Climate Change

After a lovely warm and sunny weekend, many may be more inclined to believe that climate change is on the way! 

But today's UN report on the consequences of increasing changes in our global climate is going to provide plenty of issues for governments and populations to consider.

The expected increases is temperatures will not only melt the ice in the Arctic and Antarctic, but will lead to bananas and coffee crops being reduced, and much else besides. How we respond to such challenges will determine how life will look in the future.

Changes in the climate are not the only changes taking place around us. Political and economic, as well as social and technological changes, are also happening all around us. 

So how do people who have faith in Jesus respond?

The Psalmists reflected often on how we learn to trust God when everything around us is being turned upside down. 

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  
So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 
Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! (Psalm 46.1-3)

On the night before he was arrested, tried and then executed - a time of terrifying change for his followers - Jesus said, 'I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16.33)

In order to face changes responsibly, whatever they are, we need to know that through Jesus, we have stability and security. That brings us a peace which nothing can touch. That then means we can live with confidence that Jesus will keep his promises and we will be able to share this with others.

Best wishes,

Richard

Deadly Conflict

Syria's torment continues, with statistics relentlessly emerging to show the appalling numbers affected. Millions of refugees, over a hundred thousand killed, including 11000 children deliberately targeted, and no end in sight.

But this is what civil wars are like.

I have been continuing to read the history of the civil war, between Parliament and the King, in our land. Again, there was appalling brutality, and unbelievable numbers suffered.  In 1644, for instance, half the population of Bolton was killed in a massacre. 

While this illustrates that our deepest suffering is caused by those closest to us, it also shows what Jesus meant when he spoke of a house divided against itself. “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart." (Matthew 12.25)

But Jesus is also teaching us that the forces of darkness and evil are determined to overwhelm and destroy the forces of light and goodness. They will not succeed, but they are set on doing their worst to get us down. 

'But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.' (Matthew 12.28-29)

To know that Jesus is the stronger man who has the power to overwhelm the forces of darkness and evil gives me great confidence in these difficult times. As Jesus said, 'I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.' (Matthew 16.18)

Our greatest need to is to keep trusting Jesus, whatever comes our way today and throughout these days.

Best wishes,

Richard

Hearing Test

Like many older people, I am aware that I don't hear as well as I used to, especially at higher frequencies.

But yesterday, while on my bike along one of Goldsworth Park's many foot and cycle paths, I was approaching a pedestrian from behind. So I repeatedly rang my bell, to give good warning. However, the young lady (!!) didn't show any signs of having heard me, so I slowed and gave her a wide berth. On looking round, I realised why she had not responded - she was listening to music through her earphones, so was deaf to all that was happening.

This is an increasing feature of modern life. What people choose to hear affects how they connect to the world around. The personal and private world of the iphone's music effectively separates people from the wider world of their immediate location. Does this matter? That will depend on your point of view.

Jesus spent much of his time challenging people to think about their listening. 'Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Mark 4.24-25)

Pay close attention to what you hear suggests we need to concentrate, and resist the many distractions in the confusing world all around us. The rewards from this close attention are great, as we get to know Jesus and his will and way for us and our particular lives. 

I am challenged to review my lifestyle choices. Do I listen to too much background music when I need to be fully aware of something very different? How should I modify my working habits, so that I am fully engaged with the task in hand?

What might you change in your lifestyle, so that you are better at listening to Jesus?

Best wishes,

Richard

First things First

When life is a muddle - the disappearance of an airliner, or the collapse of a mountainside - we hear people saying that the focus of action must be 'First things First'. 

We all understand that in the midst of a crisis some matters have to be left until later. Getting priorities clear and rightly addressed often means that difficulties can be better handled.

It is therefore distressing when, with the wisdom of hindsight, it becomes clear that due diligence was not paid, and that priorities we muddled. This appears to have happened in the cases of deaths at Deepcut barracks, or in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Those in charge of investigations were looking in the wrong places.

Jesus challenged all of us to apply this principle in our own lives. 'Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.' (Matthew 6.33)

I guess that most of us struggle to keep the focus in our lives sharp and clear. There are so many conflicting demands and calls on our time, energy and resources. It seems impossible to maintain a determined commitment to put Jesus at the centre of our lives, however many time we may sing the song, 'Jesus, be the centre'! 

And yet, we can train ourselves and encourage one another in this relentless battle, so that increasingly we find our lives being re-shaped by the One we seek to serve. And then we can trust Him with all we are and all we have. When we get 'First things First', then God is glorified, others are blessed and we are amazed at God's goodness.

Best wishes,

Richard

The Great Escape

Today, in Poland, there will a memorial for those 76 brave prisoners of war who escaped from Stalag Luft Three, as retold in the film, The Great Escape.

