"Where have all the flowers gone?"

Pete Seeger, the folk singer who preceded Bob Dylan and others, has died at the age of 94. 

His songs from my youth struck a chord, as he spoke of the peace movement, social changes and destruction.

He asked questions, such as "Where have all the flowers gone?", following the blistering account, by Rachel Carson, in Silent Spring, of the devastation caused by the use of insecticides and herbicides by farmers.

In many respects, he was like prophets of old, on the edge of the culture, noting its blind spots. One of his most well known songs was 'Turn, Turn, Turn', based on words from Ecclesiastes, and re-released by the Byrds in 1965.

For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest.A time to kill and a time to heal.
    A time to tear down and a time to build up.A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace.' (Ecclesiastes 3.1-8)

Today, all of us need to know what season of our life it is, and to know the Lord's enabling to see, think, act and dream in tune with God's purposes for us today.

Best wishes,

Richard

"If only . . "

I think we all have regrets of one sort or another.

So while Edith Piaf's famous song 'Je ne regrette rien' is memorable, it doesn't sound realistic. Most of the people I know regret things that we have done or that have happened to us

How often we say,'If only . . . ' possibly depends on our temperament or situation.

Yesterday, someone said something very illuminating.

Having only been to St. Andrew's Church for Sunday worship 3 or 4 times, this person commented to a friend. 'If only I had come to church earlier in my life, everything would have been different.'

As I wasn't part of that conversation, I don't know what lies behind that comment, though I can make an educated guess.

In our cruel and impersonal world, as we are, to be in a crowd of people where the focus is on the goodness of God, and the reality of caring relationships with one another seems very attractive. How wonderful!

Others have said similar things to me. One persons commented that their confidence has grown since coming to St. Andrew's, or another, that they have managed to overcome long-term addictions. This is wonderful to see happening around and within us.

I recall the challenge that Jesus gave to his first followers. '“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.' (Matthew 5.14-16)

What is striking in these familiar words is the implication that all the glory goes to God and none to the people shining as lamps in our dark world. And that is how it should be. 

We shouldn't be saying 'Look at me', which what our culture tells us to do. We should be always pointing deliberately towards the God who has changed us.

So how will you live today?

Best wishes,

Richard

Better Off?

David Cameron is doing all he can, at the Davos World Economic Forum, to present the case to show that almost everyone in the UK is better off now than they were. Meanwhile, Labour politicians are presenting the case that shows we are all worse off. Much of the argument looks at the interpretation of statistics from various sources. 

I am reminded of the comment, 'Politicians use statistics much as a drunk uses a lamppost, that is, more for support than illumination'.

But how do we become better off? 

Is it by rising income, or by growing generosity? Is it by seeking the good of ourselves, or the good of others? St. Paul observed the way Jesus behaved. 'You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.' (2 Corinthians 8.9)

To be truly better off, we need to be in step with the plans and purposes of God. That way, we become properly rich.

As Jesus himself told us, '“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)

In these days, when we are bombarded with the message that all matters economic are the most important things to consider, I realise that I need to keep checking where my treasure is. Have I let the world squeeze me into its mould, or am I following the ways of Jesus? A good marker will be whether or not I am being generous in attitude and action towards those that I meet.

So where is your treasure? Can you run the generosity check on yourself? That way, we can be properly 'better off'!
Best wishes,

Richard

Life or Death?

The stakes are high in the Syrian peace talks. 

Both sides are determined to destroy their opponents, and do not seem to be concerned about the suffering of non-combatants. 

But the challenge they face is whether they are for the life or death of the wider society. Those facilitating these talks must be hoping that all sides choose the path that leads towards life.

Sadly, the battles raging in Ukraine, Egypt, and the wider Middle East also look as though all involved are determined to destroy their opponents, whatever the cost to their wider societies. These appear to be struggles to the death, with no one prepared to shift towards a mediating position.

The choices between life and death could not be clearer.

Interestingly, Jesus reminded his followers that in the end, the choices we face are stark.'“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.' (Matthew 7.13-14)

This reality needs to inform the way we live today and every day. Everything we do, and the way we do it, either helps or harms those around us. 

