We have settled into Oxford and are finding our way around. At left in the photos on this post is
Wycliffe Hall (from the back), our lecture room, the Martyr’s Monument in
Oxford honoring Bps Cranmer, Ridley and Latimer, the Martyr’s cross on Broad
Street where they were burned, and various shots around Oxford.
Most days of the last two weeks we have had
family devotions as we finished dinner. These were often short times of teaching with long discussions
following. Most of what I shared during
the teaching time were growing thought from my days at Fuller, now being sifted
by some time and thought and further reflection. The discussions were vivid and funny and
honest and probing. Here is some of what
we were working on…
Study One: Psalm 145 and the Kingdom of God.
We tried to define his Kingdom: “Where God is
King and where He rules and reigns.” And
then we talked about why Jesus taught about God’s Kingdom more than anything
else. We talked about God’s greatness
and goodness and his awesome power and the places where we saw that – or
didn’t. And about his mercy and
presence. He is right here. His Kingdom is right here. We can experience the Kingdom and live in it,
by placing our confidence in Jesus for everything, and by being his constant
student.
God’s Kingdom and ‘my kingdom’ are very different. So there is a cost to entering his Kingdom; I will have to give up my kingdom. I decided to memorize Psalm 145.
We finished with part of St Patrick’s Breastplate,
a true Kingdom prayer…
I
arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I
arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
Study Two: Matthew 5.1-12 The Beatitudes.
A lot of people think these are
‘requirements’ to get into the kingdom. But they are not, they are descriptions of people Jesus welcomes into
his Kingdom, people the world doesn’t like, the people who often have given up
on building their own ‘kingdoms’. Blessed! Welcomed! Happy! God comes and says, “All you who were left out, Here is the
Kingdom. Come in! It is here, now and it is for you!” When you come to those people and say
“Blessed; the Kingdom is here for you…” you are doing ministry like Jesus.
Maybe better said, the beatitudes are gatekeepers
to the Kingdom. To the proud, they are
impossible barriers. To the broken, they
are promises of welcome and grace, words of solid hope.
We finished with part of St Patrick’s Breastplate,
a true Kingdom prayer…
I
arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I
arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
Study Three: Matthew 5.21-26 Criticism and Anger.
Jesus takes anger, lust and truth-speaking in sequence, and he does it for a reason. Anger must be dealt with first. We talked about why we get negative and critical and angry. Because people stick their noses into our kingdoms! So we use anger and criticism to manage them and control them. And it doesn’t work. Giving up our kingdom means releasing our anger and criticisms of people to God. Releasing them fully to God and loving people with Christ’s love and trusting him to work his purposes in people.
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be
quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does
not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1.19-20
We finished with part of St Patrick’s Breastplate,
a true Kingdom prayer…
I
arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I
summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,s
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ
to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
...loving people with Christ’s love and trusting him to work his purposes in people.
Amen. Sounds so simple dosen't it? ;-)
Grace and Peace,
Joe
Posted by: JTFS | July 12, 2005 at 02:44 PM