PILGRIM'S PROGRESS

"You have been made in My image"

2005-03-10T12:57:00.000+01:00

I wouldn't ordinarily publish a sermon on my blog, but I really felt that God gave me a significant message last Sunday, which I thought I would share with you, and I offer it in all humility for His glory. The texts were Genesis 1:24-31 and Colossians 1:11-22.

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Lent, coming as it does between the excitement of the Christmas season and the triumphant joy of Easter, is the ideal time to reflect upon our relationship with God and upon who we are. So, this afternoon, I invite you to close your eyes for a moment and hear God saying these words to you: "You have been made in My image, in My likeness." Of course, those words are derived from the verse in the Book of Genesis that we read a moment ago: "Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,’" and I want, for the next few minutes, to think a bit more closely about what that means and what its implications are for us today.

It’s funny, but, until I was forty, I was absolutely sure that I was very different from my parents - I didn’t look the same, I didn’t think the same, and I didn’t act the same. Then my fortieth birthday arrived, and, along with all the lovely gifts and cards that I received, came something a whole lot more shocking ... I was turning into my father!

Suddenly, I started to develop the same sort of opinions and attitudes that he had: before forty, I had enjoyed a whole range of pop music and was even very tolerant of music I found difficult, but now half of it was mindless noise. And it wasn’t only the same attitudes I’d inherited on my fortieth birthday, I suddenly found myself exhibiting some of the same mannerisms, and even laughing in the same way. Not only that, but I started to look like him: the eyebrows got even bushier and the hairline started to do interesting things, too. I’m just waiting for someone to say to me, "You’re the image of your father"!

Perhaps some of you have become the spitting image of your mother - and, to be fair, I’ve got some of my mother’s attributes, as well - but one thing is certain: all of us - men and women - are made in our heavenly Father’s image, in His likeness. And that is an incredibly important thing to bear in mind for a number of reasons, the first of which is that ...

God made us to glorify Him.

You can be certain that human beings are not just another species within the world that God made. Many zoologists may argue that humans are merely another member of the animal kingdom - more advanced in some very significant ways, but nothing more, really. Yet, if we take Scripture seriously, passages like this one in Genesis, we know that just isn’t true. For instance, when we read Psalm 8, verses 5-8, in the Good News Bible, we see it says that "you [God] made man inferior only to Yourself; You crowned him with glory and honour. You appointed him ruler over everything you made; You placed him over all creation: sheep,cattle, and the wild animals, too; the birds and the fish and the creatures in the seas." The Bible - the written word of God - is quite clear that humanity is special, and not ordinary - not just one of the crowd of creatures made by the Lord.

More than that, please notice that the man and the woman are the only creatures that God talks to directly after He has made them - He doesn’t speak to the water creatures, the birds of the air, the animals on the land ... only the humans. In addition, the human is the only earthly being that is made in God’s image and given authority to rule. And, of course, while God sees that what He has done on the five previous days is good, at the end of the day on which He creates human beings - the sixth day - He sees that it is all very good. I think it’s pretty clear that, as far as the Bible is concerned, mankind is the absolute pinnacle of God’s creation and, as a result, its prime purpose has to be to bring glory to God - God is to be seen in us, and through what we do.

And that takes me neatly onto the second thing we need to know about being in God’s image, which is that ...

God made us to represent Him.

Throughout history, monarchs, emperors, and dictators have erected statues of themselves around their domains in order to remind their subjects that, although they may not be present in that area, they are still in power, still in control, and still possessing full authority.

Probably the most enduring image of the Second Gulf War in Iraq is the sight of the huge statue of Saddam Hussain being toppled from its pedestal, brought to earth and being jumped and stamped upon by jubilant Iraqis - the felling of that statue signified the ending of his tyrannical control over the country and its treatment by the people proclaimed that his authority over them was finished. Although God’s power and authority over all creation is - and always has been - absolute, He didn’t set up statues of Himself around the world in order to establish that fact; instead, He created human beings in His own image, after His own likeness, to represent Him in the world.

That doesn’t mean that man and woman were ever in any way divine, or due worship - that is only true of God - but, as Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann has put it, "[t]he image of God in the human person is a mandate of power and responsibility" ... God delegated to human beings the authority to govern the earth in a godly fashion - with the emphasis on ‘godly’ - so that the glory would go to Him; and, equally, He gave man and woman the responsibility of caring for creation in the same way that He does. When the Bible talks of mankind being given dominion over our fellow creatures, it is intended the kind of control that a shepherd has over a flock - the shepherd cares for, tends and feeds his animals - it has nothing to do with exploitation and cruelty. Of course, it was after mankind rebelled against God, after we fell from grace, that creation was tipped out of balance and we abused the position God had granted us.

We need, individually and collectively, to repent of the way we have misrepresented God to creation, to ask Him for forgiveness, and to begin to treat His creation in ways that are truly honouring to Him.

The third thing I think we must be clear about is that ...

we are still in God’s image, despite mankind’s Fall.

After we hear about how God made human beings in His own image, there is the description of how Adam and Eve sinned, by disobeying God’s command not to eat the fruit of the tree which gave knowledge of good and evil. So, can we still be thought to be in God’s image, given that we have fallen so short of His standards in so many areas of our lives? I believe that the Biblical answer is ‘Yes’, because, if we turned to Genesis 9:6, we would read that "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God has God made man."

So, did anything change when Eve was deceived and Adam had a bite? It certainly did: our human moral integrity was lost; no longer did human beings continually glorify God; selfishness started to push out selfless love; and our understanding of the human role within God’s creation became confused. It’s as though human beings, when they were first created, were like excellent mirrors - not divine themselves, but beautifully reflecting the image of God throughout creation; but, then, after the Fall, the mirrors were affected and the image of God seen in each one of us became distorted.

