this is the name of a book that I'm reading at the moment by David Runcorn.
so far I am liking it a lot, it is like a friend to me in that I can hear the voices of Irenaeus, Gunton, Brueggemann, among others, joining in. it's funny how books can be like that isn't it - they draw you in to a conversation much bigger than a dialogue between the reader and the author and ultimately the Voice we all want to hear can break through in the midst.
here is a little extract:
'And when this awesome Creator God speaks, 'Let there be', what tone of voice do you think he is using? Is this the imperious command of an all-powerful ruler, demanding that his absolute will be done? Or is he choosing from infinite possibilities - 'How about...?' Has God decided yet what he will make? Some suggest the phrase 'Let there be...' is like a word of gracious release - permission to be. Unlike worldly authority that dominates and forces us into submissive obedience, God invites the world into being. Life is given to itself. Creation is given its freedom. God does not impose his order on the world. Things are left remarkably open. There are no induction courses on gardening, animal care or prayer. Adam and Eve are not given a job description except in the most general terms: 'Go forth...be fruitful.' The working out of what that means day by day seems to be left to the creatures to decide. Life is possible, not prescribed. Faithful living is found in freedom.' page 24
it is a book I'm enjoying very much, but it also holds some deep questions for me, where is the line between freedom and obedience? Is that a false dichotomy, when we are living freely obediently? Does obedience mean shackles? I don't think so. But to live in the freedom of possibility can be hard. As my last few posts on this blog have proved, sometimes it is difficult to know what to do with your freedom, whether what you do is within God's will, or not.
Perhaps the more important thing to grasp is that God goes with you along this road, the road you choose, the road that is chosen for you, the dead end, the rocky path, the unchartered territory.
And that spending time contemplating the beauty of God is good for the soul.
I keep being drawn to that age old confession, 'the chief end of Man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever', or in language I identify with 'the ultimate purpose of human beings is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.'
Go, enjoy God today, you are free to do so.
so far I am liking it a lot, it is like a friend to me in that I can hear the voices of Irenaeus, Gunton, Brueggemann, among others, joining in. it's funny how books can be like that isn't it - they draw you in to a conversation much bigger than a dialogue between the reader and the author and ultimately the Voice we all want to hear can break through in the midst.
here is a little extract:
'And when this awesome Creator God speaks, 'Let there be', what tone of voice do you think he is using? Is this the imperious command of an all-powerful ruler, demanding that his absolute will be done? Or is he choosing from infinite possibilities - 'How about...?' Has God decided yet what he will make? Some suggest the phrase 'Let there be...' is like a word of gracious release - permission to be. Unlike worldly authority that dominates and forces us into submissive obedience, God invites the world into being. Life is given to itself. Creation is given its freedom. God does not impose his order on the world. Things are left remarkably open. There are no induction courses on gardening, animal care or prayer. Adam and Eve are not given a job description except in the most general terms: 'Go forth...be fruitful.' The working out of what that means day by day seems to be left to the creatures to decide. Life is possible, not prescribed. Faithful living is found in freedom.' page 24
it is a book I'm enjoying very much, but it also holds some deep questions for me, where is the line between freedom and obedience? Is that a false dichotomy, when we are living freely obediently? Does obedience mean shackles? I don't think so. But to live in the freedom of possibility can be hard. As my last few posts on this blog have proved, sometimes it is difficult to know what to do with your freedom, whether what you do is within God's will, or not.
Perhaps the more important thing to grasp is that God goes with you along this road, the road you choose, the road that is chosen for you, the dead end, the rocky path, the unchartered territory.
And that spending time contemplating the beauty of God is good for the soul.
I keep being drawn to that age old confession, 'the chief end of Man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever', or in language I identify with 'the ultimate purpose of human beings is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.'
Go, enjoy God today, you are free to do so.
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