Most were recaptured and then 50 were executed by the Gestapo. Only three made it to freedom.

What is most striking in the film is that the prospect of escaping from prison and reaching freedom created in many a new sense of hope and purpose. Instead of accepting the inevitability of staying imprisoned for the rest of the war, many chose the much riskier challenge of working towards freedom. Only a few made it, but the many chose the risk rather than accept the safe course.

There are parallels with the call that Jesus gives to his followers. '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.' (John 12.25-26) And again, '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.' (Mark 8.34-35)

The relentless call to followers of Jesus is to be ready to lay down the entitlement which our culture values so highly in planning and running our lives for our own agenda. Instead, Jesus calls us to be ready and willing to die for him.

In Mombasa yesterday, a Church was attacked, and 17 worshippers were shot. So far, 4 have died of their injuries. Please pray for Christians in Kenya, who face the cost of being disciples of the Christ who calls us all to lay down our lives for him.

Are you ready for this cost? See how much he did for you, before you answer.

Best wishes,

Richard

Connected for Growth

The HS2 Growth Taskforce report argues that "HS2 can help rebalance the economy, kick-starting growth and regeneration in our cities." 

In order to be effective, plans must be put in place so that many towns and cities are connected to those stations where the HS2 will be passing through. Local authorities need to create "delivery bodies" to design growth strategies for each station on the route and integrate them into local transport networks.

Essentially, if areas in the North and Midlands are to see growth, they must be connected to the new rail network.

This, of course, reminds me of words from Jesus, spoken just before his arrest. Jesus tells us that in our own lives, if we want to be fruitful, we must stay connected to him. 'Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.' (John 15.4-5)

Throughout this day, with whatever happens around us, we can remain close to Jesus, and then his life will supernaturally flow through us, transforming all that we do. Other people will be blessed, and we will changed to be more and more like Jesus. That will be much better than if we tried to muddle through on our own.

So today. my challenge is to stay connected for growth.

Best wishes,

Richard

Doing the Sums

George Osborn will present his Budget today, and many will be watching and listening for hints of growth or wealth or free hand-outs!

But behind what is presented today will have been weeks of careful (we hope!) 'doing the sums' work, as numbers have been crunched, and trends will have been analysed. As Chancellor of the Exchequer, he has people around him who should be informing his decisions with wisdom and courage. What is planned must be carefully costed, in order not to lead to further trouble.

Jesus told two brief stories for would-be followers of his to consider. 

Here is one of them.  "For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’ (Luke 14.28-30)

Too often, people have rushed into following Jesus without working out the implications for their lives. Pulling out or dropping out makes them look foolish, and brings no glory to Jesus. 

So Jesus reminds us all of these requirements. ''And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost.' (Luke 14.27-28)

All of us need to count the cost and 'do the sums', and weigh up carefully what following Jesus will mean in the daily practicalities of our lives. 

I was reminded yesterday, in a thought-provoking conversation, that the Jesus we follow is the one who willingly took up his own cross, and went all the way to death for us. I was reminded that he counted the cost and did the sums - particularly in the Garden of Gethsemane - and so I too am challenged for today and every day to take up my cross - being willing to die for Him! 

Have you being 'doing the sums' for your own following of Jesus?
Best wishes,

Richard

Before the Big Bang!

So the Big Bang really happened! That is what the news tells us.

The evidence, from studying light from deep space, with its echoes of the gravitational waves (whatever they are!), confirms the predictions of Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawkins that something very startling happened when the universe burst into being.

We usually reckon that a second is a short time. Some sporting records are set in hundredths or thousandths of seconds. But this event - the sudden expansion of everything from the size of an atom to the size of a grapefruit - happened within trillion trillion thrillionth of the start of everything! I cannot quite imagine that - but it is astonishing to think so far back!!

While I wonder at the brilliance of the scientists, and their ways of explaining this to people like us, I am reminded of some astonishing words from St. Paul, to his friends in Colossae. These words were written less that 35 years after Jesus was crucified. 'Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. 

He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.' (Colossians 1.15-17)Paul is telling us that Christ shares the eternal nature of God, and was the agent of God's creative activity! So before the Big Bang, Christ existed and now that creation has come into being, He holds it all together. It may seem like the  wheels are coming off, wherever we look in the human world - police corruption, political opportunism at home and abroad, injustice, civil wars and much more. But Jesus is in control, and he has done all that needs to be done for everything to be put right, if only we let Him work his miraculous life into ours.'Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. 

So he is first in everything.For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.' (Colossians 1.18-20)

These astonishing words reveal God's plan of saving the world, which has been carried through, at great cost and sacrifice - on the green hill outside the city walls of Jerusalem.

