The end of Advent

And so we reach the end of Advent...in a flurry, in a maelstrom of wrapping paper and tinsel. It's such a shame.

We start with the Advent cry...O Come...and maybe end with the whispered plea, 'Let it end!'.

Many of us can't honestly say when we switch into Christmas mode. For some, Advent is entirely about preparing for Christmas - after all we have Advent Calendars? For others it starts with decorations, or the first mince pie, or the office party, or the finish of school, or the first carol service...many differing views, but what seems clear is that it is virtually impossible to cling resolutely to Advent as distinct from Christmas throughout all four weeks - at some point we forget this season and focus on the next.

Now please don't think I'm trying to be some sort of liturgical Grinch...I think it is important to present opportunities for Christians and non-Christians to prepare for the celebration of Jesus' birth.

But when the season becomes increasingly focused on the past rather than the future, then I fear Advent loses its penitential flavour.

I have read, every year for the last decade, a book by Patrick Cowley, 'Advent - its liturgical significance'. I love Cowley's straightforward style and I will doubtless refer back to this often in coming years, but, for now, one quote:

"Because of the unpredictableness of the end, [we] must live under the impendingness of it, and be ready to encounter it. This means that, particularly in Advent, [one] must be alert to his true self, and examine his spiritual stature in order to know whether he is growing in grace or evil. It is for this reason that the Advent season is a penitential one."

The last day of Advent is Christmas Eve. The evening prayer readings for the day are still Advent readings, and I am struck by the choice of Revelation 1:1-8. This is the prologue to John's vision of the end. It deserves quoting:

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”" (Rev. 1:5-8)

Let me ask - at the end of this Advent are you more aware of your need of a Saviour? And are you more eagerly awaiting Jesus' return? Are you clearer than ever why Jesus came: first to save, and again to reign? Do we see the sin that clings to us, and to the world. Do we echo the Advent cry - Come, Lord Jesus!

I hope you have a brilliant Christmas - enjoy it - feast - be merry and celebrate - life needs moments of joy and sharing. But I do hope and pray that Advent has drawn you closer to God.

The following is an Advent hymn I've never sung before - but hope to in future. It perhaps more than any other carol has in both hands Advent and Christmas. I hope it stirs you to seek the indwelling presence of Christ.

When came in flesh the incarnate Word,

The heedless world slept on,

And only simple shepherds heard

That God had sent His Son.

When comes the Savior at the last,

From east to west shall shine

The awful pomp, and earth aghast

Shall tremble at the sign.

Then shall the pure of heart be blest;

As mild He comes to them,

As when upon the virgin’s breast

He lay at Bethlehem.

As mild to meek eyed love and faith,

Only more strong to save;

Strengthened by having bowed to death,

By having burst the grave.

Lord, who could dare see Thee descend

In state, unless he knew

Thou art the sorrowing sinner’s Friend,

The gracious and the true?

Dwell in our hearts, O Savior blest;

So shall Thine advent’s dawn

’Twixt us and Thee, our bosom Guest,

Be but the veil withdrawn.

Lord of your home?

O Antiphons - Day 2 (18th December) - O Adonai

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

The antiphon for the day is:

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

We had our carol service tonight. It was beautiful. The choir sang a beautiful lullaby written by John Rutter.

Also in the service, the vicar (Paul) asked a very painful question, "How would your home look if it was under the gentle rule of Jesus?"

Ouch!

Well, I confess that my home does not always confess that Jesus is Lord. Sorry. My life is all too often about creeds and liturgy, rather than a life lived with Jesus as my personal Lord.

Jesus' claim of Lordship over my life is not based on frippery and flaky philosophy, but as a consequence of his true nature. We see Jesus in the burning bush - see Jesus giving Moses the law on Sinai. Lordship based on holiness and righteousness. The Jesus we worship as a babe is also, and is eternally, the Lord of all.

Once again I am driven to admit that I do not trust Jesus enough. Yes - Jesus is my saviour.

But the challenge in Advent, as we look to his return - a return that might come tomorrow - is Jesus my Lord? Is he yours?

Jesus our wisdom

O Antiphons - Day 1 (17th December) - O Sapientia

Jesus is somewhat mystically described as our wisdom...in Veni Veni Emmanuel the verse says:

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

The antiphon is:

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.

Let me say now...I am quite a stupid person. Sure I'm fairly well read, intelligent by most standards, and a graduate from a top university, but I am prone to making some stupid decisions. Sometimes I'm daft because I'm motivated by sin, sometimes lack of energy, sometimes because I didn't think things through...

During Advent I am forced to conclude that I am desperately needful of God's wisdom. I am also forced to conclude that I am desperately forgetful of this need. Jesus comes to bring fulness of life and this includes wisdom and insight. We get some of this wisdom by reading his Word, but also from His Spirit dwelling with us. We must also conclude that when we read Jesus' teaching we are struck by his clarity of thought, insight, and wisdom.

Another thought to consider is the way the Bible refers to wisdom as part of the creative process. Wisdom was present at creation. Jesus is wisdom, and we read in Colossians that He created the world. Scientific knowledge demonstrates how amazingly intricate and astonishing the natural world is - how utterly awe-inspiring it is - and Jesus thought it all up. The baby in the manger thought up everything.

But how often do we marginalise this aspect of Christ's nature? Do we really understand that nothing and noone offers more wisdom than Jesus?

32 “Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the LORD.
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:32-36)

Prayer:
Father God, this Advent and Christmas give me the desire to turn to you for wisdom, for insight, for guidance in all matters of life. Help me do this daily, for by turning to you each day Lord we will be ever mindful of your return. Amen.

Tomorrow, I come...

"Heaven and earth shall flee away, when he comes to reign"
"We shall see him; but in heaven"
"Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth"
"Cast out our sin, and enter in"
"Fit us for heaven"

We sing these words lots this time of year...

Seriously, we do!

Amidst the frankly romanticised and misty-eyed images of little towns, mangers, sheep and babies we sing, in our carols, some profoundly challenging words. Our Advent carols often carry dark images of Jesus return, but we can overlook the references in the traditional Christmas carols too.

And I think this is entirely appropriate...

Advent (for we are still in it) is a penitential season. But somehow if all I do at the end of the season is pretend that I'm an ancient Jew longing for a Messiah, or merely observing (in song) Jesus' nativity (like Harry Potter in Dumbledore's pensieve) then how, precisely, am I minded to penitence? We must remain fixed on the dual vision of Advent - both of Jesus' coming.

From 17th December, at evening prayer (vespers) before reciting the Magnificat (Mary's song of praise from Luke) the 'O Antiphons' are used. I blogged about this here. These antiphons focus on aspects of Jesus' nature, names he is given. The acrostic phrase, 'Ero Cras', means 'Tomorrow I come'...

Careful meditation on the theme of Christ's return drives us to consider themes of judgment, heaven, hell, resurrection...and naturally our own preparation.

We sing of being ready for heaven, for a life cleansed of sin. With Christmas but one week away, I will spend some time thinking (briefly) about each of the names of Jesus from this acrostic, and how we might be prepared for His return.

Advent...O come...

I love, absolutely love Advent. It is such a brilliant season; the expectation of Christmas, the increased number of parties, the rose-tinted memories, the carols, carolling and Christmas chart hits, the nagging realisation that I really should start preparing for Christmas sooner, and on
it goes. It is a season for family, laughter, friends and light.

But it's so much more...

Advent is the first season in the Church of England's calendar. And in this season we remember the two comings of Jesus - his first in Bethlehem as a baby, his second as Lord and King of the Universe to usher in his new kingdom. We live our lives in reference to these comings. His first bringing forgiveness and peace with God, his second fulfilling the whole of creation's purpose. We live diligently and faithfully assured of the certainty of both. The second coming of Christ has really been a topic that has grown in my mind this last year and a half. I am more convinced than ever that we need to live accordingly...

So I wanted to highlight one way, in Advent, the church makes us focus on Jesus' return.

One hymn we sing in Advent is 'O Come O Come Emmanuel'. It is an ancient tune, using even more ancient lyrics, but for many the liturgical significance passes them by.

From 17th December, at evening prayer (vespers) before reciting the Magnificat (Mary's song of praise from Luke) the 'O Antiphons' are used. (An Antiphon is a shared response that all the congregation join in). Each night uses a different theme, taken from the phrse ERO CRAS, which is latin for "Tomorrow, I will come". Each letter from the phrase is used to describe a different aspect of Jesus; each antiphon a name of Christ, or one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture:

December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
December 23: O Emmanuel (O God is with us)

You get the idea – each day takes a letter (in reverse) from ERO CRAS

E – Emmanuel
R – Rex
O – Oriens

C – Clavis
R – Radix
A – Adonai
S – Sapientia

Cool, huh??

The carol is lyrical paraphrase, and we don’t tend to sing them in order (as such) or necessarily using every verse:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.


You can spend significant time in Advent meditating on these themes. (Indeed my Advent blogging this year will focus on those seven days from 17 December)

I warmly invite you this Advent to think carefully about Jesus, his first coming as Prince of Peace, but also his long anticipated return as King of All. We join with countless saints who have whispered the petition, ‘O Lord, come... come tomorrow even... come now...come’

Indeed, Maranatha!

Life's Healing Choices

My cousin, Chris Drury (check his blog here), is the pastor at Lancaster Free Methodist Church. I get updates on Facebook from him/the church and am envious of the series they are going through at the moment on 'Life's Healing Choices'. Check out the blogs and websites for more information.

