Exactly what it says on the tin

The other day, I served a guest at our home a mug of tea, but it was in a Horlicks mug. So I apologised that 'it was not what it says on the tin'. Fortunately, my guest understood my remark (I think!)
The series of advertisements, for assorted Ronseal DIY products, with 'exactly what it says on the tin' slogan are so well known that it has spawned a series of TV programmes and even a song with the same line. 'Does your degree do what it says on the tin?' was a Guardian article on careers advice.
As followers of Christ, are we what our label says? What sort of followers are we?
During Lent, I am challenged to think about this sort of uncomfortable question.
How wide is the gap between what I sing on Sundays, and how I live during the week?
Or to put it another way, does what I sing on Sundays help me to aspire to be closer to the follower of Jesus I would like to be?
The early Christians had exactly the same questions, and the New Testament writers provided helpful answers, and challenging teaching.
'Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.' (Hebrews 10.23-25)
Clearly, the writer realised that we can all easily drift in our Christian lives. Hence, the repeated call 'Let us' - which is a call to helping one another to keep going.
I am so aware that I constantly need the support of other Christians if I am to keep going in the right direction. Meeting together, on Sundays, and in Small Groups, provides an opportunity for mutual encouragement, when we think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
If we did that, then we might we do exactly what it says on the tin.' Wouldn't that be good?
Best wishes,
Richard

Survival Plan

While the Greek economy staggers onwards, no one seems to have a sensible survival plan for the people of Greece, nor its economy.
The same could be said for the terrible situation in Syria, which looks set to get much worse.
But some wonder whether the whole economic mess in the world can be fixed, especially by the very same people who caused the problems.
Wherever we look, things appear very bleak. After years of plenty, with feasting on every side, we now look to be heading for years of hardship and enforced fasting on every side. Do we have a survival plan?
The story of God's people is of God providing a survival plan.
From the earliest times, has been of a people facing hardship and struggle. Enslaved in Egypt, then set free only to wander for 40 years in the desert. Much later, exile and captivity, and prophets speaking of God bringing water to the desert. Years later, the story moves on.
'Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 
During that time the devil[a] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
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 4.1-4)
God's survival plan for all of us, as shown by Jesus, is that we should be so deeply rooted in God's promises and provision for us that He enables us to survive. As we sang in Church yesterday, 'When i'm faced with anguished choice, I will listen for Your voice' (watch this YouTube clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l8RVhxndYg

We see Jesus doing exactly this, and it made Him strong to live. His survival plan was what we need. So we need to read the Bible regularly, and learn to trust the Lord, by practice and habit.
Best wishes,
Richard

Fighting Talk

Politicians of all shades love to sound big & tough, giving the impression that they can fix whatever the problem happens to be. Fighting talk is the name of the game. But as we all know, words are cheap & easy, while action is much more costly and difficult.
All of us face troubles and challenges, and during Lent the focus for many is on exactly these struggles. Just as Jesus went into the wilderness to face his demons, so all of us have real and significant battles to fight.
We can talk about giving up chocolate, or cutting down on our alcohol intake, or fasting from watching too much television, but where the action is needed is on the struggle against temptation and sin.
The writer to the Hebrews has much to encourage us with.
'Since Jesus himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.' (Hebrews 2.18)
Jesus' identification and shared experience with human beings like us gives him the qualifications to draw alongside us in our struggles - whatever they are.
Having then described Jesus as our High Priest, who makes it possible for us to draw close to God who is holy and perfect, the writer reminds us of Jesus' sympathy. 'This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.' (Hebrews 4.15-16)
I am therefore reminded that whenever and however I face temptations and challenges today, I don't need fighting talk about my own determination to 'be strong' or 'sort it out', but I need to trust Jesus to make a difference. Crossing fingers won't help either, but trusting Jesus will.
Best wishes,
Richard

