Keeping the community attentive to God

Today I was part of a group of around 70-80 who were at Inverurie West Parish Church to hear Eugene Peterson speak about “Working for the Lord of the Sabbath” – about being a Pastor and being faithful to God while fulfilling that calling. Eugene is the author of several books on pastoral theology, but is probably best known by countless Christians across the globe for his translation/paraphrase of the Bible using everyday language – The Message. The main question of the day was ‘what difference does it make that we work for the one who calls us to rest and not become addicted to our work?’

The stories, discussions and the questions were diverse and informative and as Eugene reflected on ministry, life, faithfulness, community and culture we were reminded of what it is we are actually called to do.
In a subtle way he reminded those there that their calling

• wasn’t to focus on statistics and start up every programme that was launched, as – “the way forward”.
• wasn’t to be preoccupied with keeping everyone happy.
• wasn’t about taking on so much that they were constantly on the move, afraid to slow down in case they were left behind.
• wasn’t to become so addicted to, and focused on, the fruit of their labours; being the best or having the biggest church membership, that they would lose sight of the fact that they had been given a specific responsibility.

Their calling and responsibility was to focus the community on Christ.

It was a great day, and I came away with not only lots to think about in relation to ministry and calling, but also with some amazing bite-sized pieces of information and wisdom to mull over.

Discipleship … ministry …

It’s funny how some things come to mind at just the right moment.   I was talking to someone today about ministry.  They were speaking about how much we try to cram into the day; the week; the month; actually life in general, when it comes to church and ministry.  And a dim memory of something I read and used to have inside my Bible came to mind – about how it’s not all about high activity, that there has to be waiting, listening, noticing, and paying attention.   Sure enough there it was, unread for a number of years, but still relevant and a timely reminder.

It comes from Mike Yaconelli, who was a writer, pastor, theologian and satirist, who although he was writing about youth ministry when he summarized Jesus’ methods of discipling people, I feel it is relevant to all ministry.   Here’s part of what he wrote …

Hang out with the disciples…
Let them see you at your best and your worst…
Teach truths that none of your disciples can grasp at the moment…
Spend lots of time alone…
Go slowly…
Spend hours in solitude…
Don’t worry about opposition…
Ignore criticism…
Don’t expect immediate results…

Mike Yaconelli  “YouthWorker Magazine” Jan/Feb 2001

Proclaiming Christ (or even Church Connections)

Recently I was speaking to an uncle (through marriage) who is an Elder in his local church.    His brother died at the beginning of the year and he had travelled the 80 miles to attend the funeral.   It was not until the minister began to speak about his brother; listing the many things that he did around the church using his joinery skills, including making the large cross in the sanctuary; how he offered help at almost every church event; that he was a faithful member; and about the day he received his 40 years long service award, that my uncle realised his brother was also an Elder. They did not meet up regularly, but they phoned and spoke to each other every other week, yet in all their conversations that have spanned over 50 years, this was never discussed, nor was information about what his church was doing passed on.  I could see the point if there had been some possibility of ridicule or family argument, but my uncle was an Elder and active in his own church, and this was something his brother knew about him. The pain that this has caused my uncle, because he didn’t know anything about this aspect of his brother’s life, is still very evident eight months later.  And the question “Why?” looms large in his mind.   

Dove at Mensa Christi

It made me wonder how many people in our churches come along, have church as a regular thing in their life, are involved in various aspects of church life, yet never mention it or Christ to family or friends.   It made me wonder how many saw their membership as some kind of obligatory social event, and also something slightly archaic and a little embarrassing, rather than something relational, relevant and worthy of proclamation.  I know that to proclaim Christ we ourselves must have a relationship with him, but if our people are too uncomfortable to even mention church membership then we seem to have a long way to go.  However, to the rest of us (some of whom might even have to battle with their discomfort) – a reminder:   to every man, woman and child that God brings into our lives, whether for a moment or for a lifetime, we are called to proclaim Christ.  

Lost?

Luggage

Two items continued to pass on the airport carrousel – a small green case and a pair of skis.   Neither was ours and neither would do us any good on an 11 day cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean in February.     We reported our luggage – missing – lost in transit.   We completed and received a copy of the appropriate form, and reassurances that our cases would arrive that night by a later flight, and so we made our way to our hotel in Barcelona.  