Today Chris said the following:

"Several people have commented on yesterday morning's message being really helpful, and so for those who wanted them here are the 7 Steps to Change to go with Romans 12:2 - "Don't copy the behaviour & pattern of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think."

I. Focus on changing one defect at a time: Proverbs 17:24 ...
II. Focus on victory one day at a time: Matthew 6:11
III. Focus on God’s power not my will-power: Phil 4:13
IV. Focus on what I want, not on what I don’t want: Phil 4:8
V. Focus on doing good, not feeling good: Gal 5:16
VI. Focus on people who can help me, not hinder me: 1 Cor 15:33
VII. Focus on progress, not perfection: Phil 3:13-14 "

Now I've not yet had chance to listen to the sermon - but these seven points are incredibly helpful on a day when I'm feeling flat! Thanks, Chris.

Ration your prattling...

Visited my childhood church this morning...woah!...what a lot's changed: people, pews, worship, ages (for instance, how is it possible that my ancient sunday school teacher is a) alive, and b) even more ancient...she must be impossibly old now)


Sadly, I feel prompted to blog after this service for negative reasons. Now I realise this is my personal take, and the minister I'm describing does not have the opportunity to speak back (to try and protect identities I've not named the church or minister, although I will establish they are male), but I think it important for my ongoing reflection to think through what I experienced. I am also, and as always, open to criticism myself - or even a response from the unnamed minister.

So my problems were as follows:-

1. The minister led the entire service - not leaving the 'stage' at any point, and throughout the nearly hour and three quarter service he spoke at length. Now, please don't get me wrong, some churches do have a lack of leaders, but clearly this is a church that both in the past and present have people perfectly capable of leading.


2. As I've said, the chap was far too wordy: he said too much too often

3. He remained stood by the lectern throughout all the sung worship and, as a consequence of his proximity to the singers, appeared to be part of the band. I saw no reason for his continued presence on 'stage'. It gave the impression he was simply hanging around for this quick activity, that he couldn't wait for the music to finish. He was also positioned immediately below the screen so that it wasn't even like he was out of your eyeline. For me, this was distracting. As a worship leader it makes me think afresh about how us 'leaders' look...are we distracting or enabling.

4. He led and preached. Again, this is unavoidable in some churches...or is it? I am inclined to think this is lazy - there are plenty of people in every church who are capable of being used by God to simply lead the service - welcome people, explain what will happen, ensure those doing readings or prayers get up, etc...you need no theological background to lead a service - but it might mean we have a break from the same person - and if a member of the congregation is likely to be a great encouragement. I think it is far better to have different people lead and preach. I was (frankly) tired of listening to the minister by the time he started his sermon.

5. Prior to the sermon however he did two mini-sermons in prayers! This is something I have often been accused of - long prayers that become theological treatise. This can be especially damaging after a sermon when the leader starts to pray their own sermon, or qualifies what's been said. There is a difference of course, in taking the sermon issues and praying into them, asking God to teach us, but another thing entirely to say 'new' things. Before the sermon even started the minister prayed two long prayers that whilst addressed to God included lots that (even to my visitor's ears) sounded like rebukes and reminders to the congregation. For example, "We know Lord that you call us to deal with one another in open and honest ways not gossipping behind one anothers' backs..."(just an example).

6. The longest pre-sermon prayer came at the start of free prayer, which stunted any congregation participation. A good while into the service, the minister invited the congregation to join in a period of open prayer, including prayers in mother-tongues. I was quite excited by this all member participation. However, the minister launched into a long personal prayer that felt preachy in tone (see point 5). When finished there were a few prayers from the congregation that didn't amount to the same length as his...and I wondered if his 'professional' prayer dissuades people...?

7. The sermon itself was one of the first I've observed for quite a while that wasn't either scripted or at least thoroughly planned with a definite explicit structure. Again, this might simply be a personal homiletical (theory of sermons/preaching) point of view, but despite this my rule of thumb failed. This rule of thumb is simple: can you explain the theme of your sermon in one sentence? I could not answer this question, nor my Mum, or my aunt. The sermon was long - easily over 30 minutes; repetitive; and neither narrative or exegetical. I think I could see where he drew his theme from the passage (Romans 5:1-11) but I struggled...

8. At the end of the sermon he prayed the ending prayer, we sang a final song (he stayed on stage), he read verses from Jude (vv.24-25) and the service ended. But instead of retreating from the lectern he just stood there... Again this may just be personal preference, or maybe by this stage of the service I was so cheesed off anything he might do would annoy me...I don't know. Either way, it was yet another example of the need for less of him. Had he stepped back two metres and sat on the chair, or dropped off the stage and sat on the front row, or even immediately moved to the back of church to greet those leaving...I don't know...something, anything that might clear my field of vision...

All in all I left feeling really disappointed. The minister did not minister to me, in fact he came across as deeply insincere, not least when during the sermon he invited the congregation to speak with him afterwards about his failings. This was delivered in such a spirit of insincerity as to have almost felt arrogant, by which I mean, it sounded like he would welcome criticism, but doubted a) that there would be any, and b) that any criticism was a reflection on the other person... When I go to church, I've realised I want to have space to meet with God, worship Him alone, to see my church family ministering to one another, and to hear God clearly from His word. I do expect ministers/pastors/vicars to be professionals, but I am not attending a show.

...phew...

Now....this minister may do all of this without being aware of anything being amiss. It could also be entirely likely that I am fundamentally wrong and getting my knickers in a twist over things that only annoy me.

So, let me rephrase this entire blog - maybe God was simply making me mad about those things I see in me. Am I too often the centre of attention in worship? Am I too wordy? Am I inprecise when speaking in public? I hope not to all of these. Certainly, I felt like certain 'rules' crystallized in my mind:
1. No one person should be visibly present on stage for the entire service - a surreptitious chair placed off centre might even suffice
2. The key is simple, straightforward speach. Every link need not be accompanied by deep explanation. I think this is part of a life lived in simplicity.
3. Let the worship band - if you have one - lead worship. Noone wants to hear or watch you sing - step off stage and enjoy the way the band/individuals lead the congregation.
4. A second voice is critical - you should always try to have a second person lead the service.
5. Prayers are not sermons!
6. Let people pray if you want them to - don't put people off with 'professional' prayers. In my experience people are not inspired by long prayers, they are intimidated.
7. Sermons must be easily and precisely explained, even if they are long - what is your theme?
8. You should step away from the stage as quickly as possible after the service, either to minister or meet & greet.

Harumph...having said all of this I'm probably wrong. I'm not even sure why I'm blogging about it...just got me all worked up.

Gain, riches and the path of a disciple

Check this collect for today:

O Almighty God,
whose blessed Son called Matthew the tax collector
to be an apostle and evangelist:
give us grace to forsake the selfish pursuit of gain
and the possessive love of riches
that we may follow in the way of
your Son Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of
the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Unsurprisingly, 21 September is the Festival of Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist.

The morning office readings this morning included Elijah's first encounter with Elisha, whom Elijah finds ploughing with 12 yoke of oxen - 24 oxen - no small outfit then. But when called by God, Elisha in addition to saying farewell to his parents (1 Kings 19:20), slaughters the oxen, boils their flesh and distributes the food to the people (v.21) WOAH!!

It's one thing to follow God with one eye on the past, or better still a career to fall back on.

It's another thing entirely to destroy the tools of your trade. What would Elisha do if Elijah turned out to be a charlatan, or if the road was too demanding and he tired of service?

What an utterly profound and challenging example!

Matthew (or Levi to his friends?!) did the same:
Jesus, "Follow me!"
Matthew, "Okay"

No conditional response, no pre-nuptial agreement, no mission statement or values to sign up to, no action plan, no insurance, nothing - he simply followed.

When we choose to follow Christ we are called to a life whole-heartedly devoted to Him. We are to step out in faith. And for many of us a life lived under the Lordship of Christ involves a life of sacrifice - we are asked to put aside our ambition, our life plan, our careers, our livelihood...

Which is why the collect today gets to the heart of discipleship - the way we follow.

"Give us grace to forsake the selfish pursuit of gain
and the possessive love of riches"

Ouch! - are we, this day, more concerned with personal financial gain, or the acquisition of stuff?

It's a simple question.

Do we trust God, or do we trust ourselves?

Do we follow with one eye on Jesus and another on our capacity to ensure we have a pleasant life, full of the nice things? Or instead, do we walk in grace setting aside ourselves and placing Christ on the throne - following Him wherever he leads.

As we vow in Marriage - "for richer for poorer"

Obedience to God's will

I like it when God speaks very clearly to you in the Bible. Today feels like one of those days.

The three passages for morning prayer today were Psalm 77, Jeremiah 43, and Mark 3:19b-end.
The final passage ends with Jesus stating, "Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:35). Knowing God's will can sometimes prove tricky - we pray and seek guidance, hoping that He will make plain his path for us.

However, I think we get rather hung up on the unknowns for shame of our disobedience in the knowns. We are all guilty, me especially, of simply not doing what I know I should.

