Holiday Reading 1
Living with the Underworld, Peter Bolt

Ok, so I was going to write a quirky review but then I checked Koorong.com and found they already have a pretty good/comprehensive review written there. So if you want something with substance that’s the place to head.

As for me, I raced through this book in 2 days – an easy read with 40% of the text recounting tales from Peter Bolts fav. T.V series – The Sopranos, and the other 60% unfolding the Bible’s discussion of evil spirits, demons, satan and the underworld. Bolt helpfully uses the criminal underworld as a metaphor for the spiritual underworld. It is at points, a very light-hearted read.

This is one of the books strengths.

For such a topic, in which people often get very serious , ‘spiritual’ and perhaps apprehensive, Bolt is surprisingly jovial. It is written from a heart that knows the spiritual battle has already been fought completely, won completely and the victory shared.

The few times Bolt gets hard lined is when he speaks out against those who convince others that exorcisms, deliverance ministries and other dramatic forms of ‘spiritual warfare’ have some part to play in the Christian life.

A helpful and simple distinction is made between the Bible’s centre and its periphery. And thus, he writes:
“The underworld keeps poking through in the pages of the Bible, but it is never centre-stage. Because it never comes fully into focus, there is a lot that is not explained – a lot of questions not asked, and a lot of answers not given. It is as if we only understand the underworld in its proper place – that is, by its relation to the central message about Jesus.”

Good book, easy read.

Christmas in Cape Town

(I'm on brothers computer, and I stole them from his camera...don't tell him!)

Blowing bubbles with the nephew

Christmas lunch

Myself and MacJerry (my cousin.....kinda,)

Hannah singing 'Consider Christ' to us after the opening of presents.

Craig is in Cape Town

(in place of his promised election post)

I arrived here on Monday and after 27 hours of transit I have had two good night sleeps and feel 100% on top of things.

It is good for me to be here.

I have returned to the same place I lived in 2004 for 4 months. And coming back is a surreal experience. In many ways very, very good. In some ways, difficult. It seems like a life time since I last stayed here, yet it also feels strangely close - like recalling a dream from the night before at the breakfast table.

I have fallen into 'family central' with my brothers wife and 2 kids - Ben (2 years), Jemma (6months). I am loving the time spent with them. In so many ways it is great to live with daily responsabilities - which all feels so far removed to my life in Chappo House over the past 12 months.

It is good for me to be here.

I hope to put up some photos soon. I am looking forward to the next 3 weeks and the chance to reset my horizions for 2008, with a sense of realism and responsability that only life with a young family can produce.

As I write this I am listening to a cover of Teardrops by Jose Gonzalez. It is really beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLDFdgagnk4&feature=related

It is good for me to be here.

Biblical Spirituality temporarily halts its excavation.

photo from www.cosand.net

A big thankyou to all those who replied to my last post.

I know it's been a while between drinks, but I read all the comments and emails and found them very helpful.

Basically my questions is this: Am I digging in the right area?

Coinciding with the previous post was the shadow of my final exams for 2nd year at college. One of the passages that I studied closely was Romans 3:21-24

21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Basically, for an entire day I dug this passage and found the gold of grace.

And then I turned back to 'biblical spirituality' and wondered if, in my mind I had started to drift into a salvation of works. Not that I ever meant to end up there......but I remember feeling such liberation from reading Romans after months with my head in the 'biblical spirituality' frame.

so, I'm walking around and getting another view of the hole I am digging, which shall take some time. I'll let you know when I reach a 'go forward' point.

Plus, STAY TUNED for my time as a Polling Official - you bet you, i spent my polling day counting votes and being a cog in the democratic process

ct