New Blog: Escape to Reality

If you haven’t noticed, Planet Church has been idle for a while. That’s because I have moved overseas.

As Planet Church was always intended to be a blog for ICC and by ICCers, I have started a separate blog called Escape to Reality.

I am slowly putting up a lot of my old sermons about hearing God, the goodness of God, grace, the gospel. and the power of God.

For those who’re interested, I”ve also got some material on leadership and preaching.

For those of you who like to read, I’m starting to put up a few book reviews.

I’ve also got stuff on CS Lewis, Bill Johnson, John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Rob Rufus, and Joseph Prince.

But mostly the blog is about my Hero Jesus.

Recent posts include:

- Top 12 blessings in the New Covenant

- Grace and law in the Chronicles of Narnia

- Rightly dividing the word: How to read your Bible without getting confused

- Building ramps for the mentally ill

- Completely forgiven: When confession is bad for you

- Whose medicine are you taking? The dangers of taking scripture out of context

Take a look and let me know what you think.

In the meantime, Planet Church is ready for any keen ICCer who wants to take it over. If you’re interested, talk to Tung.

Vote of ‘No Confidence’

Just what should I feel when someone suggests that I go to counseling? It’s been mentioned before. I imagine that people reckon it will loosen my tongue, change my character, improve my parenting skills, and keep me from untimely jokes. What should I feel? ‘Wow, they love me so much!’ that they want me to be more like their picture of perfect? What happens if I jump through all the hoops and in the end have only the knowledge that I have a problem (or worse: undiagnosed) and a packet of spiritual and un- herbs to steep in the scalding waters of rage/frustration/despair and sip slowly? Am I communicating my skepticism well? Am I missing out by keeping it all at arm’s length?

Jesus didn’t refer anyone to counseling or even make reference to inner healing as something separate from physical healing, salvation, or forgiveness. Exactly what role does it have in the life of a New Testament convert? Is it part of ‘confess your faults one to another’? What about ‘let him who lacks ask God for wisdom’? Or have we progressed to a level of tidiness and intolerance that requires anyone with a [perceived] problem to properly air it on the sofa of a spiritual psychiatrist? What of the the emotional efficacy of the Holy Spirit of God? Is not he *the* Counselor? Surely his shingle yet swings on streets and squares and in the sanctuaries of his saints! Come, Holy Spirit, and save me from this humiliation! Amen.

More questions than quotes, may God deliver me from my troubles and/or unnecessary treatments thereof.

Purpose or penance?

There are stacks of self-improvemnts tacks, from proper breathing and more exercise to spiritual awareness and mental sharpening; from giving more and buying less to spending more time on the right things. I’m not sure where re-visiting this blog opportunity falls; it may be all of them. I am prone to reject involvement in a project because I cannot find the exact expression, so one resolve in this effort is to simply get it out without agonising over the perfect word or the fresh turn of phrase. So I ask you to forgive–even overlook–the babble, the poor organization, the half-baked premise and instead test whether there is any value in the picture presented. Mayhap I sidestep pride along this route.

Who gets notified of activity on this account anyway? Let me carry on in anonymity start with. If you simply must respond, then… simply respond. Any road, I am unlikely to include this blog on my resume, CV, or business card.

It’s Not About Me

Lately I have been freshly amazed at how much I depend on Jesus. We Christians put so much stock in what we do or don’t do for God, as if we could impress Him. We would do well to pause, reflect on the finished work of the cross, and let God impress us.

The following was written by Max Lucado…

“Who would look at the cross of Christ and say, “Great work, Jesus. Sorry you couldn’t finish it, but I’ll take up the slack.”?

Dare we question the crowning work of God? Dare we think heaven needs our help in saving us? Legalism discounts God and in the process makes a mess out of us.

To anyone attempting to earn heaven, Paul asks, “How is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ….What has happened to all your joy?” (Galatians 4:19, 15 NIV).

Legalism is joyless because legalism is endless. There is always another class to attend, person to teach, mouth to feed. Inmates incarcerated in self-salvation find work but never joy. How could they? They never know when they are finished. Legalism leaches joy.

Grace, however, dispenses peace. The Christian trusts a finished work.

Grace offers rest. Legalism never does. Then why do we embrace it? “Those who trust in themselves are foolish” (Proverbs 28:26 NCV). Why do we trust in ourselves? Why do we add to God’s finished work?

But the truth is, we don’t. If we think we do, we have missed the message. “What is left for us to brag about?” Paul wonders (Romans 3:27 CEV). What is there indeed? What have you contributed? Aside from your admission of utter decadence, I can’t think of a thing. “By his doing you are in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Salvation glorifies the Savior, not the saved.

Your salvation showcases God’s mercy. It makes nothing of your effort but everything of his. “I–yes, I alone–am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again” (Isaiah, 43:25, emphasis mine).

Can you add anything to this salvation? No. The work is finished.

Can you earn this salvation? No. Don’t dishonor God by trying.

Dare we boast about this salvation? By no means. The giver of bread, not the beggar, deserves praise. “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31).