Jeremiah was faced with a similar situation. The remnant of the people of Judah had watched their puppet king/governor, Gedaliah, assassinated. (I want to write more about the brilliant drama from Jeremiah 35-45 in a later blog) In response to the assassination the ring-leaders of the insurrection come to Jeremiah and ask him to seek God's will. However, they had already decided what God's will should be for them. The Babylonians were bad, and posed an ongoing threat to those who remained in Judah. There was the chance they might come back and take more people away. Therefore, what was more obvious than the need to retreat to Egypt? It makes perfect sense.

"No!" - says Jeremiah. God asked the people to simply stay put, live in the land (Jer 42).

But this is not good enough - say the people. Indeed, they accuse Jeremiah of lying - of inventing the prophecy, which is rank lunacy when you consider how spot on Jeremiah had been up until then.

But isn't this so often the case. We hear the command - we fail to act. And the failure is so often because we don't like the command - it doesn't fit in with our agenda, or our understanding of the situation. It isn't, as we like to think, that we don't know God's will; we do know it, but fail to walk according to it.

I am so often amazed that I behave in this way. And as I read the Psalm this morning I saw a way out of this pitfall:

"I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated" (Psalm 77:3-6, TNIV)

Four simply words that we can use to help us discern, and (more importantly) obey God's will. And in the main it involves remembering how he has acted in the past. When I'm asked for evidence of God I can point to the historical reliability of Scripture, but I also point to my personal, real experience of God's activity in my life.

So we firstly remember (v.3). We take time to make a record of our memories. I, for instance, keep a journal, that is a permanent reminder of all that I have done. The sins especially remind me of my need of God, but his faithfulness and the settled pattern of increased holiness is a precious reminder that God is with me. Each day I commit to setting down on paper what has happened to me, the highs and lows. I think it is also important to 'count our blessings' to simply list and number the myriad ways God provides for us: homes, cars, clothes, food, sometimes good food, health, the NHS, education, free schooling, friends, family, husbands, wives, children, brothers and sisters, Doctor Who (LOL), cinema, music, ale, curries, etc, etc...on it goes. When we enter into worship we should always take with us the profound sense that God is for us; not against us.

Next we meditate. Both on God's word, but also our daily lives. I'm not very good at meditating on Scripture, and I think I need to work on it. However, just lately I've found myself writing my diary with greater purpose. I want to see past the facts and try to see what was going on in my heart and soul when I said this, or did that: meditating on life, if you will. And what I find is that God is constantly at work around me. I have found, for instance, that stopping to record what my wife said to me, and reading more closely into the feeling and emotion that surrounded what she said, can lead to some fairly straightforward insight into how my behaviour has affected her. As a result I can ask God, by His Spirit, to heal, to forgive, to guide, and especially strengthen me to remedy bad behaviours. I also see missed opportunities when I meditate - the person I should have simply chatted with to dispel feelings of sadness and loneliness; the new acquaintance who would have welcomed a discussion about God; the neighbour who needs me to be more supportive...on it goes...

Next we call to mind (the RSV uses this phrase in place of the second remember). This implies something more interogative, which for me means re-remembering. I forget LOADS from my recent past. So as well as writing a diary, I need to re-read it, going back years, months, and even days, as a reminder of how I need God and what I need prayer for. My wife is astonished I remember so little of my past, so I need to do this. Now I'm not advocating a navel-gazing introspection that immobilises us. Introspection of this sought drives us into prayer and praise. We also - I think - become more confident in accepting God's will when we see how our lives are shaped when we do or don't.

Finally, I ponder...which reminds me of the hymn lyric, "ponder anew, what the Almighty can do" (from Praise to the Lord, the Almighty). And I think this is about turning our mind to the challenges that face us now. What can we learn of God's previous faithfulness that might inspire greater trust and confidence in his future activity - even when the way seems dim, or dangerous. We also have to ask ourselves - are there any areas of my life where I am knowingly disobeying God - either his revealed will and purpose for my life, or His Word? If there are then we should apply to our resistence to His will our knowledge of all he has done, not least the work of Jesus on the cross, who presents to us, the perfect example of obedience.

Aggressive Selfishness

I have started to reengage with twitter/facebook since returning from holiday. I must admit that I want to be more thoughtful in the time I give to blogging...don't want to rob my work. So I'll try to be brief.

I'm so disappointed with the state of this country right now. In particular, I am disappointed people are simply rolling over and allowing MPs to try and take a lead on 'fixing' the brokenness.

I was reading James 3 this morning:

"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder"
(James 3:16)

As I re-read sermon notes from a series on James I heard two years ago by Jonathan Lamb, I came across a line he'd said, which referred to the 'aggressive selfishness' our children see around us. Mindful of all that's happened, I can't help feeling that in so many ways we are reaping what we've sown.

And the envious ambition is everywhere:

MPs seek to line their own nests...and I don't care a jot if they were "operating within the rules"...they were fundamentally selfish, seeking to create their very own safe and comfortable existence. Some MPs are noble and full of integrity...but what we saw was very VERY few who had not claimed unfairly.

Our Bankers and Financiers seek such gargantuan rewards, such enormous bonuses, such inflated salaries as to make me blush. (Okay...so do footballers...but they have a very simple conundrum...beat the opposition, stay fit, don't sleep with your best mates wife....) Bankers are guilty of envy and selfish ambition because of the risks they were prepared to take.

Then there's the press - the guardians of truth - the exposers of falsehoods. Have they led by example? No. Again...some are deeply honest, but what concerns me is the degree to which it is those at the top, who allow bad men and women to do bad things. And why? Why might media barons be so quick to turn a blind eye? For profit - surely that is the truth, and our spirits know it. Some journalism is fact finding, but papers are sold to make profit. Financial gain...

And this sense of personal financial gain is so often why the police themselves, our law enforcers, can agree to take back-handers, bungs, etc.

But I wonder, those of us who've watched on. Did our MPs, our Bankers, the Press, etc...did they have serious consequences to face? Not really no. MPs largely kept their jobs, some not even having to make statements to the House of Commons; Bankers, well the Government decided to bail them out, making me and you liable for their excesses and risk taking; the Police, the Press...no there will always be bent coppers, and a devious press.

So is it...really...any wonder that our Young People should behave as they've done; these Young People who have witnessed this aggressive selfishness with no consequences?

Now, please don't get me wrong. The looting, stealing, burning, (apparently) raping, and rioting are despicable actions.

But how dare, how VERY dare our leaders sit in judgment on a generation that is, largely doing what it has seen others do around it: acting out of selfish ambition with no fear of consequence.

James describes envy and selfish ambition as a form of wisdom, but not from God. This wisdom is "earthly, unspiritual, of the devil" (James 3:15). Or to put it plainer, of the world, the flesh and the devil.

Now, I don't want to try and seek some moral high ground. I am just as guilty of selfish ambition, and of envying other people's possessions and homes. But I daily commit to live in the power of the Spirit, which is a gift from God as a consequence of my being 'in Christ'. And the Spirit wants me to grow a totally different type of fruit:
- Peace-loving
- Considerate
- Submissive
- Merciful
- Fruitful (a reference perhaps to the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22ff.) or of being effective in ministry
- Impartial
- Sincere - not a hypocrite. (Taken from James 3: 17)

These, surely, are precisely the types of attitudes and behaviours we want to see on the streets and in the communities around our country? But the truth is, as the Bible testifies, that these cannot be generated, or at least sustained, by good-will alone. A government think tank will not enable us to live like this. We are sadly at the mercy of Satan and his attempts to destroy us, the world and it's value-system of money, sex, and power, and then our own weakness and fraility that renders us impotent to face down these challenges...

I am looking for God's people to stand up and very simply say: "society is broken, and that's because we are ALL broken. There is noone who can save himself, or us. Noone, but Jesus that is. Let me tell you about him?"

To conclude (and I am sorry for ranting and probably saying some things people will deeply disagree with) I have felt myself singing the words to this song as a response this last week. This is my prayer as we step out in faith:

Restore, O Lord
The honour of Your name
In works of sovereign power
Come shake the earth again
That men may see
And come with reverent fear
To the living God
Whose kingdom shall outlast the years

Restore, O Lord
In all the earth Your fame
And in our time revive
The church that bears Your name
And in Your anger
Lord, remember mercy
O living God
Whose mercy shall outlast the years

Bend us, O Lord
Where we are hard and cold
In Your refiner's fire
Come purify the gold
Though suffering comes
And evil crouches near
Still our living God
Is reigning, He is reigning here

Restore, O Lord
The honour of Your name
In works of sovereign power
Come shake the earth again
That men may see
And come with reverent fear
To the living God
Whose kingdom shall outlast the years

Graham Kendrick & Chris Rollinson
© 1981 Kingsways Thankyou Music

Boredom, distraction and emotional eating.

When was the last time I was bored? Do I lead a boring life?

“Boring” is such a powerful criticism. We fear our lessons being labelled ‘boring’, or worse that we ourselves are seen as somehow boring.

But I wonder if I do get bored, perhaps bored too easily. I look at my little boy (who admittedly is only 21 weeks old) and I see a personality emerging, a personality that is fundamentally curious interested, but seemingly quickly bored. He needs to be on the go all the time. We have friends whose now very bright toddler, has always been quickly bored. Or was it a more easily distracted disposition?

I wonder whether this is a distraction thing (as opposed to boredom), because I think I have this problem.

Firstly, I think I am so worried about what people think, that I actively encourage a hectic lifestyle. This lifestyle means we couldn’t possibly be labelled boring, but at what cost?

But then secondly, I very quickly start new projects, but don’t finish them. Is it that I get bored of the many ideas, or that a newer/fresher idea pops up that piques my interest more?

