Are you happy?

We might all like to know what makes people happy, or contentedly joyful.

A long-term study on the lives of people, followed for over 70 years, has revealed many insights, including indicators about what makes people 'happy'. 

It turns out that 'happy' is the wrong word, because that sounds too much linked to events and self-indulgent excitement. The quality they were studying is much more to do with being content and enjoying good relationships and being involved in community activities. Significantly, wealth or poverty made little difference. At root, people who live their lives in relationship, with an outward focus, where they are making a difference for others, and who know and have known what it is to be loved, are those who live longer and are deeply joyful.

While all this is very interesting, it brings into sharp relief other studies which have shown that British children are among the most unhappy or depressed and sad in the world. What is it that these children are lacking, which leads to their attitudes and values? Clearly, too many homes and families are not the centres of love and life which we might imagine.

Jesus addresses these deeply significant issues in the Sermon on the Mount. 

Have we noticed how radical his words are, and how challenging to the consumerist values of our deeply troubled times? 

'“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.'  (Matthew 6.19-21) 

If we took these words seriously, we wouldn't get obsessed with buying ridiculous quantities of Christmas presents, would we?

Jesus concludes his comments about what people worry about - is it me or is it God's will - ' “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.' (Matthew 6.31-33)

Jesus calls us to live radically different lives, which might bring hope to the despairing, and wholesome relationships to those who are lost. Are we prepared to take this challenge? The people around us are dying for hope and life. Will we bring them these, rather than being obsessed with the latest gadgets?
Best wishes,

Richard

Shoebox Target

Imelda Marcos was famous for her obsession with shoes. 

Presumably, she had loads of shoeboxes. 

In our house, we have a few empty shoeboxes, which could be useful.

Operation Christmas Child, organised by the Samaritan's Purse charity, has been providing Christmas presents to needy children in over 100 countries for the last 22 years. In that time, a staggering 94 million shoeboxes have been donated, delivered and enjoyed. Their target is that, this year, they will reach the 100 million milestone.

That would be wonderful, and we can all play our small part in this practical and generous work.

But why is it called 'the Samaritan's Purse'?

The name comes from the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan, who behaved generously and mercifully towards the beaten up man he encountered on his journey from Jerusalem to Jericho. '“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ (Luke 10.33-35)

As the Samaritan paid money to the innkeeper, we can safely assume that he had a purse, from which he provided for the needs of the injured man.  

“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbour to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” (Luke 10.36-38)

Therefore, if we want to do what Jesus says, we also need to make use of the resources which are available to us - an empty shoebox, and some time and a few pounds - in order to provide for a Christmas present for a poor child. How simple and possible for many of us to take part.

Details of what we need to do to fill a shoebox are on the leaflets available in the Coffee Shop, or at http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/

Best wishes,

Richard

A New Commandment

It was very messy.

There was in-fighting, argument, leadership challenges, betrayal and pumped up claims of loyalty. Most people seemed to be playing to the crowd, and jockeying for position.

I am not talking about the Government, the BBC, or even the Church of England. I am describing the Last Supper that Jesus held with his friends. 

And yet in that context, we read, 'This is my command: Love each other.' (John 15.17)

Justin Welby, the next Archbishop of Canterbury commented, when asked how he might address the divisions and arguments within the Church of England, and the world-wide Anglican Communion, that he didn't want Christians to agree with one another, "but to love one another and demonstrate to the world around us a better way of disagreeing." This is what Jesus has called us to do.

Or, as we heard yesterday, 'Jesus loves me' and 'Jesus loves you' needs to be applied as 'Jesus in me loves you'. Every person we meet today is loved by Jesus, and many do not know it. Every other follower of Jesus is loved by Jesus, as much as we are. 

Today, we will all find situations where the love of Jesus needs to be applied - to people and problems. We have the opportunity to be practical, as we obey Jesus' New Commandment.

Best wishes,

Richard

Remembrance

Early November has many opportunities for us to remember people and events from the past. 

On November 1st, All Saint's Day, we recall our own place with all those, living and departed, from throughout the world,  who have been faithful believers in God. What is startling at this stage in the story is that there are more Christians alive today than ever before in the 2000 years since Jesus lived and died and rose again.

On 2nd November, All Soul's Day, the focus is particularly on those who have already gone to glory. 

On 5th November, British people recall the Gunpowder Plot, when Guy Fawkes and others attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, and the King and his counsellors.

And on this coming Sunday, 11th November, we recall those who have suffered as a result of wars.

Unless we take all this remembering seriously, we risk losing our sense of the debt we owe to those who have sacrificed and endured on our behalf. 

Jesus himself told us to make sure that we remember him, in and through what he sacrificed for us. 

St. Paul gives his account of what happened at the Last Supper. 'On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” (1 Corinthians 11.23-24)

Because so much depends on what Jesus achieved in his death, providing forgiveness and fresh start for broken people like us, we need to keep looking back to where it all started. 

