The Church As An Adventurous Colony In A Society Of Unbelief (via Willimon and Hauerwas)

Gary Ware

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May 9, 2023

Jesus bids his disciples to follow him.
This invokes life as a journey, imparts an understanding of human nature, and provides a vision of human destiny that culminates in ultimate community.
Jesus bids his disciples to follow him while living in cultures that instead are inwardly framed on the what is termed freedom and increasingly produces lives enmeshed in self-centredness.

The church exists today as resident aliens, an adventurous colony in a society of unbelief. As a society of unbelief, Western culture is devoid of a sense of journey, of adventure, because it lacks belief in much more Thant the cultivation of an ever-shrinking horizon of self-preservation and self-expression.
Stanley Hauerwas and William H. Willimon, Resident Aliens (Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition), Abingdon, 2014, pg. 49.

Tears In Heaven 8-5-23

Gary Ware

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May 8, 2023

Every tear will be wiped away in heaven, on earth the tears remain.
Eric Clapton’s Tears In Heaven has always been a striking song, now it evokes something that goes beyond the phrases of its lyrics.
It reminds me of hope.
A good song for a birthday that is now a marked with more muted and reflective observances.

This recent recording of Tears In Heaven struck me in the way it accommodates Clapton’s 30 year older vocal chords.
Hearing it with the memory of his plaintive earlier vocal makes me feel that the wistful longing of the lyrics has settled through the passage of time into a resolve for life to continue.
Hope.

I Will Offer Up My Life – Sunday Songs

Gary Ware

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May 7, 2023

I Will Offer Up My Life by Matt Redman is a song I’ve used Sunday nights for years now.
It doesn’t seem to have featured here before, though.
So here it is.

The lyrics:
1.
I will offer up my life in spirit and truth
Pouring out the oil of love as my worship to You
In surrender I must give my ev’ry part
Lord, receive the sacrifice of a broken heart
Chorus.
Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring
To so faithful a Friend to so loving a King
Saviour, what can be said, what can be sung
As a praise of Your name for the things You have done
Oh, my words could not tell not even in part
Of the debt of love that is owed by this thankful heart
2.
You deserve my ev’ry breath for You’ve paid the great cost
Giving up Your life to death even death on a cross
You took all my shame away there defeated my sin
Opened up the gates of heav’n and have beckoned me in
Chorus.

Words and Music: Matt Redman
© 1994 THANKYOU MUSIC (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK and Europe, adm. by INTEGRITY MUSIC, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.com)

Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 19

Gary Ware

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May 7, 2023

Heidelberg Catechism – Lord’s Day 19

50.
Q. Why is there added: “And sits at the right hand of God”?
A. Because Christ ascended into heaven so that he might manifest himself there as the Head of his Church, through whom the Father governs all things.

51.
Q. What benefit do we receive from this glory of Christ, our Head?
A. First, that through his Holy Spirit he pours out heavenly gifts upon us, his members. Second, that by his power he defends and supports us against all our enemies.

52.
Q. What comfort does the return of Christ “to judge the living and the dead” give you?
A. That in all affliction and persecution I may await with head held high the very Judge from heave who has already submitted himself to the judgment of God for me and has removed all the curse from me; that he will cast all his enemies and mine into everlasting condemnation, but he shall take me, together with all his elect, to himself into heavenly joy and glory.

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