But, distorted or not, God’s image is still present within every human being, whether they be a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, or complete atheist; and this means that we must act respectfully to everyone, whether we agree with them or get on with them, or not. When I was a teenager, I was on a spiritual quest, and my search for truth took me to the Quakers for a while. At that time, I read the Journal of George Fox, the founder of that movement, and one thing that struck me very powerfully was that, whenever he preached or spoke to people, he always addressed, what he called, "that of God in every man"; and it strikes me that, if we could be always aware of "that of God in every man", we would be much nicer to one another.

The image of God is still there in every human being - in people who are elderly or very young; in those who have a physical disability or deformity, as well as those who have a learning disability or dementia - everyone has been made in the image of God, if we will but only recognise it. And so, as Christians, we should go to extraordinary lengths to treat every human being with the utmost dignity - and what could be more extraordinary than loving our enemies and praying for those who hate us?

And, with that, we turn our attention to the wonderful truth that ...

God’s image is perfectly seen in Jesus Christ.

In the second letter that he wrote to the Corinthian Christians, the apostle Paul speaks of "Christ, who is the image of God"; and, as we also read earlier, in Colossians Paul says that "Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God." When we look at the man Jesus Christ, as we consider how He lived His life, as we focus upon what He did for us, we begin to come to the realisation that this is what human likeness to God was always intended to be - where Adam and Eve failed and brought a death sentence upon us, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, triumphed and offers each one of us a reprieve. And the good news is that God has promised that all who believe in Him will be "conformed to the likeness of His Son" - when Christ returns to establish once and for all the eternal heavenly kingdom, the perfect image of God will be restored to us and we, again, shall reflect His full glory.

Conclusion:

You know, I don’t really mind becoming a little more like my dear old Dad, because he was a decent man, husband and parent; but more than that I do hope that people might also say, "He’s the image of his Father - his heavenly Father!" And that’s my prayer for each of you, too. Amen.

Pressing on towards the goal

2005-03-01T10:20:00.000+01:00

One of the exciting things that has happened while I have been offline is that I have been appointed chaplain of the local football (soccer) club. The club is one of the oldest in England, being founded in 1867, but it folded in 2002 for lack of funds. However, it was re-formed last year and has been running Under-18 and Under-16 teams, both of which are doing well. Next year, we will have a senior team playing in a regional league, which will be really exciting.

I’ve been a soccer fan all of my life and the opportunity to be club chaplain is an ambition fulfilled. But, more than that, it brings me into contact with many unchurched people and makes me realise how easy it is for Christian ministers to become completely closeted within the Christian community. I pray that God will work through me to share His boundless love with all the players, officials and supporters of the club - I know that I will be blessed as I seek to serve Him. I'd appreciate your prayers as I undertake this new ministry, which goes alongside my church role.

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.

The Pilgrim's Back!

2005-02-28T13:16:00.000+01:00

I'm back after a nightmare couple of months of having no access to the internet, because my computer 'died' on me. Thanks to those who have periodically checked my blog and to those who sent messages of concern while I was offline. Regular service is now resumed!

Keeping the Chain Agoing.

2004-11-25T10:38:00.000+01:00

From Blogin Idiot's blog ...

Interesting.... keep the chain going.

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal... Along with these instructions.

"At other times, you're paid for what you pick."
- I, Rigoberto Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala

"In deterence to the board meeting, Doniger had put on a blue suit, forgoing his usual khakis and sweats"
- II, Michael Criton: Timeline

“Now, I don’t know if it was because it was the accent, or if there’s more than one, but I’m gonna, I’m gonna reconfirm that for you and I’ll get back to you real quick.”
- 9/11 Commission Report (Added by Rob at UnSpace)

"Lord, You have always kept me safe in trials;"
- Celtic Daily Prayer
(The Northumbria Community - www.northumbriacommunity.org). Added by Pilgrim.

An interesting chain started. Will you pick up the chain and add it to your postings?

Newsletter notes

2004-11-24T17:03:00.000+01:00

I know it sounds stupid, but one of the things that I find really difficult is writing my monthly notes for the church newsletter - my brain seizes up when I sit in front of the computer to write them and any sense of creativity I have creeps out of my study door. In the last five years of ministry, I've written around 60 different monthly notes and trying to think of something different to write is something I find very hard - I think there really must be some call for a website that has an archive of non-specific newsletter notes (listed under the relevant month) which pastors from all over the world can access and then insert into their church magazines.

Anyway, today, I thought I'd include my December newsletter notes in the blog. So, here they are...

"Choices, choices, choices! During December, all of us will be making lots of choices: Will it be turkey, chicken, or pork for Christmas lunch? Shall we buy the George Foreman Lean Green Toasting Machine or the psychedelic lava lamp for Aunt Maud this year? Do we stay at home for Christmas, or go to Granny's house? Across the country, there will be thousands of girls and boys wanting, even longing, to be chosen to be Mary, or Joseph, or the angel Gabriel, in the school nativity - spare a thought for those who end up playing the donkey, or an ox!

As we enter the Advent season and look forward to Christmas, laying aside those choices that we will make, perhaps we might take time to remember the choices that God made: seeing how human beings were locked into their sinfulness and floundering, God chose to do something about it Himself; leaving His heavenly throne behind, Jesus chose to be born as flesh and blood and to dwell among us, coming as a humble servant; regardless of what the religious authorities thought or said about Him, He chose to associate with sinners and tax collectors, with ill and disabled people, in order to show God's love for each one; and, totally committed to doing the will of His Father, He chose to be obedient, obedient even to death, so that human beings might enter God's eternal kingdom.

As we go to watch our children's and grandchildren's nativity plays at school, and as we sing carols and hear the gospel accounts of the birth of Jesus at church, may we feel truly humble and immensely thankful knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Saviour of the world, chose to live, and to die, for each of us and for all creation.

May you all have a blessed and peaceful time this Christmas."