I continue to marvel at the power of that reconciling love at work in my life and the lives of many people around here. As we often sing, 'In Christ alone, my hope is found, He is my light, my strength my song'

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Best wishes,

Richard

Mental Health Cuts

Mental health support services have always been the poor relation in the overall health provision. Providing good services for those suffering with mental health problems is not nearly as attractive to those deciding funding priorities as many other options.

The lives of very many people are blighted by their own mental health issues, and the sense of isolation and misunderstanding from the wider public makes matters much worse. And when services are reduced, many lives are further put at risk. 

The BBC report states, 'Cuts to mental health services in England will put lives at risk, as funds are reduced for schemes aimed at reducing suicides, ministers are warned.'

The reasons which will be trotted out again will be that when everything else is under pressure, provisions for mental health services will have to share the burden. As usual, those in greatest need will pay the highest price.

In the Old Testament, the prophets regularly reminded the people of God, who had drifted away from God's priorities, that they should return to basic matters as a matter of urgency. 'Come back to the Lord and live!
You twist justice, making it a bitter pill for the oppressed.
    You treat the righteous like dirt.

How you hate honest judges!
    How you despise people who tell the truth!You trample the poor,
    stealing their grain through taxes and unfair rent.
Therefore, though you build beautiful stone houses,
    you will never live in them.
Though you plant lush vineyards,
    you will never drink wine from them.' (Amos 5.5-10 edited)

In Amos' day, the rich were keen to build bigger and better houses, and have wonderful wine to drink, but the poorest were treated as worthless. We see the same in our day, and often it is those with mental health issues who are treated most shabbily.

Jesus promised to bring real life to those who would receive it. 'The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.' (John 10.10)

How glad I am that Jesus can bring us the life that is life indeed. Let us also work to bring that life to others, especially the most vulnerable.

Best wishes,

Richard

Hurt People hurt people

We all learn from the people around us. 

It is also often noted that those who experienced violence and brutality in their own childhood are most likely to repeat that sort of behaviour in their own lives. Abused people often end up abusing others.

We are all shaped and formed by the events we have been through - for good or ill. And so Rick Warren has come up with this slogan 'Hurt People hurt people'.

This observation would easily lead us to hopeless despair, because it suggests that the cycles of pain and destruction can never be broken. It presents a situation in which we are trapped, imprisoned by our past, and unable to break free.

But the story of the Bible repeatedly shows how God sets people free from the prisons of their own past. 

The cheating and scheming Jacob is changed by the God who reveals himself, and who is forever known as the God of Jacob. The slaves in Egypt are set free and become the people of Israel (=Jacob!)

St. Paul loved to tell his own transformation, from hateful persecutor, into faithful missionary. 'And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.' (Acts 22.4-5)

He used to hurt people, by his actions and attitudes, but he became a transformed agent of the love and mercy of God. 'For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.' (Acts 22.15)

When we have encountered the love and mercy of God, as revealed to us in Jesus, we can be changed by that love to become the people we were made to be. 

This gives me hope every day, as I meet broken people who are presently set on a course of repeating cycles of destruction and dysfunction. Jesus can set people free, to becomes his agents of mercy and blessing.

Best wishes,

Richard

Lost

The disappearance of the Malaysian airliner continues to yield no clues. 

We sometimes talk of things 'vanishing into thin air', but we know that is merely a figure of speech. Whatever happened to that plane and its passengers, it is fair to say that they are lost. This has terrible consequences for the friends and relatives, colleagues and neighbours of those who were on that flight. People they knew are now lost.

We often talk of people 'having lost their way', or 'lost the will to live'. Being lost has a terrible impact on the people themselves. Someone told me yesterday that things were so awful in their life, that that they wanted to end their life.

The Gospels tell us that Jesus came to 'seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19.10)

This particular story, of Jesus meeting Zacchaeus, the tax collector, brings me hope, when I see the difference that Jesus made in his life.

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” (Luke 19.8)

I often meet people who know they are thoroughly lost. 

Things have happened in their lives, often one thing followed by many others, and hope has gone, and life seems to be an endless cycle of disaster and chaos, with broken promises and shattered self-worth. 

All I can do is remember that Jesus came to rescue people who were lost. The famous story of the man with two sons ends with this comment. 'For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’” (Luke 15.32)

Increasingly, in our Church, we encounter such people. They have tried other ways, and found them to be useless. Then they come to St. Andrew's and encounter the people of Jesus, and in some cases, a miracle happens.

Please remember to pray for those who know they are lost, that they will discover that Jesus can rescue.

Best wishes,

Richard

Defragmentation

Yesterday, I did a 'spring clean' on my old and slow laptop. 

In the trade, it is called 'defragmentation'. It seems to take ages, but what happens is that the clever computer tidies up everything in its memory, so that things work better and faster. 

The same thing happens when I tidy up my study.

