A Time to Listen & Reflect

The past few months for me have been hectic, to say the least. Week after week after week I was go-go-go -- go to work, see girls for discipleship, go to church, meet up with friends, have people round for dinner, attend about a thousand weddings, be a bridesmaid for 2 of them, serve at this and that, plan my trip to Australia and so on.

Life was running away with me -- but worse, life was running over my relationship with God. Time to spend in His presence, reading His Word and being refreshed by His Spirit, became limited. And life suffered.

I have certainly learnt a lot from that season! And so before I start the whole "go-go-go" process again now that I am out here and settled in Sydney for 3 months, I have wanted to take this time to slow down. Stop and just listen -- listen to God, soak up His presence, sit at His feet again, learn from the Master. Basically, I want to switch from being a Martha to a Mary (Luke 10:38-42).

And how does this apply to my blog? Well, before I pick up where I left off and launch into a dozen new post ideas, I want to get back to basics in my own real life. I have been doing this for the past 2 weeks and it has been fantastic. The Lord has really broke through the spiritual lull I was in, by His sheer love and grace. What an incredible God we serve!

I am hoping to be posting here very soon, as I definitely have a lot that I want to write about on here! In the meantime, Ali and I have started to write some posts on the topic of suffering over on my other blog, A Path Less Followed. Praying that you would all know the grace of God in a profound way in your lives.

(Photo: me looking out onto Sydney Harbour)

Off Down Under!

Hello all -- so sorry I have been MIA for such a long time, but the past few months have consisted of preparing and planning for this: I am going to Australia for 3 months as of tomorrow! I am going to be based in Sydney, living with my dear friends Ali (who writes 'A Path Less Followed' with me). I am very excited about what God has, and I really look forward to be able to regularly be posting back on here again -- finally.

So, I will see you all on here when I get there!

Why I'd Never Want to be an Elder

I recently wrote an article for our international Newfrontiers magazine entitled 'Why I'd Never Want to be an Elder', on why I am content and peaceful with the doctrine we hold of male eldership as a young woman.

For those of you who are interested, you can read it online here. If you belong to Newfrontiers, you can pick up the most recent copy of the magazine at your church. I hope it is useful to some of you!

More Details of Our Album

Theo's Door are (L-R): Pete (drums), Tim (keys), me (vocals), Luke (guitar), Ben (bass)

Official MySpace: www.myspace.com/theosdoorofficial

Including 1 full track and previews of other tracks. If you are going to listen to just a couple, our best our 'Something True', 'Whisper' and 'Risen'.

Buying the album:

A hard copy of our 13-track album -- all professionally done, with CD booklet -- is £10. Details of how to buy to follow!

OUR ALBUM IS OUT!

'Navigate The Inifinite' by Theo's Door (my band) is out now! Track previews, band photos, and details of how to buy our album coming soon!

3 Years of Blogging: More Humble Backtracking Plus Some Highlights

As I said in my previous post, during my three years of blogging I have written things that now I wish I had done differently or better, for the many reasons I listed. Without trying to be overly critical of myself, I thought it might be helpful to just note down a few posts that I would like to have written better, and how I would've done it. So here they are:

My earlier posts on singleness & marriage
When I first started blogging, God had just begun to teach me about His design for romantic relationships and marriage, and I drank it all deeply after having been lost in a confused relational wilderness for so many years. But because of my passion for teaching on this subject, I started forming very strong (and quite naive) opinions about it all. Suddenly, I thought I was an expert -- and I blogged in such a way.

Now when I look back, I realise I had some very naive, black-and-white ideas about getting married and having kids. I hadn't quite got it into my head that there was no "cookie-cutter", "one-blueprint-fits-all" way of doing things in as a Christian. I am still learning a lot, but I really wished I had listed to John Piper's excellent message, 'Single in Christ: A Name Better Than Sons and Daughters', a long time ago!

My "Why dress modestly?" series
Quite simply, I began this series the wrong way -- I started with external issues before addressing the heart. Although I still hold to my convictions and agree with what I wrote, I should really have addressed the heart of the issue because that is what modesty truly comes down to.

