Category: faith

The view from my (boring and cold) window

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith
Today I feel cold and alone

This topic suggestion, Find the nearest window…, is from The Daily Post as part of the Post-a-day writing challenge.

I must say, I probably have quite a boring window to be doing this from. My computer is in the spare room, which has a window that over looks our washing line, and beyond that is our neighbours house. However, there is something interesting about looking out this morning.

You see, today in Perth, it was very cold. Well, cold for Perth. We don’t get temperatures this cold very often, so we don’t know what to do when it gets this cold. The official minimum temperature was 1.4° Celcius. At Perth Airport, it got to 0.2° Celcius, and at Jandakot Airport (about a half hour south of Perth city) it was a freezing -0.4° Celcius. So when I look out my window, I see all the effects of a very cold morning on the grass. The dew on the grass makes it glisten and seem almost white. It is very clear, and seems like I could almost see for an eternity (if I didn’t have such a restricted view from my window.)

What can you see from your window? Do you have a better view than mine?

Postaday2011 links

What war is worth fighting?

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith

This topic suggestion, What war is worth fighting?, is from The Daily Post as part of the Post-a-day writing challenge.

It may surprise you to know that I’m a bit of a pacifist. No-where near as strong a pacifist as my mum, but a pacifist none the less. I have participated in an Anti-war riot in Perth, against the War in Iraq, back in 2003. It seems so long ago now. I truly believe that there is no reason why we should be involved in any militaristic, war-like involvement in any country. I may be a bit idealistic in that belief, thinking that countries could truly benefit by exploring the issues through diplomacy.

However, there is one war worth fighting. A song that we sometimes sing in the salvos sums it up – I’ll stand for Christ

For we go not to fight ‘gainst the sinner, but sin,
the lost and the outcast to love;
And to offer the grace that transforms from within,
As we urge them His mercy to prove.

The war against sin, the war to save souls. As much as my mum hates the language (and I can understand this), it sums up so brilliantly the war that I believe is worth fighting.

Postaday2011 links

We are all called

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith, Feature

As I did last week, I’m posting the Sermon that I preached on Sunday. This was at my church, at Floreat Salvation Army, and was part of my pre-college assessments. The reading that this sermon is based on comes from James 2:14-24. Continue reading “We are all called” →

What do we do with these gifts?

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith
Icon of the Pentecost
An Icon of the Pentecost. (Image via Wikipedia)

On Sunday, I took a service at Cottesloe Uniting Church. This was my first service at a Uniting Church, and I had to put the service together – not knowing what a Uniting Church Service consisted of. I think I did ok. Anyway, I thought I’d publish my sermon from Sunday. The bible readings for the day were Acts 2:1-21; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; and John 20:19-23. I’m backing up this week, I’m preaching at Floreat this Sunday. I think I’ll be building a bit off of this sermon as well as the one that Lt. Gareth preached at Floreat. Continue reading “What do we do with these gifts?” →

Spotting Potential

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith

I’ve been at a Candidates weekend for the Salvos this weekend. I’ve had an incredible time, meeting people all considering heading to the Training College to become Salvation Army Officers. Over this time, I’ve also been reading Bill Hybel’s Just Walk Across the Room. I’d like to quote a couple of paragraphs.

Better than anyone in history, in any field or discipline, Jesus capitalized on the possibility in people – the hidden potential inherent in all of us. Talented entrepreneurs in our society see hidden potential in a product or service before anybody else does – and as a result of pursuing their vision, cutting-edge companies emerge. Expert athletic coaches often spot hidden potential in a high school football player or tennis player, and because of applied foresight, collehe sports dynasties are built.
But Jesus had a corner on the “potential” market. He had an uncanny ability to look past the obvious flaws in people’s lives and envision who they could become if the power of God were released in their lives. Intrinsically, he just wondered about people. Wondered what they could become. Wondered how they might look in a transformed state. Wondered what impact they could have if their lives were invested in things of eternal value.
…
“All things are possible” was Jesus” mantra. All things. And countless lives were transformed because he chose to look past the surface stuff to see what was ultimately possible.