It’s not about what we do; it’s all about what he does.”

Marshall and Kirsty – Wedding Pics

They’ve been married two months but their wedding photos have been online just a few hours. You can find them all here. What a fine-looking couple! Marshall writes that married life has been wonderful. Congratulations again Marshall and Kirsty!

Interview with Rob Rufus

One of the many ways that God has blessed me in Hong Kong is He has brought me a deeper understanding of the unfathomable riches of His grace. We will probably never grasp the full significance of the cross this side of eternity, but it is no understatement to claim that Jesus’ death and resurrection are the pivotal events of human history.

One of my favourite preachers of the grace message is fellow Hong Konger Rob Rufus. Tens of thousands of people regularly download and are blessed by his sermons (found here). I love listening to Rob for he stirs my faith in Jesus and I come away hungering for more of the power of God in my life, my church, my world.

For those who know little of Rob and his message, I have pasted below an abbreviated version of an interview transcript I found on Adrian Warnock’s site. The interview was two years ago but it has retained its flavour. In it Rob talks about the relationship between the Word of God and the Person of the Holy Spirit. Some churches emphasize the Bible, others the work of the Spirit, but – as Rob explains – we need both. To read the full interview, click here.

Receiving Revelation

I’ve been preaching a series on hearing from God. It never ceases to amaze me that we can have the thoughts of Almighty God revealed to us by the Holy Spirit (Jn 8:47, 14:26). I might get around to posting my notes some day but yesterday I came across a post by Bill Johnson where he answers the question “how do I receive revelation?” It’s worth a read and can be found here.

If you are desperate to hear the Father’s voice, you may click the link expecting some magic answer or formula, but there is none. Bill Johnson will probably tell you nothing you haven’t heard before. Yet I lovingly challenge you to put into action what he writes.

It seems to me the reason many Christians do not hear is they do not make the effort to listen. God does not yield His treasures to the casual-minded but to those who hunger for Him.

Anyway, I’m starting to preach and didn’t mean too. Not today. Go have a look at Bill Johnson’s practical suggestions for hearing from God. They’re good and helpful.

The Father’s Grace

Each week I get emailed a “grace message” from Andre van der Merwe. He runs a website devoted to promulgating the message of grace here. I have found these messages to be liberating, exposing the remaining legalistic tendencies of my still-being-transformed mind. I always look forward to reading them. This morning’s message is pasted below. If you like it, I encourage you to visit his website and sign up for the weekly email.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15)

Two alternative names for this parable could have been “The parable of the angry elder brother” (the attitude of much of the church today) or “The parable of the Loving Father”.

What is a curse and a blessing?

John Piper gives a very thought provoking answer to the question…

Any comments?

What is Preaching?

Much of what passes for preaching today is sadly just entertainment dressed up with Biblical jargon. It may move our emotions but unless it changes the way we think, and therefore act, it has no lasting value. Good preaching both ignites the heart and illuminates the mind. Good preaching inspires faithful obedience to the Father and ultimately changes the world.

I have discussed elsewhere the 7 signs of mediocre preaching. In the video clip below, John Piper – a preacher at the top of his game – explains what he means by preaching. In a sobering reminder to all preachers he explains that he is not relaxed when he preaches, because

I stand vigilantly on the precipice of eternity speaking to people who this week could go over the edge whether they are ready to or not. I will be called to account for what I said there.

Piper’s Tract for Mark 8:34-36

If you’ve ever read John Piper’s books or blog, you’ll know his utter contempt for the so-called “prosperity gospel.” His latest response is what he calls a “Corrective Tract for the Prosperity Gospel.” It’s brilliant and looks like this…

To Infinity and Beyond…

In our ongoing quest to celebrate blokes who take risks with explosives, I’d like to take a moment to hail Steve Eves who, this Saturday, will break the world record for launching a model rocket. His 1/10th scale Saturn V is nearly four stories tall and weighs as much as an elephant. You can read about the launch at Rocketry Planet here.

Welcome Luke Ethan Ellis!

He made us wait two weeks past the due date, but he arrived three hours before they were going to induce him. Luke Ethan Ellis was born 5:15am this morning weighing 4.35kgs. Mother and boy are doing well. We are grateful. “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him” (Ps 127:3).

A Message for Pastors from a Man in Pain

I’ve just watched a painful, heart-breaking message from a man with a brain tumor. He speaks to pastors about the lack of compassion in their churches.The message is not heart-breaking because the man is hurting – his hurt barely shows. Rather, the pain comes from watching the antics of pastors trying to be hip, funny, relevant, and trendy.

The punchline? In trying to become entertaining we have lost the way and become useless to those in pain. Every pastor needs to watch this…

The one thing will change us pastors is first-hand experience of pain. Having had a small taste myself in recent months, I can tell you it has profoundly changed me. I’m still gung-ho but I’m MUCH more dependent on the grace of God. A typical Sunday begins with me crying out to God for grace just to get through the morning. I never needed to do that before. My experience is that His grace does come and I do what under normal circumstances would be impossible.

