andygoodliff

Greenbelt, etc.

I'm finally back in Oxford after two months in Bath, a week in the Brecon Beacons and a day at Greenbelt.

The highlight of a day at Greenbelt was the exhibition in the Christian Aid tent by Stan's Cafe. See here for more. Very powerful, funny and challenging. Kester Brewin on a plea for Christian piracy, made some interesting observations, which will form part of his next book, hopefully out next year.

Jason draws attention to the first edition of a new free(!) journal Participatio which is the journal of the Thomas F. Torrance Theological Fellowship

Steve gives two thoughts on sacraments

Robin has revealed himself as the Evangelical Universalist

Maggi's new book Giving it Up: Daily Bible Readings from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day is now published.

Matt Redman has a new website co-inciding with new album launch

I'm still waiting for the Deliverance of God.

Douglas Campbell's Deliverance of God is now available

After a long time waiting, Douglas Campbell's mammoth book The Deliverance of God is now out. And the first blog posts are already appearing (Jim West and Peter Leithart). I hope my copy will be waiting for me when I arrive back in Oxford next weekend.

My last sunday in Bath this weekend, then a week's holiday in the Brecon Beacons and then back to Oxford and normal blogging service should resume.

The two months in Bath have been a really good experience (more reflections to follow). I also managed to get a visit to London in to hear Steve Holmes give a paper on reading Calvin the right way up (see his post) and a visit over to Peasedown St John to see Anthony R. Cross, who is the new Director of the Centre for Baptist History and Heritage at Regent's Park College, Oxford, and the donator to me of several books from the Paternoster series on Baptist history and thought amongst others. Despite two visits to Bristol we did not manage to get to the Banksy's exhibtion (the second visit we queued other two hours but didn't get in, but did manage to the reach the point where we could buy an ice cream!).

Graham Watts new Spurgeon's Tutor in Doctrine

Spurgeon's College have apppointed Rev Dr Graham Watts as their new Tutor in Doctrine to replace John Colwell. Graham Watts completed a PhD on Jungel and Pannenberg under Alan Torrance at King's College London published as Revelation and the Spirit: A Comparative Study of the Relationship between the Doctrine of Revelation and Pneumatology in the Theology of Eberhard Jungel and Wolfhart Pannenberg (Paternoster, 2005 - a brief desciption and endorsements can be found here) and has also written papers on baptism and the sacredness of space. He is currently minister of Albany Road Baptist Church, Cardiff. He has blog but has only ever posted once here.

Jesus and Peter Reduced

Last week was Lemmings again. My last year. We looked at Jesus and Peter. On the last night, like we did with Elijah and Elisha the year previously, we did a reduced version of the week.

‘I am fishing
I am fishing
Cross the waters
Cross the sea’
Jesus comes on the scene
Follow me.
Everything left
An adventures begins
A journey gets going

John the Baptist dead
Then 5,000 fed
Then Peter and Co.
Set sail from the shore
When
‘what’s that coming over the sea is it a monster is it a monster? ...’
No, it’s Jesus water walking
Peter says   
Coming ready or not
Jumps out and takes a few steps
Before looking down
then sinking down
Jesus reaches out
And says look at me!
Keep your eyes on me

Walking together:
Who do they say that I am?
Replies come thick and fast
Some say … (Elijah!)
Some say … (John the Baptist!)
And others say … (Elvis!)
How about you? What do you say?
Peter says the one who can save
Jesus says this is God-given insight
From now on you’re ‘Rocky’
And then
‘I will build my church
and the gates of hell
shall not prevail
against it’   
I will build my church
People not buildings
Befriended
Invited
Be loved
To be loving

Round a table
Friends ask questions
Where is the kingdom
The promised kingdom
When is the moment
All will be right
Instead of an answer
Jesus brings questions
They all remember
(the boy with his lunch- feeding many from little)
(the girl who ran up with jam on her face)
(Matthew’s lunch- where Jesus served up God’s love to the unloved)
(the good man whose wealth blocked his way to the kingdom)
Stories - moments
Where love surprises
where love changes
‘love changes everything …’
rejection
loneliness
sin and shame
into
kingdom moments
mustard seed moments

One cool evening
One familiar garden
Peter claims he will follow
But can’t stay awake
Soldiers arrive
Off comes the ear
But Jesus leaves without a fight
All the others takes flight…

The High Priest’s courtyard
Alone with the fire
Aren’t you?
I do not know the man
Surely you are?
I do not know the man
But your accent …?
I do not know the man
Cock crows.
Peter weeps.

Next day
Jesus is dead
Seems like game over.
And Peter is left in the mess
He has made
But God through the cross
loves
and he loves
whatever
wrong word
wrong thought
or wrong act
that binds or imprisons
weighs down or holds back
God loves
and he loves.

Three days later:
‘He raised me up ...’
Jesus is back
Body and soul

And Peter is gone…
Back to Galilee
Back to the start
Back to fishing
But dawn arrives with no fish biting
A stranger calls: try fishing again
Fish come a-plenty
Boat is heavy
“If you don’t know me by now…”
It’s Jesus!

Peter jumps out
And gets wet all over – again!
Pete and JC face to face
the past needs healing
breakfast comes
with
difficult questions
and
difficult answers
‘once, twice, three times …’
which
finish with love
and a fresh commission
same as the old one
but deeper and stronger
follow me
know me
and show me