mark + ange guinn

First, Hebrews 7:26 says describes Jesus as “separated from sinners.” How is it that when he was on earth he was described as a “friend of publicans and sinners” (Matt 11:19)? Could it be that our definition of “separated” is messed up? I realize that in Hebrews 7, the author is talking primarily about his current state after ascending into heaven, but I would put forth that he’s not more holy now than he was when he was on earth…

Second, I read the beginning of Hebrews 6 with fresh eyes this morning. It’s one of those passages I always wished just wasn’t in the Bible, but it hit me a little differently today. I’m curious what others think of this reading:

• 5:11, 6:1-3 – I want to teach you more deeply if God permits, but you’ve become hard of hearing.
• 6:4-6 – Once you’ve experienced God, if you then harden your heart there’s nothing I can say or do that will bring you back to repentance. So it wouldn’t do any good to try to teach you more if your heart is not in a place of repentance. Because of the illustration he uses next, the “impossible” here reminds me of what Jesus said about the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17ff – “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
  
• 6:7-8 – He compares a person to a field. Elsewhere people are compared to trees and branches, in which case burning is pretty much the end. But for a field, burning is a new beginning. “Field-burning each year after harvest controls weeds, removes leftover grass straw, and destroys diseases.” He says the land is near to being cursed, but what will happen is the farmer will have to step in to make it useful again. So as a shout-out to 7th grade standardized testing: burning is to fields as pruning is to trees.

Could it be that in context he’s saying: “teaching causes growth in the soft-hearted. It doesn’t create soft-heartedness.” So it’s more a warning of discipline than damnation. That makes more sense to me in harmony with the rest of the Bible. The last thing I would ever want to do is limit God to my understanding of the Bible, or explain away what God intended to be an intense warning. But I also think sometimes angry preachers miss the heart of God (and thus miss the point) in texts like this.

What do you think?

<< Mark 10 >> New International Version Divorce 1Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3“What did Moses command you?” he replied. 4They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’a 7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,b 8and the two will become one flesh.’c So they are no longer two, but one. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” 10When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” The Little Children and Jesus 13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. The Rich Young Man 17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’d” 20“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it ise to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Jesus Again Predicts His Death 32They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” The Request of James and John 35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight 46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Footnotes: a 6 Gen. 1:27 b 7 Some early manuscripts do not have and be united to his wife. c 8 Gen. 2:24 d 19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20 e 24 Some manuscripts is for those who trust in riches << Mark 10 >> THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. See detailed copyright information. Online Parallel Bible

This is where we were this morning - the main street is that row of buildings to the left and the promenade is the path that runs down the beach.

Ange and I were prayer walking down on the main street and promenade of Newcastle this morning. It’s something we’ve been doing on and off since we got here, and lately we’ve organized our schedule so that we’re in the town prayer walking two mornings a week. We pray for Newcastle as a town, for revival and increased spiritual hunger, for God’s blessing on the churches and businesses, and occasionally ask people we meet if we can pray for them specifically.

There’s a story in the gospels where Jesus is walking by and this blind man cries out for help. Jesus stops and engages him, asking: “what do you want from me?” Recently as we’ve been walking around I’ve been thinking about that question. I’ve been thinking what do I really want to see happen here? What do I want God to do this morning? If I pray for people to be healed on the streets of Newcastle, do I want that to happen this morning through me? The answer varies if I’m honest and that’s ok. The point is not to feel bad, but to clarify and envision what it would actually look like for God to do what we’re asking.

I want to ask more and more specifically and expectantly. Am I actually asking for revival to break out this morning? For people around me to fall to the ground weeping and crying out to God? That might change the rest of my day… What would it look like if every church in town lit up with freedom, love, and passion and there was no more dead religion in town? We might not be needed. Am I ok with that? I think sometimes prayer becomes disconnected from what we’re actually asking for, because we don’t actually expect to get an answer. Often I think the answer comes (maybe slightly disguised) and we walk right on by because of expectations.

So what did we pray for? Well, all of the above. As we got more specific we asked that God would bring hunger and questions to people right now. That the light of his love would shine on people right now and they would feel his love. We prayed that a few specific issues in the town would shift. I believe those things are going to happen, and that’s pretty cool.

Anyway, just a few thoughts.
Mark

Just got back from our prayer retreat at the Christian Renewal Centre in Rostrevor. We had such a good time.

