Psalm 135 (Part Four)

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Yesterday, we focused on one of the key verses in Psalm 135 about idols: “Those who make them will be like them” (v18). We saw how idols often start off as good or benign things designed to serve us, but end up enslaving us as they become our source of security and significance.

That was the diagnosis, and it wasn’t pretty. But today, in our final look at Psalm 135, we look at the treatment plan…

The antidote

What’s the antidote to this? How do we take back control? How do we live up to our calling as God’s chosen people—to show the world what it’s like not to be trusting in idols?

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Psalm 135 (Part Three)

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We’re continuing in Psalm 135, which calls God’s people to praise him for his goodness, for he is far greater than the idols we make for ourselves. God is greater because he provides for his people and he rescues his people. Today, we look at the predicament of those who continue to trust in idols they created for themselves rather than the one who created them.

The consequences of idolatry

But what about those who aren’t God’s people? Who don’t renounce idols and worship the one true God—what happens?

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Psalm 135 (Part Two)

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We’re continuing in Psalm 135, which calls God’s people to praise him for his goodness, for he is far greater than the idols we make for ourselves. Yesterday, we looked at the first reason God is greater than idols: he’s the only one who’s able to provide for his people. Today, we look at the second reason the Psalm offers:

God rescues his people

The second reason God is greater than idols is that he’s the one who rescues his people from oppression and invasion. Again, this is something idols were thought to control in the ancient world: your gods protected you against foreign armies.

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Psalm 135 (Part One)

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A couple of weeks ago I was asked to preach on Psalm 135 at my home church. Although I no longer have time to write daily bible study notes, I thought I’d share it here in a few posts this week, since I found it to be more thought-provoking than it appeared on first reading.

Psalm 135:1-7

Psalm 135 starts off with a call to praise God.

135:1 Praise the LORD! [Hebrew: Hallelujah!]
Praise the name of the LORD

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Les Miserables 40th Anniversary: Part Two

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I’m celebrating the 40th anniversary of the greatest musical ever written. Yesterday, we looked at the story of Jean Valjean: how he was shown undeserved mercy, and responded to that by sharing that same kindness to others, no matter what it cost him. He “lived up to” the grace he had received.

Today, we look at another character, with a completely different response to God’s grace. The policeman, Javert.

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Les Miserables 40th Anniversary: Part One

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Les Misérables—the greatest musical ever written—turns 40 this year. I first saw it when it premiered in Australia a couple of years later, on a year 10 elective music excursion with my now-wife. And in a few days, the anniversary “arena spectacular” opens in Sydney. Yes, I have tickets. 

The reason it has maintained its place at the top of my ranking for the past four decades is that I don’t just appreciate it on a musical level. And before you make your own judgement on that, ensure that it’s the original 1980s score you’re listening to, not the insipid arrangement of the 2012 movie that robbed it of much of its character, and that the part of Javert is at least 30-odd foot away from being grunted by Russell Crowe. Yes, I have strong opinions.

It’s not just the music that makes it great; it’s the theology of the story. So I thought I’d mark the 40 year anniversary with three posts about how the gospel is central to the plot of both the musical and the Victor Hugo novel on which it’s based. Whether you’re an old fan like me, or someone encountering it for the first time, I hope it helps you appreciate the richness of some of its themes.

We begin today with the main character, Jean Valjean.

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Think inside the box

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Churches, where will your next pastoral team member come from? You might do well to think inside the box…

“Who do you have for me?”

I’ve been asked this question—in various forms—by countless senior pastors looking to call a new pastoral team member. They’re essentially asking if there’s anyone about to come off the end of the Bible college conveyor-belt who might be a good fit for their church. Sometimes I can make a suggestion or two. But more often than not, I’m left explaining that the vast majority of impending graduates who have been preparing for pastoral ministry already have a role lined up. And it’s often with the church that sent them to college in the first place.

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Talking to strangers?

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Where is the next generation of pastors going to come from? Part Four.

This is a follow-up to a series of posts in 2023 looking at factors impacting the number of people answering the call to pastoral ministry.

Welcoming new people

I’m not smooth when introducing myself to new people, but I do it anyway.

My wife’s good at it: she knows what to say, what questions to ask, and how to keep the conversation going even if the other person’s a bit shy. The best I can hope for in that scenario is a few minutes of well-intentioned awkwardness without scaring the other person away with “too much, too soon” as I attempt to fill the silence with my words. But I do it anyway.

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A toxic workplace?

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Where is the next generation of pastors going to come from? Part Three.

This is the third in a series of posts looking at some of the factors that are hindering the next generation from embracing the call to pastoral ministry. Part one and part two can be found here.

This one comes with a trigger warning as it relates to the abuse of power in ministry settings. Note that I’m focusing here only on where congregational dynamics can be the source of the problem; see my earlier article on where pastors can abuse their power.

Comments on this post are being moderated before appearing, to avoid specific situations or people being inappropriately shared/named on social media. Specific grievances and appeals should follow the process for the relevant organisation or denomination.

The (sometimes) toxic work environment of pastoral ministry

Judging by the array of comments on social media, the current leadership of the Australian men’s cricket team is a divisive topic. It appears to be divided partly along generational lines, albeit with plenty of exceptions—myself included.

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