Engine Trouble

When the red oil warning light shines too much, there may be trouble ahead.

If that warning is ignored, it may lead to an expensive repair, or a new engine! Without oil, the engine seizes up.

Sad to say, I have had that expensive experience more than once in my car-owning life.

So, when yesterday, I noted that the oil light stayed on longer than normal, I took avoiding action, and added some engine oil. 

Result - the oil light has stopped staying on, and the engine may survive another few thousand miles.

We often use oil as a metaphor of helping things to run smoothly, in human relationships or within an organisation. Instead of wasting energy and messing up the people involved, the oil of kindness and gentleness can make all the difference.

St. Paul knew that to be the case, especially in the most troubled and divisive church community with which he was involved, namely the Corinthians. Having spent several chapters addressing a series of destructive patterns of life within their fellowship, he gets to chapter 13. 

' Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.' (1 Corinthians 13.4-7)

I often reflect on these words, and run a sort of spiritual MOT on myself, and our Church. By replacing the oft-repeated 'love' or 'it' with 'Richard' or 'St. Andrew's', I see where I or we are falling short. It is startling to see how 'love' would stop gossip, slander, back-biting, cruel jokes and much else which destroys a community from the inside.

In all these issues, we can know the transforming love of Jesus, helping us to be the sort of people who show his love to others.

That sorts out expensive repairs, before they happen.

Best wishes,

Richard

Paralympic Games

The Paralympic flame is on its way to the Olympic Stadium, and tonight sees the opening ceremony.

The journey since the original Stoke Mandeville Games of 1948 is immense. Then there was an archery tournament for patients recovering from spinal injuries. By 1960, there were 400 athletes competing in Rome. This year, there will be 4,200 athletes from all around the world.

In every case, athletes have had to overcome astonishing obstacles, and have shown that character and determination has been essential, in contributing to their own progress.

Most of us do not face these sorts of challenges, but there is much to learn from the stories behind these athletes. I hope we will all be inspired.

St. Paul, another inspiring person who had to face astonishing obstacles, had learned that weakness and frailty were God's gifts to him, when he learned how to trust God in a deeper way.

Paul has been telling his troublesome friends in Corinth of an extraordinary experience he had been given, in which he glimpsed heaven itself. Such an experience could have made Paul very smug. So he then goes on. 'To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. 

For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12.7-10)

Scholars have long wondered what sort of disability, this thorn in the flesh, was. Interestingly, because we do not know, we are able to apply the principle to any and all troubles we may face.

All of us do face challenges - whether they are physical, emotional, intellectual, social or whatever - and I know that I feel very weak much of the time. 'How will I cope?' goes through my mind often. 

The lesson I learn from both the astonishing Paralympians and St. Paul is that in the hands of the Lord, my weaknesses can be an asset.

Best wishes,

Richard

Food Banks

Food Banks have been in the news. 

There are more of them springing up all over the country, seeking to enable the poorest in society to feed their families, while their own income declines. Many of these were established by groups of churches, and have been run effectively by volunteers from all sections of society. Very soon, Woking will have a Food Bank established, as Christian groups and others have been in discussion with Woking Borough Council. 

The Food Bank for Goldsworth Park will be based at the Salvation Army centre, on Sythwood. The staff there are already 'open for business', and are looking to local Christians to supply what is needed. Details about how we can help will be available shortly.

Very close at hand is another source of food for free, the ripening blackberries all across the hedgerows and in wild places. As it only requires time and an empty container to come away with loads of free food, many people could be getting nourishment without expense - if they knew how to use the fruit!

When we consider our spiritual lives, the Bible is the obvious Food Bank which we need. 

Jesus, in his wilderness fast, was tempted by the devil to satisfy his physical hunger with a miracle of turning stones into bread. The way in which he responded is striking. 'But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4.4) Interestingly, Jesus' reply comes from the story of the Exodus, in the book of Deuteronomy. He must have remembered those particular words, and used them in his time of temptation. It makes me wonder whether I will have the necessary words remembered, for times of testing.

In a culture that is obsessed with food - and I myself am in danger of being far too interested in food - I need to recall this basic truth - my soul needs feeding. That doesn't happen by magic, nor by chance. I have to give time and attention to feeding deeply on both the words that I read, and their meaning and application into my life. If I am too busy or preoccupied to read and reflect on Scripture, then I am too busy. My spiritual life demands change, or I starve and go under.

I need to ask myself, 'How am I feeding my soul?'

Best wishes,

Richard

Guilty?

Is Asil Nadir guilty of fraud? The long-running court case ended yesterday with the jury reckoning that he is. But his wife disagrees. 

Is Lance Armstrong guilty of taking performance enhancing drugs during his long and victorious cycling career? The US anti-doping agencies reckon he is, without any evidence, while he has decided to stop the battle to protest his innocence.

And what about Anders Breivik? Is he guilty or mad?

And is the Sun newspaper guilty of breaching the Press standards guidelines, by publishing the Prince Harry pictures?
And is Prince Harry guilty of folly or worse?

And so we could go on!

Of what are we guilty?

