At last Monday's Trustee Meeting it was good to see our Chairman, Stan Acland, who recently underwent major heart surgery. In his opening prayers he read from Mark 14 the story of Mary anointing Jesus, and emphasised the phrase, "She did what she could". While a meditation on this phrase is far from new to me I had never before linked it with the timing of doing what she could. It was the sense of her doing what she could when she could that the Holy Spirit brought home to me.
We don't know exactly when but we know that it must have been somewhere within a six day window of opportunity. It was an act of devotion relating in advance to Jesus' burial. People who were crucified were not normally anointed at the time of burial, as was normal for everyone else.
Doing what we can has an important message. What we can do for God we should do for God. Firstly, no offering of service is too small or too insignificant. Secondly, just because we might not be able to do what we would like to do for God is not an excuse for doing nothing! But we should also do what we can when we can. There is an urgency about God's work that should move us to action now!
I had travelled down to Sussex on the Sunday evening for the Trustees Meeting the following day. If you have read last week's post you will realise that I was kept busy right through to Saturday evening so the preparation for the Trustees Meeting took place on Sunday afternoon. Preparation for Sunday morning at Yelvertoft took place late Saturday evening and early Sunday morning, but the seeds had been sown over preceding days. I took as my theme the Bible as the word of God and did it in three sections with appropriate hymns woven among them.
The first section was why I believe the Bible to be an inspired book: (a) the uniqueness of 66 books written over possibly1500 years and by possibly 40 different authors, yet fitting together to tell one story; (b) the fact that the passing of years and scientific development has not categorically disproved its record; (c) the prophetic aspects - so many fulfilled; and (d) the fact that God speaks to me through its words. We also reflected on what we understand inspiration to mean, and how to read the Bible. The second section was the whole of the Bible told in about 5 minutes (they applauded me for that!). Finally we reflected on how Jesus used scripture (and how Satan did too) as recorded in Matthew 4. It was encouraging to find that God blessed this both to new Christians and to those who have been on the road for many years. Thank you Lord.
Significant time has been spent subsequent to the Trustees Meeting on administrative duties arising from the meeting. Yesterday two magazines came in the post: "Country Way" and "The Reader" (a magazine for Anglican lay ministers. Both contained articles I had written for the encouragement of others. Part of this morning was spent writing some notes with pastoral advice on things to consider by older people living alone in their home after bereavement. I have since received a request to write an edited version for a Christian magazine. As a village pastor and evangelist I am used to speaking to small numbers of people. What goes in print reaches many hundreds so I ask your prayers please. (Incidentally I have put the June Parish magazine article, that will be read by several hundred in and around Yelvertoft, on the other blog at barryosborne.blogspot.com.)
Tonight I am off to hear Adrian and Bridget Plass. We were 'neighbours' when we lived in Herstmonceux and it will be good to meet up again.
Your prayers for this week please
Give thanks for Stan Aclands recovery after his heart operation.
Remember Graham and Maureen Wise. Graham is a trustee and Maureen's mother died a few days before the Trustees Meeting.
Give thanks for an excellent choir practice in the prison last Tuesday. Pray that the Christian songs we sing and our company may be used to draw men to Christ.
This Sunday morning (22nd) I am taking the meeting at Clarendon Park Congregational Church, Leicester.
Tuesday 24th I attend the Churches Rural Group meeting at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire (This is a working group for Churches Together in England).
Wednesday 25th I attend an Editorial Board meeting for "Country Way" also at Stoneleigh.
Regular activities of administration and pastoral care will take place during the week as well as study related to the research degree.
I am receiving repeated requests to visit Sierra Leone to support some rural evangelism there. I am inclined to think I am too busy but is this a call from God? Please pray that I will be sure what I am to do.
Thank you for praying through these things with us.
Barry
We don't know exactly when but we know that it must have been somewhere within a six day window of opportunity. It was an act of devotion relating in advance to Jesus' burial. People who were crucified were not normally anointed at the time of burial, as was normal for everyone else.
Doing what we can has an important message. What we can do for God we should do for God. Firstly, no offering of service is too small or too insignificant. Secondly, just because we might not be able to do what we would like to do for God is not an excuse for doing nothing! But we should also do what we can when we can. There is an urgency about God's work that should move us to action now!
I had travelled down to Sussex on the Sunday evening for the Trustees Meeting the following day. If you have read last week's post you will realise that I was kept busy right through to Saturday evening so the preparation for the Trustees Meeting took place on Sunday afternoon. Preparation for Sunday morning at Yelvertoft took place late Saturday evening and early Sunday morning, but the seeds had been sown over preceding days. I took as my theme the Bible as the word of God and did it in three sections with appropriate hymns woven among them.
The first section was why I believe the Bible to be an inspired book: (a) the uniqueness of 66 books written over possibly1500 years and by possibly 40 different authors, yet fitting together to tell one story; (b) the fact that the passing of years and scientific development has not categorically disproved its record; (c) the prophetic aspects - so many fulfilled; and (d) the fact that God speaks to me through its words. We also reflected on what we understand inspiration to mean, and how to read the Bible. The second section was the whole of the Bible told in about 5 minutes (they applauded me for that!). Finally we reflected on how Jesus used scripture (and how Satan did too) as recorded in Matthew 4. It was encouraging to find that God blessed this both to new Christians and to those who have been on the road for many years. Thank you Lord.
Significant time has been spent subsequent to the Trustees Meeting on administrative duties arising from the meeting. Yesterday two magazines came in the post: "Country Way" and "The Reader" (a magazine for Anglican lay ministers. Both contained articles I had written for the encouragement of others. Part of this morning was spent writing some notes with pastoral advice on things to consider by older people living alone in their home after bereavement. I have since received a request to write an edited version for a Christian magazine. As a village pastor and evangelist I am used to speaking to small numbers of people. What goes in print reaches many hundreds so I ask your prayers please. (Incidentally I have put the June Parish magazine article, that will be read by several hundred in and around Yelvertoft, on the other blog at barryosborne.blogspot.com.)
Tonight I am off to hear Adrian and Bridget Plass. We were 'neighbours' when we lived in Herstmonceux and it will be good to meet up again.
Your prayers for this week please
Give thanks for Stan Aclands recovery after his heart operation.
Remember Graham and Maureen Wise. Graham is a trustee and Maureen's mother died a few days before the Trustees Meeting.
Give thanks for an excellent choir practice in the prison last Tuesday. Pray that the Christian songs we sing and our company may be used to draw men to Christ.
This Sunday morning (22nd) I am taking the meeting at Clarendon Park Congregational Church, Leicester.
Tuesday 24th I attend the Churches Rural Group meeting at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire (This is a working group for Churches Together in England).
Wednesday 25th I attend an Editorial Board meeting for "Country Way" also at Stoneleigh.
Regular activities of administration and pastoral care will take place during the week as well as study related to the research degree.
I am receiving repeated requests to visit Sierra Leone to support some rural evangelism there. I am inclined to think I am too busy but is this a call from God? Please pray that I will be sure what I am to do.
Thank you for praying through these things with us.
Barry
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