November 13, 2008

Silence

A Day in the Life

Known as 'the father of modern missions', William Carey is famous for his pioneering missionary work in India.

Here is the record of one his days in India, reconstructed from his diary in 1806.

He rose at a quarter to six, read a chapter from the Hebrew Bible and spent some time in private devotion.

At seven the servants came in for family prayers in Bengali, after which, while waiting for his chota (i.e., little breakfast), he spent some time reading Persian with a munshi and then a portion of Scripture in Hindustani. The moment breakfast was over, he settled down to the translation of the Ramayana from Sanskrit into English.

At ten o’clock he went to the college, where his classes and other duties kept him until two o’clock. On returning to his lodgings he examined a proofsheet of his Bengali translation of Jeremiah until dinnertime.

After this meal, assisted by the chief pundit of the college, he translated most of the eighth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel into Sanskrit, until six o’clock when he sat down with a Telugu pundit more fully to study that language. At half past seven he preached in English to a congregation of forty persons, including one of the judges (from whom at the close of the service he got a subscription of five hundred rupees toward the new chapel).

At nine o’clock, “the service being over and the congregation gone,” he sat down and translated Ezekiel 11 into Bengali—which took him nearly two hours. He wrote a letter to a friend in England; then, after reading a chapter from his Greek Testament by way of private devotion, he went to bed.

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."

Benjamin Franklin

November 12, 2008

Sunday Night at Northside

Last Sunday night I preached at Northside Christian Church, led by Pastor Murray and Jane Averill. There was a hot atmosphere in the service, the crowd largely made up of young adults. They have a great team who Sarah and I loved connecting with.

Ruth Lumkin is one of the pastors on team at Northside and has an excellent blog which is well worth the time spent visiting. Ruth's articles approach current issues in society from a Christian framework, and are printed periodically in the Courier Mail.

Always Look Back

Yesterday was Remembrance Day, when Australians recall the end of World War 1 on November 11th 1918. I think there's power in remembrance and I believe that it's a habit that God wants us to exercise.

In 2 Samuel 7:8-9 we read of God's conversation to David, through the prophet Nathan:

'Thus says the Lord of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have destroyed all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth."

Some people say 'never look back!' - I disagree.

1. Looking Back Reminds Me From Where I've Come (resulting in Gratitude)

"I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel."

Unless I deliberately look back into my past I can forget the incredible grace that God has shown me in my life. If I fail to look back I can fall into the trap of believing that 'God has done nothing remarkable in my life', when in fact he has taken me from following sheep to leading His people.

2. Looking Back Reminds Me to Appreciate Today's Opportunities (resulting in Perspective)

At times David may have 'wanted out' from the pressures of Kingship, however when he looked back and saw what he was doing compared to the opportunities before him now, there was no comparison.

Similarly, people can become tired, familiar and unappreciative of their job, partner, home or church until they learn to remember from where they've come. In David's life, remembering the paddock gave him a fresh perspective of the palace.

3. Looking Back Reminds Me of God's Continual Presence (resulting in Confidence)

"And I have been with you wherever you have gone..."

Sometimes it is only the power of hindsight which causes us to recognise God's presence with us through all seasons of life. When I look back I realise that his promise to never leave or forsake me has been true in my life.

Looking back allows me to approach today with renewed confidence in God's continual presence, causing me to join with Newton in saying: "
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far, and Grace will lead us home."

4. Looking Back Reminds Me of Victories (resulting in Faith)

"...and have destroyed all your enemies from before you..."

There are no victories in my future that I can draw confidence from, only challenge and opportunity exist there. The past is the only place I can look to if I want to find victories to instill faith in my life. To not look back is to rob myself of one of the greatest resources of faith available to me!

David already understood this truth when he approached Goliath. He mustered faith to defeat the giant ahead of him only by looking to the string of dead carcasses behind him.

Whatever you do - look back!