Here in the grace of God I stand

2004-11-16T17:54:00.000+01:00

A joy that knows no limit,
A lightness in my spirit -
Here in the grace of God I stand.
(© Dave Bilbrough Songs/Thankyou Music)

What a difference a day makes! We’ve had a few very cold and cloudy days here in England, and it’s had an effect on my mood - I’ve been feeling a little down and subdued. But this morning, the sun is out, the sky is brilliantly blue and I myself am feeling so much more positive and happy - there really is "a lightness in my spirit"!

Memories of Shamgar

2004-11-08T15:39:00.000+01:00

Judges 3:31 - After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.

Every Easter holiday time, our family goes off for 6 days to ‘Spring Harvest’, a Christian event which is held annually at two large holiday camps (at Minehead in Somerset and Skegness in Lincolnshire, for those of you who know England). Even though the accommodation is pretty basic, we all enjoy the different activities that go on at SH: seminars on a wide variety of topics for the adults; clubs for the kids; celebration services each evening in a Big Top holding thousands of people; all-age worship every morning; and all the facilities (swimming pools, funfairs, etc.) open all day. It really is a great time for all of us.

It was at a Spring Harvest about 10 years ago (before our daughter was even born) that I heard the sermon which, for me, is the most memorable I have ever heard. It was preached by a man named Les Ball - someone I didn’t know beforehand and whom I’ve not come across since - and it was not heard in the Big Top, but in a smaller venue. Les spoke about Shamgar, one of the Judges of Israel, and focused on Judges 3:31 (above). Now, Shamgar is mentioned only twice in the Bible - in Judges 3:31 and 5:6 - so we don’t know much about him, but we do know that he saved Israel by striking down six hundred invading Philistines with just an oxgoad (i.e., a cattle prod). We don’t know why he used an oxgoad, rather than a sword, or spear, or other weapon - most likely he was out on his land when the attack came and that was all that was to hand - but he obviously used this everyday object to devastating effect.

Anyway, the points that Les made in his sermon have stayed with me this past ten years. He proposed that Shamgar:

- did what he could ...
- with what he had ...
- where he was.

Simple as that, but this was an incredibly significant message for me then, and it is still is now. There are lots of things I’d like to do for God, for my neighbour, and for my family, but I know I’ll never have the gifts, or the resources, or the opportunity, to do every one of them - the story of Shamgar freed me up to concentrate on doing those things I can, and not to be distracted by the things I can’t. It also taught me to appreciate and use those things, those qualities, those gifts with which God has already blessed me, and not become over concerned with if onlys - I know He always adequately equips everyone He calls. And it gave me the assurance that God will use me exactly where I am - if He wants me elsewhere, He will take me there.

I don’t know what Les Ball is doing now, but, if ever I meet him again, I’ll shake him by the hand and tell him that God spoke powerfully through him that day in Minehead.

Maybe you’ve got an unforgettable sermon, too?

Gunpowder, treason and lots of fun

2004-11-06T14:02:00.000+01:00

"Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot ..."

Last night was Bonfire Night in the UK, the annual occasion when we celebrate the foiling of a plot by Guy Fawkes and several other men in 1605 to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I. We had quite a few families with young children come around to our house to watch fireworks in our garden and it was a really fun time. The weather was dry and we all ate hotdogs and drank fizzy pop (soda), as we watched the roman candles shoot out pretty green, red, and golden sparks, as we looked in delight at the Catherine wheels spinning from the garden fence, and as we oohed and aahed to see the rockets swoosh into the sky and explode into showers of colour. The smiles on the faces of all the children were as bright and as wondrous as the fireworks sparkling in the night sky.

But the best thing about it was that we were doing it together, that we were enjoying it together, and that we were loving one another at the same time. Whilst I do feel some slight unease about celebrating the demise of Guy Fawkes - he was hung, drawn and quartered for his treason - last night was a special night for friendship, and a special night of fellowship.

Have a great weekend, everyone - ‘see’ you next week!

Pride in the punt.

2004-11-04T19:44:00.000+01:00

Let me say this, first of all: I never did want to get into the boat. I was forced into doing it. By my wife and daughter who love rowing. I’m not so keen, because when I’m rowing I go round and round in circles due to my left arm being significantly less strong than my right. So, when it came to paddling a punt around the waterways of the Marais in France, I wanted to avoid further embarrassment. But I was weak and gave in to the two women in my life, who assured me, "It’ll be lovely, darling" and "Go on, Dad, we’ll have fun!"

Well, we paid for the hire of the boat - we could have had a professional punter to do it for us, if we paid just over twice the price - then got in and took our first paddle strokes down the river ... my wife paddling one side and me the other, with daughter holding the map of the water network. Immediately, we did a full 360° turn and I began to feel the awful embarrassment that I had so wanted to avoid; but, very quickly, we got the hang of it and we’re paddling like professionals. And, do you know what? I was actually enjoying it and getting quite relaxed: the weather was lovely; the countryside was beautiful; and I was with my favourite people in the whole world. Then, it happened!

As we were paddling down this straight length of water, one of the professional punters brought a punt, full with about 8 tourists in it, up behind us. We, dutifully, paddled towards the riverbank to allow him to pass, and we nodded to each other, as he went by. Further down the river, he took his boat up a small side stream to show the people some interesting sight, or another, and we went ahead of them again. Within five minutes, he and his boat was right up behind us again, so we did as before and moved towards the side and hung on to an overhanging tree to keep ourselves still until he’d gone past. As he went by, this time, he made some remark to me in French and the whole boat laughed - he was actually casting aspertions on our paddling ability!

Well, pride is a terrible thing, and, at that moment, it brought out my competitive streak - after all, we’d been paddling really well ... SO, HOW DARE HE SNEER! Having I assured my wife that we were now going to show him a thing or two, I started paddling very quickly with all my strength in an attempt to catch him up and show him that we Englishmen are made of stronger stuff. But, of course, it was all in vain - after all, he was the professional, doing it all day, every day, for half the year - and, by paddling so hard on my side, all I managed to do was guide our boat into a huge bush of stinging nettles on the river bank. After pride came the fall.