At the end of his long and testing ministry, Moses challenged the people of his day, with the same stark choice. '“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30,19-20)

May we all choose the life-facing difficult path today, and resist the easy slide towards the death-delivering slippery slope.

Best wishes,

Richard

Working Together

The Syrian peace talks look like they will start, though with no Iranians and few from the opposition side. As we know, there are several strands in the opposition side, and most of them cannot agree on how the future of Syria might look. The whole of the Middle East is in turmoil, and it doesn't look like getting clearer any time soon. 

But that same can be said about South Sudan and the Central African Republic, and many other places in the world.

It reminds me of the astonishing benefits we often enjoy, without knowing it, of collaboration between different communities in this country. We often complain about the way central or local government behaves, but the culture and framework of expected cooperation makes many aspects of life possible. We are used to people working together for the benefit of others, whether as volunteers, charities, or statutory bodies.

St. Paul had to remind the Christian communities in Corinth that they needed to learn how to work together with each other. 'The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.' (1 Corinthians 12.12, 13,27)

Our differences from one another in background, temperament, and experiences often make it difficult for people to appreciate and value one another. But St. Paul remind Christian people that we share so much, in our common faith in Jesus, that we can be helped, by his Spirit, to work together harmoniously, because each of us has a unique part to play.

The recent Joint Service (on Sunday evening) was a powerful reminder of how much Christians in Woking already do together. But our working together is rooted in a much deeper relationship that we enjoy, through our common faith in Christ. Today, I shall be looking at Christian friends, from whatever background, in a new light.

Best wishes,

Richard

Peace-making?

Today's news reminds me that making peace is a difficult process.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has invited Iran to attend preliminary Syrian peace talks in Geneva. This has threatened the active involvement of Syria's opposition, as well as drawing a warning from the US. After nearly 3 years of terrible conflict, leading to the displacement of millions of Syrians, these talks are necessary if peace is to be given a chance.

Hopes for peace in Southern Sudan and the Central African Republic are also very slight, in view of the astonishing levels of inter-communal violence from both sides.

By contrast, the trouble amongst the Liberal Democrats looks very slight.

But in every case, the difficulty of making real peace is profoundly problematic.

The Bible has many stories of people finding the journey to peace both difficult and possible.

Jacob & Esau had become enemies over the issue of the paternal blessing associated with being the first-born. But they did become at least partially reconciled. 'As he approached his brother, Jacob bowed to the ground seven times before him. Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.' (Genesis 34.3-4)

Both men had been changed in their attitude towards each other, as the story makes clear. The past could not be undone, but their future didn't have to be shaped by the past.

The ultimate example of difficult peace-making is seen in the death of Jesus. ' For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.' (Ephesians 2.14, 16-17)

The costly peace-making of Jesus is what gives us hope in our relationships with one another and with God. I thank Jesus for what He has done for me.

All of us are called to be peace-makers, in our difficult and broken world. This is both difficult and possible, and requires that we keep close to Jesus, so that his mercy and grace may flow outwards from us. It is costly, as Jesus discovered. Are we willing to follow his example?

Best wishes,

Richard

Lights On?

After another stormy (and wet) night, there may be some people in the UK whose lights don't turn on this morning.

We were visiting some people yesterday whose garage lights didn't work, which made finding things difficult! But their darkness can probably be fixed quite easily.

We take for granted that we can usually get light at the flick of a switch.

But many people that I encounter are in darkness of one sort or another. If only it was as easy at flicking a switch, to help them to see that way out of their darkness.

The Bible is full of references to the way God brings light to people in darkness. From the very start, we read of God's capacity to overcome darkness.  

'Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.' (Genesis 1.3-5)

When St. Paul describes his own ministry, he refers back to this passage. 'You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.' (2 Corinthians 4.5-6)

I am constantly amazed that God, in his mercy, has shone his light into my heart and life. To be able to see God as I look into the face of Jesus is an astonishing miracle. As I read and reflect of the stories of Jesus, my mind is enlightened about the nature and character of the God who made me (and all the universe!) It is wonderful to know that this God, whom I can call Father, is active in the world, and in the lives of people all around me.

Today, I want to walk in the light of His presence, bringing his light and love to all that I meet.

That is also true for all of us, as we entrust our day into his care.

Best wishes,

Richard