Seven hours and five phone calls later, we found out that our luggage was not considered missing or lost, the airline computer was able to locate it precisely.   It just wasn’t with us – it was still in Gatwick!   The insurance company would only sanction the spending of £100 if it was delayed more than 24 hours, after all, the luggage was not lost, it just wasn’t with us. We were told – if it did not arrive by the time we boarded the ship, it would be sent to the next port of call.  It would still not be classified as lost, it just wouldn’t be with us.  Twenty three hours later our cases were delivered to our hotel and we heaved a sigh of relief.

Anyway, all this came to mind again, because over the past couple of days I’ve thought a lot about this question of “when is something lost?”  As far as we were concerned our luggage was lost.  But from the perspective of the airline and insurance companies, (because they knew exactly where the cases were), they were not lost, just not with us.  And when someone put them on a plane to start their journey, we would eventually be reunited.  

lost sheep

When we think of something being lost we tend to think:   lost to us; never to be seen again, or at least not seen until much later and after much searching.   When we read the parable of the lost sheep (which strayed), the lost coin (perhaps due to negligence on the part of another), or the lost son (rebellion), we tend to think of them as being lost to God, and God going out to search for them, as if he did not know where they were, or waiting for them, till they come to their senses.   But is that always the case?  Or is it more like the airline and insurance companies?   God knows exactly where his children are; they are not lost, just not with him.  He searches for them; in that he calls them, but sometimes it takes a third party who hears the call also, to make sure that the journey is started; and so God continues to wait patiently for the reunion.

Is there someone you know, that you should be ensuring starts the journey that leads to reunion?

Pilgrimage Video

I had an operation on my wrist last week, and find that the restricted movement that has been imposed upon me for the next 10 days means I’m looking for things I can do without causing too much pain. I decided video editing was a safe thing to do – use one hand, point and click. Okay there have been a few moments when I’ve forgotten and tried to hold a button down, but the sharp pain up my arm reminds me it’s not the thing to do! Anyway, I’ve put together a short video of my trip to Israel and include it here to give you a flavour not only of the trip, but also of the sights and sounds of land.

 

Banchory Churches Holiday Club 2009

Our God is a Great Big God ……

Welcome to Bill …

Yesterday, some of the members of Banchory East Church met Bill Stone our new Children’s and Families’ Worker, for the very first time.   It was great to finally have Bill among us and we are looking forward to a long, fruitful, and fun time together as we get to know one another and as we seek God’s guidance in this important area of our ministry here in Banchory.  I have known for a long time, what Bill will soon discover - that we are blessed to have dedicated volunteers who gladly give their time and energy to our children’s ministry, and that he will have a great team of leaders and helpers working alongside him, offering continued support and encouragement in this ministy.      Having travelled from “the other side of the pond”, we recognise that Bill will have some adjusting to do; as he gets to know new people and tries to remember the odd name, as he gets to grips with a new culture, and as he finds his way around the area. We’re trying not to inundate him with too much information and give him time to settle, but it’s always hard to restrain people when they are excited.

Today however was a day that excitement abounded and during which we let it have free reign, because it’s the last week of the school holidays and Holiday Club began.

I have always held the view that everyone who works with children in the church has an awesome responsibility.   They also have the amazing privilege of seeing young people and their families grow into a relationship with God and are able to witness their incredible journey of faith.   But the thing that we sometimes forget is that children can also teach us, they can help us not only to grow in our own faith and understanding, but can also help us to look at things in a new way.

Our children’s time finishes with a “feast” – which is some fruit and muffins or bread or other not too sugary food, and some juice.   Everybody sits on their cushions in a circle and make “tables” out of napkins and eat their feast and talk.   One of the leaders thought it was a bit of a stretch for the kids to see a few pieces of fruit, a wee muffin and a half a glass of Ribena as a feast, so she said “I wonder why we call this a feast and not a snack?”

To which one 8 year old boy answers “This is definitely a snack.”

“Well, that’s my thought too,” she said, “which is why I wonder why this is called a feast instead of a snack.”

The same boy spoke up again to describe feasts in detail – multiple courses, lots of food, musicians, etc.   Head were nodding in agreement.   When he had finished, the leader said, “That’s what I imagine when I hear ‘feast’ too. Which is why I think it’s strange that we call this a feast.”

Feast

Then a 10 year old boy speaks up – looking down at his 3 chunks of pineapple (which he loves) and 2 strawberries and small oat cookie, he says, “To a lot of people in the world this would be a feast.”

His 5 year old brother echoed his total agreement.   There was a moment of silence as everyone took in this new piece of information, and from that moment on the Feast has been enjoyed and looked at in a totally different light.    