When we got back to where we had to return the boat, the professional had already picked up his next boatful and was swanning off down the river again. All I had to show for it was nettle rash and blisters. As we walked off into the town of Coulon to find a nice café, I reflected on the fact that Jesus never tried to outdo anyone - He came to be a servant to all - and He took all the scorn and humiliation that was thrown at Him and responded only with love.

Maybe next time I’ll do the same. Maybe.

Serving The Big Cheese

2004-11-02T13:52:00.000+01:00

France is a land of cheese - or ‘fromage’, as the French would put it. No, I don’t mean that France is made of cheese, in the same way that we all know the Moon is - what I'm saying is that, wherever you go in France, you cannot be but immensely impressed by the number and variety of cheeses that country produces. The region we visited last week - Les Deux Sèvres - is no exception. Hard cheeses, soft cheeses, mature cheeses, mild cheeses, white cheeses, blue cheeses, cheeses with nuts, cheeses flavoured with wine and spirits - every sort of cheese that is made under God’s heaven! But that area’s real speciality - it’s pièce de resistance - is goat’s cheese ... soft, pungent, highly flavoured goat’s cheese. All the supermarkets stock around 20 - 30 different varieties of goat’s cheese alone.

Everywhere we went, every home we visited, people proudly brought out different types of goat’s cheese for us to try. Now, I don’t particularly like goat’s cheese, so I was always relieved when they brought out some ‘ordinary’ cheese as well! But it got me thinking: if Jesus had ever visited France and dined with the local sinners and tax collectors (as He surely would have done), He would have been regaled with a feast of fromages and He would have savoured every mouthful of hard cheese, soft cheese, mature cheese, mild cheese, white cheese, blue cheese, cheese with nuts, and cheese flavoured with wine and spirits - whether they were made with goat’s milk, cow’s milk, or even sheep’s milk. He would have enjoyed every minute of it, because He delighted in being with people and appreciated their generosity, and, in return, He would have given of Himself - His wisdom, His healing, His love, His peace. That’s what He did in Galilee and Samaria and Judea, so I know He would have done the same in France.

Jesus always gave of Himself, wherever He went, and, when He arrived at Jerusalem, He gave Himself completely on a cross at the place we call Calvary, so that we might rise with Him to eternal life. We, of course, remember Christ in bread and wine, but, from now on, I personally will remember Him whenever cheese is served up, too; and I pray that, like Him, I might always freely give of myself to those with whom I am sharing it!

More photos from our vacation appear below.

Photo time!

2004-11-02T13:44:00.000+01:00

Lighthouse in the middle of La Rochelle's High Street!

2004-11-02T13:38:00.000+01:00

The harbour at La Rochelle.

"What's the use in worrying ...?"

2004-11-01T14:05:00.000+01:00

Well, it’s good to be back in England and among my own church family, but what a great time we had in France, linking up with our Baptist friends there. We flew from London Stansted to Poitiers with Ryanair - the first time we’d flown with a budget airline and we were actually quite impressed by how smoothly it all went.

I have to own up to the fact that I’m not the greatest of flyers - I don’t know what it is, but the older I get, the more amazed I am that something as large and heavy as an airplane can get off the ground and stay up there! When I was younger, I flew to the States several times, and other far flung destinations, without batting an eyelid - not a qualm or a fear; but now that I have well and truly entered middle-age I am not so blasé. Maybe it’s because I have reached that point in my life when I am now fully aware of my own mortality? Anyway, whatever the reason, both in the departure lounge and after we’d got on the plane, I lifted many a prayer heavenwards, and everything went well.

Of course, my wife and daughter, who both love flying, enjoyed spotting landmarks out of the window ("Ooh, look at that big estuary!"; "Dad, I think we’re over the English Channel now!"), while I passed the flight reading a book ("The Lost Message of Jesus" by Steve Chalke - a good read), which did succeed in calming me, somewhat. But, since getting back home on Friday evening, I’ve been wondering whether my nervousness at flying actually says something slightly disturbing about my own faith; after all, didn’t Jesus say, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

I know very well that what Jesus said is true, but, when you come from a long line of worriers as I do (my Mom would win the Olympic gold for worrying!), it’s a little easier said than done. Still, I guess, if I take it to its rational conclusion, I really shouldn’t spend my time worrying about being a worrier! Jesus knows I’m not perfect and He loves me all the same, worrier or not, and, as daily I grow more and more aware of that wonderful fact, I will surely also grow in faith, and maybe even learn to stop worrying!?!

Anyhow, I’ll write more later about what happened on the trip, but I’ve also included a couple of photos I took: one is of the Town Hall in Poitiers, which we sat outside to eat a pastry from a wonderful French boulangerie; and the other is a view out of our bedroom window in the gîte (pronounced ‘jeet’) where we stayed.

May God bless you all abundantly.

2004-11-01T14:03:00.000+01:00

The view from our gite out to the French countryside

2004-11-01T14:02:00.000+01:00

The lovely Town Hall at Poitiers in France

Back from France!

2004-10-30T20:58:00.001+01:00

We're safely back from France and what a great break we've had! Tomorrow, after the services, I'll start posting a few photos and telling a few stories about it all. Peace to you all!

La belle France

2004-10-22T09:48:00.000+01:00

The next step on my pilgrimage is taking me to foreign shores. I think I’ll feel a bit like Abraham - a stranger in a strange land. Tomorrow, I, my wife and daughter are going to France for a few days vacation and to visit a French Baptist church with which my church has forged links over the last year or so. We’ve been to France before, but never to this particular place, which is about half way down and near to the Atlantic coast . The last time we went - about a year ago - we stayed in Paris and I quickly discovered that I had almost completely forgotten all my schoolboy French. So, I’m a little bit more nervous this time - in Paris, lots of people speak English pretty well, but I’m not sure about the provinces!

