Too much pepper...

I was recently watching an episode of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, quite frequently in-between swearing he comments about the level of seasoning on a dish. Sometimes the dish has so much seasoning that he can't taste the ingredients-the salt or sauce overriding the fine taste of the Atlantic salmon. Other times there is so little seasoning on a soup that it is bland.

If we took the state of our Christian affairs and converted it into a dish I wonder what comments would be made as to the flavor of our dish. Perhaps our ingredients aren't the best... maybe instead of Atlantic salmon we are using a cheap substitute dyed pink and lit just right as to give the appearance of freshness. Maybe it is that we have over seasoned and now the salt bush lamb can no longer identified with the Coles sauce poured all over it.

Each Christian is given a quality base ingredient to work with; whether your want it to be a red, white or pink meat the decision has already been made by Jesus, and it is clearly that of a red meat (sorry vegetarians - 1 Peter 1:19). That Christ has been offered up as the lamb for us is indisputable, but sometimes when we serve up Christianity to non-believers we add unnecessary seasoning to a dish which is already succulent and tender (I'm writing this entry just before lunch - Hebrews 10:10).

So what are these seasonings that are unhelpful for the Gospel?

In the next couple of posts I'll include some of these problems from a biblical perspective.

If you have any suggestions as well please feel free to post them in the comments and we'll flesh them out a little more in the following posts.

Respect.

I attended the Moore College Graduation evening.. this eve... It was an excellent event, a privilege to attend and overall an enjoyable night. The message of the evening was that of the ongoing work of the gospel. Some saints graduating with just a year or two at the college, others with degrees being awarded for their tenacity.

I'm sure after tonight we'll have a number of bloggers running home to type up their pithy comments, possibly ranging from rave reviews (check the faculty pages) to obviously less favorable comments from the community critics.

So what can I add to this buzz or commentary on such a special occasion; well probably nothing new but perhaps a reflection on an old verse:

Although a sinner commits crime a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before Him. However, it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God. - Ecclesiastes 8:12-13

In the last two Moore College graduations I have attended, there seems to be responses from the audience that can begin with joy, but seem to end in a form of irreverence. Now the above verse might seem to be a strong rebuke to the faithful who actually turned up, but I put it forth as something serious to consider.

Are we approaching an event like the Moore College Graduation with the reverent respect of God's work as is fitting for such an occasion?

This might sound funny- If anyone spotted me tonight they would have noticed I arrived wearing jeans and a casual shirt (a marked improvement on my previous attire), but as the night began I was struck by the importance of this event. This event was the commissioning and prayer sending event of the year, where the army of the risen Lord's men and women assembled to give grief to the prince of this world. The things that need careful thought are whether or not a person should call out, or whistle, whether or not someone should dress down, whether or not it is right not to attend or to place a low priority on attendance.

Where is the reverent and prayerful respect that such a commissioning should be filled with?

Yours in ranting - V.

Iron Scepter - !?!

and He will shepherd them with an iron scepter; He will shatter them like pottery-- just as I have received this from My Father. - Revelation 2:27 27


I was pretty chuffed after writing my first couple of blog posts and the cool name that I thought I'd chosen for this blog. However shortly after telling a few of my friends that I was now officially a 'blogger' (and therefore was with the 'in' crowd at my prestigious college) a close friend of mine thinking of the above verse said, "So have you called it Iron Scepter because you are going to smash other peoples arguments like pottery?". The answer would most definitely have to be.. No!

The thought of it does amuse me though... maybe one day when I can actually form a coherent argument (I think that comes in 4th of Moore College).

Blog?!

There are few reasons why I've decided to blog, so I'll list them here. This is basically the purpose of this blog as far as I'm concerned.

1. To bring glory to God - This should be the motivation of everything that we do as Christians, and as humans. This is also what lies behind these other reasons.

Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. - 1 Chronicles 29:11 11

2. Bring the Gospel to the unconverted - I believe strongly that God exists and that it is only by his death on the cross and belief in that in which people can be saved from the coming wrath. Believing this means that I want to share the good news of salvation through Jesus, and this blog is a perfect opportunity to do that.

3. Improve my writing - I'm not a good writer, in fact I once asked a lecturer at my college to comment on my writing (as I know it's a weak point with essays), the response was humbling to say the least.

4. I love sharing ideas - It's great to share thoughts with other people and as I mentioned in my first post, I want to learn from others and share what God has given me.

A New Beginning...

Well, this is my first blog post ever, I haven't even commented on blogs before. I wonder if most first blog posts begin with a similar comment... I hope to learn a lot from the community of bloggers here, and by no means view my opinions as the last word on any matter. I do however strongly believe that there is such a thing as absolute truth and to that end this blog will seek to proclaim that (quite an endeavor I know). So I officially proclaim this blog OPEN!

But first a prayer to the Lord:

Approaching your throne O Lord only through your Son I ask that you would bless this blog to your glory, that many would be encouraged in their walk with you, and that you would redeem many through your words here from the darkness. Let not foolish talk be what takes root here, but instead let it be ridden with your truth and flourish under your guidance.

Let the blogging begin!