Testing Times

What else can go wrong?
First, I lost the use of my laptop - hence no messages for several days.
Then, my back has become twisted, as some of you noted on Sunday. Many thanks for your prayers and concerns.
And now it is Ash Wednesday, when we recall the start of Jesus' 40 days of testing in the wilderness. 'The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.' (Mark 1.12-13)
Imagining what Jesus went through is very testing in itself, as we have little grasp of what even 2 or 3 days of total solitude might be like. Interestingly, Mark says nothing of his fasting, nor of the specifics of his particular temptations. The parallel between Jesus' experience and the people of Israel in Moses' time, journeying through the wilderness, and being tested for much of that time, is very marked. They failed, but Jesus was faithful and true.
In what ways are we tested? Many & various, I would guess.
And what might we learn through the process? That all depends on how we respond. St. Paul had some straight talking with his Corinthian friends, reminding them there was no excuse for failing in our Christian living, because of the faithfulness of God. '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)
So let us learn to trust the lord, one day at a time, and find he brings us through.
Best wishes,
Richard
Check out the Tearfund Carbon Fast materials -

http://www.tearfund.org/en/get_involved/campaign/campaign_updates/campaignnews/cc_201111_carbon_fast_2012/

Being Counted

Two speeches this week have put Christian identity in the spotlight.
First Baroness Warsi, the only Muslim member of the present Cabinet, speaking in Rome to Vatican officials, highlighted the role of confident Christians (possibly code for involved Roman Catholics) in providing a stable and tolerant society.
The next evening, at Lambeth Palace, our Queen started her Jubilee events by drawing attention to the benefits deriving from the established position of the Church of England.
Both women celebrated the role of Christians in the public sphere. Our faithful presence counts and makes a difference.
The contrasting reality is that many of our brothers and sisters are fearful of being identified. It takes some courage to be be known and respected as a faithful Christ-follower.  I have known many times the crippling desire to be an invisible Christian, just in case I was mocked or thought to be 'uncool'.
Jesus spoke powerfully of the consequences of our being his followers. '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.' (Mark 8.34)
Part of the cost of being a disciple of Jesus is that we are willing to be counted as one of His followers. That does have a price tag. Being unwilling to be known as one of His followers also has a price tag! 'If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8.38)
Today, some of our young people are going away on the Youth Weekend. Please pray that they and we will learn how to live for Jesus in private and public, so that He is glorified.
Best wishes,
Richard

Tree Surgeon

One of our neighbours has had two of the oak trees near their house pruned and all the small branches trimmed. The Tree Surgeons were up in the trees for 2 days, and the finished product looks very sad.
The home owners will get more light into their house and garden, and fewer leaves in autumn, for a time. But the oak tree will recover remarkably quickly, and new growth will be even more vigorous than before. That is because it has deep and healthy roots, which enable it to keep growing, whatever happens above ground.
Jesus spoke of 'My Father is the Gardener' - or we might say, Tree Surgeon. '“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.' (John 15.1-2)
At this stage, Jesus doesn't describe how increased fruitfulness happens. From observations of trees and bushes, his audience would know that the secret lies in the root system.
So that is what he then describes. 'You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 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 15.3-5)
Events happen in our lives which are like the visit of the Tree Surgeon, and some features of our life get pruned. It may be declining health or changed family circumstances which then leads to diminished options for us. But fruitfulness comes from good roots - close connectedness to Jesus.
If we put our focus on keeping close to Him, then He will produce the fruit we long for.
Best wishes,
Richard

On the Margins

Recent events have suggested to some, including Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, that Christians in Britain are being being pushed to the margins.
Research by the Evangelical Alliance made the same point, though I found it hard to recognise the symptoms which were their evidence. Maybe some feel under pressure and marginalised, while others do not!
What can we do about it?
In the new Testament, there was no special privileges or position for followers of Jesus. In fact, the prevailing wind was a strong blast of aggressive persecution or mockery. So St. Peter writes to the Christians he is supporting, encouraging good behaviour, whatever the weather.
'It is God’s will that your honourable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.  For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.' (1 Peter 2.15,19-21)
This is very challenging stuff, and teaches us what we might be unwilling to do. Fighting for our rights is so deeply ingrained in our culture, that we easily forget our responsibilities to shine for Jesus, especially when the going is tough.
So whether we are on the margins, or in the thick of shaping our culture, let us be grateful for the example of Jesus. 'He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.  He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.  Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. (1 Peter 2.22-25)
Jesus brings us in from the margins and welcomes us into the Father's home and family. That is a good place to be.
Best wishes,
Richard