Just another week?

It's Saturday morning and I am wondering where the week has gone!

Part of the week has been spent ensuring that we have got a good programme together for a Leaders Conference that is scheduled immediately after Easter.  This is a Congregational Federation event and Doreen and I have always enjoyed the opportunity to meet up with colleagues and spend a few days relaxing, studying and worshipping together.  One of the great factors is that it is a family event and we have had the real joy of watching little children grow in to confident young women and men.

I was standing on Clapham Junction station waiting for the train to Winchester on Wednesday when a telephone conversation revealed that one of the key speakers addressing work with children and youth was not now able to come.  Publicity should have been out first thing in the New Year!  Disaster.  However, colleagues who specialise in this area of ministry stepped into the gap.  Phew!  The only problem was that so intense was the telephone conversation that the train arrived and left while I was still on the phone on the platform!

I was on my way to Winchester for several reasons:  library books to return, some completed theses to read, and a seminar to attend.  The only problem was that there was also a meeting of the Country Way editorial Team so I had to miss that.  Unfortunate!  The latest issue of Country Way has an article I wrote about Youth Alpha in rural areas.  It also has some more in the series on Messy Church.  Incidentally, if you have not already subscribed but have an interest in rural church matters I think you would find it a good investment of £9 for a year.  It's a quality magazine full of good information, ideas and inspiration.

I heard this week that my formal application process at Winchester University has been approved and I move from being a probationer to being a full blown research student.  At present I am still having to research a lot of literature on rural life, rural church issues and general books on mission and evangelism. As an activist I find the discipline of serious reading a bit of a struggle.

We had three new men turned up to the choir practise at the prison this week.  My colleague, Roger, has been unable to attend for a couple of weeks and his part in providing accompaniment has been sorely missed.  It turned out to be a productive and a happy practise - an ideal occasion to integrate some potential new members.

To my shame I am still finalising my personal tax return, which has to be in by the end of this month - or else!  Part of the complication (other than finding time in a busy life to keep records up to date) is that it became necessary for me to open a new bank account during 2010 for 'work'.  For years I had paid out expenses from my personal current account and later recovered them, and had also  used it where cheques had been made payable in my name but should really have gone into Sunrise Ministries.  Then I discovered that this is illegal - at least at the level at which I was operating the system.  But it hasn't been as simple as I had hoped to operate the two accounts and that is the period covered by the tax return.

This Sunday I am speaking at Foulsham Baptist Church in Norfolk at their 197th anniversary.  After the morning service we share a lunch and this is to be followed by a talk on contemporary rural evangelism.  I have been asked to base this on my book, Rural Evangelism in the 21st century published by Grove Books.  The same book will be referenced in what is being prepared for Germany.  That too is a pressing job.

Other activities this week include my regular visit to Gartree Prison on Tuesday, meeting as part of the Pastoral Care Board in Nottingham on Wednesday, and the Bible Study Discussion Group on Thursday.  In addition I will be meeting with someone in Yelvertoft on Wednesday evening who might do some voluntary work with our teenagers.

Points for Prayer
Several friends have been through difficult personal times.  I need to make sufficient space to be supportive and take care that busy-ness does not crowd out compassion.

• Please pray for this Sunday at Foulsham that it might prove a prophetic occasion for the church.
• Pray that I will get the accounts finished and filed on time - and catch up with some other administration jobs (I'd rather be active in ministry!).
• Pray for the prison choir that through the team's time there hearts will open to the Saviour as some of the songs we sing are gospel, and we have time to sit and talk afterwards.
• Give thanks for all God has been doing in recent days.  Thanks also for the progress with the university and prayer for time and space management to complete essential reading.
• Please pray that during 2012 I will find various people to whom I can begin delegating some of my responsibilities in rural ministry.  I am not yet ready to stop (far from it) but long to see those who will carry on the next stage of fulfilling the vision for effective mission in rural areas.

Thank you.

