Apprenticeship Training

Here is a riddle. 

What do the Germans do well, and the English (or the British) not do well?

You might have thought I was talking about winning penalty shoot outs or the World Cup or some such trivia. But I was thinking of Apprenticeship Training for young people.

Many are hoping that British companies might start to take on the German model, for the sake of the hopeless young unemployed and in order to improve our own manufacturing base.

But the New Testament is full of examples of effective Apprenticeship Training.

'One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.' (Mark 1.16-18)

Jesus didn't send his new followers away on a college course. Instead, he took them along with him, to learn by relentless watching, listening and doing.

St. Paul was the same, in that he never worked solo, but always in teams. On his second missionary journey, he sets off with Silas, and then builds a larger team. 'Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey.' (Acts 16.1-3) As the story unfolds, it is clear that the team around Paul gets larger and more experienced. The Apprenticeship Training model is very effective.

Today, I shall be walking as an apprentice of Jesus, knowing that he is training and equipping me for whatever comes along. For some of the day, I shall be training other younger followers too. In this way, the work-force becomes both competent and confident, and Jesus' life is shared with those around us.

So how is your Apprenticeship Training scheme going?

Best wishes,

Richard

Prejudice

The headline is quite startling. 'More people in Britain admit to being racially prejudiced'. With data from the British Social Attitudes survey, it was found that 30% of more than 2,000 people polled described themselves as either "very" or "a little" race prejudiced. 

But also today, it is reported that the Archbishop of Canterbury is in Pakistan, to provide support for beleaguered Pakistani Christians (nearly 3% of the population) because of the relentless prejudice, persecution and discrimination that they face from the majority Muslim community.

It seems to me that all of us are prejudiced in many different ways, most of which we keep under cover of social pleasantness. But recent anti-immigration rhetoric has made it easier and even fashionable to speak disparagingly and aggressively about people who are different from us. 

Was Jesus, or Paul or others from the early Christian communities prejudiced? I don't think so, and I face the challenge daily of reflecting the life of Jesus. 

St. Paul, when writing to a group of Christians in eastern Turkey, made this astonishing comment. 'For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile,slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3.26-28)

Being united in our faith in Jesus Christ brings an astonishing sense of sharing in the family of God. Nonetheless, in many churches, there are tensions between different sorts of people. But the principle is clear that we should have no prejudice within the household of faith. 

Learning to extend that generosity to all people because of our shared humanity is much more challenging. Tensions easily surface when communities feel themselves to be under pressure from 'them', whoever they may be. 

St. Paul, preaching in Athens, reminded his Greek audience that we all come from the same source. 'From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.' (Acts 17.26)

So today, I shall aim to see everyone I meet as a sister or a brother, made in the image of God and loved by Him. That should help me deal with my prejudices.

Best wishes,

Richard

Staying Alive!

The Bee Gees' song, 'Staying Alive!', was a favourite in the '80s, and was the theme tune for Saturday Night Fever, and featured in the follow up film, Staying Alive!

When Jesus was seen after his crucifixion, some have suggested that he never died, but that he was just staying alive between Good Friday and Easter Day.

The New Testament makes it plain that when the Romans crucified people, they ended up completely dead, and were then buried. No one ever just stayed alive!

That is what happened to Jesus. He was dead, but God raised him to new life. All the New Testament writers emphasise that the Jesus who is now alive, never to die again, is the very Jesus who went through the depths of death for us. This makes all the difference! 

Thus, the unknown writer of the Letter to the Hebrews opens his closing prayer with 'Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus (Hebrews 13.20)

And the final book in the Bible has this striking reaction from John, as he sees the risen and glorified Jesus. 'When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said,“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.' (Revelation 1.17-18)

When we know that the Jesus who walks with us today is also the Jesus who was dead, and who now holds the keys of death and the grave, that tells me that every problem and difficulty that I face today or any day is going to be manageable and will finally be overcome! As we sometimes sing, 'If our God is for us and if our God is with us, then who can stand against'

This makes all the difference to how we face today's challenges!
Best wishes,

Richard

Guilty!

Abu Hamza was finally found guilty in New York for his involvement in the kidnapping of tourists in Yemen. 

Credit Suisse Bank was also found guilty of enabling wealthy Americans to avoid paying tax.

And no doubt there have been many other high profile court cases in which guilty verdicts have been handed down. Sentences will vary, according to the crimes and the charges.

In most cases, the general public is happy to see convicted criminals getting punished, particularly when there has been a lot of publicity following the case. 

But what really struck me was the reminder that, in God's eyes, I am guilty of failing to live up to his standards. 

From our earliest days, we have all be self-obsessed to one degree or another. And yet the New Testament reveals a glorious fact. 'But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.' (Romans 5.8)

Paul goes further, as he describes God's overwhelming commitment to people like us. 'When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. (Romans 5.6, 9-11)

So every time I hear a report from a court case, when someone is deemed to have been guilty, I will think back to what Jesus did for me, in his willing sacrifice on my behalf. My two reactions will be to be grateful to God for his mercy, and reflect that mercy has rescued me from condemnation.

