To end our week on Shakespeare here is a quote from “Romeo and Juliet”
Juliet speaks:
“A name! What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”
I do not think we should take the words of a love-sick lass to be the clearest of voices on this subject.
What’s in a name? The words from angel Gabriel to Mary were:
“Thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins.”
The responsibility of naming God’ Son was not left to chance. Before He was born He was given the sweetest of names, “Jesus”, by His Father.
I’m so glad that God did not call Him Billy or Bert. Not that I have anything against boys being called Bill and Bert. But there is just something about the Name of Jesus.
“How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear. It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fear.”
Thou shalt call His Name Jesus. I’m sure you will agree with me that when you are singing the timeless carols of Christmas that in JESUS, God could not have chosen a more perfect name for His Son.
A name! What’s in a name? EVERYTHING…. including our salvation.
Breakfast with Ian........... A daily thought or insight for you to consider over breakfast... it might make you smile, laugh, shed a tear, or even think.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Measure for Measure
Another “Measure for Measure” quote today.
“Man, proud man, dressed in a little brief authority, ignorant of what thou art most assured, play such fantastic tricks before high heaven, as make the angels weep.”
“Man, proud man, dressed in a little brief authority, ignorant of what thou art most assured, play such fantastic tricks before high heaven, as make the angels weep.”
We are blessed beyond words to enjoy the freedoms, the affluence and the rich heritage of Christian faith that have come down to us in our Western world.
Is it not disturbing then, to see a new generation repudiating the faith upon which our civilization was founded, swarming to druid solstices, smoking bong pipes, chanting naked in sweat lodges, rolfing and rolling new age crystals? In other words because “they are ignorant of what they are most assured”, they give themselves over to antics “that make the angels weep.”
This week was the anniversary of John Lennon’s death. For him it was indeed a “very brief authority”. I have always felt that it was the beginning of the end for the Beatles when they proclaimed themselves more popular than Jesus. After that, the tricks began in earnest.
Have you been assured of your Christian faith? Then stay assured. Let others perform the antics that make the angels weep.
Is it not disturbing then, to see a new generation repudiating the faith upon which our civilization was founded, swarming to druid solstices, smoking bong pipes, chanting naked in sweat lodges, rolfing and rolling new age crystals? In other words because “they are ignorant of what they are most assured”, they give themselves over to antics “that make the angels weep.”
This week was the anniversary of John Lennon’s death. For him it was indeed a “very brief authority”. I have always felt that it was the beginning of the end for the Beatles when they proclaimed themselves more popular than Jesus. After that, the tricks began in earnest.
Have you been assured of your Christian faith? Then stay assured. Let others perform the antics that make the angels weep.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A Word from William
Today’s word from William is taken from “ Measure for Measure”.
“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”
Shakespeare was not a theologian but a playwright, yet this quote would make a worthy text for any preacher’s sermon. I offer it as motto for someone to embrace for the coming year of 2011.
If Christ gave the human heart a single pre-eminent gift it was that of courage: courage to move beyond our personal fears and paradigms of our own making, to become better people and bigger people.
How do you think the apostle Peter felt when he got back in the boat having walked on the water to Jesus?
We know he sank, but for a few sublime moments he defied his reason and the law of gravity and walked with God and showed the rest of the boat huggers it could be done.
This morning let’s tell the negative committee that meets in our head to sit down and shut up, throw the newspaper in the trash and walk with God.
Yes William, those doubts really are traitors!
“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”
Shakespeare was not a theologian but a playwright, yet this quote would make a worthy text for any preacher’s sermon. I offer it as motto for someone to embrace for the coming year of 2011.
If Christ gave the human heart a single pre-eminent gift it was that of courage: courage to move beyond our personal fears and paradigms of our own making, to become better people and bigger people.
How do you think the apostle Peter felt when he got back in the boat having walked on the water to Jesus?
We know he sank, but for a few sublime moments he defied his reason and the law of gravity and walked with God and showed the rest of the boat huggers it could be done.
This morning let’s tell the negative committee that meets in our head to sit down and shut up, throw the newspaper in the trash and walk with God.
Yes William, those doubts really are traitors!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Hamlet II
This morning another quotation from Hamlet.
“Nothing is either good nor bad, but thinking makes it so.”
The judgment as to whether a matter is good or bad is rarely objective. It often hinges on how we are personally affected.
As Christians, have you not found that the worst possible events can work out to the best possible conclusions given time for God’s purpose to process.
One of my favorite statements in scripture is made by Joseph in the last chapter of Genesis. He says to his brothers, who had sold him as a slave into Egypt many years before: “You thought evil against me, but God meant it to me for good.”
If 2010 was not a good year for you, take heart, the book is still being written. Joseph’s observation on the perfect program of God’s will was given in the last chapter, from Pharaoh’s palace, not in chapter 40, from Pharaoh’s prison.
Words from William: Hamlet
John Wesley once referred to William Shakespeare as “the heathen bard”. I agree that there may be some truth in that.
But Shakespeare had some rare insights into human kind and an unmatched gift to express what he saw.
I taught Shakespeare in high schools both in England and in the States and have often quoted him when preaching.
This week I’ll pass on some of my favorite “Words from William.”
Today a quote from ‘Hamlet’.
“The friends thou hast, their adoption tried, grapple them to thy heart with hooks of steel.”
I had an uncle who used a further quote from this passage “neither a borrower nor a lender be.” He kept to this principle assiduously but he was a reclusive man and had few friends.
Who would you count as truly close friends? Draw a circle round their names and call them “God given relationships”
Cherish these people; pray for them, affirm them, communicate with them and express to them your appreciation.
These are the “hooks of steel “ with which we grapple them to our hearts.
Thus we will have friendships that last for a lifetime and maybe, they will be among those who Jesus said “would welcome us into everlasting habitations” Luke 16.
But Shakespeare had some rare insights into human kind and an unmatched gift to express what he saw.
I taught Shakespeare in high schools both in England and in the States and have often quoted him when preaching.
This week I’ll pass on some of my favorite “Words from William.”
Today a quote from ‘Hamlet’.
“The friends thou hast, their adoption tried, grapple them to thy heart with hooks of steel.”
I had an uncle who used a further quote from this passage “neither a borrower nor a lender be.” He kept to this principle assiduously but he was a reclusive man and had few friends.
Who would you count as truly close friends? Draw a circle round their names and call them “God given relationships”
Cherish these people; pray for them, affirm them, communicate with them and express to them your appreciation.
These are the “hooks of steel “ with which we grapple them to our hearts.
Thus we will have friendships that last for a lifetime and maybe, they will be among those who Jesus said “would welcome us into everlasting habitations” Luke 16.
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