God is God

Musician's have a way of speaking the words we battle to express. In one of his songs, Steve Curtis Chapman writes these powerful thoughts:

"God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He's painting
God is God and I am man (woman)
So I'll never understand it all
For only God is God.

And the sky begins to thunder
And I'm filled with awe and wonder
'Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I?

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass...

...So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone."

May we rest in the truth that 'God is God'.

And may we always live in grace.

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

We are too easily pleased

C.S.Lewis was a genius. I love his work. Take this quote as an example...

"Indeed if we consider the unblushing promise of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

Please don't settle for mud pies this week, especially when you can have the whole Feast!

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Why I Will NOT Burn a Quran on Sept 11!

An American pastor Terry Jones is adamant that his 'International Quran burning day' on Saturday 11th September, is going ahead. This is even after many Christians have pleaded with him not to go ahead and the US Government has warned him not to burn the Quran.

As a Christ-follower I can't find any biblical mandate for his actions. In fact, I keep reflecting on Jesus words, 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself' (Matthew 22:39). There is another scripture that I think that Terry should heed before he burns the Quran...

Mark 12:33 - "To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Terry's desire to make his own 'burnt offering' may be done out of a desire to please God, but I think Jesus is clear what He would prefer.

James says the same thing (James 2:8) - If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.

If he wants to do something right, perhaps he should be talking to and embracing his Muslim 'enemies' (as he calls them) and showing them the Incarnational love of Jesus. He would have more chance of revealing the Gospel to them this way, than by making them so angry that they won't want to hear about Terry's 'Jesus.' (By the way, I think the God I know may be a little different to Terry's picture of Jesus).

Just in case you happen to be reading this blog post, Terry, you should read about the history of book burning to see how unsuccessful it has been in the past. There was also a comment made by a Christian playwright, Heinrich Heine, who wrote:

"Where they burn books, so too will they in the end burn human beings."

Makes you think, doesn't it!

So, sorry to disappoint you Terry, but I will not join you in burning a Quran on Saturday. However, I will pray for you, for your church and for the Muslim community. That I promise you!

Anyway, that's my few thoughts on this. How do you all feel?
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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Whatever it Takes?

There are some people who are willing to do 'Whatever it takes' to get their message across or to make a difference. Take Lewis Pugh as an example - he is known as the 'human polar bear' and he is willing to swim in the most extreme conditions and places to get his message across. The photo shows him swimming in the Antarctic. Earlier this year he swam in a glacial lake near Mount Everest. He does this to remind us that our natural environment is delicate and is being destroyed by humanity. He is crazy, but I admire him. He inspires me to do whatever it takes!

So what about you? Are you willing to do whatever it takes in these areas:
1. Our relationships with other people
2. Our relationships in the Church
3. Our relationship with Christ
4. In our ministries
5. With our gifts and talents
6. In our homes and schools
7. In our places of employment

Remember that Jesus was willing to do 'whatever it takes' to deal with our sin. It ended up with him crucified on a wooden cross at Calvary. His willingness to do this changed our lives.

So what about you? Are you willing?

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Would You Start With This?

Most of us find the Psalms a breath of fresh air. They are honest, heart-felt, challenging and also filled with promise. But if you were going to group the Psalms together, would you have started with Psalm 1? Read it and see what you think...

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

At first I wasn't sure, but the more I read it the more I think it is a great way to 'kick off' the collection of Psalms. What do you think?
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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Jesus Creed

Scot McKnight, amongst others, refers to Jesus' version of the Jewish Shema as the "Jesus Creed." These well known words of Jesus are deeply profound. I urge you to take a minute and to say these words out loud.

Here O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

Be blessed.

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za

Prayer With a Difference

Eugene Peterson is an inspired author, pastor and teacher. I love his version of the Lord's Prayer. It just brings a different dimension to something that we know well. Sometimes familiarity can close our senses to the beauty of the True message. Read this and see if it breathes some freshness into the ancient prayer:

"Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right:
Do what's best - as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes."

Enjoy and be blessed.

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Living in Grace is written by Delme Linscott, a minister and author. Delme's first book was 'Living Oceans Apart’ and he has just completed his second which is called 'Now: Refuse to let the moment pass.' You can find out more on www.livingingrace.co.za