I’d really appreciate your prayers for our flight tomorrow and the return flight next Friday; and for Sunday morning, when I shall be speaking in the Baptist church - in English, with translation into French. When I get back, I’ll try to post a few photos from the trip in this blog.

Au revoir, et à bientôt, mes amis!

"How majestic is Your name!"

2004-10-20T13:34:00.000+01:00

Over the last few days, I’ve spent much of my time lying in bed - not through laziness (honest!), but because I’ve been stricken by one of those early autumn viruses whose ferocity takes us by surprise and puts us on our backs. Now, we live right on the edge of town and, from my bedroom window, I can look out across gently rolling fields and spot the spires of beautiful English village churches on the horizon. I don’t very often have the chance to spend much time looking that way - you see, my study is on the other side of the house, so, as I’m writing my sermons, I just get a view of the large housing estate on which we live; and, of course, I spend a lot of time at my church which is in the centre of town, and, these days, it’s gone dark by the time I get home. But, of course, my illness has given me plenty of opportunity to do this.

Yes, I’ve taken the time to look out of my bedroom window at God’s beautiful creation and I have just found myself agreeing with God that "indeed it [is] very good" (Gen. 1:31). We can, all too often, focus exclusively upon the bad things that are happening, think only of the wicked things that people do, and merely see all the mess that’s around us; and, as a consequence, we despair. Sometimes, we need to take time to turn our attention away from all of this and instead consider all the beautiful things God has made and delight in all the wonderful things He is doing in and through people. When we do, we will be reminded that God loves each one of us immeasurably and that our hope is in Him alone.

I’m starting to feel much better now, praise God, and I thank Him for what He has graciously revealed to me this week.

Psalm 8

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Flag-waving

2004-10-20T13:26:00.000+01:00

I've been listening to a lot of Christian worship music lately, what with all the travelling I've done and the bed-rest I've needed. But I am pretty choosy about what I listen to, because I find that a lot of such music can be shallow in theology and more concerned with presentation than content. My two favourite worship leaders/music writers are two Brits: Stuart Townend and Robin Mark. Stuart is just writing the most remarkable hymns and songs at the moment and I think that, with songs like 'In Christ Alone', he is reaching the heights that Charles Wesley reached over 200 years ago. Robin is from Northern Ireland and his music has a wonderful Celtic flavour that warms the heart.

Robin's new album, 'Revival in Belfast II', has been constantly on my CD player over the last few days and one song called 'Soul's Desire' has just stood out to me. There's a truly memorable line in it which goes: "There's a flag in my hand and I am waving / I am waving / Waving it for You, just to make You smile" [Robin Mark, copyright 2004 Integrity's Hosanna! Music]. What a fantastic image that is! What an important truth! We don't have to be the most eloquent pray-ers, we don't have to be the most tuneful singers, we don't have to be articulate preachers - we can actually give great pleasure to God simply by waving a flag for Him, by offering our worship to Him with a child-like heart.

Next time I'm lost for words in the pulpit, I'm going to reach for my flag!

Apology

2004-10-18T13:13:00.000+01:00

Let me apologize to all you who check out my blog every now and then, for being ‘absent’ for quite a while: first, I had to go out of town for a few days to a Baptist conference (yes, another one!); and, then, as soon as I got back, I got hit by a very strong virus which has incapacitated me - I’m still not properly recovered. Having said all that, I have resolved to be more regular in my postings in future and hope to post something more meaningful tomorrow!

Workin' at it

2004-10-05T09:32:00.000+01:00

At my church, I’m currently preaching a sermon series called ‘God@work’ which is trying to help and encourage people to relate their Christian faith to the work that they’re engaged in throughout the week - that includes work in the house as well as our paid jobs. Most of us spend an enormous proportion of our waking time at work, and yet it can be so easy to separate out our faith from our secular employment, our church life from our work life. We need to remember that God loves us 24/7: He loves us just as much when we’re under the hood of a car repairing it, when we’re typing up the most boring memo we’ve ever set eyes upon, and when we’re cleaning up the home, as He does when we’re singing hymns or on our knees at church on a Sunday morning. Our work is important to Him, because we are important to Him.

On top of all that, our workplaces are where, most likely, we come into contact with the greatest number of not-yet-Christians - so many of us churchy Christians spend most of our social time hanging out with each other - and so what wonderful opportunities are offered to us to actually witness to the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ! We don’t always have to be talking to people about Jesus, but we do need constantly to be doing our best to demonstrate His love for people through our words and actions - a simple act of kindness can say more than a whole Christian tract!

Of all the sermons I’ve preached over the last five years, these are drawing the most positive comments from people in my church - maybe because they connect where they really are. We pastors can get so hung up on giving the 12 alternative meanings for the Greek word ‘pisteuo’ we can easily forget that what our church family really needs is help on how to live in the real world - we all need solid food for the journey, not just intellectual delicacies. The truth is, the pilgrim’s diet needs to be well-balanced in order that he/she will last the course.

Comments?

No shame in retreat!

2004-09-30T13:01:00.000+01:00

I got back from my retreat yesterday afternoon and I’m glad to tell you that I had a really great time. It was a retreat for Baptist pastors organised by the Baptist Union and held at a Christian conference centre about 100 miles north of me. It was a time to renew old acquaintances and strengthen established friendships - several of the people I went through seminary with were there; it was a time to hear new ideas and re-visit some old ones, as we attended a variety of seminars; it was a time to listen to God, as we prayed together and studied His word; and it was a time to relax with God and be ministered to by Him. After the difficulties of last week this was a heaven sent time.

I was reminded of the times when Jesus took time out with His disciples, perhaps going out on Peter’s fishing boat; and the times, early in the morning, when He would slip away to commune with His Father, to receive guidance and strength for what lay ahead. Jesus was still willingly journeying towards the cross, but He made sure He took the time and made the space to sit at the wayside for a while in order to assess, to consider, and to take refreshment before moving on again.