Barry

Being spoofed

Spoofing is an internet term for an annoying practise whereby emails appear to be coming from people that you know but the content is usually a give away that it did not originate from the sender you know.  I have three friends whose email address appears to have been spoofed.  Typically the email invites the receiver to click on a link.  If they do so they make themselves vulnerable to various possible computer attacks.  Obviously keeping anti-virus software up to date and your system regularly scanned helps, but if you can't stop it, changing your internet service provider might be wise or getting a new email address.  I'm not an expert so I could have got that slightly wrong.  The bottom line is never click on a link unless you are really sure you can be sure it is safe.


There is an intriguing biblical record of someone trying to use another person's identity in Acts 19.  The sons of Sceva sought to invoke the name of Jesus to cast out demons but did not have appropriate authority to do so.  They said, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out".  The response is fascinating as the demons say, "Jesus we know, and Paul we know about, but who are you?"  The demons suspected the communication as somehow lacking integrity.  Of course we would expect them to be familiar with who Jesus is, but they also knew about Paul.  I wonder whether our life and work in Christ would cause the powers of darkness to have reason to know who we are.


Checking identity was also featured in the life of Jesus when John the Baptist felt a need to be absolutely sure that Jesus was the Messiah (Luke 7:19-22).  Jesus answered the enquiry by pointing to what he did.  Similarly, Jesus asks his own disciples who they think he is (Mark 8:27-29).  If Thomas had any doubt about the identity of the rabbi he had travelled with for three years, it was settled in the upper room in the presence of the risen Christ.


John 10 also records interesting things about those who can recognise the voice of Jesus and distinguish it from the voice of a stranger.  If we keep close to the shepherd we will not be led away by anyone who might claim to speak in his name.  We will know the genuine from the false.


The past week
Holiday at Home in Market Harborough saw over 40 people booked in.  Among other activities Jeanne (a friend and colleague) and I took a group for an hour looking at story telling and drama.  We were able to draw on scripture and aspects of the gospel to illustrate our teaching, and all that were there seemed to stay engaged through the session.


This week's Bible Discussion at Yelvertoft focused on Philippians 3: 1-14.  Throughout the letter Paul makes regular reference to service for Jesus.  Here in this chapter he focuses more on 'being' than doing.  We explored what he had to say about the attributes of true Christians, their ambition, and attitudes.


On Friday I took part in an international telephone conference preparing for an event taking place in 2013.  In the evening I took part in a meeting in Ashby de la Zouche for the East Midlands Area of the Congregational Federation, arriving back home at 11.15pm.


After a nights rest I joined other Christian men walking the six and a half miles from Yelvertoft to Ravensthorpe where two of the wives joined us for lunch and to give us a lift home.  Apart from the fellowship I needed the exercise!


The coming week
Sunday 22nd - Yelvertoft Congregational Church
Tuesday 24th - Gartree Prison and a Church Meeting in the evening at Theddingworth, Leics.
Wednesday 25th - studying and attending a seminar at University of Leicester as part of my research work.
Thursday 26th - evening Bible Discussion Group, Yelvertoft
Saturday 28th - depart for Norfolk
Sunday 29th - Ministry and afternoon session on rural mission at Foulsham Baptist Church, Norfolk, celebrating their church anniversary.


As always there are other activities.  I will be putting finishing touches to publicity for a Church Leaders' Conference after Easter, reading and writing for my university work, and preparing for 29th.


As always - a big thank you for your prayers.  Let's continue to forget that which is behind and "press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenwards in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14).


Barry

Week of Disasters

This week's news seems to have been a catalogue of disasters.  Tesco's value plummeted, France and other countries have seen their credit worthiness reduced which leads to potentially more problems with the Euro, and now a luxury liner has run aground with lives lost and many more traumatised.  My own disasters this week are minor but have presented me with problems.

