Mere Theology

Mere Theology
is one of the best blogs I've seen in a while. Well worth a visit to read Brian Hedges' insights.

First visit

Our grandson, Jerome, visited us for the first time on Friday, 9th September. He is now 4 months old, and is a lovely little boy.

New grandson

I'm excited! On Friday, 6th May at 11.37 PM I became a grandfather. Now, when our daughter was aware she was pregnant, the first person she told was my wife Joan, as is proper. But when she got on the blower to ring out the news, she told me first, which I'm guessing is largely because I was the one to answer the phone!

But it is exciting to be the first to know.

Jerome Philip is a lovely little boy as you can see here

Bad news on dieting

I have been in the doldrums for about 3 months, and this is largely due to my lack of will power [or won't power], but also to my trying to save a few dollars by changing diet diaries! I was using Alan Borushek's Food and Exercise Diary which has helpful progress charts that make you diet by motivating you to record your successes. But I bought a very cheap one year diary for about $3, thinking I could save the $4.95 I was spending each 10 weeks. But I have not been filling it in as well as I should, and it has no charts. I did intend to make some, but never "got a round tuit."

So on Monday, I'm going back to the original diary which had worked so well last year.

Giving update

It all started with being asked to preach a sermon on giving. Paul's powerful words in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 made me think, but so did Craig Blomberg's provocative Neither Poverty nor Riches.

Reading Jesus' words in Matthew 25:31-46 led me to conclude that we could partly fulfil this command by giving to Christians who are spreading the gospel and/or are in need or being persecuted. I also think we should be giving to help the poor generally, whether or not they are Christians.

So I have been trying to increase my giving to agencies outside my local church.

I began by giving to Opportunity International, which aims to help impoverished people get out of poverty, by making small loans to them, which they must repay. These folk appreciate being given a hand up, rather than a handout.

But I realised that I must support Christian missions, so the next year I also began to donate to our church's link missionaries, who are working in Lebanon and South America.

The following year I commenced giving to , which aims to assist persecuted Christians by providing support for those who are imprisoned or tortured, and training in God's Word through the provision of bible teachers who will train others.

Then, a little later, after reading about I began to support a young man who is taking the gospel where it has never been heard before.

This year, I hope to make some donations to the , as well as making some donations to the work of CMS. I would like to support their work in Aboriginal Mission World in Northern Australia.

Each year, God has enabled me to give a little more. I'm not blogging this because I think I'm great, but to show that it is possible with God's help to increase your giving.