News of Old Friends, But Not How I Would Have Hoped.

I found out from my dad in a phone call yesterday that the school in which I started my teaching career (the Alfred Barrow School) is being closed down as it, along with two other local schools, gets subsumed into a large new academy.

My father doesn't live in the area - he stumbled upon the fact when reading about some altogether insalubrious circumstances connected with the new academy in a national newspaper.

Stories like these are catalysts both for humble gratitude for all that God has done in my life thus far and for sober reflection lest I make the mistake of thinking I am immune to such folly as this.

Spirit, Mind and Body - Holistic Salvation!

Spirit - I have been saved from the penalty of sin.

Mind - I am being saved from the power of sin.

Body - I will be saved from the presence of sin.

That is good news!

(And yes I know the model is somewhat oversimplified, but I find it helpful. ;-)

Spirit of the Law or Letter Thereof?

Once again, my profession is in the news.

Can God the Gardener Throw His Hat Through Your Tree?

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." Jesus in John 15:2



Not all growth is good in and of itself, there is growth that hinders fruit bearing and imbalances the tree. 

For me the obvious one is knowledge. 

I can appear to grow - cos, for example, I know more about the Bible, but Bible knowledge in and of itself does not lead to godly fruitfulness, worse still, it can lead to pride, the most wicked kind of pride, because it looks so hypocritically virtuous on the surface. 

The fruit this gardener is looking for is the result of the Holy Spirit's activity in the life of the Christian. It is authentic when it is grounded in the truth of the Bible, born out of repentance, looks like Jesus (e.g.) tastes good, gives life to those who eat it and is always there when people go looking.

---

If you want to meditate more on how God the gardener does his pruning, go here. This video is good too.

News in Brief

When it comes to the subject of teachers' pay rises, I can't, with any integrity, say I would feel a moral outrage if I got 10% rise more dosh, but I find myself quietly agreeing with these guys (4:50).

One of my heros! ;-)

Narnia Code

More great TV here - until 23 April 09.