When I get round to putting all the books from my shelves back in the right place and when all my papers are properly filed - instead of stuff being everywhere, and difficult to find - then my working practices are much easier and quicker!

In both cases, getting rid of the clutter and rubbish - old letters or half written-on scraps of paper - means that life becomes simpler. The rubbish is sorted, so that I can see everything in its proper light.

St. Paul described that same process in his own life. 'I once thought these things (his Jewish background and sense of national pride) were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as rubbish, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.'  (Philippians 3.7-9a)

In learning to trust Jesus, Paul found his own life defragmented. Instead of being in pieces, like Humpty Dumpty, he had discovered that Jesus had put him back together again. And that was a wonderful transformation.

During Lent, we have a chance and the challenge to do the same with our own lives. Nothing will happen for the better, if we don't take decisive action to address the worthless rubbish in our lives, and to take steps to deal with the attitudes and actions which don't help us following Jesus. This determined action will lead to us being able to grow in knowing Jesus better. And that is worth the effort. As Paul went on to say, 'I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.' (Philippians 3.12)

Best wishes,

Richard

Count Your Blessings

Today, Ash Wednesday, is the start of Lent. 

For many, Lent is a time to give up something, often rather trivial and not much related to what Jesus did in his 40 days in the wilderness.

What is more deeply concerning with these little acts of deprivation is that the focus is usually on our apparently worthy self-effort, rather than growing in closeness to God. 

But there is a better way to grow in closeness to God during Lent.

May I encourage everyone to sign up to http://www.40acts.org.uk/

Having signed up, we will receive a daily email which gives a practical way to become more generous, throughout Lent.

So today's email from 40acts suggests  'Create a journal, and begin Lent with a gratitude list. What things are you thankful for today? Next write a wish list - not the usual kind - this is a list of the people you'd like to bless throughout 40acts.'

St. Paul reminded us that we have so much for which to be thankful. 'Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.' (1 Thessalonians 5.16-18) People who are relentlessly cheerful and thankful to God are people who are generous and positive in all situations. The world around them seems brighter. I am looking forward to sorting out this Journal with its list of things for which I am thankful today - and then I will make my list of people I wish to bring hope and encouragement to.

What will you do to mark the start of Lent?

Best wishes,

Richard

Child Care Costs

Today's news highlights how much it costs to provide child care for children. In the midst of the discussion on the Today programme, the interviewer asked a question which threw the 'experts'. He asked, 'What was best for the children?' It didn't get answered.

Parents are often stuck in a bind, with the government, the prevailing culture and the cost of living all making it hard to make decisions which are good for everyone involved. I know many parents who feel trapped by the present situation. No parents want to do something that is not good for their children, but managing to deliver what seems 'the best for the children' is a struggle, particularly as 'the best' will depend on the parents' point of view.

Parents in Jesus' day faced similar, though different issues. The Gospels record how often Jesus referred to children or encountered them in his own ministry.

'One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them,“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.' (Mark 10.13-16)

For these parents, putting their children into the arms of Jesus, so he could bless them, was clearly important. Clearly, for his disciples, this was not important. Jesus teaches both the disciples and the parents what really matters to him.

But Jesus makes a wider point about how we can enter a whole new world, where the priorities are set by God, and not by the prevailing culture. Childlike dependence, rather than sharp elbowed grabbing, is to be the entry requirement. That costs all of us, whether parents or not, as we learn to give up our own will, and learn to live for others, for the sake of Jesus.

What shapes the decisions you make about children, their care and the requirements set by Jesus?

Incidentally, at St. Andrew's Church, we have deliberately invested in improving our ministry to children and their families, so that we can bring more children to Jesus. I hope you think this is worth supporting.

Best wishes,

Richard

Chosen to Copy

Many modern-day students have found ways to copy the work of others, and then seek to pass it off as their own. It is called plagiarism, and it is strictly forbidden. Getting caught can lead to immediate expulsion from the course. 

But when Jesus chose his followers, and told them to copy his example in their lives. We discovered this yesterday morning in our All Age worship.

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them: “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. Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ (Luke 10.1-2, 9)

As Ed reminded us, to be chosen by Jesus is an astonishing privilege. Today, if we can live in the light of this fact - I am chosen by Jesus - it can transform the way I do everything. 

What we do and how we do it will also be shaped by our careful attention to what Jesus did and how he did it. 

He directed his chosen followers to copy his action with his attitudes. Therefore, we should pray for more people to join the 'Jesus team' as there is plenty of work to be done. So let us ask him to send more workers into his fields.

And like Jesus, our ministry involves both words - tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now - and actions - Heal the sick!

So today, we can recall this foundational reality, that we are chosen to copy Jesus. 

When we live like that, we will be changed, others will be blessed and God will be glorified. That sounds like a 'win, win, win' result.

Best wishes,

Richard