Developing Endurance

Paula Radcliffe has had to retire from running. 

This is sad, as she has been such an amazing competitor, facing struggles and injuries, and repeatedly getting up and going on. As an endurance runner, she has shown remarkable endurance over the long haul.

I have been struck by how many of those who are competing in the present Games have commented that this has been their focus for the last 12 years. That cannot be said by those Gold Medal winning swimmers who are only 15 or 16! But competing at this level requires astonishing commitment and training. 

The contrast between the endurance shown by so many serious athletes, artists, musicians and actors and the rest of us who watch and are entertained is striking. Our 'instant' culture hasn't made it easy for us to develop the toughness shown by many in a previous generation.

There is so much in the New Testament reminds us that followers of Jesus are going need to develop endurance and perseverance, if we are to make it to the finishing line. On Sunday, Chris focused on the words from James. 'God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterwards they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.' (James 1.12) St. Paul also made this same point again and again. 'We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.' (Romans 5.3-4)

It seems that the Lord's way to train us to develop endurance and patience is to keep piling on pressures, which we find very uncomfortable. We often pray that the Lord would remove the problems - as it upsets our plans - but in His love for us, He sees that a godly character is more important.

While these weeks may be 'holiday' periods, every day is a chance for us to be be shaped by Jesus. I pray that I will learn what He wants to teach me today.

Best wishes,

Richard

Games Legacy

There has been much talk, and high expectation, that London 2012 will inspire young people to aspire to become something great, whether in sport or in any other field. 

Part of the original bid for the Games carried that determined message. The Opening Ceremony brilliantly carried that commitment, as seven young aspiring athletes were given the privilege of lighting the Olympic flame together. 

Investing in the future is essential, or else there will be not Games Legacy.

Our own Children's Holiday Club, so wonderfully completed yesterday, carried the same hope and desire - that children and young people would be inspired to aspire to become followers of Jesus, and find their lives transformed as they encounter Jesus. We had loads of fun and enjoyed many games and jokes. But our serious determination, as a church and community of Jesus followers, is to invest in work among children and young people. 

Jesus challenged his followers to make a difference, and to reach out to the crowds around. 'Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.” 

But Jesus said, “You feed them.” 

“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” For there were about 5,000 men there. 

Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.” So the people all sat down. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterwards, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!' (Luke 9.12-17)

What is impossible for us - to have an impact on the lives of children and young people, and meet their deepest needs, is not impossible for Jesus - if we will offer to him the little we have. He can take it and use it to change people for time & eternity. What a legacy that will be.

Best wishes,

Richard

Growth?

I have never seen the comedy film, 'Honey, I shrunk the kids'. 

Some might say that George Osborn should be starring in a new film, 'Sorry, I shrunk the economy'!

The economic results published yesterday show that the last 4 years have seen what some call 'negative growth' - which is code to indicate that the economy has actually shrunk. 

Similarly, some farmers may find that this year they sowed more seed that they are able to harvest. 

Both the Chancellor and farmers can point to external factors for the poor performance in their particular field. The expected growth has been lacking.

Jesus told a brilliant story about a farmer whose results from his sowing were mixed. 

It makes several extremely obvious point - not all seeds produce good results - and it provides both challenge for hearers and encouragement for sowers. 'Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” (Mark 4.3-9)

Today, all of us may have opportunities to 'plant some seed', by the things we say, and the comments we make about issues in the world around us, or by the random acts of kindness which mark our lives. How those around us respond to the seed which is scattered is not our responsibility. But the story reminds us that there will be some great results, possibly from a minority of those we encounter. But those results will be highly significant. 

Knowing that to be the case, let us continue to spread the seed far & wide!
Every blessing,

Richard

Ready, Steady, Sow!

After the last 2 day's reflections, you may have been expecting 'Ready, Steady, Go!'. 

Today's surprise is that I have changed the phrase from that to 'Ready, Steady, Sow!'

During a wonderful walk last week in the Hampshire countryside, through fields of wheat and barley, I was struck by the long-term forward planning of the farmers. Not know that the weather might have done, they still sowed the seeds, expecting there to be growth and a harvest.

A large proportion of Jesus' parables feature some seed sowing and growing.

“The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”  (Mark 4.26-29)

During the summer holidays, loads of Christian groups run special activities which set out to sow the seed of God's truth and love into the hearts and lives of many children, young people, sports fans, older people and other groups.Hence, 'Ready, Steady, Sow!'

Our own 'On Your Marks' Holiday club started yesterday, and we had a great time with the 30 or so children, and a great team of willing helpers. 

