Share Four Somethings: November and December 2022

I always enjoy linking up with Share Four Somethings to review each month. This month, because of the Christmas holidays, the link-up has opened early and since I didn’t post in November, I thought I’d catch up on my Share Four Somethings now.

I’m sorry I haven’t been posting so much lately. Life has been a bit busy and overwhelming, but I hope to get back to posting more regularly in the New Year.

Something Loved

One of my favourite things about the run-up to Christmas is the music! I love listening to Christmas music, but I also love the opportunities that December brings for playing music.

This month I’ve played in a large concert hall with a full orchestra, choir and band, and I’ve also played in a local supermarket with just a few other musicians.

Whatever the setting, I love to see the joy it brings to people and how it brightens their day.

Here’s a song I’m enjoying at the moment.

Something Gleaned

Have you ever heard of the New Apostolic Reformation?

I hadn’t until around six years ago when a friend began explaining it to me, and he expressed his concerns that the church I was part of at the time was following some of its teachings that he believed were not biblical.

At the time, it was confusing. As he described some of the extreme teachings and practices of the NAR, I wasn’t convinced. This month I got to read a book that explained it in more depth – Counterfeit Kingdom by Holly Pivec and Douglas Geivett.

It was a very interesting read. To sum up the NAR very briefly, it is a movement within Christianity which is influenced by New Age practices. It emphasises signs and wonders and teaches that God is giving new revelation through new apostles and prophets. The authors explain the teachings in more detail and look at how NAR influences are impacting many mainstream churches.

I found the book very thought-provoking. Particularly as I reflected on my experiences at my former church, I could understand where my friend’s concerns were coming from, though I don’t the NAR influences were as strong as he may have believed at the time.

While I don’t agree with everything in the book (for example, I don’t believe that prayer walks or 24/7 prayer are bad things or necessarily show NAR influence) I think it is an important read and contains information which it is helpful for all Christians to be aware of. To give one example, the warnings about the Passion Translation of the Bible are worth checking out.

If you’d like some more information about this topic before deciding whether to read the book, this interview with one of the authors provides a helpful introduction.

Something Braved

While I can’t think of anything spectacular that I’ve braved this month, my anxiety level has been high, which means that sometimes the little everyday things have taken more courage than normal.

For example, last Sunday I was to do a short talk as part of our all-age Christmas gathering. Shortly before I was due to do it, I felt my anxiety rise to a level it hasn’t reached before public speaking for several years. I had to take a few minutes to go outside and calm myself down but I managed to do it, and once I was up there speaking, it was fine.

I like this quote about courage:

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”” (Mary Anne Radmacher)

Something Achieved

I’m not quite sure how I got roped into a four hour hill walk, but somehow I ended up accompanying a friend on his final walk in a challenge to climb all the hills in a local range (52 in all).

Our walk involved climbing three hills, but also probably about twenty fences, which I wasn’t expecting! Some of these were much more challenging than the one in the photo – particularly for me as my legs were much shorter than those of my two walking companions! There were also two parts where I had to jump across some water, and I definitely thought I was going to fall in at one point, so I count it as an achievement that I finished the walk successfully without getting wet (except in the last half hour or so where it began to rain quite heavily!)

What about you? How have the last couple of months been for you? Feel free to share a highlight or prayer request in the comments.

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