Moving Home

For the last weeks and months, Betty & I have known that we are about to move house. 

After 21 years living in Woking, we have discovered that we have amassed a great deal of junk, and so we have been de-cluttering. 

We are also downsizing, and so have to discard many things for which there will be no room in our new house. 

In these weeks, we have had to say 'goodbye' to many items which bring back precious memories, and that has been both painful and joyful.

I think we have taken stuff to the Recycling Centre on Martyrs Lane (what a great name - martyrs being those who witness to Jesus by their life and death) on about 30 occasions! And what a brilliant place it is to help us all be more responsible with our stuff.

But we are not just moving house, we are moving home, and that has a much deeper significance, for home is where your heart is, as the saying goes. 

The Bible is full of stories of people on the move, heading towards home.

The writer to the Hebrews had a wonderful description of Abraham and the other saints of old.' And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.' (Hebrews 11.9-10)

In this present world, where we are all pressured into believing that our very being is shaped by the things we own, it is good to recall that we are called to be those who are confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

 St. Paul writes, to his friends in Corinth, of the great journey we shall all take one day, as we are called home.'For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.' (2 Corinthians 5.1)

In all our days, this call to leave behind that which is failing and decaying in order to receive that which is eternal and lasting will strengthen us for today's journey. A temporary tent may be fun for a moment, but a permanent palace is much better. 

Therefore, we can all live as those who are on the journey, moving home, to be with the Lord, which is much better.

My next 'Richard's Reflection' will be written from Banbury - possibly later this week!

Best wishes,

Richard

Love Changes Everything

I confess that I have not been to see the musical 'Aspects of Love'. But Ihave heard the fabulous song 'Love Changes Everything' many times.

The music by Andrew Lloyd Webber soars and the words by Black & Hart rise above the mundane to state some wondrous truths. 

All of us know a little of the transforming power of love, in our own days and ways. The Bible is full of the astonishing love of God towards his world and his people. The most famous verse in the Bible states,'For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.' (John 3.16).

The rest of the New Testament unpacks that profound truth.

In the Old Testament, Jeremiah, often known as the Prophet of Doom, because of his relentless message of judgement, reminds God's people of his deep love for them, in spite of their behaviour. 'Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
    With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.' (Jeremiah 31.3)
One of my favourite passages about the love of God comes in Paul's prayer for his friends in Ephesus. 'I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.' (Ephesians 3.16-19)

Paul sees that as our roots will grow down into God’s love, then we are enabled to discover the 3-D nature of God's love towards us, and are made complete - job done! And that all comes as we know the love of God more and more and more.

Remarkably, we are to be the agents of God's transforming love for one another, as together we discover how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

So today, whatever we are doing, my prayer is that we help others to realise that Love Changes Everything!

Best wishes,

Richard

And now what?

The UKIP success in yesterday's two by-elections has caused panic amongst the other parties at Westminster. They are all wondering what must done to counter the inexorable rise in UKIP's popularity. No doubt we will hear many different remedies being proposed from all sides, and some of them will sound pretty odd! And then in May of next year we can make up our own minds. 

In the meantime, there is no obvious answer to UKIP's popularity that makes much sense.

But most of us face difficulties for which there is no obvious answer, whether the issue is personal, family-related, within our community, or more national or global. Rather than having instant fix-it remedies, it seems to me that the Bible presents us with the qualities we need if we are to be Christ-like in our living. 

St. Paul has set out the way of Jesus. 'You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.' (Philippians 2.5-11)

As we can see in the ministry of Jesus, he never pushed himself forward and was willing to give away his rights and entitlements in order to serve others, going all the way to the cross. 

That progressive stepwise descent into choosing his own death sets the pattern for our everyday lives. The only way up is down! 

That principle applies to every day of our lives, whatever we are doing.

Therefore, as we live today for Jesus, whatever we face, we all need to have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 

Best wishes,

Richard

Team Work

Cricket fans will know that Kevin Pietersen has complained about the lack of team spirit in the England cricket team.

His book, published this week, reveals a sad situation of groups within the team pulling in different directions. People will draw their own conclusions about the causes of this disunity, but the team has not performed well in the recent past and relationships have been damaged.

The earliest Christians didn't play cricket, but they did know the need for good team work.

In St. Paul's letter to his friends in Philippi, the first Christian community in Europe, he urges them to grow closer together, and to work at their relationships.'I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.' (Philippians 1.9) 

Knowing that there had been divisions and arguments within the church, Paul tells his friends that he is praying for them. He then sets them the standard by which to live and love. 'Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.' (Philippians 2.1-5)

Paul knows that teams only work well when everyone is committed to show the love of Jesus towards everyone. That way, working together becomes a joy and not a trial. Leaving our ego at the door, and learning to be humble servants of one another is the recipe for great Team Work.

May Jesus help us today to live like this.

Best wishes,

Richard