Book Review

This is my first ever book review.  I have recently finished reading Christianity’s Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution - A History from the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-First by Alister McGrath.  While I enjoy history, I never seem to have much time to delve into church history much less any other history.  The books and articles that I read these days must apply to what I am doing.  

This book was tremendous.  It made history relevant.  It is not a dictionary of events or people of the reformation rather it tracks the ideas of the reformation through history to the present day.  

The book follows issues like images and music in worship through historical opinions.  It tackles the question of our multiplicity of Protestant denominations; how and why they occurred and traces many to their roots in the reformation.  

McGrath looks to the future and helps the reader get a sense of not only where we have been as church but also where we may go. 

If you are looking for a timeline of facts and dates, this is not it.  If you are looking for a book that reads like a novel tracing the changes, subtle and drastic, of reformation ideals like they were characters in real life, well then this is it.

Why God won't let me take myself too seriously Part 2

Okay, today, I got to college early so I stopped by the coffee shop for a coffee and a ticket for the lunch meal.  The cost was of course was not even dollars and I told the clerk that I had the change.  So he held out his hand for my coins.  I took them out of my coin purse, reached my hand directly over his and open my fingers for the coins to drop into his hand.  But no.  One coin stuck to my finger and flung itself into a cup of coffee with a splash.  No, not my coffee. The clerk stood there and kept giggling.  I could not have hit the coffee if I had tried.  I offered another coin the the clerk now in hardy laughter said "no worries" he would get it out later.  

The person standing behind me in line comments on how much coffee splash out and asked if I could do that again.  

Yes, this is the lifestyle of the not so rich or famous.

Movie Review

Mal and I and a few from our college went to see "The End of a Spear" on Monday night.  We really enjoyed the movie based on the true story of some missionary families.  I think for me it raised my awareness of the amazing love of God for all his creation.  I wonder at the conviction of men to risk their lives for a few unknown people.  I am in awe at the faith of the women to continue after such loss.  

I remember when I saw the documentary that this movie is based on I cried for my children.  I do not know what kind of unfriendly world they are entering.  And I prayed that no matter what they faced that they would be faithful.   This movie, I wondered where my convictions will take me.  Minister of the Word in Australia looks easy by comparison, doesn't it?

I thought wrong

I thought I would not like reading Calvin.  I was wrong.  There are bits I am uncomfortable with but there is so much good.  

For example Institutes 1.6.1

God therefore bestows a gift of singular value, when, for the instruction of the Church, he employs not dumb teachers merely, but opens his own sacred mouth; when he not only proclaims that some God must be worshipped, but at the same time declares that He is the God to whom worship is due; when he not only teaches his elect to have respect to God, but manifests himself as the God to whom this respect should be paid.

Interesting that since 1559 or something like that it hasn't changed God still informs people that they should worship God as opposed to everything else and that He is indeed God.  Deut 6:4 Hear O Israel: The LORD is our GOD, the LORD alone!

Will we ever get it.....

Don't look back

I was commuting home from university the other day.  I take the train from uni then transfer to a bus when I get into the city.  This particular day, I got off the train in rush hour and had made my way off the platform and through the terminal.  During rush hour there are young people handing out a news magazine.  They are at every platform and at the entrance to the station.  I had managed to get past the people at the platform, quite pleased with myself for not contributing to my recycle bin at home when halfway thru the terminal I spotted the young people at the front.  They were facing the street and handing out magazines to the people entering the station.  I was relieved.  Just then the young woman turned around and opening her mouth in a big yawn.  She was turning away from the throng entering but of course, without realizing it turned to face the throng leaving.  She blushed and looked down as I grinned. 

The moral of the story - don't look back.  Up, down, sideways are slightly more acceptable but never look back.