Stantonia

Blog Change

2009-07-20T08:53:00.002Z

This Blog is going to undergo a bit of a change over the next few weeks. I hope to turn it into a prayer / updates blog for those who are supporting me, or interested in my new role with Friends International. Sorry to my regular followers who enjoy meaty theological discussion (both of you). I may put up some other devotional thoughts etc. but that won’t be the main focus.

For anyone who doesn’t know, I have been appointed as the Bournemouth Centre Team Leader for Friends International, beginning in September, which is really exciting. If you are interested in receiving my prayer news, please send a message to my face book inbox (click Send Steven Stanton a message at http://www.facebook.com/stantronic) with your email and postal address, and I’ll add you to my list.

Stay tuned for more info on the role...

The Sceptical Angel

2009-05-09T12:33:00.005Z

The dawn of creation – a sight to behold. Heaven has been completed in all its splendour, the formation of planet earth is still in progress.

Senior angels are assigned to sing beautiful harmonious compositions in the upper halls with their marvellous acoustics. Their junior colleagues cannot access these rooms, but they do hear the music over the tannoy on the lower levels; as they go about their more administrative tasks. The universe is not yet one week old, but time moves differently here, and there has been enough time for some angels to ponder some very deep and complex issues.

One tall angel notices that his shorter friend is looking slightly perplexed. “Are you okay?” he asks.

“I guess so...” the friend replies, and then sighs “... well actually I’m struggling with my faith.”

“Really?” asks the first angel in shock.

“Yes, I’m really struggling to keep believing in a God of love.”

There is a pause...

“But aren’t you amazed by the complexity and the wondrous architecture of heaven?” The tall angel makes animated arm gestures.

“It isn’t that – the aesthetics are indeed mightily impressive,” the short one concedes.

“And are you not extremely happy and content?”

“I am ... apart from these questions and doubts.”

“So what is the source of these doubts?”

“Well ... I keep meditating on the words of the songs we hear.”

“Are they not beautiful?”

“Certainly – but I really cannot believe that they are actually meaningful.”

“What do you mean?” Now the tall angel was exceedingly puzzled.

“Well, I keep hearing that God is merciful, forgiving, humble, gracious, just and loving.”

“And...?”

“...And how can that be in this perfect world? How can I believe that God is forgiving when there is absolutely nothing to forgive? How can I believe that God is just when there is no actual evil for him to call to account? How can he be humble, when he is the very centre of the praise of heaven?”

“I see what you’re getting at. But what about love? Surely you can believe that God is love – he showers us with blessings every day does he not?”

“Yes – but it’s so easy for him, isn’t it?” The short angel snapped with a tone that bordered on indignation. “I mean he just speaks and it happens – it’s completely effortless on his part. How can his love be meaningful when it costs him nothing? Don’t get me wrong – I’m happy, it’s so nice here, but it’s just ... all too perfect for my liking!”

“So basically, if I understand you, you are questioning the existence of a loving God, because the world is so perfect and free from evil?”

“Yes – I call it the ‘Problem of Good’”

The friend asked in a hushed solemn tone “So you’re not going to abandon the faith are you?”

The doubter shook his head - “I don’t want to. I do so want to believe that God is everything he claims to be. I want to believe he is everything I hear them singing about. These ideas seem so much more weighty than what we have experienced here. I do wish there was some answer to this troubling issue, some way in which my faith could be strengthened.”

“Do you see that there?”

The doubter turned to see a small window. He peered out of it and could just make out a small blue and green sphere.

“Yes – what of it?”

“I’ll go get us a telescope; I think you’re going to find this very helpful to watch...”

All Together Now

2009-02-24T15:16:00.010Z

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Ephesians 1:9-10

“Together” / “syn” in Ephesians...

Together-made-alive with Christ 2:5
Together-raised with Christ 2:6
Together-seated with Christ 2:6
Together-joined with Church 2:21
Together-built with Church 2:22
Together-heirs with Jews 3:6
Together-grasp Christ’s Love 3:18
Together-bear with each other 4:2
Together-knit with each other 4:16

...So you could outline the book as follows:

1:3–2:10 A Together with Christ Identity

Meaning

2:10-3:20 A Together with Church Identity

Therefore

4:1-16 A Together with Church Goal

Requiring

4:17-6:9 A “One-Another” Lifestyle /“Distinct-from-Pagans” Lifestyle

And

6:10-6:19 A “Fight the Devil” Lifestyle

Ten Reasons why the Immutability of God is a Comfort

2009-02-02T20:00:00.005Z

The doctrine of the immutability of God is so valuable:

I know God will never change from a patient God to an impatient God
I know God will never change from a promise-keeping God to a promise-breaking God
I know God will never change from a just God to an unjust God
I know God will never change from a powerful God to a powerless God
I know God will never change from a loving God to a loveless God
I know God will never change from a wise God into a stupid God
I know God will never change from an interesting God to a dull God
I know God will never change from a present God to a distant God
I know God will never change from a sufficient God to a needy God
I know God will never change from an all-knowing God to being an ignorant God

For meditation – imagine that any of these changes could and did take place, then rejoice that they won’t!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the
heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not
consumed.

Malachi 3:6

Slow to blog...

2008-06-06T21:16:00.003Z

To anyone who has visited this blog, it will be evident that it is progressing very slowly. There are many reasons for this. One of them is the fear of the potential to sin in the blogosphere. I think I am in great danger here.

In James we read of the devastating effect of the tongue – surely one of the reasons for the emphasis on this small part of the body, is the speed in which tongues can sin. A sinful thought takes a while to travel to my fists in order to punch somebody, and it may well get interrupted by many factors: pangs of conscience, cowardice, distance from target etc. A sinful thought can travel from my heart to my mouth in virtually no time at all.

Surely there are some parallels with the speed of the internet. And yet, maybe the blog is more dangerous, as the written word is more permanent, and could potentially be read by anyone.
So let me exhort myself with some paraphrasing / adaptations of James...

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to blog, and very slow to rant on
their blogs”

(cf. James 2:19)

“If anyone considers himself a devout Christian, and yet does not keep a tight rein on his typing fingers, he deceives himself and his devotion to God is worthless” (cf. James 2:26)

...or from Jesus...

“out of the overflow of the heart the blogger blogs”

(cf. Matt 12:34)

...or from Paul...

“Do not let any unwholesome posts appear on your blog, but only what is helpful
for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who
surf.”

(Eph 4:29)

And let me urge myself never to post anything, without at least one other person viewing it first.

Aha!

2008-04-03T21:49:00.005Z

I've just had some ideas for what this blog could be about...
...watch this space :)

WHY?

2005-05-25T16:00:00.000Z

Why am I writing this?
Nobody's listening