"it's brightening up!"

On summer holidays, when the rain was pouring down, one member of our party would often say, "It's brightening up!" And it often did!

George Osborne and others may be reckoning that with the drop in the inflation rate (to 2%), that we will all share his enthusiasm far praising his own handling of the economy. Maybe he believes that 'It's brightening up!"

For myself, I have spent much time in recent weeks with people who have no sense of optimism, as their financial and family situations seem to get worse and worse. Debts and folly go hand in hand, and the vulnerable are preyed upon by the ruthless. For such people, there is not much sign of "It's brightening up!"

Hope is a fragile commodity, and Christian people are called to bring substantial hope to people struggling with darkness and despair.

A wonderful verse from the Book of Proverbs catches the mood. 'The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.' (Proverbs 4.18)

As followers of Jesus, the Light of the World, we too carry that brightening light with us daily, to those in the deepest darkness. I pray that we will bring that light-giving hope and life to people around us today.

Best wishes,

Richard

Whenever you see a Rainbow!

Did you see that astonishingly bright rainbow yesterday at about 12.30pm?

The sunshine was about to be engulfed in heavy rain, and there it was - startlingly coloured, hanging in the sky. 

It looked as though the crock of gold was somewhere in Horsell! But from Goldsworth Park's viewpoint, that would be about right.

I am sure many people have been able to study rainbows, and earn their doctorates from their studies. But at the level of popular imagination, rainbows are everywhere, and bring a sense of hope and beauty.

The Bible mentions the rainbow, in the aftermath of the Great Flood, as the Lord speaks to Noah. 'Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.” (Genesis 9.12-17)

In view of the recent rains and flooding in many parts of the south, it is good to recall that God is a promise-making and promise-keeping God, whom we can trust with all the big worries and fears that loom so large in our lives.

I recall, from many years ago, singing a short chorus about the rainbow, which had simple words, suitable for children of all ages. 'Whenever you see a rainbow, whenever you see a rainbow, whenever you see a rainbow, remember God is Love!' Great message from the God who made us and loves us.

Best wishes,

Richard

United, we Stand!

The peoples of the Middle East are deeply divided today over their responses to the death of Ariel Sharon. 

To many Israelis, he was one of the last of the founding soldiers and statesmen, from the original settlers, and will be honoured as such. But to Palestinians and others, who recall the killings in the Lebanese refugee camps, he was a brutal tyrant.

The deep divisions in the Central African Republic, and in Southern Sudan continue to deliver terrible suffering and hatred.

Closer to home, and yet with profound consequences, the Conservative Party is again deeply divided about Europe, and this story looks like running and running. 

In all these situations, some wise leaders may well see that it is important to work for stable and justly based unity. But how can unity be found?

In many respects, the world-wide Christian community is also deeply divided, and yet we all know that Jesus prayed that his followers would be deeply united. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.' (John 17.20-21)

The unity for which Jesus prays is not just a convenient functional unity, but one which is deeply rooted in the nature of God. When we are far from God, and trying to run our lives for our own convenience and to meet our own selfish desires, then it is not surprising that we can find many things over which to argue and fight.

But once we have started to follow Jesus, and have become children of God, then our very nature is changed, and we discover new desires. And that profound new life-change leads us to be praying and working towards that unity for which Jesus himself prayed.

In all the troubles and tragedies we see in the world around us, let us also pray for Christians from all backgrounds to grow to be more profoundly united. The consequence of that will be more open to seeing the hand of God at work in Jesus and through us.

Best wishes,

Richard

"Listen Carefully!"

Memories of 'Allo, Allo' may come flooding back for some.

Or maybe, a teacher's comments to a dreamer in class.

Or a choir director to those not quite hitting the notes.

In our noisy and muddle culture, with so many sources of sound and information, my hunch is that not much listening goes on. 

The ancient prophets repeatedly instructed people to listen carefully to the word of the Lord. Isaiah's famous call was to preach to people who wouldn't listen. 

'Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” 

I said, “Here I am. Send me.” 

And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, 

‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. 

Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ (Isaiah 6.8-9)

When Jesus was teaching people, his repeated refrain was to encourage people to listen carefully, and then to take appropriate action. 

After telling the parable of the Sower (or the Soils), Jesus commented, '“Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Mark 4.24-25) The quality of our listening will have profound consequences, for good or ill.