My recent "Taming the Tongue" series
This has taken a bit of a hiatus over the past few months, but I do still want to continue it. Again, I wish I had begun this series looking at the heart instead of focusing straight away on the outward behaviour of speech.

OK so I think I've made my point that there are a few things I'd liked to have written differently. But now for some personal highlights -- what has been particularly great during my three years of blogging.

Highlights:

• The encouragement, love, inspiration, correction and edification I've received from so many of my readers. I'm quite overwhelmed with how many people read my blog, and even more so that people would take the time to send words of kindness and words of "iron" that have shaped me. I have learnt so much from so many of you. I particularly appreciate the long-standing support of two readers and very dear sisters in Christ -- Anna and Elizabeth (or Lizzy as I've known her). Thank you.
• Putting thoughts to electronic paper helps me figure out what's going on in my head and heart, and forces me to seek God for answers. And He never disappoints.
• The high privilege of being used by God to teaches others about Him and to help them along in their journey with Him. It is an incredibly humbling thought.
• The joy of writing -- it is one of biggest passions and I so enjoy getting to blog!
• Many, many more that I can't even begin to think of -- but I think you get the idea!

So thank you to all of you who have read my blog or do read it. I so appreciate you taking the time out to read my very imperfect writing. And like Carolyn Mahaney (although in no way could I compare myself to this amazing woman), I will keep contributing my "measly bits" to the online world by the grace of God.

P.S. On a completely different note, I have removed the chatbox on my sidebar as I don't have time to respond or monitor lengthy theological discussions. Hope everyone understands :)

3 Years of Blogging: A Humble Backtrack

I've thought some pretty dumb things in my lifetime. I've also said some stupid stuff that I wish I could go back and correct. At least with those spoken or thought words, though, they can somewhat be left in the past. The thing with blogging, on the other hand, is that once you pen down your ideas and publish them online, they are there for the whole world to see and have a much more permanent staying-power.

When I first started blogging in June 2006 and as I continued to do it, there was a popular phrase going around that went along the lines of "you only start blogging well and properly after about 2 years of doing it; everything before that is a bit of a trial and not worth much". But in my pride, I thought it was rubbish and was sure that I would be the exception to the rule. However, looking back after three years of doing this, I have to agree.

I'm not saying that everything I've written up until about a year ago was a waste of time or no use to anyone; thankfully, God is gracious and has used some of my small contributions to the blogging world. And I am definitely not suggesting that somehow I have it all figured out now and am have blogging perfection down to a T!

But I do recognise that there are some things I have written on this blog that fall into one or more of these categories:

1. I don't believe what I wrote back then as much as I do now (minor issues, usually to do with marriage/family/singleness) -- or at least, my views have slightly changed (improved I would say!) since I wrote certain things.
2. I shared too much. There are some personal things that I made known on here, because of my small readership at the time, which probably don't do the best job of guarding my heart now.
3. I wrote it wrongly -- either I started it off on the wrong foot (i.e. addressing outward issues instead of the heart), or I just generally phrased it badly.
4. I didn't bring the gospel into it enough. This is probably the biggest thing I would change if I were to go back to all my old posts and edit them.
5. I didn't make it accessible enough to non-/new Christians. I think you get so used to using "Christianese" that you forget that phrases such as "the blood of the Lamb" and "inputed righteousness" don't mean jack (to quote Driscoll) to non-/new believers!
6. I was a bit pretentious and not particularly genuine. Seriously, when I read some of my old posts, I cringe at how super-spiritual and I can come across! It's almost like a different person wrote it. It is tricky getting trying to reflect your true self in your posts, but I am trying to get better at it.
7. I wrote from a place of pride and not humility. Again, definitely one of the biggest regrets I have about my blogging. So much of what I have written has been done out of a "know-it-all", judgemental, overly close-minded attitude. The truth is, the older I get and the more I walk with God, the more I realise how little I really know!