This may seem a bit nit-picky, but I can’t help worrying that this is all realted to my weight battles and eating habits. I wonder whether I eat from boredom? Or maybe as a distraction? Or maybe it's about something deeper? Emotions.

Where do I derive my emotional pleasure? Where do my endorphin releases come from? I eat because I say "I'm hungry", when I know in truth I’m not hungry.

There are two real reasons: the feeling (it is a pleasure) and from boredom (it’s something to do)
But this is a scary idea. Am I bored at home? Have I forgotten how to enjoy the company of my wife – chatting to her about anything and everything, or am I bored of the same old conversations? Am I so paralysed by fear of boring-ness that I resist doing things that might eventually lead to balance and comfort and a settled lifestyle for fear that people will see this 'growing up' as getting boring?

Or am simply stressed?

Or maybe I’m wired to be distracted and bored easily?

I posit this idea because I do think I’m a certain type of person who needs to constantly look to new projects. I have taken, on many occasions, a typology test, the results of which can be researched further.

In personality terms I am an ENFP (Extroverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving – the opposites being Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging) There are two sites that explain more of what this person is like: http://keirsey.com/4temps/champion.asp, and http://typelogic.com/enfp.html

It’s interesting to note how they suggest that Idealists (the broad category of four types I sit in) need to have alone time to recuperate when stressed. I’ve always battled with Jen (my wife) on this one.

This is a fascinating area for me...one that holds lots more questions than answers.

For certain, I need to review my life patterns and start to complete projects I start.

I also need to stop making excuses and get walking...

Living as a minority

Our bishop, Nick Baines, has blogged today on comments he's made about being a minority. I think this is a very important debate to had - how do we function as a 'national' church if we're a minority. However, I'm not sure about Nick's suggestion that we should look to the Muslim community as an example. This is my response to Nick:

This may seem somewhat facile but is it not more appropriate to think of
dwindling Christian communities as early church, where they were more
mission-orientated and certainly a minority?

There is a fundamental difference in the histories of the two faiths. Christians look back to an early church that was persecuted; Muslims look to a more triumphalist origin. This creates a different mindset.

I agree with your final paragraph that there are important challenges facing the church, but what conclusions could we draw from the Muslim community?

It is certainly true that parishes in Bradford are overwhelmingly outnumbered, made all the more frustrating when members of the congregation 'drive in' to church on a Sunday having left some time ago when the tide of immigrants became a worry. (This is a worrying trend, perhaps - Christians who feel called to worship in an area but not live there?)

The concern is that we end up with a siege mentality if we compare ourselves with our Muslim brothers and sisters. Churches don't think of being active, rather it's about protecting their church, the culture and congregation. We are about maintenance not mission.

Instead, we should, as you suggest, see the opportunity, which is to rethink our strategy of outreach, how the building is used by the community, how we present the gospel, how we seek to find culturally relevant ways of presenting Jesus. These are all things the early church did. I am not, as a Bradfordian, convinced we see this in the Muslim community around us.

Perhaps I'm not seeing this in the same way?!

What do people think?

The Venns

The name Venn conjures images of diagrams, does it not? This Venn diagram shows the intersections of the Greek, Latin and Russian alphabet. They are rather pretty in their own way. A chap called John Venn created them. Good for him.

Fascinatingly, the church commemorates John Venn's family today: his father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather: Henry Venn, the great-grandfather; John Venn, the grandfather; and Henry Venn the younger, his father.

There is a helpful entry about them at this site.

Henry Venn (great-grandfather) was a clergymen who was deeply influenced (as a member of the Clapham Sect) by William Law's important book, 'Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life'. Over time he altered his view of Christian living.

"...Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted, to God." So begins William Law's Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. Originally published in 1729, Law's book stands as a powerful challenge to Christians. Law teaches that if God is "our greatest good," then the wisest way to live is to please God through a life of worship, adoration, and devotion. Since many fail to live this way, Law diagnoses why and suggests certain concrete practices as a remedy. Thus, no one interested in becoming more devout could ignore this dynamic book. Law's call has encouraged several generations, and does not fail to encourage believers even today with a serious call to a devout and holy life.

Henry Venn changed his Christian perspective, and through personal and generational influence came to personify the evangelicalism many of us adhere to today. I am particularly mindful that this year's Keswick has as its theme - Word to the World. John Venn (grandad) came to help found the Christian Mission Society (CMS). The spiritual background to the emergence of CMS was the great outpouring of energy in Western Europe now called The Great Awakening. John Wesley an Anglican priest and failed missionary became a key player in the UK version of the story. Not all those influenced by the revival left the Anglican Church to become Methodists. One such was John Venn, the saintly rector of Clapham. His son (the diagramatician's father) Henry Venn the Younger, was born at Clapham in 1796. He also eventually devoted himself in 1846 entirely to the work of the Church Missionary Society. He was secretary for thirty-two years, and his organizing gifts and sound judgment made him the leading member of the Society. His aim was that overseas Churches should become “self-supporting, self-governing, and self-extending”. He was instrumental in securing the appointment of the first African Anglican bishop, Samuel A. Crowther, in 1864.

"What Venn the Younger did, in essence, was to wrestle with the reality of
cultural distinctiveness and to map out a missionary strategy that both took
this seriously and sought to extrapolate an implement biblical and historical
principles of church growth. And in doing this he was no lonely beacon seeking
to spread light amid the darkness of his generation. He was rather the most
articulate and systematic exponent of ideas that had a very wide currency in
missionary circles and beyond…"

...writes Peter Williams. The Venns saw the powerful transforming power of the gospel, but crucially saw that it had to take root in a persons living - all of it, which means a persons culture is to be taken seriously.

These men embody the spirit of the Clapham Sect. Its members were chiefly prominent and wealthy evangelical Anglicans who shared common political views concerning the liberation of slaves, the abolition of the slave trade and the reform of the penal system. The group's name originates from Clapham, then a village south of London (today part of south-west London) where many of the group's meetings were held.

After many decades of work both in British society and in Parliament, the group saw their efforts rewarded with the final passage of the Slave Trade Act in 1807, banning the trade throughout the British Empire and, after many further years of campaigning, the total emancipation of British slaves with the passing of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833. They also campaigned vigorously for Britain to use its influence to eradicate slavery throughout the world.

What strikes me is that this group were lampooned in their day as "the saints", which says as much about the life we are called to lead and the worries and fears we have.

These were a deeply evangelical body who were persuaded of the need for God to be felt in personal devotion, in public proclamation and societal reform. The group published a journal, the Christian Observer, edited by Zachary Macaulay and were also credited with the foundation of several missionary and tract societies, including the British and Foreign Bible Society and, as mentioned above, the Church Missionary Society.

Indeed, the Clapham sect have been credited with playing a significant part in the development of Victorian morality, through their writings, their societies, their influence in Parliament, and their example in philanthropy and moral campaigns, especially against slavery. In the words of Tomkins, "The ethos of Clapham became the spirit of the age".

What a bunch of individuals, eh?

Two thoughts to go away with:
1. To what extent am I living a life that pleases God through patterns of worship, adoration, and devotion?
2. Am I engaging with mission? Do I spread the good news?

Ignatius Who?

I'm going to loosely follow a friend's commitment to a 31-day challenge with Ignatius.

My friend Bryony has a great blog type thing.

Maybe you might like to check it out.

I often refer to Richard Foster, who himself often refers to Ignatius of Loyala as a source of great instruction about the examined life.

Lying lips and evil lives

This mornings readings have struck me in two ways.

Firstly, Psalm 31: 18

Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak
arrogantly against the righteous.

It really hit me how strange a prayer this is for modern lips. And yet, I know that yesterday I was writing in a questionnaire about my fears regarding the shifts in the legal position of faith and belief. I contended that the media do two dangerous things. Firstly, they misreport what people of faith actually believe - often because it's too subtle; and secondly, the overall tone toward faith is that it represents a deficieny in a person. They use phrases like "out-dated" to describe what peculiar people we are. We are abberant, incomplete, somehow flawed.

And this is a lie.

I am more fully who I am meant to be. More Rolf than a non-Christian Rolf would be (perhaps he'd shave his beard off?)

So maybe this prayer is relevant - despite its strong tone.

Maybe we should petition God to silence the arrogant godless who spread false lies?


Secondly, as Judah slipped, somewhat inexorably, toward exile an 8 year old is made king. Yes, an 8 year old, Jehoiachin (2 Chronicles 36:9-10). Now it's not his age that is remarkable [Edward III was 14 when he was CROWNED King of England. Edward VI was 9 when HE was crowned.
BUT Henry VI was nine months old when he was declared King at the death of his father.]
No, age is not the thing.

It's his description.

"He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord"

What!??!! He was only 8!

But that is the testimony of Scripture - he did what was evil. Does this mean he was evil? Or was he tutored to not challenge the evil behaviours in Judah? After all, even good king Josiah stuffed up in the end when he opposed God (2 Chronicles 35:21), which he did by failing to recognise God's voice. Maybe Jehoiachin simply did the same?

He might have indulged in some immoral practices though? Soothsaying, worshipped Baal, or consulted mediums (it's pretty certain he won't have sacrificed any children!). Did he practice that which was forbidden? Surely he could be forgiven for doing what his fathers before him did?

Or maybe, more worryingly, he was, in himself, evil.