As a pastor, I need to remember that: all too often, I get caught up in the busy-ness of my ministry and my schedule runs me, rather than the other way round - as an inevitable result, my ability to minister to others is adversely affected. So, dear fellow pilgrims, when tiredness and exhaustion hit us on our journey together, let us pause for a while and sit at the side of the road, to tell each other stories that will inspire and encourage us, to take some food and drink to strengthen our bodies, and to seek together the spiritual refreshment that only the Lord can give us.

The Lord bless you and keep you, brothers and sisters.

Burden lifted

2004-09-27T10:56:00.000+01:00

It was our harvest service yesterday morning and we were focusing on the work of Tearfund (www.tearfund.org) with the Maasai people in Kenya. In the first part of the service, we sang some Kenyan Christian songs together and, as I looked out from the front upon the congregation, I was really touched to see people from many different nations worshipping the Lord, and, in that moment, He healed me.

To tell the truth, it’d been a really long week: I’d had a cold since Monday, which brought me low physically, emotionally and spiritually - the Jewish understanding of wholeness is so, so true. A few ‘churchy’ things were weighing heavily on me, too. Of course, not all the week was depressing, as my post on the hospital visits proves, but by Friday I was in the middle of one of those ‘Maybe I’m not cut out to be a pastor’ moods - all pastors get them (don’t they? If not, why not?). Even on Saturday, I hadn’t been feeling emotionally ready for Sunday morning; but in that moment, at the beginning of the service, the Lord took off me the burdens of the week and I sang out loud, clapping and doing some sort of pseudo-African swaying dance, along with the rest of the people.

I rejoice greatly that, within our church, we have people who are originally from Jamaica, Barbados, and many other Caribbean nations; from Kenya and Zambia in Africa; from India, Pakistan and other Asian countries; and from France, Holland and all over the United Kingdom - when we are singing our praises to the Lord in harmony, it is truly heavenly! When I visit these Christian brothers and sisters in their homes, I receive so much from them: love and encouragement; education; and the most exquisite food and drink that, often, I have never even heard of before. As you can imagine, I really cherish all these experiences and the early taste of heaven they offer.

I’m away in the north of England on a course for 3 days now, so won’t be posting again till I return. May the Lord bless, protect and watch over you till we ‘meet’ again.

Divine encounter

2004-09-24T10:00:00.000+01:00

I spent yesterday afternoon at the local hospital - I wasn’t receiving treatment myself, but visiting church friends. The first friend I visited was Mollie, a lady in her eighties who has been in hospital for a couple of weeks since having a fall at home. The peace of God is in Mollie and anyone who ever comes into her presence experiences that peace - whenever I visit her, she tells me she is ready, ready to pass from this life into the next, and a radiant smile of peacefulness shines on her face. I’m hoping that Mollie will be with us for some time yet, because I learn so much about Jesus from her. She tells me kindly that I have brought her "spiritual inspiration" - I pray that God has, indeed, used me in that way, but I’m pretty certain that I receive immeasurably more "spiritual inspiration" from Mollie than ever I give to her. Yesterday was no exception: as I left the ward, I thanked God for the abundance of His blessing delivered to me via Mollie.

I walked across the hospital to the children’s wards where the two-week-old son of a church couple had been admitted earlier in the day. I didn’t know exactly where he was so, when I got to the ward, I walked around glancing through the doorways. Looking through one, I saw Brenda and Martin standing round the small cot where their son, Brad, was lying, tubes coming from his nose. The image that flashed in my mind was that of Mary and Joseph looking lovingly down on their new born son lying in a Bethlehem manger 2000 years ago. Brad has a health problem that needs a ‘minor’ operation to correct it and I’m sure he’ll be fine; but, as I looked at his parents, I recognised the unmistakable mixture of intense love and real concern for their son that all parents experience in such circumstances. And I looked down upon him sleeping there and wondered what life had in store for this little mite - I pray that the peace of God that is in Mollie will also dwell within him.

As I left the hospital a few minutes later, I realized that, in both wards, I had been in the presence of God, that He had ministered powerfully to me, and that He would continue to hold both Mollie and Brad in His loving arms, two people separated by 200 yards and 81 years.

* names have been changed

"Beautiful as that place may seem ..."

2004-09-22T13:25:00.000+01:00

A bit of a serious thought for today!

Look around most British churches on a Sunday morning and you’ll notice that there’s a whole generation missing from the congregation. The over-35s are well represented and there’s a fair few in the 0 - 15 age group because they come along with their parents (they generally don’t have a choice!). But there are so few in the 16 - 34 age band - they’ve disappeared! Oh yes, you can point to one or two churches that focus their ministry on that age group and find greater numbers there, but, even then, it still represents a tiny proportion of the people of that age who live in that area. The Church in the UK will not thrive, or maybe even not survive, if she doesn’t take this situation very seriously and very quickly.

For many teenagers and young adults going to church today is like us going to a foreign country where we don’t know the language, nor understand the customs. If we felt so out of place and everything seemed so meaningless to us, we probably wouldn’t go back there. I think many church leaders recognise the need to do something about this situation, but feel they’re in a Catch 22 situation: change the main Sunday service drastically and lose the older end of the congregation; or not change and watch the last few young people exit the door. Some churches are, of course, starting completely new services designed to appeal to this group, but it can still be difficult to get them in through the church doors because of previous perceptions about what goes on in church. Other churches are establishing, supporting and encouraging different expressions of being church: for instance, groups meeting in cafes, or bars, to discuss and worship together in ways that they find relevant to them.

I currently favour this latter path and I’m considering how we might begin, or encourage the establishment of, a cafe church in our town. It’s risky, I know, and some won’t like the idea, and we will probably make some mistakes along the way, but we’ll trust Jesus to build His Church, as He has promised (Matthew 16:18). All I know is that, when I stand before Jesus, I want to be able to tell Him that I gave it my best shot.

