Precious Possession

What is your most precious possession? What might you rescue in a fire? Many of us would identify family photographs or some such items that remind us of our family history. The people closest to us are usually very precious to us, and my experience from taking hundreds of funerals tell me that this is true for very many people. What we value most are those nearest and dearest. When ultimate questions are asked, we are not that interested in possessions.

But for much of our lives, we don't live as though our most precious possessions are the people around us. We can easily be distracted by work, hobbies, and playing around with assorted toys or gadgets, so that our closest family and friends don't get the time that they deserve.

The same often goes for how we treat Jesus. 

So the writer to the Hebrews reminds his audience that in Jesus we have a very precious possession. ' So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. (Hebrews 4.14)

We are reminded that ' we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God', in the sense of possessing this relationship. So we are encouraged to make the most of our possessing Jesus as our great High Priest. He is the One who can bring our concerns and experience into the very presence of God, and make the difference we need. ' So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.' (Hebrews 4.16)

Finding mercy & grace to help us just about covers all the bases that we will encounter today. So let us make use of our precious possession, Jesus, today!

Best wishes,

Richard

Grateful Thanks

It was most refreshing to notice most of the bus passengers taking the trouble to thank the driver at the end of their journey. In the swimming pool, many thanked the assistants and staff. It doesn't take long to do, but too often in our frantic culture, people are too obsessed with their own busyness and importance that gratitude goes out with politeness. But I don't want to become Mr. Grumpy in my observations!

I notice that Paul indicated how we should live in relation to each other, and in relation to God.

In relation to one another, he says, ' Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.' (Colossians 3.13)

Paul is aware that none of us is a good as we should be, and we are broken and damaged in many ways. But so long as we recall that Jesus has forgiven us, we can be generous in our attitudes towards each other. If we can learn to apply this forgiveness at an early stage, we will find ourselves less chewed up over our reactions towards other people.

In relation to God, again, gratitude can be the hallmark of our relationship. ' And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.' (Colossians 3.17)

A sunny disposition, which notices what to thank others for, and which is rooted in an amazed appreciation of God's great love and mercy towards us, will be very good for us and everyone else we meet today.

Best wishes,

Richard

Revealed

Yesterday's comments from James Murdoch suggest that he was not even-handed in his responsibilities over the intended takeover of BSkyB last year. Being too close to the Murdochs has been a problem for many in Government over the last 20 years, as the Leveson enquiry and many other enquiries have revealed. What those in power will have hoped would stay secret has become uncomfortably public, and the public are not impressed.

People who wish matters to stay secret usually have something to hide. It is not only tyrants like President Assad, or people in government like Tony Blair and his 10 minute dossier, but also ordinary people like us whose errors of judgement may have had awkward consequences.

Jesus reminded his followers that one day, all secrets would be revealed, and justice would be seen to be done. '“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!' (Matthew 10.26-27)

God's plan for the world is that all secrets will be uncovered, and His chosen means by which that happens is through the faithful preaching and witnessing of the followers of Jesus. He is a God who speaks into the secrets of our hearts, and how we respond to His word reveals what we are like. 

The writer to the Hebrews put it like this. 'For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. (Hebrews 4.12-13)

How we live today, whether in the public gaze or in private, matters. One day all will be revealed. We need to remember that.

Best wishes,

Richard

Building Bridges

The new Elm Bridge and the whole Hoe Valley building scheme are a great achievement. I know there was a lot of disruption, and a big cost, but the finished result looks great,  the bridge is wider, so the traffic flows more smoothly, and the ground works will very effectively deal with potential floods in that part of Woking. Historically, those who built bridges were able to make trade possible, and brought separated communities together. Many of the world's major cities are at places where bridges could be built, across rivers and other expanses of water.

In order to build a bridge, there must be good connections on both sides.

The New Testament presents Jesus as the perfect bridge between our creator God and created humanity. In the Old Testament, the High Priest was that bridge between humans and God. 'Since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.' (Hebrews 4.14-15)

Knowing that Jesus shared our humanity, so that he understands us, means we can have confidence in Him. He is our bridge into the very presence of God. 'So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4.16)

Knowing that God is gracious and merciful will give us encouragement to speak openly and frequently to Him. That will change how we live today.

Best wishes,

Richard

Pay Back time

Are you glad to see other people get their 'Pay Back' time? 

Lots of people are very pleased when the rich & powerful, who seemed to get away with disgraceful behaviour, meet their comeuppance. 

The papers are full of stories of such reverses to people's fortunes - whether the target is (Sir) Fred Goodwin, James Murdoch, Rebecca Brookes or any others you might care to name.