What might this do to our view of schooling, of Sunday school, of the role of parents? When I was 8 was I evil?

Not sure there are easy answers to this...

One thing is sure:
- Am I invovled in practices I know God has asked me not to?
- Do I resist or oppose God? Do I shut out the Spirit? Have I submitted to Jesus as my Lord today?
- Can I discern God's voice? Am I listening to God's words from scripture?
- Am I praying for God's protection?

Not just any old Friday, eh?

Deciphering poetry in Hymns

Growing up I attended the local, popular Baptist church. While there were some modern choruses, the bulk of the service was taken up singing Hymns, accompanied by an impressive organ. That little green book...I can still visualise it, smell it, even the feel of the pages!

Since then I have become far more 'modern' in the style of worship I prefer and lead.

Nevertheless, I care for the theology we sing and many of the old hymns contain a more thoroughgoing appreciation of God, His character and activity than many of the more subjective reflective ditties composed today. (That's not to say we shouldn't use sung worship as an opportunity to connect head and heart, to seek God with our emotions!)

However, and this is a big however, I do think some of the language used in hymns can be quite obtuse. So today I'm making a request - I'd love to hear what people think about one of my favourite hymns, 'O Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness'.

Some of the language seems obscure, almost non-sensical (as this amusing reflection on the hymn contends). There is a poetic license employed, but we surely need to understand what we sing?

So... here's the hymn

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His Name!

Low at His feet lay thy burden of carefulness,
High on His heart He will bear it for thee,
And comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

Fear not to enter His courts in the slenderness
Of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine;
For truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
These are the offerings to lay on His shrine.

These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,
He will accept for the Name that is dear;
Mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness,
Trust for our trembling and hope for our fear.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore Him: the Lord is His Name!

In particular I've highlighted the bits I'm a bit cagey on. What do you think?

Richard Baxter

Today's commemoration in the lectionary is for a chap I'd never heard of...Richard Baxter. Good old Wikipedia has a good article on him.

However, I was stunned to find a piece on Baxter by Leonard Ravenhill, who I have mentioned before as a truly inspirational preacher. Unsurprisingly, the piece (click here for piece) focuses on Baxter as a preacher. READ IT!

Ravenhill is concerned that those who preach do so with a passion to see people saved, but not cheaply. There has to be an agonizing over the souls of those preached to. Do we agonize over sin around us? Do we have a passion for the gospel?

I was surprised to note that 'Ye Holy Angels Bright' a hymn often sung on All Saints Day, was penned by Baxter. I really enjoyed learning this hymn last year and the words (as with most hymns) are inspirational:

Ye holy angels bright
Who wait at God's right hand
Or through the realms of light
Fly at your Lord's command
Assist our song
For else the theme
Too high doth seem
For mortal tongue

Ye blessed souls at rest
Who ran this earthly race
And now, from sin released
Behold the Savior's face
God's praisees sound
As in Hig light
With sweet delight
Ye do abound

Ye saints who toil below
Adore your heavenly King
And onward as ye go
Some joyful anthem sing
Take what He gives
And praise Him still
Through good and ill
Who ever lives

My soul, bear thou thy part
Triumph in God above
And with a willtuned heart
Sing thou the songs of love
Let all thy days
Till life shall end
Whate'er He send
Be filled with praise

Glorious Day!

Had this song sent to me...AWESOME!

Countdown to Pentecost - Day 8 of 9 - GENTLENESS

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is at hand" (Philippians 4:5)

I am a deeply ungentle person. I often speak harshly, have a brash exterior and can come across as a super-confident, funny and self-assured person. I do not think I display much gentleness!

Having considered all that has come before, gentleness is not about being weak or wet, rather it is the natural conclusion of a life that is lived in reference to God's character and activity. When we acknowledge the love that drove God to give his Son, that we might know the joy of his presence forever as we have peace with him and one another, and in turn marvel at his patient waiting for all to come to him, an act of such kindness...well surely we must bow in worship and confess our unworthiness.

Gentleness is often translated as humility, or meekness.

Ah...meekness. Immediately one thinks of the insipid phrase, 'Jesus meek and mild'...tosh! Well, in os much as this paints a picture of a lip-wristed and woolly Jesus, one who is not assertive or energetic.

However, Jesus himself speaks of the beatitude of meekness. When we think of the blessed attributes (be-attitudes) we (much like the fruit) should think of them progressively (and all encompassing). We are poor in spirit when we acknowledge our need of forgiveness, which in turn leads to a state of mourning (for our sin), and so to meekness, those who'll INHERIT THE EARTH (Matthew 5:5).

Meekness here refers to our humility and trust of God.

This clashes most profoundly with power, and our attempts to control our life.

As I look at my life I can think of lots of ways I assert myself: I am ambitious, I used to gossip at work (which shows a degree of control as I know things about people), I have often withheld information at work as a way of maintaining control/power, and there have been occasions when I have deliberately left my mug to be washed by others when it was never part of their role, but I sought to feel powerful. I should also admit that my lateness is not only discourteous, but perhaps an attempt to feel important (see how they waited for me!!). This desire for control makes me selfish.

Paul speaks of gentleness as like a 'nurse with a child' (1 Thessalonians 2:7). The image is clear we are completely and totally given over to the needs of another.

So then...how might gentleness be seen more in my life?
- Do I actively put my wife's needs before my own? I am deeply challenged when I read Paul's command to "do nothing out of selfish ambition" but put everyone's needs before my own (Phil 2:3). There should be a moment each day where I simply ask myself - am I pushing myself forward, or am I serving others?
- Do I have violent thoughts? Yes - especially on the road. I need to develop a spirit of servanthood on the road - always help other drivers, bear with their mistakes...
- What of my witness? Peter asks that we deliver our testimony in a spirit of gentleness (1 Peter 3:16). This is so difficult - we need to offer people our witness in a way that makes it clear it is done caring for them, putting them first.
- Do I talk gently or do I stir up arguments? Hmmm...

So as we draw closer to Pentecost I am struck that my life needs so much more of the Spirit to help these attitudes develop. Of course, the Spirit also comes that I might better imitate Jesus who is our example par excellence.

Consider this - Jesus, who turned over the money-changers tables, making a whip to do this, who railed at the Pharisees, this Jesus describes himself as "gentle and humble of heart" (Matt. 11:29).

We are called to follow our Lord. Come Spirit and help me cling more to Jesus.

Countdown to Pentecost - Day 6 of 9 - GOODNESS

"The effects of the light are seen in complete goodness, and right living, and
truth" (Ephesians 5:9)

God is good - we sing and shout it!

Goodness is a moral attribute. But we must always remember that our morals come from God. He is the reference point for all morals - a final standard. We are made in His image, and are therefore, hard-wired to know what is good, or bad, right or wrong.

This is not about God's holiness - which is about his otherness. Holiness is purity from sin, and being separated from sin. In addition, holiness is about being devoted to God's honour.

Goodness is both part of God's nature and his actions. The spirit comes that we might more ably live lives in reference to God's goodness. The Spirit acts to cleanse our consciences and develop in us a deep sense of right and wrong.

"When we evaluate things in the way God created us to evaluate them, we will also approve what God approves and delight in things which he delights"

So...let us think briefly on where we struggle in this area.

Are we involved in anything that hinders growth in goodness becuase it makes it difficult to be separated from sin and devoted to God?
Am I actively invovled in anything I know is wrong?

Countdown to pentecost - Day 5 of 9 - KINDNESS

I can’t quite put into words how hard it is to continue to walk each day faithfully. I find it so hard to maintain a life of righteousness, a life free from the taint of sin. Blogging quickly becomes onerous and hard to fit in…or at least that’s how it feels. Which is a timely reminder that it is not my strength that is important. Each day I need to place my life and its concerns in God’s hands, asking that I be clothed with power. In our consideration of the Spirit we must not simply examine Him academically, but come petitioning for his loving support.

As we reach the mid-point in our preparations for Pentecost – day 5 of 9 - we are faced with the fruit of kindness. Alternative translations use gentleness, but in the main there is a high level of agreement that kindness is what God looks to see in our lives. The Message, however, uses the phrase ‘compassion in your heart’, which aids us in our understanding of what precisely kindness is.

Compassion, gentleness, mercy…

In Acts kindness is referred to describe several events: the healing of a lame man, God’s provision of rain in season, the centurion Julius allowing Paul, a prisoner, to pop off to see his friends, and the welcome given by the Maltese to the shipwrecked, shown in the building of a fire to warm them after clinging to bits of ship on the Mediterranean.

And it is this last act of kindness that perhaps sums up the call placed on us – to serve others. The examples in Acts are all remarkably practical – health, food, friendship and warmth.

Paul writes, “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32)

This is the requirement of kindness, to model the kindness God shows us in his provision: food, shelter, family, friends, forgiveness, the Spirit, His Word, and the promise of eternity in His presence. We should be kind, for God is kind. But sadly, I am almost daily overcome with a sense of how mean I can be. I withhold a smile, mutter and curse someone under my breath, speak insensitively to my wife, on it goes. God, however, knows our frailty, and so provides the spirit to strengthen us.