The Bible is clear that we are all in the same boat, when we look at the human condition. There may be degrees of behaviour - good and bad - but at heart, we have all fallen short of God's perfect standards, revealed so wonderfully in the life of Jesus.

At the end of nearly three chapters of closely argued evidence, St. Paul makes a bold statement. ' For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.' (Romans 3.23) 

But he then goes on to demonstrate that in sending Jesus, God has provided the perfect rescue that we all need. ' Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.' (Romans 3.24-25a)

So today, instead of pointing the finger at others, whose guilt may be more obvious than my own, I shall thank the Lord for his love and mercy. In the light of such accepting and welcoming love, I shall reapply the medicine of the Gospel, and seek to live as a new person, as St. Paul encourages us all to do. 'And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.' (Romans 12.1) That would be wonderful!

Best wishes,

Richard

On the Move

Around the world, astonishing numbers of people are leaving their homes and familiar surroundings, to escape famine, violence, destitution, and terror. In the UK, we have received  large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers. But most of us can barely imagine what it must be like to have to leave everything that we know and value. By contrast, our lives are very easy and mundane.

But the world of the Bible is much less settled than most of our own experiences. ' The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.' (Genesis 12.1) The whole area of the ancient Middle East was home to both settled communities, whose livelihood was based on agriculture, and also home to large communities of nomadic herders, whose flocks of sheep and goats were constantly on the move. 

When Jesus commissioned his first followers, he expected them to be people ready to be 'on the move'. ' Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.' (Matthew 28.19)

It is striking that Jesus did not say 'Wait for all the nations to come to you!' 

Just as Old Testament prophets like Jonah or Jeremiah were sent to specific people, so the New Testament tells the story of the call of God for faithful followers to be 'on the move', in order to reach out to those who have never heard of Jesus.

The question which therefore occurs to me is whether we are people who are willing to leave behind our settled and comfort-obsessed lives in order to reach out to those around us, so that we are a community 'on the move' with the Good News of Jesus.

Best wishes,

Richard

The Big Picture

"Life is difficult", is the opening sentence for Scott Peck's famous book, 'The Road Less Travelled'. 

"Life is complex" is the opening sentence of his next book, 'Further along the Road Less Travelled'.

The truth that we would probably all agree with is that life is a struggle for many. Whatever shape or form it comes in, most of us have challenges and obstacles in our path every day. And for many, these struggles are too overwhelming. Today's sad news of the apparent suicide of the film director, Tony Scott, merely highlights the pressures that some face.

But if we are followers of Jesus, what might the Lord be doing, when we find ourselves under pressure?

St. Paul addressed that issue in one of his most famous passages, which we often do not read carefully! 

' And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the first-born among many brothers and sisters.' (Romans 8.28-29)

The first sentence (the often quoted Romans 8.28) tells us that God's Big Picture overall plan, even down to the details, is  to work together for the good of those who love God. That takes some believing at times, especially when we cannot see beyond the pain of the present moment. 

But the purpose behind the 'everything' of verse 28 is contained in the next verse. 

God wants all of us to develop the character and qualities seen in the life of Jesus. The only way that that is going to happen is when we learn to cooperate with our heavenly Father in his training regime. Just as the Olympic athletes didn't get to be worthy competitors without some extremely tough training regimes, so we will not become like Jesus by singing a few favourite songs, and pleasing ourselves.

Knowing that the Lord has a Big Picture plan for my life helps me to endure the tough times, and relocates everything in my life in the light of His will and purpose. I find that that makes all the difference.

Best wishes,

Richard

Up or Down?

Is your life going up or down?

At St. Andrew's Church, our lift only goes up from downstairs, and down from upstairs! So the choice is simple to any who wish to use the lift. Not so, if we were on one of the many intermediate floors in London's Shard building, where you could choose either up or down.  

Our lives are similarly complex. When we look at the details, we seem to have an bewildering array of options. But behind each one is a basic choice - Up or Down?

What do I mean?

St. Paul, while in prison in Rome, with the prospect of execution by the Roman authorities, faces his own choice - which he describes as forward or back. When we look closely, it turns out to be a choice about up or down. We can learn from Paul's approach.

'Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.' (Philippians 3.13b-14)

Instead of worrying about what might happen to him, or complaining about how badly he was being treated, Paul refuses to drift into obsessing about the past - failures and successes. His focus in what the future holds, and I am challenged by the way he strains forward, like Mo Farah, in winning the 5000 metres gold medal. For Mo (and the others), finishing well was important. 

For Paul, and followers of Jesus, we know the call of God has a wonderful conclusion, as we share eternity, in the new heaven and new earth, with new resurrection bodies, with our beloved Lord Jesus. Paul chooses to press forward, looking upwards, to what God has promised him. That shapes the small choices which he makes each day. He chooses up and not down.

With that call ringing in our ears today, let us all choose to press onward and upward, rather than drift backwards and downwards.

Best wishes,

Richard

Moving House

As many can testify, the whole process of trying to move house (& home) is one of the most stressful experiences we may have to endure.

Some people get used to it, and are serial nomads, packing up and moving on regularly. Others move once or twice in a lifetime, and have all the trappings of many years to sort through before moving.