But we also need to learn to look forward to the end of the story. 'In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. (1 Corinthians 11.25-26) What happened outside the wall of Jerusalem, as Jesus hung and suffered there not only brings us forgiveness, but points forward to the end of time, when all wrongs will be righted and when God's love and mercy will be seen to have conquered, when 'God himself will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21.4) Knowing this is how the story will end gives us courage to keep right on to the end of the road, as the song says!

So, as we remember the death and sacrifice of many brave people, we also need to focus on what Jesus has done for us. Thjs will reshape our attitude and lives for today and every day.

Best wishes,

Richard

Destiny

Some will see the US election result as a matter of destiny, whatever that means.

Others will be grateful that President Obama has another 4 years to deliver on his hopeful dream of providing a better life for the downtrodden and exploited poor within his own country. 

These are difficult times for all sorts of people, but the poor (or the 'under resourced', as some now call them) usually suffer much more than the comfortable and rich. The prophets of old, such as Amos and Micah have some startling words to those who only care for their own kind. 'Listen to me, you fat cows living in Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, and who are always calling to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!”
² The Sovereign Lord has sworn this by his holiness: The time will come when you will be led away with hooks in your noses.
Every last one of you will be dragged away like a fish on a hook!' (Amos 4.1-3) Amos was a brave man, and his words came true, when Samaria fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC.

But Jesus was equally 'on the side of the poor'. He spent his time with the downtrodden and marginalised, and set about changing their lives and destinies. At the end, while hanging on a cross, he kept up his ministry of hope and help.

'One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? ⁴¹ We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23.39-43)

I am so grateful that we have this little account of Jesus making a difference, in changing this man's eternal destiny. He asked for help, and Jesus promised him a new home.

All of us can play our part in changing the destinies of people we meet. A kind word, and promise of help, pointing to Jesus, and people are then put in touch with the One who can change destinies and lives. What a privilege.

Best wishes,

Richard

Autumn Leaves

Our US cousins call this season 'fall', but we still call it autumn, a word derived from the Latin, autumnus, meaning mature or harvest.

For most of us, autumn is the time when the leaves change colour and fall to the ground, awaiting the wind or human agency to move them somewhere else.

The beauty of autumn leaves derives from the breakdown of the internal green colouring, chlorophyll, and the development of other pigments, which have lain dormant so far, or been masked by the overwhelming green. The colours develop much better, when the leaves have experienced proper cold autumn nights that come with clear skies.

Each species develops its own autumnal appearance in different ways, giving us the beautiful palette of colours that are showing so brightly today. 

Paradoxically, the beauty derives from ageing and breakdown.

St,. Paul, not writing about autumn leaves, makes a profound point about the changes that are taking place in the lives of those who follow Christ.

'That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.' (2 Corinthians 4.16-18)

St. Paul's reminds us that while the physical processes of decay and death are relentlessly working away in our lives, something else is also taking place. For those whose lives are rooted in the promises made to us through Jesus, something of far greater beauty, permanence and significance is also developing, within us. 

We can choose to focus on what we are losing, in physical terms, or focus on what God is growing is us, which is getting better and better - a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! That is why St. Paul is so upbeat, in the face of troubles, because our troubles will not last for eternity, while our rewards are eternal. 

So today, as I look at the beauty of the autumn leaves, I shall thank the Lord for the deep work he is doing in me and others, as we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever!

Best wishes,

Richard

What now?

The Downton Abbey series is over, for the time being. 

What will happen next, not only in that much watched series, but in real life?

Some will buy the DVDs of the last series, and start watching their favourite episodes again.

Some may book onto a P&O Cruise, as they will have watched those appealing advertisements and taken the bait.

Others will have that holiday romance afterglow, when something wonderful disappears when normal service is resumed.

But in the real world, UK & US politics has plenty to keep us glued to news channels.

And then there is our own lives.

How will we live in these next days? Where will we find our direction and destiny?

The prophet Jeremiah, not known for bringing good news, tells his audience of the most amazing 'what now?' scenario imaginable. 

'“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbours, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” (Jeremiah 31.33-34)

This ancient prophecy, given as the Babylonian armies were massing against the tiny nation of Judah, and its strikingly beautiful capital, Jerusalem, is astonishing. Since the time of Moses, 700 years previously, Jewish people had been aware of their ancient covenant with the LORD, their God. The religious rituals and moral life had been shaped by this relationship.

But Jeremiah, and the other prophets had showed that their lives had been barely affected at a deep level. Sadly, too much of their relationship with God was cosmetic and only skin deep. But now, a new depth and reality is promised, where lives are changed from the inside out.

And that is what those who have come to know God's mercy in and through Jesus know in their own experience.

We have a personal knowledge and experience of the LORD God Almighty, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Moses, David and the prophets, because the Spirit of Jesus brings the life of God into our own lives. And we know real life-cleansing forgiveness, through the death of Jesus, rather than the ritual cleansing provided by regular Temple sacrifice.

All of this gives us a new direction, and promises us a secure and eternal destiny.

That is truly God News, that we may wish to share today!!

Best wishes,

Richard