I think that probably covers everything...! I know that the whole point of this blog is to reflect my journey and transformation as a Christian young woman (hence the name Unfurling Flower, in case anyone ever wondered -- and oh yeah, I would change the name if I could go back too!), but there are many things I wish I could go back and do better.

I don't want to labour this point in any way, but I thought it would be useful for me to write a brief post of corrections for some of the things I've written over the past three years, just as a reference for any of you who have or will read through my archives. I will make sure it's not all about regrets and such though by adding in my own highlights of blogging as well.

That will be in the next post -- so it's over and out for now!

Death Is Not Dying

A rather strange title you might think, but this captures perfectly the life stories of Rachel Barkey and Clayton McDonald. You may wonder what these two have in common -- one a wife and mother of two from Canada, the other an 18 year-old teenage boy from California. But in fact, they do share a lot.

Both were diagnosed with a form of terminal cancer, having been given months to live by their doctors. But both have not been scared of dying. Both have trusted in the saving work of Christ and know where they are going after death.

Rachel is still here on earth with us, speaking publicly about her faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of death. Clayton was taken home to be with the Lord just over two months ago, after giving several bold talks and seminars on the confidence he has in knowing where he will go when he dies.

You can watch videos of their incredible stories and talks at public events here:

• Rachel's website: Death is Not Dying
• Clayton's website: Clayton's Story

Life is too short. We always need to keep eternity in mind -- especially if we do not know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. I guarantee you will not regret watching either of these inspiring, moving, life-changing stories.

(HT's: Carolyn McCulley; Justin Taylor)

A Season of Sporadic Posts

Oh yes, it's that time again -- another ridiculously busy season has fallen upon me (just ask my friends!), and so please all prepare yourselves for the odd post here and there on my blog (and my other blog, A Path Less Followed).

In the meantime however, you can always browse through my archives (although I can't guarantee that some of my earlier stuff is that great...). I've also accumulated a few recommended resources/websites/articles over the past couple of weeks that I've been meaning to list here -- so here they are:

• 'Making singleness better' article by Tim Adeney. I can't really describe how brilliant this article is, for both single and married people alike. An incredibly insightful and helpful view on singleness and the Church. (HT: Justin Taylor.)
• Girls Gone Wise. Described as a "quiet counter revolution", this is a site full of excellent articles (generally on biblical womanhood) by Mary Kassian -- an award winning author, internationally renowned speaker, and a distinguished professor at Southern Baptist Seminary. (HT: Carolyn McCulley.)
• 'Deborah 13: Servant of God'. The BBC did a fascinating documentary about 13 year-old Christian from Dorset, Deborah Drapper, who doesn't care about anything else except God and spreading the gospel. In a review, the Daily Telegraph said of her: "Steely-eyed and still, she was sensational". The Rebelution have embedded the 6-part YouTube video on their blog here.
• CCK reason blog. Some friends of mine at my church (Church of Christ the King [CCK], Brighton) have started up a fantastic new apologetics blog which I'd really recommend you all check out.

That's all for now folks! Praying that you are all well and knowing God's amazing grace in your life.

Don't Waste Your Life: Hip Hop With an Edge

I don't make a point of recommending music on my blog unless I am really eager for you all to hear it. This is most definitely the case with hip hop artist Lecrae -- a rare combination of phenomenal talent, quality music, solid theology and a Christ-honouring life. I have blogged about him before when he first launched his album Rebel -- and now I'm back promoting his music again after watching his music video 'Don't Waste Your Life', produced by the Desiring God team, as the song was based on the same titled book by John Piper.

The song is incredibly catchy, well produced and lyrically brilliant (read the lyrics on the DG blog here). The video is so worth watching:



Furthermore, Lecrae is part of the 'Don't Waste Your Life' Tour 09. Make sure you check out the tour video commercials which do a satirical takes on hip hop and popular culture; the following ones will especially hit you with some home truths:

Rap Exploits


Good Samaritan


If you're considering buying Lecrae's album Rebel, it is so worth getting in my opinion. It is available online at the usual places (£6.99 for MP3 download version on on Amazon UK). Enjoy!