So in what ways should we be seeking to see the Spirit bring a fresh sense of kindness in our lives:

1. Kind words
I remember vividly the pneumonic, THINK, some years ago concerning the way we use our tongue; it is worth repeating. When we speak we should ensure what we say is filtered through a God-led quality assurance matrix – i.e. does what we’re saying match with the five point criteria:
True – are we lying in any way? If so, that is not Godly speech
Helpful – is what we’re saying serving others or is it likely to cause upset or confusion. Are we helping the other person, or by offering an explanation helping another?
Inspired – are we speaking God’s thoughts on the matter or our own, or worse repeating the lies of the enemy? Are we seeking to bring life?
Necessary – do we need say anything? It is worth remembering the old proverb that we have two ears and one mouth for good reason. Sometimes we offer the sacrifice of fools and speak too much
Kind – finally, is what we’re saying seasoned with love? Is it compassionate and merciful. For instance, when we have to communicate our anger or point out a flaw in another is it doe kindly or in a spirit of meanness?

2. Merciful forgiveness
When considering patience yesterday we are forced to admit we often lose our patience with others, we fail to bear with them.
Therefore, as we face the daily frustration of living with sinful humanity we should remember to show God’s kindness toward us, to those around us.
Are we harbouring any un-forgiveness or root of bitterness?
We are called to show God’s kindness in the way we forgive one another.

3. Simple acts
Finally, let us never seek to spiritualise our kindness.
We are kind in the things we do, as much as what is said. Indeed, God could have declared us forgiven, but instead he has shown us his kindness.
It may be helpful to start each day praying, “Lord, bring me someone today whom I can serve?” and we should always then be prepared regardless of our mood!
It might be holding a door for someone, saying Thank You, letting someone take a parking place in front of us, offering our lunch to someone else, preparing meals for the sick and infirm, visiting a lonely neighbour...there are many ways we can do this.

Above all we should be mindful that God’s kindness is shown on the cross – he is a lovingly kind Father who seeks to heal and forgive us. We cannot help ourselves we must rely on the kindness of another; therefore, we in turn must seek to serve those around us.

Who, oh Lord, could save themselves,
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still

Who, oh Lord, could save themselves,
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still

Countdown to Pentecost - Day 3 of 9 - PEACE

The Fruit of the Spirit is all too often seen as some sort of Christian spotters list, or a bingo card: how many fruits do you have? We proclaim some Christians more 'Christian' because they display more of the fruits; indeed, on occasion we exempt ourselves from occasional fruits due to some character flaw, or worse still, a besestting sin. I'm sure I used to consider Self-control beyond my grasp.


The truth is that Paul describes the work of the Spirit as producing Fruit. Not Fruits, but fruit. This may seem like a semantic point (one made to me once after I had preached) but actually it's a point worth making.


We are one tree. We are rooted in Jesus alone, so it stands to reason that this one tree bears much (albeit) differing fruit.


The Spirit seeks to develop in us a Christian character. I think it is worth saying that our character does change. However, when people describe us they will talk about what characterises us - our personality, our habits, our outlook and perspective, our attitudes, as well as physical traits and achievements. So when the Spirit comes into our life, He intends that those around us will see all nine fruits - not five or six, or seven if we're lucky!

So on this third day we come to Peace. We can see peace in our lives in three ways: past, present and future. Before we consider these three aspects of the work of peace, we should pause to think about the myriad ways we are not at peace.

There is firstly, a sense that without peace in our hearts we are deeply unsettled, somehow incomplete and fractured. The sin in our lives makes us feel disjointed - perhaps at war with ourselves. We look out on a world wracked with war and violence, where sworn enemies never allow themselves to not think about hating another. So peace is about an absence of war.

Peace is also an absence of confusion or disorder. We look at our daily lives and sense the frantic energy that is often expended to keep our lives 'in order'...the bills, the meetings, the food and meals, the trips, the holidays, the savings, the poorly relatives, and on it goes. We get to the end of each day and wonder where all the time went - we feel incapable of pausing and enjoying the moment.

Peace then brings us both freedom from both war and disorder.

In terms of our past, we see peace in the forgiveness wrought for us. Without the work of Christ we would remain enemies of God. By his cross we are made friends of God - we are at peace with him. This forgiveness also requires a sense of 'letting go'; letting go of the guilt that clings, but also we are called to forgive in turn. The Spirit comes to free us from the bitterness that we cling to as we fail to forgive the long remembered offence.


In our present, we see peace in the daily sense of order in our life, the way we seek right relations with those around us (peacemakers).


We see peace in our attitude to the future. We can confidently, and joyfully, trust that God has a plan for our future.

So as we pause to meditate on the Spirit's benefits, we should look closely and confess where we fail to rely on the Spirit to bring peace. Maybe the following questions may help:
- Am I continually resentful and bitter toward another person, despite knowing I am forgiven and called to forgive?
- Are there people with whom I am at war?
- How is my emotional, mental and spiritual state?
- Does my life look ordered?
- Does the lack of order cause me to worry unneccessarily?
- With regard to money, am I budgeting, or planning my finances?

"The peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7)

Countdown to Pentecost - Day 2 of 9 - JOY

Upon reflection I do not think it is possible to argue that a Christian can be joyful on the inside without displaying some of the gladness of spirit on our face! Joy is not a spiritual form of happiness - it is the deepest and most real happiness. It is temporal and emotional. Joy should be written on our faces.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

When did you last get asked why you are so cheerful?
When did someone last ask why you face difficulties with joy?
Do you smile much?

I've often found it helpful to think of the fruit of the spirit in terms of their opposites. For example, the opposite of love is obviously hatred. Joy is far less easy to polarise. It would be easy to describe anti-joy as unhappiness, or sadness, but somehow this feels weak, perhaps? Surely joy is more serious than happiness, more spiritual?

I'm constantly troubled my desire to systemise all the lists in the Bible, but I wonder if there is a progressiveness to Paul's list of fruit? After all, he clearly states in 1 Corinthians that love is the greatest, which implies that all other fruit is an outworking of love. This makes more sense when we reflect on Paul's injunctions that without love our acts are nothing. It is entirely possible to be kind and patient and self-controlled without recourse to love, and (as explored yesterday) this love is rooted in our response to God's mercy.

So joy is a response to the love God shows and gives. In making sense of this I think there are a number of prompts for our joy:

Firstly, we become joyful when we learn move of God's nature and his design for our life. We encounter God as our redeemer and saviour. He saves us, purifies and cleanses us from sin, and provides the energy to live a life of devotion. He doesn't remove us from the trials of life, but asks that we endure suffering as a constant reminder of what God passed through to achieve our redemption. The Psalmist speaks of God's presence as place that fills people with joy (Psalm 16:11), a place that the Psalmist longs for (Psalm 27:4). The Bible also speaks of our God as the one "who will not yield (his) glory to another" (Isaiah 48:11). We read in the Bible of our awesome God, who is entirely worthy of our worship, and this in turn helps us see that we are made to worship Him.

Secondly, we see how God sought to bring us back into his design. God displayed his love for us on the cross, the Spirit seeks to enable us to offer a response that befits such sacrifice. Furthermore, the cross did away with the necessity for the law, which was master at squeezing out joy. Our abundant lives are marked by freedom: freedom from sin, from the law...indeed, the Easter motif in the church is about our redemption from slavery. As Moses, we should be filled with joy, not only that God is worthy, or we are made to worship, but that God chose to intervene so decisively.

Thirdly, we can be assured of his work in our life by suffering, which is a cue for praise. Much of the New Testament is an encouragement to those who are suffering (Heb 10:34; 1 Peter 1:6,8; Romans 5:3; James 1:2). Jesus himself indicates that persecution is a mark of walking with Him (Matthew 5:11f.), but that in response we should "rejoice and be glad". This is no mere flippant cheeriness, nor a pollyanna complex which says things are fine when they are not. It would be immoral for a rape victim to smile through the pain stating that 'it's all fine, no really, I'm happy!' The joy that accompanies suffering and persecution is related entirely to our knowledge of the benefits of the cross, the example of Jesus himself. [On a personal level, I cannot quite explain the joy I now feel as I look at my son, who came after my wife and I lost a child, Thea, at 22 weeks or a pregnancy. The pain and sadness that accompanied the loss of Thea is somehow purified in the joy of Elijah's arrival. It doesn't say that Thea's death was a happy event, just that the inexpressible joy Peter speaks of often comes through the pain.]

Finally, joy comes as we are assured of His return. Paul speaks of joy that comes from "the hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:2). The Bible speaks openly of Jesus' return - does this fact cause us to worry or rejoice?

So joy comes as we see who God is, what we're made for, what He has done for us, the life He calls us to lead, and the promise of eternity in His presence.

Therefore, when we think of the fruit of joy, what might we expect to see in our life?
- Joy in worship
- Joy in demeanour

Joy in worship
The Spirit's fruit of joy is seen in corporate gatherings. Worship is often maligned as time-wasting. It is the support act to the real job of Evangelism. This position totally minunderstands the enormous benefits worship can bring to helping us feel (yes, feel) more joyful! Man's first, chief and highest end is to glorify God. When we act in ways to fulfil this purpose we begin to experience an intensity of joy, hitherto unknown.

Pentecost represents the moment, from which “the worship of the new age had been ushered in. The church, the assembly for worship, was praising God...Reverent corporate worship, then, is not optional for the church of God…Rather it brings to expression the very being of the church. It manifests on earth the reality of the heavenly assembly” (Clowney)

Paul asks the Colossians to sing. So should we. I am deeply suspicious of those who do not 'get' worship. I realise it is not the be all and end all, but it can effect such profound change. I blog elsewhere on worship, but a few pointers here.