Interestingly, Jesus took a very different approach. ' God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ' (Matthew 5.7)

He pressed this approach further, reminding us of some consequences, arising from a critical spirit. ' ' “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.' (Matthew 7.1-2) At root, we are all fallible human beings, and can all be justly criticised for some aspects of our lives by those who knew our deepest secrets. 

When we are surrounded by people who nurse grudges and are happy when their enemies face troubles, it is hard to live by a different standard. But, Jesus calls us to be different, and to accept that we are all in need of His mercy. With that deeply embedded in our self-understanding, we can learn to be generous and merciful to all we meet. That would make us different from much in our present corrosive culture. How refreshing!

Lets learn to live Hs way today.

Best wishes,

Richard

Peace Makers

Kofi Annan and Aung San Suu Kyi are remarkable people. They are both working for peace, in very different settings. They seek a peace which would be transforming and wholesome, marked by justice and integrity. What the people of both Syria and Burma presently experience are tyrannical regimes which want peace of a sort - the peace where the citizens do what the government says.

It is startling that Jesus called on his followers to be peace-makers. Palestine was then under the brutal rule of the Roman Empire, and there was much which needed to be changed. Jesus said, ' God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.' (Matthew 5.9)

All of us face situations or people which are sometimes or always difficult. How can we work for peace or be peace-makers?

Much will depend on our attitude and approach to the people who are perceived as being at the heart of the trouble. Showing respect and treating with courtesy seem to be the starting points for working towards a better outcome. Our world needs people who will pay the high price of peace-making - all around us. Are you up for it?
Best wishes,

Richard

Jobless or Not?

The numbers of people unemployed, especially of young people, are increasing. The difference in life experiences for those 'Not in Employment, Education or Training' (NEET) are startling, when compared with young people who have jobs, and prospects of continuing career development. While arguments remain about the effectiveness of assorted Government schemes, many young people are struggling to find direction and motivation for their own futures.

The first disciples of Jesus were literally hopeless, following his death and burial. All their dreams had been destroyed, and their own sense of disillusionment and failure must have left them feeling that life had lost all meaning. So they huddled together in the upper room, waiting for their world to collapse even more. They were in for a shock!

'That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” (John 20.19-21)

Jesus' visible presence, with his wounds still visible, provided astonishing evidence of his victory over sin and death. In ways which must have taken weeks and months to sink in, Jesus had transformed the world for his closest friends. So his message of  "Peace be with you" will have provided new hope and prospects. But even more startling was his commission for his friends,  "As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you". He invites and commissions all of his followers to be part of the same job that He Himself was engaged in, sent by His Father. From the start, Jesus had been on a rescue mission, to seek and to save those who were lost. It is wonderful that people all over the world are now part of this process. And that includes us today, here in Woking. Being part of Jesus' commissioned followers gives us direction and motivation, to make a difference in our day.

Best wishes,

Richard

Venus Watching

Venus, the planet, is in the news for two reasons. 

In the week of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations, the transit of Venus will take place. A transit of Venus occurs when Venus passes directly between the sun and earth.  This alignment is rare, coming in pairs that are eight years apart but separated by over a century.  The most recent transit of Venus was a thrilling sight in 2004.  After the June 2012 transit of Venus (the last one in your lifetime), the next such alignment occurs in 2117. So if we want to see this event, we must be prepared.

But another fact, which we could see for ourselves this week, is that Venus, shining this month in the evening sky, can be so bright it can cast its own shadows. 

The light which comes from Venus is not of its own production, but is merely reflected from the sun, the star at the centre of our Solar System.

These observations about Venus remind me of the words of Jesus!

First, in John's Gospel, we read. 'Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8.12) In this respect, Jesus is like the sun in our solar system, the very source of the light by which we live and see. Every day, we can be enjoying this light in our lives.

But Jesus also said, recorded in Matthew's Gospel, '“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.' (Matthew 5.14-16)

The lives that we lead every day are supposed to be so much like the life of Jesus that what others see in us is something which brings glory to our Father. This is a great challenge to us, but presumably, Jesus takes into account that we can only be like this if we trust Him to make a difference in our lives.

Hearing these words from Jesus takes me back to my basic trust in Him. Today, am I prepared to live for Him, or will I live for myself? Will people see Jesus in me, or will people just see me?

How will you answer those challenges?
Best wishes,

Richard

Hear Today

Did you hear the thunder the other morning? As a child, I recall hearing planes breaking the sound barrier on a regular basis, and it was very exciting. But these days, I cannot hear some high pitched whistles which emerge from the sound system at church. Obviously, it must be my age!