So it is all the more wonderful that the Wise Men, who visited the child, Jesus, in Bethlehem, were tuned in to listen carefully to God's warning. 'They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.' (Matthew 2.11-12)

It seems that we can train ourselves to be those who listen carefully to the voice of God, so that we are always on his wavelength, ready to respond, moment by moment, to his leading and guiding. But we need to give ourselves to this relentlessly, retuning our receiving processes, away from the self-absorbed concerns which often fill our thoughts.

May you listen carefully today.

Best wishes,

Richard

On the Brink

Winter storms have driven some communities to wonder whether they will survive into the future. Changes in the Legal Aid system have led senior lawyers to claim that the Criminal Justice system is on the brink of collapse. Changes in the benefit system are making an increasing impact on the most vulnerable in our communities, and some wonder whether they are on the brink of survival. 

And at the start of 2014, many are reflecting on Europe 100 years ago, on the brink of the Great War.

And so I could go on.

How do we cope when we are on the brink of disaster and death? 

These are questions faced by faithful people for centuries. On the other hand, we are so used to a life of relative comfort and stability, that we are less used to facing these sorts of issues.

My mind goes again to the closing verses in Hebrews chapter 11, the great record of the experiences of faithful people down the centuries. 'Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.' (Hebrews 11.36-38)

It is startling that people who trust God have often had to face such terrible situations. Why did they not just give up believing that God is good and that faithfulness is what we are called to? Because in the midst of their troubles, they knew the goodness and promises of God. 'They were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.' (Hebrews 11.35) The astonishing climax of these stories includes people like us in the finale. 'All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.' (Hebrews 11.39-40)

We are called to live faithfully, trusting Jesus to be with us, because people like us are 'following Jesus where the need is greatest' (as the new slogan for Tearfund says)

Are you committed to this calling? I am, by God's mercy. Let's make a difference where we are, for the sake of those in need.

Best wishes,

Richard

Treasure Hunting

I used to love playing 'Treasure Hunt' games, following clues and trying to get to the finish before others. Most of us spend much of our lives on assorted Treasure Hunts, looking for acceptance, popularity, meaning, and stuff.

Following the global financial meltdown, there seems to be a greater interest in winning lottery prizes or finding ways to maximise our income. My inbox is bombarded with assorted schemes that might make me rich (though they are probably scams!)

But our obsession with treasure hunting probably tells us a great deal about our heart's deepest desires.

The story of the Wise Men, on their journey, following a star, is about people on a Treasure Hunt. 'About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2.1-2)

As they set out, they were clear that they were hunting for the new-born King, the real treasure, so they went well prepared for their journey's end. 'They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.' (Matthew 2.11)

So it is striking that from their treasure chests they were generous, because they had found the One whose coming brings real treasure to our world.

I am challenged by this story to wonder whether my treasure is Jesus or the many sorts of stuff that fixates our culture. It seems that when we learn to be generous with what the Lord has given us, whatever that is, that shows that we have ourselves experienced his grace and mercy, coming to us from his abundant treasure. Or as Jesus put it, 'Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.' (Matthew 6.21)

Where is your treasure?
Best wishes,

Richard

Join the Dots

Do you watch that quiz programme, Only Connect? The one with the outrageous Victoria Coren (now married, and with an extra pat to her name!)

I guess you recall those children's puzzles, in which the dots are numbered, so that when the dots are joined up, in the right order, a picture emerges, of Father Christmas, a snowman, or whatever.

Making the right connection with the dots (the incomplete picture) is what determines whether the child (of whatever age) will discover what lies hidden or at least partially unknown. If the dots get joined up with little concern for the numbering system, nothing sensible will emerge. Try it and see for yourself. 

The Wise Men, who saw the bright star in the night sky, and who followed it faithfully, are good examples of people who joined the dots well. 'About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”  (Matthew 2.1-2)

In their own field, they were well equipped to take action. But more than that, they perceived the significance of this star, within their own culture and background, and were prepared to step outside their past experiences, to worship the new king.

As we know, their trip to Herod's Jerusalem was both enlightening (they were told to go to Bethlehem) and challenging (Herod made yet another dreadful decision).

But my prayer is that in our own lives, we will join the dots that the Lord presents us with in our daily lives, so that we follow His way into this New Year. But beyond that, I pray that the Lord will use us to be part of the join the dots challenges in the lives of others, so that too may join us in worshipping the King who is King of all.

Best wishes,

Richard