Both problems relate to poor diary management.  I had booked meetings at the Congregational federation's offices in Nottingham on Wednesday then was reminded that there was a meeting of the Churches Rural Group in London I should be at!  Fortunately, I was able to reschedule the Nottingham meetings for  yesterday.  The second diary problem relates to a clash of engagement in May.  Early last year I promised to teach on a Salvation Army Safe and Sound Course in Sunbury on Thames, but suddenly saw that this clashed with a 40th Anniversary Assembly for the Congregational Federation in Dunfermline, Scotland!  That one will not resolve so easily and it now looks as if I will travel to Scotland for the Friday and Saturday meetings then fly down to Heathrow Saturday evening to do an adjusted teaching programme on the Sunday.

Now that I run a synchronised diary on a smart phone this kind of slip up is far less likely.  I am so annoyed with myself.

So did you do that study in Philippians 2: 19-30?  Paul commends both Timothy and Epaphroditus.  Previously in this chapter he uses Jesus as a model of attitude towards others.  Note how both Timothy and Epaphroditus echo this.  As if that was not enough he goes on in chapter 3 to use himself as a model.  So here's the list of characteristics.

Timothy: (a) The NIV is not very good as it states 'no one like him'.  Some translations use 'no one like minded'.  The original Greek means 'of equal soul', with Paul comparing Timothy to himself.  (b) Genuine interest in their welfare (the Greek term emphasises the genuineness).  (c)  He is not self-interested.  (d) He has 'proved' his worth.  This is the same word that we use for testing and trials.  Timothy had proved his good character in the fires of adversity.  (e) In the times when Paul wrote this letter sons would learn their trade by diligently working alongside their fathers in a kind of apprentice relationship.  Timothy had been a good student in that kind of partnership.  (f)  Finally 'he served'.  Timothy has a servant heart (see the opening verses of this letter).

Epaphroditus:  (a)  He is a brother in Christ.  Nowhere in this letter does Paul  set himself up as superior to anyone.  Christianity knows nothing of superiors. (b) He is a fellow-worker or labourer.  He was prepared to put in hard work for the gospel.  (c) He is a fellow soldier.  The Christian life and service will always involve a battle against the enemy of our souls.  Epaphroditus was a man you would be grateful for if he was fighting by your side.  (d)  He functioned as a 'messenger'.  This is the Greek word from which we get 'apostle'.  He was sent under authority from the church at Philippi with a purpose which he faithfully fulfilled.  (e) He had 'risked his life' in order to fulfil the task on which the church had sent him.  This might refer to a particularly arduous or hazardous journey.  The word translated 'risk' would equally mean a foolhardy gamble.  In other words, he put his life on the line.  (f)  Finally, he was distressed not about his own ill health but because it had worried his brothers and sisters back at Philippi.  He was upset because he heard they were upset on hearing he was ill.  How's that for selflessness!

News in brief
On Sunday I led the service and spoke at Yelvertoft.  In the evening Doreen and i went to Theddingworth chapel.
On Monday and Tuesday I learned that the chairman of the Churches Rural Group could not attend and needed to resign.  Furthermore our guest speaker had cancelled at the last minute.  I had to prepare material for the meeting on Wednesday.  On Tuesday afternoon I went to prison and was able to sing a little.  (I am still a little congested so I have not got my voice back yet).
On Wednesday I travelled to London for the Churches Rural Group Meeting.  It was a helpful occasion. I am now serving as chair of this group but a colleague has taken the secretarial work off me; this is a better situation.  I then travelled home and led the Bible Discussion Group at Yelvertoft in the evening (Phil 3:1-14).
On Friday I travelled to Nottingham, firstly to explore how the East Midlands Area funds could be better managed to serve the gospel, and secondly to do some work on preparing for the Church Leaders' Conference following Easter.  More work needed urgently on both tasks.
Today (Saturday) was almost entirely spent in admin related to the past week's activities.
Planned reading for University lost out in a week busier than expected.  I am still waiting for one scrutineer to approve my research proposal.  Another one has already approved it.  All being well i start another course in February and will soon be able to engage in the actual practical aspects of research.