I’m reading a book called "Mission-shaped church" at the moment and there’s a wonderful quote in there from Vincent Donovan, a Catholic missionary, which really speaks to me and encapsulates my current thinking:

"Do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, beautiful as that place may seem to you. You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have been before."

The pilgrimage motif shines through and is helpful.

P.S., Another book I’m reading on the subject, which I can really recommend, is "The Shaping of Things to Come" by Michael Frost & Allan Hirsch (Hendrickson, 2003) - they’re coming to the UK in a couple of weeks and I’m so looking forward to meeting them.

People time

2004-09-16T09:49:00.000+01:00

Back again after quite a while. I haven’t had any time to post lately because I’ve been spending time with people from my church family and my local neighbourhood - visiting a dear friend in hospital; helping out at the parent & toddler group; praying with brothers and sisters in Christ from other churches; meeting with other local ministers who are under pressure; opening the church up for people to drop in for a coffee; etc.; etc..

If I’m honest, these are the things that I enjoy most about being a Baptist minister - I love being with people, serving them, sharing with them, and receiving from them (and I reckon I receive much more than I give). I find that I learn far more about God from meeting with and walking beside people than ever I do from reading all the theology books on my book shelves (and, believe me, I’ve got a large number of theology books!). What a privilege it is to be invited into people’s homes for afternoon tea (very British!) and a chat; to sit at a hospital bedside and pray with someone; to make coffee for the moms at toddler group and hear about what matters to them; and to talk about Jesus with people, as I walk round my neighbourhood.

Jesus spent time with people: with sick people; with ‘bad’ people; with children; with the people that polite society shunned. He, the Son of God, walked with people every day and turned the lives of many around by bringing God’s love into their lives and shining the light of heaven into their hearts. I pray that I will have the resolve to spend the greater part of my ministry time not with my head in theology books or sat in front of this computer, but in His presence and in the company of those He came to save; and I dare to ask Him to use me to bring that same love and that same light into the lives of people in my church and in my neighbourhood.

A Fellow Traveller

2004-09-07T19:01:00.000+01:00

This morning, I was taking a look at the Real Live Preacher blog and it reminded me of a trip I made to the States over 9 years ago. At the time, I was an assistant professor at a university in the south of England and I’d been invited to give a paper on the spirituality of people with developmental disabilities at the American Association for Mental Retardation’s annual conference, which was being held in Texas that year. A couple of weeks before flying out, I searched the web for a Baptist church in the area I was going to be staying and I found a promising church website which included the pastor’s email address. I made contact with him and he very helpfully said he would collect me from my hotel on the Sunday morning and get me to the school where his church were meeting at that time – I was so impressed and so grateful for his kindness.

Two weeks later, on the Sunday morning, Claude, one of the church members, picked me up outside my hotel at the appointed time and took me to church – a longer journey than I’d expected. When I got there, the pastor was Gordon, and he and the whole church family made me feel so welcome and at ease straightaway – I felt like a long lost friend rather than a first-time visitor!

During Sunday school and the worship service, I was enthralled by the way Gordon led and was especially impressed by the way in which he interacted with the children. It’s 9 years ago now, but the memory of that service is still fresh in my mind – a really great memory that still inspires me. The pot-luck lunch that followed is another good memory!!! In addition, later in the week, Gordon and I went for a Tex-Mex meal in town and talked about a whole load of things, including the fact that I was starting to prepare to train for the ministry in England.

Ever since then, Gordon and I have been e-buddies and I regularly check out his church’s website to see what’s going on. I’ve been a Baptist pastor for 5 years now and I’ve always borne in mind how Gordon led worship that morning, particularly how brilliantly he included the children – I think I learned a lot that morning. One day, when I can afford it, I'll go back to Texas for another tutorial (that’s a promise I’ve made myself!).

You know, we’re all pilgrims on a journey – let’s not walk it in isolation, rather, let’s enjoy each other’s company, encourage and support one another, and learn from each other. Thanks, Gordon (aka RLP), for being such a good companion on the road!

Perfect day

2004-09-06T15:29:00.000+01:00

There are some days which (let's be honest) stink - days when the cat is violently ill all round the house; when you pull the front door behind you and realise that you've left your keys on the table by the phone; when the car keeps conking out every few minutes for no apparent reason, making you late for an extremely important meeting; when you talk to a senior citizen's fellowship group and afterwards realise that your 'flies' were open all the time. Yes, there are some days when you turn to God and just ask Him: "What's going on?"

On the other hand, there are some days which are PERFECT! Yesterday (Sunday) was one of those days. First, I had the great honour of baptising a 15 year-old young lady at my church and you couldn't fail to feel the Holy Spirit moving in that place: her testimony was incredibly moving and inspired us all, and the singing was truly heavenly. Then, we had a church picnic lunch at a nearby country park which includes a small reservoir - spending quality time with our church family was really, really special. After lunch, we went for a walk around the reservoir, took the kids to the playground, played frisbee and boules, and finished the afternoon off by celebrating communion on the grass surrounded by lots of other families who had gone out to enjoy the glorious sunshine. When we got home, we took down the tent which had been up in the garden all week and then chilled out with pizza (as usual).

Thank You, Lord, for that wonderful day - it's days such as that one which make the stinky days bearable.

Prayer for A.

2004-09-03T21:53:00.000+01:00

No time to add much to the blog today - I’m baptising a young woman on Sunday morning and I’m working hard to put the finishing touches to the service.

Please pray for A. as she takes this amazing step.

Cheers.