Best wishes,

Richard

Exploitation

News from Oxford Police suggests that 'a further 50 to 60 young women have been identified as potential victims of a paedophile ring operating for eight years in the city.'

The gang involved are in prison, but the extent of their crimes seems to have been much wider than first believed.

But news from around the world reveals that the sale and exploitation of young girls for sex and other forms of slavery is a massive industry. It is hard to imagine what life must be like for those trapped by this exploitation.

While our focus is usually on those being exploited, it is worth remembering that oppression and exploitation is also destructive for those in the role of oppressor or exploiter. 

No one wins in this degrading cycle of inhuman behaviour.

The words of Jesus, boldly proclaimed in the Nazareth synagogue, ring out down the years, bringing hope of release to all who are exploited. 'Jesus unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. 

He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, 

that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.” 

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (Luke 4.17-21)

Most of us may think we will never encounter people trapped in this sort of exploitation. 

My observation is that there are many in our own area and community who are exploited and degraded, because they are trapped by others, or their own habits, which leave them feeling hopeless and worthless.

The same Jesus who spoke in Nazareth, and who was rejected there and later in Jerusalem, is the Living One who can bring hope and rescue for such victims. We, his followers, are the means by which lives can be transformed. Let us pray that we bring hope and help today to others.

Best wishes,

Richard

Business Parallels

The employers' organisation, the CBI, have spoken of the need for long-term social and political stability, so that long-term investments can be planned and delivered in many sectors of the business world. Without stability there will not be confidence, and without confidence, there will not be investment, and without investment, there will not be growth.

It seems to me that this has some parallels with the growth of Gospel ministry in many situations.

St. Paul encouraged people to pray for political leaders, so that the gospel may be spread more effectively. 'I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.' (1 Timothy 2.1-4) For our church, it helps that many people have been active in ministry at all levels for many years.

Ironically, the New Testament also highlights the spread of the Gospel in times of violent persecution. 'A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.' (Acts 8.1,4)

The business parallel might be the observation that when wars break out, many businesses thrive. There is always plenty of money to be made and spent on the war effort.

From the contemporary Christian scene, we know well that times of trouble and personal upset are often the times when people turn towards God and his Church, to find if help may be available. That presents us with the challenge of meeting the needs of some very troubled people. 

I guess that, like the weather, which is often changing, with sunshine, showers, wind and much that is unexpected, both businesses and the Christian community need to be ready to be open for business in all seasons.

Best wishes,

Richard 

"New for Old!"

Is it possible to make the change from the old to the new?

It was Aladdin, from the Tales from the 1001 Nights, who offered 'New lamps for Old!' As Aladdin discovered, the old was much better than the cheap replacements he was offering.

Lord Myners is suggesting that the Coop Group gets itself a new Board structure, to replace the old one which has so spectacularly failed to over that great organisation. But will the old guard want the new?

Jesus was very clear that the new that he was bringing would not easily fit in with the old that was obsolete.  “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. 

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.” (Mark 2.21-22)

Many Christian communities have struggled to work out the implications of this radical transformation. It is so easy for the movement of the exciting new life of God to become trapped in a rigid structure of rules and requirements. How we work out this challenge will determine whether we go forward into God's unknown future, or backwards into safe obscurity. 

St. Paul challenged the Corinthian church with the same choice. 'So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!' (2 Corinthians 5.16-17)

Because we are new people, we have to learn to treat one another in new ways. Instead of the old habits of self-centred fighting, we are those who have been called to a transformed life, because of the mercy of God. 

'And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.' (2 Corinthians 5.18-19)

We, the reconciled, become God's means of bringing reconciliation and new life to those around. The old ways will never solve anything. Only the new life of Christ can bring the change that will last into eternity. So let us live that new life today!

Best wishes,

Richard

Weaknesses Revealed

Michelangelo's David has weak ankles.

The magnificent Renaissance sculpture, so often copied and photographed, was apparently not made from good quality marble. Over the years, the inherent weaknesses have been made worse because the 5m high statue was made to lean forward for 300 years! Now there are fears that an earthquake or vibrations from passing heavy traffic might make the 5.5 tonne statue fall.

In our own bodies, many of us know that our weakest joints are usually our knees. Wear and tear, old age and sporting injuries all take their toll.

But there are other sorts of weaknesses which may become obvious, as time passes. Instead of time being a great healer, it may be that time is a great revealer. 

Perhaps this is what Gerry Adams is finding at present. The past has a habit of coming back.

St. Paul had time, while under house arrest in Rome, to consider his past life. He knows very well that he had been a persecutor of the early Christian communities. And he also knows that he was turned around by Jesus. He reflects on this. '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 3.13-14) 

Having thought that his own life was proof of being right with God, he now realises that only Jesus can deal with his weaknesses and wickedness. 'I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!' (Philippians 3.9-11)

Today, I am aware of many weaknesses in me. But I also know, with greater confidence with every passing day, that Jesus is my Saviour and deliverer. That is wonderful to know.

Best wishes,

Richard