Meanwhile, down in the New Forest, the first Mid Wessex Christian Camp is taking place, under blazing sun and blue shies, with a good group of Goldsworth Park people involved. 

Later this week, others will be off to Dorset for another children's holiday, and then will come Soul Survivor and so on. 

While our role may be like the farmer, sowing seed, the growth comes from the Lord of the Harvest. So please pray that all that takes place will lead to effective and long-lasting growth in the lives of all involved.

Every blessing,

Richard

Steady!

Yesterday, my theme was 'Ready?' Today, it is 'Steady!' You might guess what tomorrow might be about.

As the racers are getting ready to launch themselves into their activity, there has to be a pause, when they learn to be steady. Many a false start has happened when the over-eager start too soon. Their aim is to get some advantage over their fellow competitors, but they may end up being disqualified altogether. Even the mighty Usain Bolt suffered that indignity.

So, being steady, before activity is essential.

The Bible makes this message very clear.

In Psalm 1, the contrast between the faithful righteous and the rootless wicked in made plain. 

Those who don't bother with God are described: They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. (Psalm 1.4)

By contrast, those who choose be close to God are stable and steady. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalm 1.3)

The contrast is obvious, and it all comes back to having deep and nourished roots, which draw up the life of God into our own weak & feeble lives. 'they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. (Psalm 1.2)

St. Paul describes what we should be like, if we are deeply rooted and steady in our Christian lives. I find it to be a most challenging image.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.' (Ephesians 4.14-16)

Steady Christians are stable and fruitful Christians, not easily swayed and diverted by apparently new ideas. We all have a part to play in helping this process to develop.
Best wishes,

Richard

Ready?

Are you ready?
Ready for what?

The countdown to the opening of the Olympic Games is everywhere in most of the media. Even people not interested in all things sporting may have noticed! 

This week, at Church, we are running the Children's Holiday Club, with the title, 'On Your Marks!', which is how people used to get ready for old fashioned races.

But 'getting ready' is a major theme of the Bible.

For instance, John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of Jesus, with his preaching and activities in the Judean desert.

In his first letter, St. Peter reminds followers of Jesus that we must always be ready to be bold and confident witnesses, as we heard yesterday. 'And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.' (1 Peter 3.15b-16a)

Having a clear and concise explanation of our Christian faith is likely to require some careful thinking and practice. But the same is true for the athletes and others involved in the Olympic Games. Those who are ready are those who have prepared carefully.

We can be ready, as Peter tells us, if we think and pray about what we might actually say, when someone asks us, 'Why are you a Christian?' What would you say? What would you say about how Jesus has made a difference in your life? And how would you tell the story of his death & resurrection?

I pray that we will all learn to be ready, when such life-transforming moments come along.

Best wishes,

Richard

Climate Change

With the weather set for a change, from cold & wet to warmer and drier, we may think we have endured the worst. Maybe we are all dreaming of a lovely summer holiday period, with barbecues and outdoor parties and so on.

But wise heads are suggesting that 'we ain't seen nothing yet', as the effects of human-induced climate change bring more unsettled and severe weather in future.

As I wrote last week, we must be prepared to live as people who trust the Lord, 'whatever the weather'.

In ancient Israel, where of course the weather was usually hot and dry, with season rains coming in spring and autumn, the prophets were alert to interpreting the weather as the Lord's way of speaking to his people. In Elijah's time, there was a 3 year drought, as judgement on the wickedness of King Ahab, and his even worse wife, Jezebel.

In Hosea's time, however, the Lord promises a wonderful change in the lives of his people, when they learn to trust Him.

Early in his ministry, Hosea describes Israel's love for their Lord in graphic terms. First, the people declare their desire to put things right, with their own repentance. But the Lord sees through their shallow response.

Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”   

“O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?” asks the Lord.
“For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight.' (Hosea 6.3-4).

But later in his ministry, Hosea brings more hopeful promise from the Lord, again linking this to their experience of altered weather patterns. 'The Lord says,

“Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever.
⁵ I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily;  it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon.' (Hosea 14.4-5) 

Today, whatever the weather, may we know the deep refreshing love of the Lord. 

Best wishes, Richard

Many Hands

The ancient Chinese proverb, 'Many Hands Make Light Work', keeps being proved true.

The National Border Agency, for instance, sacked too many people, so have been unable to do what was required.

Staff cuts all across the UK economy are expected to save money - but often seem to lead to loss of capacity to get the required job done. Those ancient Chinese knew a thing or two! If you want the lights to shine, you must have many hands to help!

Jesus knew a thing or two as well.  “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields." (Luke 10.2)

He was very aware that He could only be in one place at one time, so He sent out teams of helpers to prepare the way for His visits. 