Are you consciously adoring God in your heart, when you come to church?
Are you engaging with praising with your voice (speaking or singing)?

Joy in demeanour
Knowing that we are to live forever, do we give the impression that we'd sooner die and rot? I think too many Christians are appalling advertisements for God, his character and his work, by the grumpiness with which we operate. Some translations of the word joy in Galatians 5 include: gladness, happy, or even "exuberance about life".

So the challenge this day, concerning this fruit has to be about our outlook:
- Are we failing to be who we're made to be?
- Are we failing to obey God's word?
- Am I unwittingly marginalising the importance of joy becuase that's not my personality type?

Some verses to end:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glopry and honour and power.
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being"
(Revelation 4:11)

REFERENCE
Clowney, E. (n/a) 'The Biblical Theology of the Church'. In: Carson, D.A. The Church in the Bible and the World. pp.17-19

Countdown to Pentecost - Day 1 of 9 - LOVE

Ascensiontide is a great time to reflect on both the exaltation of Jesus into heaven and the role of the Spirit in our lives.

We all too often fall into patterns of living that are marked by a complete disregard for the Lordship of Christ - he does not sit on our throne: we do. But then when we do feel drawn to live lives of holiness we all too frequently struggle in our own strength to be righteous, and utterly failing! We do not avail ourselves of the Spirit's empowering.

This is such a shame, for it is the Spirit's desire to transform us, and in so doing gives us present assurance of our salvation. This is so significant in a world that tells us uncertainty is king. We can look back over our life and see whether there has been evidence of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and whether there is a long-term pattern of growth in my Christian life.

So, in an attempt to think through where the Spirit is at work in my life I will use each of the nine days between Ascension Day and before Pentecost to examine each of the fruits.

"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them"

(1 John 4:16)

So first up is love....oh boy!

As a husband (and now father) I am keenly aware of how often I fail to act in a loving way to my wife. I can be surly, grumpy, moody and generally a bit of an insensitive moron. Simply put: I am selfish.

And perhaps this is the heart of God's view on love - it is about self-sacrifice, selfishness is anathema to love. If the greatest love is seen in the way we lay down our lives for others, where do I behave in this way? Or am I not all too often self-seeking (1 Cor 13:5)?

As I've prayed this morning I am struck by the way Paul lists a number of the other fruit as signs of love: patience, kind, joyful, gentle... So in a sense love is the doorway. If we fail to love our self-control, our goodness is all meaningless, which is precisely the point Paul is making in 1 Corinthians 13; religious activity is pointless if we do not love.

We love, however, because we are loved first (1 John 4:10).

Our love is a response. And so it should be in our attitude to others, especially our 'loved ones'...notice that...my wife is my 'loved one'. She is loved by me, so she is my beloved. It would never work if I approach love as something I give after she gives it to me...like some bank witholding a loan before a person opens a current account. No...I'm to give my love away.

This is how God operates!

God reveals his love in Jesus (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9)

I was reminded yesterday that Romans 12:1, the great injunction to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, refers to 'God's mercies' as the motivating factor. What is God's mercy? That Jesus came to die for me, to rise for me, and to go before me into heaven to prepare an eternal home.

I am fascinated by the 5 languages of love stuff. Remarkably, I think Jesus shows each of us each of the signs: words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, receving gifts, and physical touch. He speaks to us from the pages of the Gospels, telling us how much God loves us (just think of the parables). He laid down his very life, devoting his 33 odd years to his great work of love - that's quality love. Act of service? I should think so.

And to follow these up, Jesus offers us the ongoing gift of the Spirit, who for many people offers a regular sense of God's touch in their lives.

Maybe I'm stretching these - but the point is clear - God loves us.

So what should I do today to seek more of God's love:
- Have I read the Gospels recently to hear Jesus' words for me?
- Do I seek my own way at home? Do I withhold my affection from my wife waiting to be loved first?
- Have I asked the Spirit to show me where I am unloving?

To end, it is worth quoting at length from 1 John...it's a remarkable overview of love:

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who
loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know
God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his
one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love:
not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning
sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to
love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God
lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we
live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. "

1 John 4:7-13

The importance of Ascension Day

Booyah! We’ve done it…40 days for Lent, followed by 40 days for Eastertide…and so we arrive at the much neglected feast of the Ascension.

It’s fair to say that Christians who aren’t affiliated to liturgical/lectionary-following churches may not even consider this a ‘valid’ Christian celebration (they may not even know it exists!). Many Christians are more than happy to have a non-seasonal approach and content themselves with Easter and Christmas, others will be mindful of Palm Sunday, a smaller number will commemorate Good Friday, although, a number of churches do mark Pentecost.

But Ascension Day?....eh? What’s that? And more importantly, why is Ascension Day important to Christians?

Ascension Day remembers Jesus’ departure from earth, his ascension into heaven, recorded at length at the beginning of Acts (Acts 1:1-11). Jesus spends 40 days after his resurrection with the disciples, but finally he must leave, which he does in front of the disciples themselves. He is “taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from sight”. After this two angels appear to inform the eleven that Jesus would “come back in the same way you have seen him go”. While teaching prior to his ascension, Jesus has reminded the disciples of three things: firstly, the disciples were to wait for the anointing of the Holy Spirit; secondly, his return was not a matter to speculate on (see my blog on Jesus return); and thirdly, they were to witness, which the anointing was to equip them for.

So on one level, Ascension Day is about remembering these instructions.

However, there is a deeper, more complex theological significance to the feast.

Fulfilment of prophecy. Psalm 110 is quoted liberally throughout the New Testament. In it, King David prophetically sees “The LORD says to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand.’” Jesus himself spoke about what would happen to him. John 14:12 he refers to his “going to the Father” (cf. John 14:2-3, 28; 16:5), even after his resurrection he is mindful that his ‘journey’ is not yet complete (John 20:17). This is a point much overlooked by protestant churches; there is a completeness in the cross and resurrection, but part of its application is the saving of humanity and its flesh.

Taking up of authority. God has given Jesus authority to reign now, as He is now in heaven. Remarkably, during his Pentecost sermon, Peter speaks of the Ascension as an ‘exaltation’ of Jesus (Acts 2:33). Peter has no sense that Jesus is merely out of sight, but very much exalted and reigning as he spoke – and this just ten days after seeing him ‘disappear’! Peter returns to this theme in his first letter stating that Jesus is “at God’s right hand” (1 Peter 3:22). Psalm 110 is referred to by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 where he refers to Jesus presently reigning, he does not consider Jesus reign as lying sometime in the future, he is seated “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion… not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:20f. emphasis mine – showing that Paul sees both a present and future rule; see also Romans 10:6)

Honouring of humanity. Jesus’ exaltation fulfils prophecy, endows Him with authority, but by virtue of the fact Jesus ascends in a temporal body, it redeems our very flesh. Jesus does not ascend only as the Son of God, but also as the Son of Man:

"Jesus glorified our fallen and sinful humanity when He returned to the Father"

Jesus is welcomed into heaven, and in so doing God says ‘mankind can once more be in my presence’. During the season of Easter we read the story of Stephen’s martyrdom. As he prepares to die he says: “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God”. Several points here: 1. Jesus is in heaven already; 2. He is seen as the Son of Man (the only time anyone other than Jesus uses the term); and 3. He is standing, which is seen as representing great authority (standing in His Father’s presence!). Stephen’s vision is one we are party to, and as a result we can confidently state the same of Jesus today. He is in heaven, right now as our ambassador. Jesus goes to prepare our way. This is a wondrous idea – that Jesus in his human body is now in heaven. This further paves the way for the glorification of our own bodies; Peter refers to the fact that we even now can participate in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We do not have space here to consider the offices in which Jesus, as our representative, is now our mediator and priest in heaven.

Preparation for Pentecost. After the ascension we have a further ten days before we reach Pentecost. Therefore, in a liturgical sense, there is an element of preparation as we consider the part the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. Ascension Day can start this preparation.

[An important caveat: the lectionary returns to what is known as ‘Ordinary Time’ the very first day after Pentecost. This is because we don’t have a Pentecost-tide, or “season” to focus on the Spirit, for we are always, all-year-round blessed with the Spirit. We are never apart from His presence and activity. Indeed, it is possibly unhelpful to have a Christian calendar precisely for this reason. Just as at Christmas where we must always be careful not to pretend we are waiting for Jesus’ first coming, so with Pentecost we must not think we are to imitate the disciples in the Upper room waiting for his outpouring – the Spirit is with us right now! This should also restrain the temptation to marginalise Ascension themes in Ascensiontide in favour of Pentecost prep…]

There is, nevertheless, the need to consider afresh the degree to which we permit the Spirit to have influence and authority in our life. Do we, for instance, resist the gifts of the Spirit? Are we prone to sins that flatly contradict the fruit of the Spirit? Do I ignore the work of the Spirit as He pricks my conscience about sins in my life? Not only personally, but corporately, are our churches marked by a keen sense that the Spirit guides, leads and directs? Are our services marked by human effort or the Spirit’s enabling? Do we preach about the Spirit, indeed? Fundamentally, do we recognise that on Ascension Day we can celebrate that as a result of Jesus going to heaven he was able to send the Spirit—no Ascension, no Pentecost.