The coming week - key prayer points
Sunday 15th Yelvertoft meeting is taken by the Rev. John Harris.
Monday 16th - Some Sunrise Ministries administration and study.
Tuesday 17th - Gartree Prison
Wednesday 18th - Holiday at Home outreach activity in the morning and talking/singing at Open Doors in the afternoon (if I have a voice).  Both events are in Market Harborough.
Thursday 19th - Bible Discussion Group and pastoral visits in Yelvertoft.
Friday 20th - Telephone Conference for International Congregational Fellowship planning a major conference for 2013.
Sunday 22nd - Yelvertoft.

The secret of a blessed life of service comes not from overworking but from overflowing!  This pearl of wisdom was in a prayer prayed by George Downs, a Methodist Christian, prior to a meeting in a village called Zeal Monachorum.  It proved a night to remember as the Holy Spirit answered his prayer that night.

Barry

Blueprints for Christians

Dear friends,

In the main these weekly blogs/newsletters have focused on what I have been up to and what activities are planned for  the coming days.  In this sense I hope they provide material to cause you to praise God as prayers are answered and to pray as new tasks are tackled.  On this occasion I thought that it might be interesting to move the focus slightly and look instead more closely at one aspect of activities.

You will know that towards the end of last year we began running two Bible Discussion Groups in the village of Yelvertoft.  I have been greatly encouraged to see good numbers attending these consistently.  We have started to pick these up again as we get into 2012.  The two groups are looking at the same Bible passages.  One group meets on a Thursday mornings and the other on Wednesday evenings, and they alternate weekly.  We have been studying Paul's letter to the Philippians but started by setting the context looking at Acts 16.  We have just completed chapter two of the letter.

For many Christians Paul's letter to this young church contains some memorable passages, and for this reason alone it is popular.  Others have noted the cheerful nature of the letter, with Paul's encouragement to rejoice and then rejoice again.  I have been interested in exploring whether there is a discernible underlying theme.  I suggest that both overtly and subtly Paul is presenting a blueprint for Christian living.

Written from prison (either in Rome or Ephesus) Paul's first chapter addresses the Christian's attitude towards life, death and suffering.  Nero is Emperor of Rome and there is some unrest within the Empire.  Christianity is an illegal religious sect and the Christians in Philippi are apparently experiencing persecution.  Paul reminds them that this church was born in adversity and oppression, but he tells them that they are not to worry about him in prison at this time.  In fact he goes on to explain that some of his guards have been converted and the gospel is being proclaimed.  Even though some are preaching with a view to making life more difficult for Paul, he rejoices that the gospel is being proclaimed whatever the motives.  All that matters to him is living for Jesus.  Even the prospect of death holds no terror for him to live is Christ and to die is gain.  So much so that he feels himself caught between two possibilities that have equal appeal:  to live and see his friends at Philippi or to die!  Given such a choice would we have a problem making up our minds?  I think not.

Having addressed the issue of attitude to life, death and suffering, Paul moves on to address the attitude to self and others.  We are now in chapter two.  This falls neatly into two parts.  In the first, having made the argument that we should consider others as better than ourselves, and be considerate of others before ourselves, he illustrates this through what many believe to be an early Christian hymn.  Verses 5 to 11 set out the amazing condescension of Jesus and his consequential exaltation.  Paul sets out Jesus Christ's divine nature but his willingness to let go the rights of his status.  Indeed Jesus strips himself of these much like a person removing glorious clothes in order to don the clothes of a lowly servant.  He takes on our nature (absolutely).  He does not role-play as a servant; it is his real nature.  He further humbles himself, submitting to the shameful death of crucifixion.  This, Paul argues, should be our attitude.

At this point it is worth pausing to reflect on the issue of 'servant-hood'.  At the start of this letter Paul brings a greeting from himself and Timothy as 'servants' of Jesus.  The deliberate avoidance of any authority terms and the choice of description in the very beginning of this letter is part of the core issue he is addressing.  Christians must be willing not only to suffer for Christ (chapter one) but to serve (chapter two).  I think that it is important that we do not read into verses 10 and 11 any sense of enforcement.  Knees will bow and tongues will confess with sincerity and wonder, not because they are obliged to do so.

