What I’ve learnt about fathers and sons

George and Barbara Bush with their first born child George W. Bush, while Bush was a student at Yale (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My son’s coming up to four months old, and parenthood’s teaching me quite a lot. Expect more posts to appear over time, but I thought I ought to start somewhere.

Fatherhood’s definitely different to what I thought it would be – it’s nowhere near as complicated (actually, right now, it’s pretty straightforward) but it’s way harder.

One particular thing that struck me immediately as different was the fact that I didn’t cry when he was born. Having talked to lots of dads, and having watched One Born Every Minute, I was convinced that I’d be a babbling wreck when he arrived. As it turned out I was far too tired to respond like that, and thank goodness I’d watched One Born because having a purple son would have freaked me out otherwise.

In fact, the whole concept of immediately feeling overwhelming love towards my son had almost set the bar so high that I was never going to experience it. Where people have said before that your feelings for your kids teach you about God’s heart for you has turned out to be a bit of a let-down so far if I’m honest. When he’s older and sets fire to my car in anger and I still forgive him, maybe then I’ll get it a bit better.

But something struck me that I never knew would.

The Father was willing to sacrifice his son for me.

I think perhaps I’m learning after all.

The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh (audio)

There are some books which are just so filled with grace that they remind you how it felt to have just been born again: this is one of those books. By looking at ten of God’s promises, Sheila Walsh digs deep into the overwhelming love and protection that God has for us.

Walsh picks apart every point, addressing every question that might come up. The book is not massively intellectual and is one of those books that you can simply listen to while doing something else. I particularly admired the way she references the original Greek text to pull out meanings that are not instantly apparent in the English Bible text, without making you feel uneducated. Perhaps on one or two occasions I wasn’t sure this added much, but on the whole I’d encourage this to Christians, especially ladies and especially those who have experienced tough times.

Each point is thoroughly Bible-based, and makes great use of stories – at times I felt myself wanting to both laugh and cry, and it’s not often that you find a book like that. What’s particularly good about this audio version is that it’s narrated by Sheila Walsh herself – if you can get past the American/Scottish accent, this really adds that personal, genuine touch.

I got this audiobook for free from christianaudio.com. I’m not required to give a positive review.

The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (audio)

The Hole In Our Gospel is the detailed explanation of an idea which the Western church desperately needs to hear: ministry to the poor is missing from our presentation of the gospel. Stearns, CEO of Worldvision, begins this book with his own story before turning to the Bible’s attitude to the poor. He then looks at the current state of the world before facing the American church and giving it a good telling off.

The message behind this book is a timely one. The church really does need to wake up to social action, and Stearns presents it well. At times I felt a bit uncomfortable as his presentation of social action seemed to present quite a liberal theology, but he did not hesitate to underline his deep biblical convictions, which are clearly strong.

His communication is very good, but I’d have to question one part of his language, and that’s his use of the word ‘mission’. It would seem to me that ‘mission’ for Richard Stearns means travelling abroad to provide clean water, food, housing, medical attention, jobs, and education to those that need it most. I’d rather he included all this stuff within the wider category of mission which would incorporate ministry to the poor at home as well as actually preaching the gospel of grace.

I think there would be a danger in a new or pre-believer reading this book for only one reason: the difference between being saved by good works and being saved for good works is not defined as clearly as I’d like it to be.

Overall, I must say that this book is a good one. It’s theologically accurate, written well, and carries with it a big challenge. I’m not sure it’s the best book out there about social action, but if you’re looking for one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. The audio version I listened to was presented well and clearly, with good emotion throughout.

I got this audiobook for free as part of the christianaudio.com reviewers programme. I’m not required to give a positive review.

The question which proves I’m a hypocrite

Someone asked me this question today:

Which would you rather live in: a world that’s only ever merciful, or a world that’s only ever fair?

My heart leapt to saying ‘merciful’! I instantly thought of something I’d done wrong, and was so grateful for the mercy I received.
But then I thought, ‘what if someone did something shocking, like raped a friend of mine?’ Surely, in the grand scheme of things, I’d want a fair world where justice would be done.
But the moment I thought back to myself, my mind returned to wanting mercy.
The whole of creation cries out for justice, yet we all have a personal desire for mercy. But you can’t have both – as much as the rapist wants mercy, that would be unfair.
Isn’t it wonderful that justice and mercy met at the cross? Gerald Sittster said:

It is the tension between God’s justice and mercy that makes God so capable of dealing with wrongdoers. God is able to punish people without destroying them, and to forgive people without indulging them…Mercy does not abrogate justice; it transcends it.