A pilgrim like Abraham

2004-09-01T16:26:00.000+01:00

"Let me dwell in Thy tent for ever! Oh to be safe under the shelter of Thy wings!
(Psalm 61:4 - RSV)

Abraham was a tent-dweller, so the Bible tells us – wherever he pitched his tent, that was his home. He, too, was a pilgrim, journeying towards the amazing blessings that God had promised him.
I, on the other hand, am not a natural-born tent-dweller – I live in a house and appreciate all its assets: a comfortable bed; a shower; a fridge; toilets; etc, etc, etc. My wife and I went camping a couple of times before our daughter arrived on the scene and I hated every minute of it: stuck in a field, a half mile from the public toilets and shower block, and lying on very hard ground in a sleeping bag every night. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the wide outdoors and walking up hill and down dale, but I really need my creature comforts, so camping doesn’t do it for me!
My little girl had her birthday a couple of weeks ago and we bought her something that she really, really wanted – a full-size tent! Of course, the first thing she wanted to do was to put the tent up in the garden and sleep in it overnight, and what’s more she wanted her ever loving parents to sleep in it with her. Well, I managed to delay it for a while because the weather hasn’t been very good here (what an awful summer we’ve had!), but, on Monday, we put the tent up in the garden ready for the big sleep-out. As the day went on, my daughter got more and more excited about it, while I became more and more apprehensive.
When bedtime came, my wife and daughter got into the magnificent 4-person tent, but I put off the moment for a while, arguing that I had some "really important work to do" first. A half hour later, I got into my pyjamas and crept out the patio door into the garden, praying that none of our neighbours would look out and see me. When I got to the tent, in the dark I couldn’t find where to open the tent’s door flap and had to speak in a very loud whisper to my wife to ask where it was – I didn’t dare look round to see whether I had attracted the neighbours’ attention!
When I finally got in, I settled down in the sleeping bag and felt ... alright! Actually, I was really comfortable and enjoyed breathing in the fresh air. I must have fallen asleep quickly, because I can’t remember any more; and when I woke up in the morning, I felt so refreshed – not stiff, or tired – and I loved hearing the birds singing. We sat in the porch of the tent and each had a cup of coffee from a flask made the night before, and the world seemed a wonderful place!
Last night, we did the same again and, this time, I couldn’t wait to get out there. This morning, I felt better than I have for a long time – I never want to take the tent down, and I’ve even agreed to go on a family camping trip next spring! Maybe I am a pilgrim in the Abraham mold, after all!

Summer pilgrimage

2004-08-31T11:28:00.000+01:00

Just thought I'd post some photos from our summer vacation to the north of England. It was a much-needed time of refreshment for the whole family and we found some incredible places which really ministered to our souls.

I must confess that I am strongly drawn to Celtic Christianity, and the area of England we went to (North Yorkshire and Northumberland in the north-east of England) is one of the cradles of Celtic Christianity in this country. Visiting Whitby Abbey, which was founded by St. Hild in AD 657, and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the base of St. Aidan when he brought Christianity to northern England, was so special - they are remarkably atmospheric places which bring one closer to God.

The older monasteries at Rievaulx Abbey and Brinkburn Priory are also special places for our family, and probably for the thousands of other people who visit them each year. Their walls appear to have absorbed the prayerful words of the faithful monks who served God within them and, as a result, they seem strangely reassuring to us 21st century visitors - a blessing that spans the ages.

We only came back from Northumberland two weeks ago and yet, already, we can't wait to return.

2004-08-31T11:25:00.000+01:00

Pilgrim's Rest 3: Brinkburn Priory and manor house (Northumberland, England) - founded 1135 as a house for the Augustinian canons. A sublime place of peace and tranquillity.

2004-08-31T11:16:00.000+01:00

Pilgrim's Rest 2: Whitby Abbey (North Yorkshire, England) - founded by St. Hild in AD 657 and well worth climbing the 199 steps it takes to reach it!

2004-08-31T11:08:00.000+01:00

Pilgrim's Rest 1: Rievaulx Abbey (North Yorkshire, England) - a Cistercian monastery dating from 1131. "Everywhere peace, everywhere serenity, and a marvellous freedom from the tumult of the world" - St. Aelred, speaking of Rievaulx in the 12th century.

Companions on the journey

2004-08-30T08:49:00.000+01:00

Wow! Monday already and I haven't posted anything for 5 days!

Actually, that doesn't surprise me, because Thursday to Sunday are always the busiest days of my week. You see, I'm the pastor of a Baptist church in the East Midlands area of England and, as the week goes on, the pressure of putting together 2 Sunday services and writing 2 sermons builds up, pushing other things to one side until the Monday morning.

I have to admit that my favourite time of the week is Sunday evening, about 7.30 p.m. onwards, when I have arrived home after taking the evening service. Invariably, as soon as I come in through the front door, I go and flop on the sofa to watch TV with my wife and daughter, and we eat pizza together (made by my wife while I've been at church). It's such a great time: I'm just too tired to do anything very taxing, and it's highly unlikely that anyone from church is going to phone me, so I just slob out with my two 'girls' - it's absolute bliss!

Today's been a public holiday in England, so we went over to see my cousin and his family in their new home. Michael's a Methodist minister and has just moved into the area to oversee several local churches - their house is only 15 minutes' drive away from us and I'm going to enjoy having family living near me (the first time in 20 years). Michael's a wise Christian man who has been in the ministry for many more years than I have, and I look forward to learning much from him - and, you never know, I might have something to offer him.

We all need companions for the journey - in Pilgrim's Progress, Christian was joined first by Faithful, then by Hopeful, on the journey towards the Celestial City. God has blessed me with many wise and holy companions - not least my wife and my cousin. Thank you, Lord!

2004-08-25T12:55:00.000+01:00

The Way of the Cross

The journey starts here ...

2004-08-24T15:52:00.000+01:00

Well, the blog journey starts here, anyway - my spiritual journey, on the other hand, began many years ago. In this blog I want to share with you some of the progress I make as a Christian pilgrim who is trying so hard to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know there will be tears and laughter on the way, and I hope my stories may inspire those who stumble across this blog to join me on the journey. The destination? The Celestial City, of course!

Every blessing to you,