We went down on Saturday morning and joined them for an all day prayer for Ireland event, which finished around 4pm. We then went for a walk, had dinner and spent the evening reading, praying, and just enjoying being with Jesus. Sunday was more of the same – reading, praying, talking, dreaming, eating, more praying. It was a really restful and restorative time.
Continue reading ‘Ding, Ding, Ding…’

We took Lars and Maria and the boys to the airport on Wednesday for their flight to Denmark. We loved having company but are worn out now, and looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. It’s great to have people visit us though. I think with Northern Ireland being such a similar culture and language to our own, you often don’t notice the subtle differences. I think we feel so at home here, that we don’t realize the small ways that we don’t feel at home until we get to spend time with people from home. So it’s been refreshing. Thanks to our guests. We had a great time with you.

Sometimes it’s just nice to hang out with people who call french fries french fries and spell color without a ‘u’, you know?

Walking on the promenade with the Kristiansens.

Bridge over the Shimna

Lars, Maria and the boys at Tollymore Forest Park.

This is so wierd.  We’ve been here long enough now that I sometimes hear a Northern Irish or British accent and think it’s an American accent because it’s sounds so normal.  We were watching a British movie on TV the other day and I totally could not tell what the accents were.  I wasn’t convinced they weren’t American accents until we noticed they were driving on the left side of the road.

It just happened again today.  We’re at a big craft fair and this girl came up to Ange’s booth.   I thought she had an American accent, but I couldn’t tell for sure at all.  It’s like I couldn’t remember the difference momentarily, and we had to ask our Irish friend Kerry what kind of accent it was (it actually was American, by the way).

I’m sure it’s just a transitional thing as my brain gets more and more used to living here, but it’s sure wierd.

I’ve never really enjoyed getting my car fixed.  Even in America, there’s that awful feeling that the mechanic could so easily take advantage of my lack of knowledge – “That’s right, sir, your second carburetor needs a new truss rod and parts alone will cost $300…”  So this week I got to have the super-fun experience of trying that in another culture.

Fortunately, things are not too different here, but it does add to the insecurity quite a bit when you have no grid at all for what things should cost, things are called by different names, and laws are different.  It seems like there’s more of a propensity for people to use a mechanic they know, who often just works out of his house, rather than a big business like Midas or something.  There are tire (spelled tyre, of course) shops and body shops, etc., but they’re mostly specialized shops.  As with most things here, it’s who you know that counts.

That’s what friends are for, though.  I think I found a pretty good mechanic on the recommendation of one of the Night Light guys.  Fortunately, once you find someone you trust you can just stick with him.  So there’s one more problem sorted.

This look captures about how I felt watching the video of my acting...

It’s been a quiet week for us.  Campbell and Kristi left for a month-long trip to visit her family in Thailand on Monday, which always leaves a bit of a vacuum socially.  The upside is that you know you have good friends when you miss them.  We’ve needed a quiet week though, since the ones before were pretty manic.

Tuesday night the local theatre group I was part of had a barbecue and a showing of the DVD of our performance.  It was really fun to see everyone again.  It’s always really weird to see yourself on video though.  At this point, I’m pretty used to hearing myself speak and sing so that’s not awkward anymore, but seeing is a whole ‘nother deal…

Anyway, since there’s not a lot of news, here are some fun photos.

An authentic Irish BBQ - rain and all (this is from a gettogether at Campbell's a few months ago)

The Irish version of a coffee house church...

Hope is like
a toddler in the surf,
a candle in the draft,
a frail child at recess.

Hope is held up on the thinnest string:
So easily he falls prey to the waves, the wind, the bully’s words.

We must guard him, this tender egg.
If he hatches he brings a new world,
If he cracks then many things are lost.
We will buck against the cost;
We will blame the wind and waves but

It won’t be their fault.

Today is a big day in Newcastle.  There is a huge concert, starting at 4pm.  Headlining act is a blast from the past – The Prodigy.  There will be between 5 and 10 thousand people descending on our little town, so it will be wild.  All the churches are getting together to hand out water bottles and try to “make this the best day of their lives.”  Pray for us if you think of us.

Really interesting post on Carl Medearis’ blog about what a missionary is.  Such a familiar conversation (not with our children, of course).  Highlight:

I asked her what she thought we were doing while in Lebanon. Her answer was as shocking as it was insightful.  ”We were just living in Lebanon as regular people loving others in Jesus’ name. All our friends were Lebanese. “Missionaries” don’t do that. They don’t hang out with the local people as much as we did. They do projects.”

Whether Carl was a “missionary” or not, I want to be what he was.  Click here for the full post.

Mark