In the gift of His Spirit, Jesus has made it possible for all of us to play our part in the Body of Christ. But when it comes to having enough people focused on specific ministries, Jesus analysis was that there were not enough people to get the job done. So, rather than giving up or giving in to despair, he tells us what to do - PRAY!

The work is His and not ours, and so in dependence and childlike trust, we ask  the Lord who is in charge of the harvest to send more workers into his fields. 

We could all do that. And then Jesus will raise up the people with the resources, gifts and availability that are needed to get the job done. 

Let's do that together. Then the Light of Jesus will shine brightly, and people will be drawn to give glory to His Father.

Best wishes,

Richard

Who's in Charge?

Questions continue to be asked about the security arrangements for the Olympics. 

The boss of G4S will get a roasting later today, but the key questions is 'Who's in Charge?' of the security arrangements. 

The same questions will be asked of the senior staff of HSBC today, as US authorities accuse them of lax monitoring, allowing Mexican drug cartel money to be laundered through HSBC.

And so we could go on. 

When life and systems get complex, we need to know Who's in Charge?

St. Paul addressed this question when writing to his friends in Ephesus. 

Ephesus was a vibrant and complex place, and Paul himself had spent a fair amount of time in that city. It was a multi-cultural mix, with magic cults, idol worship, the magnificent Temple to Artemis, and a successful trade in silver artefacts fed by the religious options available to all and sundry. Everyone wanted a memento from one Temple or idol or whatever - a bit the tourist trash available in the modern world.

So in the new Christian community, drawing together people from every background and culture, the same question occurred. Who's in Charge?

Reminding followers of Christ that we all take our place in the Body of Christ, all with different gifts and opportunities, Paul sums up how that works out in practice. 

First, Paul shows how Jesus has set up the Christian community to function. 'Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ' (Ephesians 4.11-13) Jesus trusts us at a local level to help one another to find our place and style of ministry. That way we grow towards maturity. 

'We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.' (Ephesians 4.15-16)

Under the overall responsibility of Jesus, we have responsibilities to one another - to speak the truth in love - with the intention that we grow together in love and effectiveness. It is wonderful to know that what we do is part of a much bigger plan. 

So today, as i go about the various things which are planned or unplanned, i shall be looking to ask Jesus, as the day progresses, what exactly he wants me to be doing. When I ask the question, Who's in Charge?, the simple answer is JESUS!

Best wishes,

Richard

Team Work

Today, as athletes and officials start arriving for the Olympic Games, all the forward planning will begin to pay off. 

The huge numbers of volunteers and additional paid staff will apply themselves to their work, and much will work well, and many will enjoy the astonishing experience of the next few weeks.

Every time, in recent weeks, that I have been to London, I have been struck by how many Olympic related signs and changes are in evidence. Such a major undertaking does require astonishing levels of team work. No doubt, some things, as the G4S shambles, will hit the headlines. Sadly, all that works well may be ignored.

On a much smaller scale, locally, both the Lakeview Funday on Saturday, and our own Outdoor Church and Barbecue yesterday demonstrated how good it is when teams of people work together to make something good happen.

Yesterday, as we worshipped together and then served together and enjoyed one another's company, there was something of a aroma of heaven in our time together. 

St. Paul described Christian team work in terms of the parts of a body working in collaboration. 'The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.' (1 Corinthians 12.12) As we know, not everything in our bodies works as well as it might, and yet while we are moderately fit & healthy, we enjoy the benefits of collaboration. And within our local Christian fellowship, it is wonderful to see different people sharing together in helping the local Body of Christ to be seen and known. 'All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.' (1 Corinthians 12.27)

St. John has two very startling observations about how people see or encounter God. We may be quite familiar with the first, as it has a flavour of Christmas about it. 'No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God,^[d] is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.' (John 1.18) The second one comes from a later reflection on how ordinary people encounter the God they do not yet know. 'No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.' (1 John 4.12)

Today, whatever we have to do, we can continue to play our part, whatever that is, in so living that others see God in Christ through us. What a privilege.

Best wishes,

Richard

Whatever the Weather

At the moment, the sun is shining and the sky is blue and dotted with fluffy clouds. How lovely! 

But it won't last!
We are due another soaking later today, and then assorted weather in the days that follow.

Many of us are hoping that our activities this weekend will not be affected - tomorrow's Funday on Lakeview from 1 to 4pm, and our Outdoor Church on Sunday morning, followed by our Church Barbecue.

Facing this weekend, some people might say 'fingers crossed' or 'touch wood', to indicate some desire to affect the weather.That is of course just godless superstition. So what can we say about the weather?

