Part of today's Budget aim must be for this Government to plan for its own future. They will be wanting to have successors, and the only way for that to happen is if they are successful in sorting out the present economic situation. All of this could be called 'succession planning'!
It is said that every Church is one generation away from closure, as we can never take for granted that people may want to become members. So every church, even St. Andrew's needs a plan.
St. Paul was very aware of this issue, and when writing to his younger colleague, Timothy, he pointed out what needs to be done.
'Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.' (2 Timothy 2.1-2)
Passing on what we have received and learned is what one generation does all the time. But Paul points out that the particular targets of Timothy's attention should be those who are gifted and trustworthy to fulfil this responsibility. The life-saving message of the Gospel is what we can pass on - and we need to use all means to get this done, amongst all age groups.. Hence, we have a range of activities targeted at different sectors of the community around us.
What part are you playing today in succession planning? Pray that we get this right.
Best wishes,
Richard
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Soldiers and Farmers
Yesterday's lovely sunshine and the lengthening days remind us that winter is in the past - and summer of some sort is on the way. I wonder how the garden will grow - will the flowers, vegetables and fruit produce a harvest? Not without some hard work! We will have to wait and see.
The hostilities in Libya are moving ahead, but none of us knows how things will turn out. Again, we will have to wait and see..
When St. Paul tells Timothy, his young colleague to behave like a soldier or a hard working farmer, he is making many points.
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And hard-working farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labour. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.' (2 Timothy 2.3,4,6,7)
Soldiers need to keep their focus on the job in hand - and as soldiers of Jesus, we are not free to get on with a self-centred life. They also have to trust their commanding officer, that he knows what he is doing. So with us - today, Jesus expects us to obey him, even if we don't know how things may turn out.
And the farmer need patience to see the fruit of his labours. No quick gains for farmers. Again, we need to trust the Lord of the harvest to grow what He wants through our labours.
Today, in the rush and bustle of activity, I need to think about what Paul says - so I grow wiser!
Best wishes,
Richard
The hostilities in Libya are moving ahead, but none of us knows how things will turn out. Again, we will have to wait and see..
When St. Paul tells Timothy, his young colleague to behave like a soldier or a hard working farmer, he is making many points.
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And hard-working farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labour. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.' (2 Timothy 2.3,4,6,7)
Soldiers need to keep their focus on the job in hand - and as soldiers of Jesus, we are not free to get on with a self-centred life. They also have to trust their commanding officer, that he knows what he is doing. So with us - today, Jesus expects us to obey him, even if we don't know how things may turn out.
And the farmer need patience to see the fruit of his labours. No quick gains for farmers. Again, we need to trust the Lord of the harvest to grow what He wants through our labours.
Today, in the rush and bustle of activity, I need to think about what Paul says - so I grow wiser!
Best wishes,
Richard
Monday, 21 March 2011
Fighting Talk
The airwaves are full of comments and discussions about what may or may not be happening in Libya. Winston Churchill observed, "'Jaw, Jaw' is better than 'war, war'", but things have moved beyond talk, for better or worse. It is not just the airwaves that full. The air itself has planes that are flying and bombing, and missiles that are destroying. And no one knows how things will turn out.
When we consider the spiritual warfare in which all of us are engaged, there may be more fighting talk that fighting.
St. Peter, who had known the shame of failing Jesus so publicly, reminds us how we should respond. 'Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.' (1 Peter 5.8,9a)
We have to stay alert, because we are always on duty, never being out of the enemy's firing line. As St. Paul told his friends, his secret of overcoming was a change of control in his life. 'It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.' (Galatians 2.20)
That slogan, relentlessly applied, will make a difference for us too. I must remember that, so I can win for Jesus today.
Best wishes,
Richard
When we consider the spiritual warfare in which all of us are engaged, there may be more fighting talk that fighting.
St. Peter, who had known the shame of failing Jesus so publicly, reminds us how we should respond. 'Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.' (1 Peter 5.8,9a)
We have to stay alert, because we are always on duty, never being out of the enemy's firing line. As St. Paul told his friends, his secret of overcoming was a change of control in his life. 'It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.' (Galatians 2.20)
That slogan, relentlessly applied, will make a difference for us too. I must remember that, so I can win for Jesus today.