That’s My King

From time to time we’ve been fired up by SM Lockeridge’s awesome “That’s my king” sermon. (The full text can be found at the bottom of this post.) Being Easter Sunday we watched the following version of it…

But the version I really like – but can’t show in church because it has  scenes from The Passion - is this one…

Hike the Rock 2009

Yesterday we celebrated Good Friday with our 10th annual Hike the Rock. It’s hard to believe we’ve done this little walk ten times already. In those ten times many people have heard the true message of Easter – that Jesus came and died and rose again so that we who were born sinners might become righteous through Him.

Yesterday’s hike had some special moments. While taking communion I got to give thanks to God. As I was praying it occurred to me that “here I am standing on top of Lion Rock overlooking this great city of Hong Kong and praising God for the unfathomable gift of His Son Jesus – what better way to celebrate Good Friday?” The world may be going down the toilet but God cares more than we know and He has a Plan to save all of us if we would just let Him. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing this Easter, I encourage you to take a minute to raise the gates of your heart, open your mouth, and thank God that we have a Redeemer.

Below is a photo sent in by Gum…

Death on Good Friday

John Piper, that prodigious write of blogs and books, has come up with another classic – “A Conversation with Death on Good Friday.” You can read it here. It’s one of the best things I’ve read at Easter.

Getting Caught by Your Calling

Christians in their twenties often struggle with the issue of God’s calling, as in, what does God want me to do with my life? I’m a big believer in reflection and taking time out to think over such matters, but often this leads to paralysis. Travel anywhere in the world and you’ll meet young Christians wandering around trying to divine the will of God for their lives. Some put their lives on hold indefinitely as they struggle with this question.

After doing a bit of wandering of my own I’ve concluded that (a) God does indeed have a special plan for your life but (b) that doesn’t mean He’s going to tell you what it is, at least not all at once. Rather, He wants us to live day by day for Him and in that regular obedience His plan unfolds to our surprise and delight. He wants us to work and to marry and go forth and multiply and be church and do the work of the kingdom. He wants us to take the life He’s given us and live.

God Leads a Pretty Sheltered Life

Hi Guys as promised here is the satire. Would be great if you could post your thoughts on it and if someone would like to translate it into Chinese for the blog that would be wonderful. Thanks Gum

Billions of people were scattered on a great plain before God’s throne. Some of the groups near the front talked heatedly-not with cringing shame, but with belligerence.

“How can God judge us?” someone asked.

Fireproof Your Marriage

In a recent post I wrote of the need to match our gifts with the mission and the message. Sherwood Baptist is a church that excels at this. They have people in their church with a gift for making movies that convey the message of the gospel to the lost.

It began in 2002 with a survey that revealed that 92% of American high-schoolers never go to church. They asked, how can we reach these people? Their answer was to make movies.

Gifts + Message + Mission: Lessons from 2 Timothy

Near the end of his life Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy. It is full of practical wisdom for every Christian. In the first two chapters we find three timely challenges for the church:

The 3Rs of Preaching

What are the 3Rs of Preaching? They are three foundational skills which every preacher needs to master…

The first R stands for is Reading. If we’re not reading, we’re not learning. Whenever I visit a man’s home the first thing I look for is his bookshelf. I’m not interested in the size of his TV or the style of his furniture – I want to know what he is reading. Good books are good teachers. I find it strange that many adults want their kids to read, but they themselves see little value in reading. As the great Dr Seuss once said, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

JW Awareness

Some weeks ago I was approached by a friendly foreigner with a question. She had several questions, actually, having to do with religion and belief. I first guessed that she might be an evangelist of like mind, but it quickly became apparent that she was a Jehovah’s Witness. I was looking for the easy escape, so I agreed with her about the salvation gained by the Christ’s obedience, but when I declined any Watchtower literature, she feigned surprised: “Why not? We seem to agree.”

Change the World for a Child

I got a very exciting Christmas email from the good people at Compassion International - exciting because in it they mentioned that they recently registered their 1 millionth child. That’s 1 million children who have been given a helping hand out of poverty through the generosity of sponsors.

Camilla and I have been sponsoring Compassion kids for years and it’s no burden at all – the daily commitment is about the cost of a newspaper. Yet for this small amount of money you can literally change the world for a child.

I’m a big fan of Compassion because they take great care to avoid some of the mis-steps made by other charities. Most of the sponsorship money goes to projects set up in specific villages to ensure that all of the kids, and not just a lucky few, benefit. Yet as sponsors we are each assigned an individual child to write to and encourage and pray for. Compassion not only feeds and clothes the children but they teach the kids that God loves them and cares for them and that they are special in His eyes. Compassion kids grow up knowing they are precious to God.

Camilla sponsors a little girl in the Philippines called Mary Cris. She’s the same age as Stina and they share the same birthday.

K2Ps Prizegiving

Today we honoured the children who have been faithful in attending K2Ps (Sunday School), praying and learning memory verses…

Our special thanks to Adelaide, Sammy, and Nicky for all their fine work in teaching the children. The fruit of your labour is in the photo! What a great bunch of kids. And thanks to Beatrix for the photo.