For every person here this weekend, God has looked past the flaws that we all have, and has seen the potential we have to change the world for Jesus. He has called us, and we have responded. For some of us. It’s going to college next year, for others, it’s going in a few years. For some, that calling may not include college. But we have all heard his call, and have responded.
God sees your potential. All he’s asking is for you to respond.

I knew it, I just didn’t get it

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith, Life

I’ve finally got around to start reading Bill Hybel’s book, “Just Walk across the room” and it’s already got me posting something, and this is only from the introduction!

Bill is telling us of the time when he was seventeen and he accepted Jesus into his heart. He was at a camp, and one night had a realisation that Jesus loved him, and there was nothing he could do to earn that love. He ran back to the dorm to tell his mates, armed with a series of “Guys, did you know…?” questions. They all came back to him saying “Yea, yea, Bill, we know all that.” He said to himself, “I just never got it until now.”

How often have we heard the stories of the bible, yet only really got the meaning of them later. You might read it and get new insight, or have it explained in a different way and suddenly, it all fits. We can know, but sometimes we just really don’t get it.

For me, I had one of those moments on a spiritual retreat, Chrysalis. I heard the story of the Prodigal Son explained in a really simple way, and it just clicked. That story that I had such a hard time relating to for all those years, suddenly I could see myself in every character in the story. I knew the story, I just didn’t get it. Now that I get it, I can take that knowledge into my life, and live accordingly.

Have you had a light bulb moment, where you suddenly understood something that you’ve known for a while?

Religious Tolerance isn’t removing religion

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith, Life
A Christmas tree in the United States.
I fail to see this Christmas Tree imposing Christianity on anyone. (Image via Wikipedia)

There’s a lot of talk going around at the moment about “religious tolerance” or “freedom of religion.” There was the Bondi Public School who banned the word “Easter” being associated with their Easter Hat Parade because they were trying to promote tolerance. Then there’s the new Childcare laws that have been passed in Victoria that prevent Children being forced to participate in Religious or Cultural activities, such as decorating Christmas trees and painting Easter eggs, yet they’re also not allowed to separate children from the group “for any reason other than illness or an accident.” Continue reading “Religious Tolerance isn’t removing religion” →

Evangelism for those uncomfortable with it

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith

There are many dirty words around. Often referred to by the first letter, there’s one word that Anglicans don’t like: The E word. Evangelism. Coming from an Anglican background, it’s something that I’ve never been comfortable with. the thought of going out there and telling someone why they should be a Christian is something that fills me with dread. Unfortunately for me, as I want to become an officer of the Salvation Army, this is something that I am going to have to get over. Continue reading “Evangelism for those uncomfortable with it” →

Dividing responsibility for success

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith, Life

I’ve recently taken over leadership of the youth band at church. Upon taking this up, the leader of the youth services (who just happens to be my wife) wanted to make very clear guidelines of what was expected of each of our positions. We decided that I would take care of the musical side of the youth services, rehearsing the band, choosing the songs etc. She would take care of preparing the meeting leads, leading the service and those sorts of things.
What we’ve found is that dividing that responsibility gives us the freedom to really focus on our areas, and do more with them than we could do if we had to do it all on our own.

Likewise, my manager recently started job-sharing with another person. While they’re still working it all out, they will divide up the tasks of one job, and divide it between the two of them, bringing their own strengths to each part. One will deal with the media, one will deal with more internal communications. One will deal with budgets, one will deal with writing. I think that this arrangement will allow them to focus on the areas that they work best in, and help lift the quality of output of our team higher than it has been before.

Dividing up your roles can give you freedom to focus on your strengths more, and help you improve the final result. How could you divide up your role(s) and what qualities would you be looking to add to give you the flexibility to work to your strengths?

Let your light shine

by Ben Clapton, posted in Archive, faith, Life

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

Have you been to the country recently? Just recently, I headed down to Margaret River for a weekend away. We were driving, and there were no lights anywhere. We looked up and saw the stars. Having escaped the light pollution that cities normally give, we could see all these stars lighting up the sky. It was really amazing. Continue reading “Let your light shine” →