Hazar for expensive grace

I heard a talk yesterday from Peter Jensen about "reformed" theology. Quite interesting and well-spoken, however a few things went over my head, so I trotted on down with few mates after the talk to ask some questions. Also very interesting, and led to me hearing an explanation of God's grace I have not heard elsewhere.

Glenn Davies was talking about the joy of being saved by God, and he used this illustration: imagine a prison full of murderers (bad ones). They all deserve to be jailed for life, and therefore the punishment they are receiving is quite correct, right? Imagine now that the judge now comes in and pardons one of the murderers and releases him. That's 100% grace - the murderer did nothing to deserve the pardon - in fact, he deserves the opposite. And what of the others - can they complain? No - they are still in the same position as before, getting what they rightly deserve. This is a good way of viewing God's grace to us in Jesus.

I don't know why, but this spoke to me. For many years I have acknowledged the goodness of God and praised the wonder of his grace, but my personal, hidden, and private actions have often revealed that I view this grace all too cheaply. If I disobey God it causes me little grief, for I know that I will be forgiven. When I remember God's grace it causes me little joy, for I know it shall always be available for me. How shallow this understanding is.

I know that expensive grace is not the exact opposite of cheap grace, but it's a phrase which popped into my head and made sense. So hazoo for me and my cheap attitude, and hazar for God and His expensive grace.

.e

P.S. if you want to hear the next talk by Peter Jensen on "evangelicalism", come along to Abbotsleigh at 8pm on Wed 21/2. I recommend it.
[Category: random_stuff]

Hazar for the Tallis Scholars

I got the opportunity tonight to see the Tallis Scholars, an a capella singing group who specialise in 16th century polyphonic music, such as that composed by Tallis and Palestrina. It was a good concert - a bit sameish perhaps (let's be honest - any collection of 16th Century polyphony is going to sound a bit homogenous), but generally very good. They have defnintely learned the secret of nailing the last note of a piece - do that well and the audience will forgive you for anything. They also performed an interesting version of Allegri's Miserere, well-regarded as one of the most beautiful pieces around, which was quite different to versions of the piece I've heard before. The soprano pulled off some quite clever "vocal acrobatics" during the really high bits, and the cantor sang a different chant to that which I've heard and sung before. I liked it.

The concert was recorded for ABC Classic FM, who will be playing the concert on Saturday 17 February at 12.05pm. Cop a listen if you can. Hazar for the Tallis Scholars and their fine singing.

.e.

[Category: random_stuff]

Hazar for the Metters Super Twin

Our old fridge died the other day. It blew some kind of circuit and shorted out the house. Several times. Hazar for safety switches. Anyway, we took ages working out which appliance was causing the troubles and it was a real hassle having to go out to the garage and work out how to unplug something which has been running in the same place for a good 10 years or so. But it was the culprit, and we eventually decided that it was time to turn it off forever.

I felt a bit sad about the whole thing - I like having a few extra fridges around to keep some drinks cool or to be really useful for parties. And I also felt like this was a piece of my childhood gone. When I asked Mum about it, she said the fridge had been purchased shortly before I was born - about 26 (argh) years ago.

Now I know that the old thing has probably been sucking up more than its fair share of coal and other natural resources for a good long while, and it's probably been spewing out ozone killing CFCs for a quarter of a century, just to keep a few of my drinks cool, but I can't help feeling that it was a quality appliance. What item purchased today do you expect to be around in 26 years? Your car? Your microwave? Your TV? Piffle - no one expects anything to last these days, and the manufacturers know it. Only Tupperware comes with a lifetime guarantee - everything else is expected to last only two Christmases and then get replaced with a newer model.

So, although I know little about Metters, their Super Twin fridge, or why there's the number 12 before it, I'd like to issue a hearty hazar for Metters and their quality appliance, and an equally hearty hazoo for all those manufacturers out there who don't like their applicances to reach their third birthday.