All this is well and good, but what practical response might Ascensiontide prompt? A few questions and ides:

1. Do I submit to Jesus authority in my life? Or am constantly battling to be the ‘boss of me’? Do I see Jesus as merely my Lord, or Lord of all?



2. When did I last speak to someone about what Jesus has done in my life? Do I chat with my wife and family about my relationship with God?



3. Do we have a present trust that Jesus will return? Does this provoke a holiness of life, or am I ‘asleep on the job’?



4. What experiences of the Spirit have I had recently? Am I exercising my gifts? In what ways am I being more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled?
   Perhaps we should use the nine days after Ascension, and before Pentecost, to meditate each day on each of the fruits?
   Friday 3rd June Love 1 John 4:16
   Saturday 4th June Joy Philippians 4:4
   Sunday 5th June Peace Philippians 4:7
   Monday 6th June Patience Romans 5:4
   Tuesday 7th June Kindness Ephesians 4:32
   Wednesday 8th June Goodness Ephesians 5:9
   Thursday 9th June Faithfulness Revelation 2:10
   Friday 10th June Gentleness Philippians 4:5
   Saturday 11th June Self-control Titus 1:8
   [I am particularly grateful to John Methuen for this idea]



5. Knowing that Jesus’ ascension fulfils prophecy does this give me more confidence when asked about Jesus?



6. Do I have a negative view of humanity? Do I treat my body with disrespect?
   

Ascension Day is a great time in the year to celebrate Jesus Lordship, he was prophesied to come, to die, to raise to life, and then to ascend on high. In heaven he now mediates on our behalf, seeks to be our Lord and sends the Spirit to aid us. Meanwhile, we cling with hope and fervent trust that just as Jesus left we can know he will, one day, return!

REFERENCES
Orthodox Family Life (1999)'The Meaning and Importance of Ascension' [Online]
Available: http://www.theologic.com/oflweb/feasts/ascen.htm [2 June 2011]

Ascension Day Hymns

A few Ascension themed hymns...

Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Rejoice, give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o’er earth and heaven,
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He sits at God’s right hand till all His foes submit,
And bow to His command, and fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope! The Lord and Judge shall come,
And take His servants up to their eternal home.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!


Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia!
To His throne above the skies, Alleluia!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!
Reascends His native heaven, Alleluia!

There the glorious triumph waits, Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates, Alleluia!
Christ hath conquered death and sin, Alleluia!
Take the King of glory in, Alleluia!

Circled round with angel powers, Alleluia!
Their triumphant Lord, and ours, Alleluia!
Conqueror over death and sin, Alleluia!
“Take the King of glory in! Alleluia!”

Him though highest Heav’n receives, Alleluia!
Still He loves the earth He leaves, Alleluia!
Though returning to His throne, Alleluia!
Still He calls mankind His own, Alleluia!

See! He lifts His hands above, Alleluia!
See! He shows the prints of love, Alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
Blessings on His church below, Alleluia!

Still for us His death He pleads, Alleluia!
Prevalent He intercedes, Alleluia!
Near Himself prepares our place, Alleluia!
Harbinger of human race, Alleluia!

Master, (will we ever say), Alleluia!
Taken from our head to day, Alleluia!
See Thy faithful servants, see, Alleluia!
Ever gazing up to Thee, Alleluia!

Grant, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!
Far above yon azure height, Alleluia!
Grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!
Seeking Thee beyond the skies, Alleluia!

Ever upward let us move, Alleluia!
Wafted on the wings of love, Alleluia!
Looking when our Lord shall come, Alleluia!
Longing, gasping after home, Alleluia!

There we shall with Thee remain, Alleluia!
Partners of Thy endless reign, Alleluia!
There Thy face unclouded see, Alleluia!
Find our heaven of heavens in Thee, Alleluia!


The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor’s brow.

The highest place that Heav’n affords
Belongs to Him by right;
The King of kings and Lord of lords,
And Heaven’s eternal Light.

The joy of all who dwell above,
The joy of all below,
To whom He manifests His love,
And grants His Name to know.

To them the cross with all its shame,
With all its grace, is given;
Their name an everlasting name,
Their joy the joy of Heaven.

They suffer with their Lord below;
They reign with Him above;
Their profit and their joy to know
The mystery of His love.

The cross He bore is life and health,
Though shame and death to Him,
His people’s hope, His people’s wealth,
Their everlasting theme.


Other hymns that refer to Jesus' ascension are 'Alleluia, sing to Jesus' and the more recent, 'You're the Word of God the Father'.

Forget Harold...and get busy!

The BBC have reported again on Harold Camping and his failed rapture prediction.

It's a real joke! He now says that there WAS a judgement on 21st May, and that it was actually a SPIRITUAL judgment, which is rather convenient. Furthermore, the 21 October date is related to an earlier prediction about the end of the world. It's actually quite annoying that a) the media give this charlatan such air time, but b) they can't even report it properly! They are giving the impression that he is issuing a new date.

What's galling is that his revision to the nature of the judgment does not deal with the rather embarassing question: why are the Christians still around if God has judged the world, albeit spiritually? The fact Christians still walk the planet totally discredits the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture if he now says we're all under judgment??

I know countless theologians and journalists have made the point, but it is worth restating, "no-one knows about that day [the second coming] or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). Jesus' words are unequivocal and any attempt to colour, manipulate, revise, or change these represents gross heresy. Furthermore, the idea that someone might receive a special revelation from the Father is also offensive, for it implies (as the ancient gnostics did) that faith and knowledge of God is about 'secret' knowledge.

But I suppose I should ask myself: what is my personal response to the predictions?

Jesus speaks about His return and the signs that will preceed this in Mark 13, which is largely repeated in Matthew 24. As I read Mark 13 I am struck by the following phrases: "Watch out that noone deceives you" (v.5), "Do not be alarmed" (v.7), "Be on your guard" (v.9, 23, 33), "Do not worry" (v.11 about witnessing), "Be alert!" (v.33), and "Keep watch" (v.35, 37).

Perhaps the key verse is 13: "he who stands firm to the end will be saved"

So what is my personal response?

Firstly, we are to cling to the truth of scripture. We will not be deceived by Satan or fellow man, or by circumstance if we cling to the truth of His word. It is also important that we allow others to correct our understanding, for we can all very easily be drawn to adapt our theology to fit our life. Am I regularly plugging into the Bible to shape my perspective on life. The Bible counsels us to not worry about our future, either from a personal point of view (Matt 6:25,34) or from an apocalyptic point of view. We're to trust Him and cast all our anxiety onto God (1 Peter 5:7). It is the panicked response seen in so many of Camping's followers that upsets me - why are they not dismissing him as contrary to the teaching of the Bible? We are required to expose lies (Ephesians 5:11) so we should, by the same token, be alert and on guard from deceitful ministers (2 John 10; 2 Peter 2:1).

Secondly, we're to take Jesus' return seriously. Accepting that Jesus does give us some indicators of the beginning of the end, which admitedly cannot be scheduled, there are three things I'm to do in connection with His return:

1. Preach the gospel (v.10)
Some believe that until the entire world has heard the gospel in their own language Jesus cannot return. Again, it's important not to put arbitrary conditions on Jesus return, but how am I helping this aim. Do I actively engage in the preaching of the gospel? Does my life speak of the good news? Do I share the good news? Camping does not appear to be using his confidence in a fixed point of judgment to urge greater works of evangelism - or so it seems. I wonder whether this is what Jesus is aiming at when he asks the disciples to not be caught sleeping (Mark 13:36). There is no excuse for inactivity, especially about shining as lights in the world. Indeed, one sign of Jesus return is the increased demand on Christians to witness in front of mankind, which we're not to fear - for the Spirit will lead our words (v.11)

2. Prepare for suffering (v.19)
I think the idea of the rapture is distorted (especially by pre-tribulational dispensationalists) to imply that God doesn't want Christians to suffer. Whether or not we are not to be removed from the world, God has sanctioned that our lives are not free from pain, sadness and suffering. In fact, the Bible counsels that we will suffer for being Christians (see v. 13; 1 Peter 1:6; 2 Timothy 3:12). In my day to day life, do I allow God to use the tough times to teach me, am I able to learn how to trust Him, to pattern my life on Jesus' (1 Peter 2:21)

3. Practice purity (v.34)
We are to continue to live our lives patterned on Jesus and his teaching. I was particularly helped last summer by a talk at the Keswick Convention. Our life of holiness is a response to Jesus first coming and his work on the cross, and the hope Jesus' second coming. 1 John says "everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself" (1 John 3:3). We are called to live in God's will, which also means living free from sin. So perhaps Jesus is saying to his disciples, "Be alert! Be on guard!", not to be only concerned with those around us, the rumours and lies, but we are to look to our own lives - be aware of the deceitfulness of sin. Jesus' reference to sleeping could be a reference to inactivity, but also that state of unrighteousness, a state of spiritual death (Ephesians 5:14).

I can dismiss Harold Camping as a nutter, or a fraud, but I cannot dismiss that to which he refers.

Is my life patterned on the truth of Jesus' return:
- Do I regularly read my Bible to ensure I know truth?
- Am I casting my future worries on God?
- Do I expose and explain the lies in the world to those around me?
- Am I actively sharing the good news of the gospel?
- Do I accept suffering or seek to avoid it?
- Is my life patterned on holiness and a desire to root out sin?

...phew...you know what, I should stop stressing about Harold, and look to my own walk!