If I wasn’t your wife …

I’ve been organising two marriage ceremonies for this weekend; prayers are written, readings chosen and addresses completed.   But as I was doing this preparation I was thinking about an incident a couple of months back that happened outside a jeweller’s shop.

I think we were all drawn to jeweller’s window, not because it contained expensive, in fact overpriced jewellery, that we all wished we could own, but because it was a cold, dark, wet day and the window lighting made everything sparkly and fairytale like, and there are just times when we’d all like a bit of that dream.   You know the dream:  the one where you have all the riches of the world gifted to you either by a stroke of luck like finding buried treasure, or given to you by some unknown benefactor.   That way you wouldn’t have to be stuck in the cold, dark, wet day!

“far more precious than jewels”

Anyway, there were about half a dozen people standing in silence looking at the amazing shiny objects in the window, not all of them pretty, (I’m talking about the jewellery, not the people), when one of the women pointed out a diamond and sapphire ring to her husband.   She commented on how beautiful it was and the fact that it reminded her of a ring her grandmother had. (Note: she didn’t point and say “That’s pretty.” And move on to something else.   She gave a strong emotional reason for pointing it out.)  Her husband’s comment was: “Hmm.”   She added more to what was now her story:  “I used to love trying on my grandmother’s ring it made me feel very special and grown up, and loved.”   She then read out the price tag:  £925.  Her husband turned and walked away.   She stood for a moment looking at the ring, then turned and shouted after him “If I wasn’t your wife you would buy me that ring!”

Two things happened then, the words of Proverbs 31:10 instantly popped into my mind:

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

Followed by the thought – she’s probably right.  If he was still trying to woo her, there would have been acknowledgement of the story, discussion, and maybe even a purchase, or at the very least a plan to purchase in the future.  However, to the onlooker, his reaction was one of disdain, whether towards his wife or what she had said I don’t know, but it was certainly not that of someone who considered her “more precious than jewels”, or even worthy of being with, and talking to.

I don’t know what their financial status was, could be that they couldn’t have afforded the ring, (presumably she thought they could), but I do know that a grunt and turning your back and walking away doesn’t give the person left standing alone, the feeling that they are “far more precious than jewels”, be they man or woman.

Now two things:  first, I’m not advocating the purchase of jewellery to make someone feel they are a person of worth, and second, I can only talk from the perspective of someone, who like many others, occasionally wants to feel “more precious than jewels”, but equally one who recognises that sometimes I too may be guilty of taking people for granted.    

So that’s my question for today - do we let the people closest to us know that they are of worth … “far more precious than jewels”?   Or have we got into the habit of turning and walking away, either physically or mentally?   

“I’m slightly Christian” … Say what?!

I’m always amazed when people in public places assume that everybody wants to hear their conversations, well that’s my assumption when I hear the volume they speak at.   When it happens I always have the urge to join in and add my “tuppence worth” (two cents worth).  It’s come close on a number of occasions, but the one that stands out happened recently during a time out for a cup of coffee.  A middle aged couple were a table away from us, after fifteen minutes we knew their personal backgrounds; how many children they had between them, the fact their ex-husband/wife was at fault and the reason they now found themselves together, etc, etc.    Then came this statement “You’ve got the measure of me, you know what I’m like, you know who I am … I’m slightly Christian.”   Say what?!  

When I thought about it later I came to the conclusion that I guess countless people have a mental list of what they feel is acceptable moral and ethical behaviour, and think that by adhering to or doing the things on their checklist that it either qualifies them as Christian or at the very least “slightly Christian” and therefore acceptable to other people and perhaps even to God.

But before we condemn or tut-tut or brand them as naive.   Think on this – Christians too create lists for themselves:  spiritual checklists.   They too think that by adhering to the things they think are expected of them this will make them acceptable to others, and it will mean that they will be okay with God.

It’s strange isn’t it, how people think if they’ve been good enough to get a tick in the box, even a box of their own making, then everything will be okay;  they will have done their duty;  they will get into heaven;  God will embrace them with the words “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

But the Christian life is about more than a checklist of moral, ethical and spiritual behaviour, and it’s certainly about more than getting a tick in the box.

Matt Redman – Blessed Be Your Name

This song has been in my head for the past few days … so for all those I’ve spoken to this week, who’ve been going through the highs and lows of life, I thought I’d share …

Blessed Be Your Name ………