Jesus faced people who were much like us in our cares and worries. He knew that there were plenty of worriers in his audience, and he first reminded them that our Heavenly Father cares about people like us. ' “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (Matthew 6.25-26) 

We often worry about the details of our lives, precisely because we think the Lord has forgotten about us. But Jesus tells us that we are valuable to our Father. That is good!

But then he reminds us that our thoughts need to be in line with his desires for us. ' “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.' Matthew 6.31-33)

Again, notice that Jesus draws a distinction between what we may want - particular food, clothes or drink - while our Father knows what we need! If our desires are for His glory and the growth of His Kingdom, then He will give us everything we need. 

And of course, this a remedy for our worries, Whatever the Weather. Living wholly committed to His Glory takes the pressure off our worries. We can trust our Father to work through us and in us, so that He gets the praise.

So let us trust the Lord for tomorrow and Sunday, and ask that he is glorified in what we do and how we do it.

Best wishes,

Richard

Silver Lining

In this wet summer, is there a silver lining to be discovered?

Yes! Cherries galore this year! Nationally, this wet weather has encouraged a good harvest of plump juicy cherries - according to the Waitrose weekly newspaper. Our own cherry tree, which has hardly ever produced more than a handful of cherries, because it is never watered enough, has this year done much better! And the blueberries are the best yet - because they like wet conditions! And our loganberries are also ripening as large plump fruits, much better than when I have tried to water them enough in drier summers. So, a fruit-laden silver lining to this cloud-laden summer.

The brother of Jesus, the Church leader and apostle, James, had some startling things to say about the silver lining which we may discover when things don't work out the way we want them to.  ' Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. ' (James 1.2-4)

Most of us are naturally allergic to thinking like this. 

Our culture and our lifestyle habits teach us to get what we want, and to moan and be dissatisfied if we don't get it when we want it. Our greed and impatience, which has deep roots in all of us, doesn't want to hear what James says. 

The truth is that God's deep work in our lives can only happen when we are forced into places of discomfort. That is when we learn that we are not the answer to our problems, but that God alone can rescue and deliver us. It is not surprising that it takes time in tough circumstances if we want to see our  endurance fully developed.

So let us look for God's silver lining in the present difficulties we may well be facing these days.

Best wishes,

Richard

Good for Growth

Looking ahead on assorted weather forecast websites, the predominant feature for Woking's weather in the next few weeks is 'rain showers'. Occasionally, there are images of a shining sun, but this is slug and duck delight time!. 

And at last, our very own hosepipe ban is lifted. Apologies for mistakenly announcing this some weeks ago!

The clever people have been able to tell us that this is all because the high altitude jetstream is not in its normal summer position, so we get low pressure over us, and that means rain!

The world of the Bible is used to much drier conditions. So farmers in the ancient Middle East looked forward eagerly to summer rain! It provided sufficient water to grow good crops. And behind the daily events of the growing seasons, the faithful people saw the good gifts of God.

' You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so.
¹⁰ You drench the ploughed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. (Psalm 65.9-11)

While we would all prefer some warm and dry weather, I believe that we do well to focus on the good gifts of God that we do enjoy, rather than our wet summer. All of us can grow deeper in our daily trust in the Lord, as we see what He to grow in us, whatever the weather!

Best wishes,

Richard

Mis-selling

Mis-selling seems to be catching.

The banks have all been paying enormous fines for mis-selling some of their products - Payment Protection insurance, I think.

GlaxoSmithKline have been caught doing the same thing, and are paying a $3billion fine in the US. But most pharmaceutical companies send out dodgy details about the effects of their new drugs - check out the interview on Radio 4's Today programme. The famous film, The Fugitive, with Harrison Ford, tells the story of one such dodgy company!

But while others are doing it, I wonder whether Christians sometimes mis-sell the Good News of Jesus.

When the Gospel is presented as 'Come to Jesus and everything will be fine!', or 'Trust in Jesus and you will get a better job and bigger house and car', that is blatant mis-selling. So what did Jesus say?

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  (Mark 8.34-38)

That is pretty clear, and should leave us in no doubt as to what to expect. 

Jesus himself paid the price for his uncompromising stand against human wickedness, and we too will find we are called to bear mocking, and much pain and trouble, as we seek to bring this ONLY message of hope to people around us.

But let's not make the mistake of those whose over-enthusiastic marketing mean they end up mis-selling.

Best wishes,

Richard

Payback Time

First Barclays is found to be cheating. Today, of course all eyes will be on Bob Diamond's appearance before the Common Select Committee. Where is this story going to end?