And then there is the process of buying and selling, or renting, with all the assorted pitfalls and disappointments. As the Natnael family are about to move to Woking, we have to face some unexpected issues. It would be wonderful to make some progress today, and many are praying that we get it sorted quickly!

Jesus spoke about the issue of moving house, to a permanent home, which he has personally secured for us.

' There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.' (John 14.2-3)

These words, so often read at funerals, speak of the complete certainty which those may know, who have their life in the hands of Jesus. There are no estate agents or lawyers here failing on their responsibilities, or landlords who cannot deliver on their promises. Jesus, in preparing our place, had to go to and through death for us, so his promises are certain.

In that confidence, we can even face the troubles of the present, where uncertainty is certain. Let us learn to trust Him wholly.

Best wishes,

Richard

Generosity

London 2012 has been amazing! 

I guess those who stayed up to watch the Closing Ceremony are weary - it finished so late!

And all that tension when watching events has been hard on the nerves. 

But so much has been fantastic, and beyond our wildest dreams.

As well as all the sports and competition, what Jacques Rogge, Seb Coe and others have noted has been the wonderful generosity of the thousands of volunteers, whose attitude and willingness have oiled the wheels and helped everything to work much better. 

In place of our British gloom and critical spirit, and sometimes in spite of the weather, there has been a sunny feel about everything. It has to be accepted, too, that the Team GB results helped to raise the atmosphere!!!! All those medals, and the attitude of those interviewed after their success or disappointments have played their part.

But genrosity of spirit has been so good to see.

This shouldn't surprise us, and Jesus taught us that ' ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20.35)

Jesus himself lived a generous life, in attitude and action, and He calls us all to follow his good example. It makes such a difference, and brings glory to God and is a blessing to those around us.

Best wishes,

Richard

Fingers Crossed

Have you noticed how many Olympic commentators are forever crossing their fingers, as they look forward to the bewildering number of events that are coming up? 

What is this expressions about?

For many people, it is shorthand for a hope and expectation that there may be a favourable outcome for whatever it is that is about to happen - whether it is a doctor's appointment, an exam, an interview and everything else under the sun (or rain - fingers crossed the weather will be better!)

I recall learning , as a bemused child at my first school in England, that white lies could be told, so long as fingers were crossed. No one on the playground, where I learned such ethical wisdom, could explain what 'fingers crossed' meant. 

So what is behind all this crossing of fingers?

Surprise, surprise, the original focus was on the death of Jesus, who was executed by the Romans, by being nailed to a cross.

St. Paul told his friends in Colossae that the death of Jesus was a powerful victory over all the forces of evil. As well as providing forgiveness for us, Paul points out that when Jesus died, it was as though he dealt with the charges against us that our moral failures have produced. But much more was also achieved by the death of Jesus, as all spiritual forces are defeated and disarmed as well. 

'He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.' (Colossians 2.14,15)

This is wonderfully good news, and everyday we can be living in the light of this wonderful victory.

In the early centuries, when many Christian people were living under persecution, crossing fingers was a way to reveal their Christian identity to a fellow believer. It was a secret code, a bit like the well known 'fish' symbol. But as well as a mark of identification, crossing finers was also a way of indicating that the person was trusting God for his protection and deliverance from evil forces. Over the years, the habit has continued, but most people have forgotten what it signifies, and it becomes merely another petty superstition.

Because of what Jesus has done for us, in dying on the cross, Christians have often learned to invoke God's blessing and protection, by focusing on that sacrifice for us. 

So instead of saying 'fingers crossed' when we are vaguely hoping that things might turn out well, we can remind our Heavenly Father that because Jesus has died for us, we humbly ask Him to protect and deliver us from all the forces of evil, so that His name is glorified. 

Best wishes,

Richard

Mothers

When Andy Murray is playing tennis, the television producers often focus on his mother. When Michael Phelps is winning (or not) at swimming, the producer focuses on his mother. Why is that?

As Ian Thorpe (aka Thorpedo), the retired Australian swimming phenomenon and BBC pundit, said, 'Without their mothers, these guys would never have become good or great sportsmen.' I guess Zara Philips might be thinking the same, as she received her silver medal with the other members of the Equestrian team. 

When we lived in Culcutta, it was my mother who used to take me to early morning swimming training, when I was an 8 year old! 

The Bible is full of praise for mothers, whose role in the lives of their children is so significant.

In most cases, our mothers are our first teachers. ' The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him. ' (Proverbs 31.1)

St. Paul was aware that his friend, Timothy, was set on the right path by bis mother and grandmother. ' I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.' (2 Timothy 1.5)

Jesus was clearly taught and loved by his mother, whose own spiritual insight has been an inspiration to many. When she had had the surprise visit from Gabriel, her response is astonishing (we call it the Magnificat) '“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.  

    How my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!
⁴⁸ For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
⁴⁹ For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.' (Luke 1.47-49)

While we praise God for mothers, let us also remember to pray for them, in their roles as teachers, carers, supporters and so much else. As a poet has said, 'The hand the rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world'

Best wishes,

Richard