that both encourage and concern them.

Here's some of the blurb:

You can be young, passionate about Jesus Christ, surrounded by diversity, engaged in a postmodern world, reared in evangelicalism, and not be an emergent Christian.  In fact, I want to argue that it would be better if you weren't.

The emergent church is asking good questions and dialoguing about good things: community, caring for the poor, loving Jesus.  Co-authors Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck care about these same issues.  They should be all over this movement.

But they're not.  And here's why - they do life founded upon orthodox beliefs about God, propositional truths about Jesus, and the authority of Scripture.  Many do not.

Some of the areas which concern the two authors are:

• The prominence of emerging church leaders (or talkers/dialoguers as they see themselves) in the world of Christian literature and blogging.  They seem to write about their confusion, how we can't REALLY know anything about the Bible.  I agree that we need to approach the Bible humbly and with questions, but it is NOT a book that is completely vague and unclear.  God has revealed Himself and we can understand Him.  DeYoung writes in the introduction:
  It's one thing for a high school student to be in process with his theology.  It's another thing for adults to write books and speak around the world about their musings and misgivings.  I agree there must be space for Christians to ask hard questions and explore the tensions in our faith, but I seriously question that this space should be hugely public where hundreds of thousands of men and women are eagerly awaiting the next book or blog or podcast arising from your faith journey....You're no longer just a conversation partner.  You're a leader and teacher.  And this is serious business (James 3:1). (page 17).  Ultimately the authors are concerned about a movement that seems to involve a lot of talking and asking questions, but not a lot of serious pursuit of answers to those questions (maybe it's not cool to have answers).
• The infatuation with the 'spiritual journey', but not so much with the destination.
• The dislike of authority, leadership and doctrine in the church.
• The reluctance to teach about hell.
• The focus on Jesus as bringing peace, but not wrath. 
  The emergent church emphasises a way of life and following Jesus' example, no doubt because they feel those twin aspects of the kingdom have been buried beneath altar calls and saving souls.  Fair enough, as long as they don't overreact and make the kingdom little more than a plan for world peace. (page 184)

One thing that's very important to keep in mind is that the book is American, and is discussing the emerging church in the American context.  I don't know how relevant it is to Australia, although I have met Christians who, out of frustration with their local church, seem intent on not just changing the style of church, but throwing the gospel out with it.  This is what the authors are reacting to.  They don't have issues with changing the style of the church service.  In fact, they are enthusiastic about different ways of reaching out to people and for the church to be called back to its main mission.  But they do want churches to remain focused on the cross.

I really enjoyed this book.  The authors take turns in writing chapters and the book has a lively, chatty feel.  At times it feels more like a blog than a book because it's like they're thinking aloud.  They're blunt, but engaging.

Bible Verse of the Day

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
2 Timothy 4:2-3

5 Favourite Posts from the Sedshed in 2011

Well, it was a better year than 2010.  Yet, it still felt like it was two steps forward, one step back.  I really struggled to like living here...I still do.  I'm very much looking forward to the day when Duncan agrees to move.  But at least 2011 had a lot less drama.  It was a 'year of recovery' in many ways.

The highlights were our trip to Sydney and getting our puppy, Gypsy.

1.  Life With AS
2.  Facebook 'Friends'
3.  I'm a Side Plate or a Saucer
4.  5 Things I've Learnt in 10 Years of Following Christ
5.  The Pendulum: Grace and Godliness