Best wishes,
Richard
Friday, 18 March 2011
Home or Away
The world is a sad place for many people.
More than 4 million people are away from their homes, driven away by wars, violence, local tyranny and natural disasters. These figures, from the United Nations, reveal the scale of human misery, and most of these people are fleeing local aggression and terror from their governments.
Libya is just the most recent and most publicised country where violence is on the menu. In Woking, I come across many from Zimbabwe and Nigeria who are refugees and asylum seekers. But for all such, 'home' is a distant memory.
Much of the Bible story recalls the experience of being away from home. First, there were the slaves in Egypt. Then, the Jewish community, deported to Babylon in the sixth century BC, experienced the full weight of exile. And while there was a physical return from exile some years later, many continued to believe that they were still in exile, away from the presence of their God. Things were just not right.
So when Jesus told th story of the Prodigal Son, there were many echoes of the experience of God's people.
The foolish, runaway son, far away from home, realises the error of his ways. ' “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.' (Luke 15.17-20)
All of us know our experience of being away from the God who made us. In our human drive for independence and self-government, we strike out to prove ourselves. In the process, we cause untold pain and grief to those around us, and sadden our Father's heart. But when we return, He is waiting to welcome, embrace and restore us. That is such good news for us and for all our friends too, who may be far away from home too.
Best wishes,
Richard
More than 4 million people are away from their homes, driven away by wars, violence, local tyranny and natural disasters. These figures, from the United Nations, reveal the scale of human misery, and most of these people are fleeing local aggression and terror from their governments.
Libya is just the most recent and most publicised country where violence is on the menu. In Woking, I come across many from Zimbabwe and Nigeria who are refugees and asylum seekers. But for all such, 'home' is a distant memory.
Much of the Bible story recalls the experience of being away from home. First, there were the slaves in Egypt. Then, the Jewish community, deported to Babylon in the sixth century BC, experienced the full weight of exile. And while there was a physical return from exile some years later, many continued to believe that they were still in exile, away from the presence of their God. Things were just not right.
So when Jesus told th story of the Prodigal Son, there were many echoes of the experience of God's people.
The foolish, runaway son, far away from home, realises the error of his ways. ' “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.' (Luke 15.17-20)
All of us know our experience of being away from the God who made us. In our human drive for independence and self-government, we strike out to prove ourselves. In the process, we cause untold pain and grief to those around us, and sadden our Father's heart. But when we return, He is waiting to welcome, embrace and restore us. That is such good news for us and for all our friends too, who may be far away from home too.
Best wishes,
Richard
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Blasphemy
Recent news has told of the assassinations of two courageous politicians, who have campaigned against the Blasphemy Law in Pakistan. First, the Muslim Governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, and then the Minister for Minorities, Roman Catholic, Shahbaz Bhatti, paid with their lives for challenging this law and its implementation.
In this country, the Blasphemy Law was finally revoked 2 years ago. That law was originally established in order to protect the Christian faith, particularly in its Anglican form, largely as a means of maintaining the power of the crown.
It is striking to recall that Jesus was arrested and then condemned on the basis of a charge of blasphemy, brought by the High Priest and the Sanhedrin. The high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?”
“Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!” (Mark 14.61-64)
But St. Paul reminds his Roman friends that we can behave in such a way that brings dishonour to God, which is similar to blasphemy. 'No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”' (Romans 2.24)
Instead of bringing shame on the name of God, will there be enough evidence today to show that we are fully devoted followers of Jesus? I pray so.
Best wishes,
Richard
PS This evening, at the University of Surrey, I am on a panel of speakers at the Pakistan Students association, addressing the topic 'Need for Blasphemy Laws in a Multicultural Society'. Please pray that I can point to Jesus!
In this country, the Blasphemy Law was finally revoked 2 years ago. That law was originally established in order to protect the Christian faith, particularly in its Anglican form, largely as a means of maintaining the power of the crown.
It is striking to recall that Jesus was arrested and then condemned on the basis of a charge of blasphemy, brought by the High Priest and the Sanhedrin. The high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?”
“Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!” (Mark 14.61-64)
But St. Paul reminds his Roman friends that we can behave in such a way that brings dishonour to God, which is similar to blasphemy. 'No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”' (Romans 2.24)
Instead of bringing shame on the name of God, will there be enough evidence today to show that we are fully devoted followers of Jesus? I pray so.
