Update Time

I'm not very good at blogging.

It should be obvious by the fact that I haven't actually posted anything in the past 2 months. It would also be obvious had you observed me delete my opening sentence four times before I just gave up and changed tack. My words never seem eloquent. I have to avoid re-reading them because I tend to delete everything I write on second glance. Pardon me for any spelling mistakes you may see - I no longer proof-read my work.

I have been humbled recently by realising just how little of my progress has anything to do with me. Had I relied on my own strength these past two months I would know a lot less than I do now. I am becoming more and more frustrated by my own lack of wisdom and understanding and yet, the more that happens, the more I am forced to rely on the Lord for His strength and His wisdom. It is really quite a strange process.

One of the tensions 'us seminary students' tend to struggle with is how to work out our faith while also trusting in the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding. We are called to be students and to wrestle with theology and all the -isms which accompany it. Yet our hope is not to be found in our intelligence (or lack thereof) but instead on the Christ. Our foundation is him.

When we consider how we might be useful in the Lord's hands; when we dream dreams and plan plans; when we lay foundations and raise walls, we must ensure that all this is done in His strength.

You see, it becomes a bitter-sweet balance. When you ask the question 'how can we reach more people as a church?' or 'how can I become a better speaker?' you tend to immediately take things into your own hands. The programs you come up with may be good. The techniques you use may also be great. But the bottom line is that nothing you do, no matter how fantastic and ground-breaking the idea may be, will bear any fruit unless God decides to make the seed grow. Yet you can't just sit on your hands either because to do so would be dishonouring to Him who actually gave us a purpose in the first place.

Should we as Christians aspire to great things? Definitely! The Lord calls us to make disciples of all nations. How is that not a great aspiration?? Seems to me that, as far as goals go, that one kinda surpasses anything that I've considered doing - I find it hard even imagining how that is possible. Yet in the Lord all things are possible. I guess that is the key here though isn't it. The focus is on the Lord not on us.

We should take care in our work; pursue excellence in all the tasks we do; build buildings and develop programs which testify to the world that we value our Lord. Second best is not good enough for Him - and even our best is only good enough because He makes it so.

Having told you all that I'm not great at blogging I would like to at the very least give you all a taste of some of the great things I have and will be reading and interacting with over my time here at seminary. I will endeavor to be more frequent with the posts but they will tend to be excerpts from my reading with short comments regarding why I think they're great or interesting.

Below is a short excerpt from Spurgeon which my pastor emailed through to meditate on.

Enjoy:

(Josh)




C. H. Spurgeon
The Mighty Magnet

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32)

Come, ye workers, be encouraged. You fear that you cannot draw a congregation. Try the preaching of a crucified, risen, and ascended Savior; for this is the greatest "draw" that was ever yet manifested among men. What drew you to Christ but Christ? What draws you to Him now but His own blessed self? If you have been drawn to religion by anything else, you will soon be drawn away from it; but Jesus has held you and will hold you even to the end. Why, then, doubt His power to draw other? Go with the name of Jesus to those who have hitherto been stubborn and see if it does not draw them.

No sort of man is beyond this drawing power. Old and young, rich and poor, ignorant and leaned, depraved or amiable—all men shall feel the attractive force. Jesus is the one magnet. Let us not think of any other. Music will not draw to Jesus, neither will eloquence, logic, ceremonial, or noise. Jesus Himself must draw men to Himself; and Jesus is quite equal to the work in every case. Be not tempted by the quackeries of the day; but as workers for the Lord work in His own way, and draw with the Lord's own cords. Draw to Christ, and draw by Christ, for then Christ will draw by you.

My seminary on the left-hand-side next to a bean field.

You can seem me taking the photo between the shadows!