Over-qualified?

Your suitability for a job can be determined by your qualifications and your ability to perform its requirements. Over the weekend the ability of Sian Massey to perform the job of assistant referee was called into question by two TV presenters. However, it could be that their ability to perform their jobs is now in question.
The world’s ability to feed its growing population is also under the spotlight following a study by The Foresight Report on Food and Farming Futures. It reveals that urgent action is needed to avoid global hunger.

And a deal to get British banks lending to small businesses has apparently stalled. So despite small businesses having the right ‘qualifications’ they’ll continue to struggle to get the credit to run until a deal is met.

But what about the qualifications and abilities of the people who Jesus recruited to be his followers; the disciples? Well this week on WordLive we’ll see Jesus call the first of them. An interesting selection – unqualified and lacking ability – but they did have faith and believed in Jesus. Perhaps that is all that is needed?

Darren

Did you have a spiritual Bank Holiday?

We just had a Bank Holiday in the UK. A day when the weekend gets extended and people all over the country get on with DIY or get away for a break. Both of these activities are ways of reassessing who and what we are. DIY enables us to get rid of the old and bring in the new, while a nice break is designed to refresh the parts other Mondays can not reach.

But what about our spiritual selves? Do we have some specific time to reassess how we are doing in our spiritual relationship? Do we believe input from church on Sundays and perhaps at home group is sufficient? Does visiting WordLive everyday fulfil our spiritual check-up?

I'm not suggesting that we need to do more, but I am suggesting we take stock once in a while. It is easy to get stuck in a spiritual rut and simply go through the motions. Why not take some time to give your spirituality a check up; a spiritual Bank Holiday? Take some time to reassess and recommit to meeting God through the Bible and prayer - oh, and Wordlive is quite a good way to help you with that.

Budget Pilgrimage

In his WordLive article on Psalm 84, Alistair Campbell, explains that the context for the Psalmist's words is someone seeking God. (The full article is here) This seeking of God turns into a full blown pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Temple. He ends the article suggesting that our pilgrimages, or ways of seeking God, are often through commitment to Bible reading and prayer, amongst others.

I also read the article, although slightly edited, in Encounter With God.

So there I was on Sunday, having first read the words online and then in print, in the comfort of my own centrally-heated house. Using my own leather covered Bible, a translation of my choice, with the other translations lined up on a shelf. And, I think I may also have been sipping a cup of nice hot tea.

The Encounter version ended with a couple of questions that made me think, gulp and begin to reassess one or two things. What do you think?

Do we sufficiently value the means God has provided for us to know him?
Have we become too comfortable in our discipleship?

Darren