Best wishes,
Richard
PS This evening, at the University of Surrey, I am on a panel of speakers at the Pakistan Students association, addressing the topic 'Need for Blasphemy Laws in a Multicultural Society'. Please pray that I can point to Jesus!
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Civil War
News from Libya suggests that the that troubled country may be slipping towards civil war. The arrival of Saudi troops in Bahrain doesn't look much more hopeful, as the Sunni ruling family try to overwhelm the protests of the Shia majority in that tiny oil-rich state.
History tells us that civil wars are often the most brutal and destructive, as both sides fight to a standstill.
I pray that God's mercy may be discovered in these troubled times.
It is therefore startling that the New Testament tells followers of Jesus that we are engaged in a deadly civil war every day - within our own lives.
St. Paul, to his Galatian friends, tells them of the relentless conflict going on. 'The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.' (Galatians 5.17)
Knowing that we are in a civil war zone may help us to take appropriate actions. We can take time to listen to the Spirit's promptings, and learn to recognise the voice of the enemy, and he tries to divert or destroy us.
Or as Paul told his troubled friends in Corinth, 'The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.' (1 Corinthians 10.13)
Then, the choice of who wins will be our responsibility. Looking to Jesus to help us will mean today can be a day of great victory. What a prospect!
Best wishes,
Richard
History tells us that civil wars are often the most brutal and destructive, as both sides fight to a standstill.
I pray that God's mercy may be discovered in these troubled times.
It is therefore startling that the New Testament tells followers of Jesus that we are engaged in a deadly civil war every day - within our own lives.
St. Paul, to his Galatian friends, tells them of the relentless conflict going on. 'The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.' (Galatians 5.17)
Knowing that we are in a civil war zone may help us to take appropriate actions. We can take time to listen to the Spirit's promptings, and learn to recognise the voice of the enemy, and he tries to divert or destroy us.
Or as Paul told his troubled friends in Corinth, 'The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.' (1 Corinthians 10.13)
Then, the choice of who wins will be our responsibility. Looking to Jesus to help us will mean today can be a day of great victory. What a prospect!
Best wishes,
Richard
Monday, 14 March 2011
Giving Up
In Lent, people often talk about 'Giving Up!' But what they are talking about is giving up something like chocolate or alcohol, or some other minor consumable.
In yesterday's sermon, Julie May reminded us that something much more significant would be Giving Up time, in order to offer it as a gift to God.
Time is our most precious commodity - as we cannot have more or less of it. Therefore, Giving Up time, in order to make a willing sacrifice for the sake of Jesus, will move us significantly forward in our Christian discipleship.
But some may ask, why should I be Giving Up time for Jesus?
How about this verse from Paul to the Romans? 'But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.' (Romans 5.8)
Out of his great love for us, Jesus gave up his very life to rescue us. So our response might be Giving Up time - in order to grow to be closer to Jesus.
Julie reminded us that our loving Lord wants to speak to us today and every day, so that we can be led by the Spirit. But that will only happen as we learn to listen to his voice -which takes time.
So what are you giving up for Jesus today?
How about Giving Up time, so that you can be quiet enough to let Jesus lead you by his Spirit to be somewhere, say something or do something which is a Spirit-prompted response?
Best wishes,
Richard
In yesterday's sermon, Julie May reminded us that something much more significant would be Giving Up time, in order to offer it as a gift to God.
Time is our most precious commodity - as we cannot have more or less of it. Therefore, Giving Up time, in order to make a willing sacrifice for the sake of Jesus, will move us significantly forward in our Christian discipleship.
But some may ask, why should I be Giving Up time for Jesus?
How about this verse from Paul to the Romans? 'But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.' (Romans 5.8)
Out of his great love for us, Jesus gave up his very life to rescue us. So our response might be Giving Up time - in order to grow to be closer to Jesus.
Julie reminded us that our loving Lord wants to speak to us today and every day, so that we can be led by the Spirit. But that will only happen as we learn to listen to his voice -which takes time.
So what are you giving up for Jesus today?
How about Giving Up time, so that you can be quiet enough to let Jesus lead you by his Spirit to be somewhere, say something or do something which is a Spirit-prompted response?
Best wishes,
Richard
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