This week, I was blessed to have been able to attend a conference at Moore Theological College on the issue of how emotions and feelings play a role in the Christian life and ministry in general.  I reflected on Day 1 and Day 2 of ‘True Feelings’. The talks were very relevant to the work done at Liberty Ministries, and I particularly found the talks of Rhys Bezzant from Ridley College and Keith Condie, who spoke on the Puritanical stance on emotions.  Peter Bolt, Rob Smith, David Peterson, and Gerald Bray also offered some great insights, among others.  In a fortnight’s time, the MP3s of the talks should be available at the Moore College Myrrh website; next year a book will be published on the theme (edited by Michael Jensen).  I think they are worth listening to- if you have all the time to do so!- because they offer terrific food for thought.  However, it wasn’t a comprehensive discussion on the topic- for instance, I felt that the topic of God’s emotions in the Old Testament ought to have been covered- but it’s a good start.

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Recently, I have been thinking a lot about how the preaching and practise of lament is something that is often missing in Christian ministry, but particularly in the lives of Christians.  Many of the people that I pastor are not aware of their emotions and have not done any serious reflection and grieving over their sorrows.  Were they to do so, they would unlock their pain and in mourning their losses, bring it to God and have it healed.  But many are frightened to do so and, more sadly, have never been shown how or given permission to.  In the last week or so I have done a lot of reflecting on the topic.  What do you think? Or, more fittingly, what do you feel about it?

Shalom, Haydn.