Jesus often challenged people with the comment,  “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”  (Mark 4.9) What did he mean?

His opening parable, usually known as the Parable of the Sower, sets out what happens to seed when it is sown. Some lands on the path, others on a rocky place, yet others in amongst the weds, and some falls in good soil. The way those seeds grow and develop is determined by the place the seed lands. Any gardener or farmer would have agreed with his observations. 

So how do we hear God speak today?

I find that as well as taking time to reflect on life, in the light of God's love and plans for me, I also need to be willing to be redirected. There is little point in reading the Bible and praying, if my attitude is that nothing is going to change in my life. But if I come with an attitude of willing obedience, reckoning that God's will is best, then I can hear and receive what the Lord wants to say to me. Paul puts it well when writing to his Roman friends. Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.' (Romans 12.2)

So what changes will the Lord bring into my life today, as I hear him?

And for you too?
Best wishes,

Richard

Challenging Authority

The Government's proposals to allow more legal processes to happen in secret have run into serious difficulties. They have been challenged by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, and  the Joint Committee on Human Rights have also strongly criticised the plans. 

It is part of the strength of our legal and government system that challenges are allowed and even encouraged. This does not happen in other parts of the world.

Some people complain that there is still too much agreed and decided behind closed doors, and those who wish to see greater freedom of information are often resisted.

During the week leading up to his arrest and execution, Jesus was repeatedly challenged. He was questioned in public, and then later in secret and illegal court processes, about his identity and his authority. In the Gospel accounts, it is striking that these direct challenges are recorded for us.

'One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?” (Luke 20.1-2) 

And later, 'Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus.  “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully.  Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Luke 20.20-22)

The opponents of Jesus were seeking to avoid the clear claims of Jesus to reshape their lives and their cosy world of self-interest. He was getting too close for their comfort. So they set up these challenges.

In our different ways, each of us also challenges the authority of Jesus to direct and rule our lives. He is the One sent by his Father to bring us life and hope and forgiveness, and He has the right to shape the direction of our lives, and yet we find ways to wriggle out of doing what He clearly tells us. We develop selective hearing, or get too busy, or merely ignore his teaching and direction. This Holy Week would be a good time to get this sorted.

Best wishes,

Richard

Meal Deal

With Easter approaching, supermarkets are out for more business. Meal Deals are available, with '1/3 off', or '£10 for a meal for two', and so on. I wonder which bargains will attract and deliver good value for money.

Many of us enjoy the food we eat, and are attracted by the possibility of good food, shared with good friends. Hospitality and company go well together. The book of Proverbs reminds us that the company we keep may be more significant than the food we eat. ' Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.' (Proverbs 17.1)

In the week leading up to his death, the Gospels record Jesus enjoying meals with various friends. In Bethany, a small village close to Jerusalem, Jesus is enjoying a meal with 'Simon the Leper', who has obviously recovered from his disease. Their evening is disturbed by a nameless woman who pours very expensive perfume over his head. The dinner guests are indignant, and criticise her extravagance. Jesus' response is striking. ' But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticise her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.  She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. (Mark 14.6-8)

Several questions tumble out of my mind! 

We do have the poor among us all the time, and what have we done recently to help a poor person?

 And what good thing have we done for Jesus recently? Was the cost very high, or did we get a bargain? How much does sharing a meal with Jesus matter to us? or is the food what we are interested in

Best wishes,

Richard

Running on Empty

The panic buying of petrol & diesel has led to many petrol stations having no fuel. Like a pub with no beer, a petrol station with no fuel is almost unthinkable. And in a culture obsessed with driving wherever and whenever we want to go, suddenly people's lives may be affected. 

Here is a startling thought - we may not be able to do what we want!! Shock, horror!! Will some claim that their human rights have been infringed? We don't like it when we are running on empty.

After the brief experience of being a Slum Survivor for two nights, when we simulated the lives of the billions who have nothing, we all could see how we are addicted to greed and gluttony. Without much food, and few frills, music or thrills, life was grey and cold. While we may have appeared to be running on empty, the quality of our human relationships was wonderful.

In Holy Week, as we follow Jesus, we see how he addresses people running on empty. ' I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honour anyone who serves me.' (John 12.24-26)

Facing his own costly self-sacrifice, he knew that it was going to be God's way to bring life to all who respond in faith -  a plentiful harvest of new lives. And he calls us to do the same. Living for others is deep in the very heart and character of God. So we need to be filled again with this fuel, so that we can live the Jesus life for the sake of others. This week is a god time to be filled again.

Best wishes,

Richard