Now, another great British company, GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical giant, has been fined $3billion in the US, for cheating in the sales in their costly drugs.

And there were times when we thought bankers were honest and decent, and that doctors and others committed to helping us recover from sickness were to be trusted. 

But greed has done for both - and they have been caught out too!

Both companies will no doubt claim that 'everybody is doing it', which may be shown to be true. But that doesn't make it OK.

St. Paul had some sharp words to his friends in the early Christian communities in Galatia. 'Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.' (Galatians 6.7-10)

Those whose job it is to monitor and investigate the behaviour of large companies have a difficult job. The processes which they use may or may not reveal the truth behind corporate cover-ups. But Paul reminds us that we cannot mock the justice of God.

While we may watch in astonishment to the charges against these large companies, we must also take care with our own lives. Paul helpfully sets out what we must do to be sure of reaping a great harvest, that glorifies God and is good for those around us.

Today, all of us can set out to live to please the Spirit - which involves us keeping on doing simple acts of goodness, whenever we have the opportunity. Then we can trust God with a good Payback Time.

Best wishes,

Richard

Mind Stretching

Whenever as a family, we used go on a long car journey, we would aim to stop for a break after 90 minutes or so. Someone say they needed 'a leg stretch', which has caused amusement for some in the family! Of course, our legs don't stretch, but they do get stiff and enjoy being able to move more easily.

But how often do we take the trouble to stretch our minds? 

Much of modern life, with its relentless busyness, encourages us to be passive absorbers of entertainment, and we too easily allow ourselves to become rigid and limited in our thinking. 

I have to ask myself when was the last time that I explored a new subject area from my usual diet or discovered a new avenue of thinking. As the Psalmist confessed, we are 'fearfully and wonderfully made', and our loving Creator God has given us the capacity for enquiry and curiosity. These are what drive our desire to learn and think. 

In his struggles with his suffering, Job is confronted by God, who asks him some startling questions. 

' “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
    Tell me, if you know so much.Who determined its dimensions
    and stretched out the surveying line?What supports its foundations,
    and who laid its cornerstoneas the morning stars sang together
    and all the angels shouted for joy?' (Job 38.4-7)

Job was challenged to approach the world of nature in humble adoration of the One who made it all. But it is also assumed that a man like Job has been inquisitive and curious about the whole world of nature. 

In his own way, Job must have been a bit like an ancient version of David Attenborough, as the chapters sets out a wonderful description of the ancient natural world. 

“Can you shout to the clouds
    and make it rain?
³⁵ Can you make lightning appear
    and cause it to strike as you direct?
³⁶ Who gives intuition to the heart
    and instinct to the mind?
³⁷ Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?
    Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
³⁸ when the parched ground is dry
    and the soil has hardened into clods?

³⁹ “Can you stalk prey for a lioness
    and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
⁴⁰ as they lie in their dens
    or crouch in the thicket?
⁴¹ Who provides food for the ravens
    when their young cry out to God
    and wander about in hunger? (Job 38.34-41)

This evening, upstairs in Church, we will have a chance to have a 'Mind Stretcher' as we consider issues of Science and Faith - are they Friends of enemies? Do come along, at 8pm, if you can.

Every blessing,

Richard

On the Margins

At Guildford Cathedral yesterday, a large congregation of friends and supporters witnessed the ordination of thirteen deacons, sent to serve in assorted parishes in the Diocese. I was there, to support Daniel Natnael, who starts work with us on Goldsworth Park today.

The preacher, Andy Wheeler, from St. Saviour's, Guildford, and with long experience in ministry in Africa, spoke of the way in which those ordained, and the Christian community in the West, are at the margins of the growth and expansion of the global Church. While exciting growth and expansion happens in Asia, Africa and South America, we are often struggling. But the Bible has encouragement for us.

One of the texts for his sermon came from Luke's account of the first African convert to Christ. ' As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.(Acts 8.26-28)

Philip's obedient action led him to a man on the margins, in whose heart God had been working. At first sight, a single man in a carriage in the desert did not look a likely place to share the Good News of Jesus. But Philip asked a question - 'Do you understand what you are reading? - and had a chance to explain about Jesus, and the man was baptised, and went on his way rejoicing. 

All of us will meet people today, who may be at the margins of faith. Just as Jesus commissioned his first followers, ' Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.' (Luke 10.3) - so he commissions us. 

If we learn to respond in obedience to the nudge of the Lord, we too will find ourselves on the margins, with those in whom the Lord is already working. Then, we too will have the joy of seeing the Lord at work, as lives are turned round. 

Please remember to pray for Daniel and his family at this exciting time.

Best wishes,

Richard