Happenings 3 August 2018

Sheila Pritchard, a wonderful Kiwi Christian leader writes some profound words:

'Sometimes I wonder if we are in danger of domesticating God; taming God into a manageable loving companion who has already done everything for us in Jesus so we are free to sit back comfortably knowing that all will be well in the end. Of course there's wonderful truth in that picture of God. God's character is one of amazing, unconditional love. God does want to be our constant companion. In his life, death and resurrection Jesus has done for us what we could never do and he does want us to be secure and rest in that. So it's true, God is like this. But is it the whole truth? I don't think so. What about the wild, unpredictable, breathtaking God who thunders out of the darkness on quaking mountains? What about the God who tells people to walk into the middle of the sea or traipse round city walls with musical instruments instead of weapons? What about the Jesus who is ferociously angry at the misuse of a place of prayer? Or the Jesus who pulls no punches as he denounces the phony spirituality of the so-called religious leaders? What about the Spirit who descends like flames of fire on the heads of timid disciples and sends them out to reckless exploits in a hostile world? Have you been in touch with this God recently? I suspect we have hardly begun to touch the edges of this Mystery, this wonder-full, awe-full, majestic being we call God. I don't want a comfortable God who is little more than my security blanket. I want a God who sweeps me off my feet and has me alert with all my senses tingling with that strange mixture of awe and excitement which is the fear of God. If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom I want to discover what that means.'

Great stuff!
In Him, 
Murray