Do you want to be blessed by God?

To many, the idea of being involved in Open-Air work is terrifying. It is for me, too, sometimes, and I've been involved with it for about two and a half years. So why do I do it? Why do I think others should do it?

Mainly, because it appears to be the most often used method in the Bible. It is also a way of reaching people who might otherwise never hear the true Christian gospel, especially tourists. But also, it's simply very rewarding. Do you want to be blessed by God? Then get involved in Open-Air evangelism [obviously, there are better ways, like loving Him, and talking to Him, and trusting Him in the middle of suffering, etc. - but this is a good one too :o)].

An example: yesterday, I came back from Cardiff to Oxford, and went out onto Cornmarket to join the Open-Air work that I knew to be going on. I didn't have a message prepared to preach, and only planned to help to form a crowd, and give out tracts to those who stopped. However, there were only two others there: my friend Daniel, and a full-time evangelist called Andrew Geuter (who, incidentally, is one of the most wonderul Christians I've ever met). So, after a while, I was called upon to preach.

Andrew has a few texts on large pieces of paper which go up on a board, so I decided to preach on one of those: Jesus says, "Come unto Me all ye who are weary, etc. (from the AV as well). I offered up to the Lord a quick prayer to the Lord, and began. Well, it wasn't going great, I was struggling for coherence due to no preparation (even when I'm prepared I'm not the most coherent) and then a crowd of kids descended upon me and started asking questions.

It was brilliant (though scary). I no longer had to try to preach a coherent message about the cross from a text that didn't mention it: I simply answered (or tried to answer) their questions, many of which were good questions which allowed me to preach Christ as the answer; other people came along and listened in; I was able to enter into debate with a Muslim gentleman on various issues; Andrew was able to get into conversation with many of the children; and a girl who I know from a school where I taught stopped, and I was able to have a good conversation with her.

Three of us had simply gone out, reliing entirely on God (we had no other option), and we saw great blessing. that's what Open-Air is about. You can't rely on yourself, you have to rely on the Lord, and you have the great privilege of seeing Him work, and answer prayers, and bless those who trust in Him.

Come on guys, wherever in the world you are, go out into the highways and byways, and COMPEL them to come in!

Books

Shortly before I began blogging, Daniel tagged me, so here goes:

1. One book that changed your life - John Piper, The Pleasures of God.
2. One book you've read more than once - Joel Beeke, Lives of Faith.
3. One book you'd want on a desert island - Vol. 1 of the Works of John Owen, published by Banner.
4. One book that made you laugh - laughter? I'm Reformed?
5. One book that made you cry - John Owen, Christologia.
6. One book you wish had been written - a book on God's love of Himself, and the resulting wickedness of idolatry (Piper, Owen, and others go close).
7. One book you wish had never been written - not sure. The Qu'ran.
8. One book you're currently reading - Elisabeth Elliott, Through Gates of Splendour.
9. One book you've been meaning to read - AW Tozer, The Pursuit of God.
10. Now tag five or six people - maybe later.

Living as missionaries

I've recently been reading biographies of Amy Carmichael, and of the five missionaries who were martyred in Ecuador in 1956. I've also been reading the bit in Mark 10 when it talks about those who give up families, fields, etc. for the sake of Christ. And it set me a-thinking (often dangerous):

Often Christians seem to have the view (which, in my view, is right as far as it goes) that we don't have to all be missionaries, but we should be willing to be missionaries if that's what God calls us to do. But surely we can go further? If should be willing to "go" and to give up much of what we have (in an earthly sense), surely we should also be willing to give up just as much if we don't go. Just because God doesn't call us all to give up our possessions so as to work in other countries, doesn't mean that he doesn't call us to give up our possessions (Luke 12:33).

As western Christians, it seems we have a lot to learn.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Cockroaches - the myth destroyed!

They say (whoever "they" might be) that cockroaches are almost impossible to kill. I say that it's a myth. Yesterday, my brother, who has just moved into a new flat, asked me to come round and help him deal with a cockroach problem that he was having. Actually, cockroaches die very easily. I even managed to kill one accidentally. I was backing it into a corner with a giant (paperback) puzzle book (as you do!), and accidentally squashed it. They're liars and frauds. They may be able to survive a nuclear war, but we are in no imminent danger of them taking over the world.

Promoting self-hatred!

"Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices."
Ezekiel 36:31.

Should Christians hate themselves? My guess is that most evangelicals would say no; we should hate our sins, but love ourselves (in a "Hate the sin, love the sinner" kind of way), because Christ loves us. But it strikes me that the Bible teaches that, in certain circumstances, it is right to hate ourselves. The verse above does not say that the people of God will loathe their sins, but loathe themselves because of their sins. When we consider our sinfulness, and specific sins, it seems biblical to hate ourselves.

But how can this be, if God Himself doesn't hate us? I'd be interested to hear any suggestions.

I have finally succumbed

I have finally succumbed to pressure, and created my own blog (as you can see, if you're reading this). Daniel told me I'd have to call it Reformed Steve, but, not wanting to give myself a label (especially one which is used in anumber of differing ways), I thought I'd call it Reforming Steve. Truly Reformed Christians will, after all, be constantly reforming, as they know God better through His Word.

As yet, I'm not sure what I'll end up blogging about. Probably about things I read in the Bible, dealing with difficult children at school, and anything else that comes to mind, but we'll see. My life isn't really that interesting, so the blog probably won't be either, but I'll do my best.

Now to see if I can manage to get this to load...