Readers of this chapter might notice the progressive nature of Paul's argument.  He uses the term 'therefore' (some versions have 'wherefore' or 'because of this') several times.  It is because of our experience of God's love and mercy that we should abandon selfishness and consider others to be better than ourselves.  It is because Jesus was willing to humble himself that he is exalted.  It is because of all of that we should live it out with new motivation (God working in us to make us willing and able), with a new manner (willingly; not murmuring and grumbling), and with a new ministry (holding out the word of life).

The second half of chapter two shifts attention to two people:  Timothy and Epaphroditus.  But Paul has not finished with his task.  He writes at length about their characters.  He mentions five characteristics of Timothy and six characteristics of Epaphroditus.  Is Paul being subtle?  Is he taking the opportunity to describe two of God's servants who have the right attitude?  I think he is.  You might like to read the passage and see if you can make a list of characteristics that matches my numbers.  I'll list them in next week's blog/newsletter.

Points for prayer
1.  That in my ministry I might be an appropriate example to others.
2.  Work in Gartree Prison on Tuesday afternoon
3.  Work on various matters including planning a church leaders conference on Wednesday morning in Nottingham.
4.  Bible Discussion Group on Wednesday evening (Philippians 3)
5.  Ministry preparation for upcoming activities
6.  Finalising material on rural evangelism for colleagues in Germany
7.  Time management to do essential reading for university.

Barry

Happy New Year

I am glad to say that the consequences of my chest infection have lessened and I have now spent two nights able to sleep in a bed once again.  I will miss the sofa, but sleeping propped up was helpful.  Doreen's health is also improving.

After a quiet and frankly lazy week I shall go to Yelvertoft this Sunday morning.  Several of our members are unwell with the same chest infection and heavy colds.  We will be without music (our regular musician is one of those unwell) and I will not be able to sing, so I'm not quite sure what we will do.  My thoughts as I have prayerfully pondered the meeting has taken me to a theme of 'resolutions'.

1.  I have been thinking about Jacob who, having left home because of the trick he played on his brother and father, experiences God at Bethel.  He he resolves to honour God, and this preludes the experiences over the years that follow and his final return home as a changed man.

2.  Joshua, after the people had settled into the land promised to them by the Lord, challenged the people as to how they would live.  In this he declared that he and his household would serve the Lord.  In recognition of what God had already done for them others also resolved to serve the Lord.

3.  My third situation of a resolution in scripture takes me to the New Testament and the story Jesus told of a son who deliberately chose to leave his father and home, and more significantly to leave the values that were treasured here.  As a result he discovers that this world offers only temporary and passing pleasure.  His life sinks visibly into the mess that was already his soul's state before God.  On hitting rock bottom he makes a resolution to retrace his footsteps to home and make an open confession of his sin and failure.  He hopes that he might successfully plead for a measure of help - at least to the status of a servant.  What he finds is a merciful father, a new robe, ring and sandals, and a feast with a fatted calf.

May the Lord draw us close to himself and elicit from us similar resolutions to these.  With that in view I wish you a very happy New Year.

This week I shall be doing a lot of study and writing, and working on the rural evangelism material going abroad.  I hope to go to the prison on Tuesday afternoon, though I shall not expect to sing.  On Wednesday evening I will be meeting with the Area Treasurer for the Congregational Federation helping to plan a budget.  On  Thursday morning we have the first Bible Discussion Group of 2012 in Yelvertoft.  On Sunday 8th I am planned to be back in Yelvertoft to take the Sunday meeting.

It was good to receive many cards, and messages over Christmas.  Doreen and I are grateful for the assurance of prayerful support.  It was also appreciated to receive supportive messages while we have both been unwell over the Christmas period.

Where do you hope your pilgrimage of faith will take you this year?

Barry