Saturday 21 December 2013

Valued yet humble?

I heard of a young and very earnest Christian man who became concerned about his high opinions of himself.  In prayer meeting after prayer meeting he was heard to cry out passionately, "Lord, make me nothing!"  Eventually an older Christian brother could stand it no more and after hearing this prayer for yet another time responded with, "Brother, you ARE nothing.  Accept it by faith!"

Realising what it means to be adopted into God's family should at one and the same time, enable us to feel secure and valued, yet humbled and delivered from the need to strive for approbation. When i was on mission in Devon many years ago I met a Christian couple who had adopted a young girl and were concerned that one of their natural sons was giving her a hard time.  They need not have worried as the wiry youngster reminded the boy concerned that his parents had to have him but that they chose  to have her!

Jesus had useful things to say about those who wanted to be seen as important by trying to take the most important seats at a banquet.  He also took his disciples to task regarding this so common human failing as recorded in Mark 9: 33 - 35.

During this past week Pope Francis has been in the news regarding his leadership style and moves to make his role more collegiate rather than autocratic.  For all Christians in leadership situations it is vital not to 'act like servants' but to remember that this is what we are.  But for some of us it seems that it doesn't come too easily. How tempting it is to want to feel important and have others respect us.  How hard it is genuinely not to care how we are regarded as long as we serve well.

My own Christian ministry background was certainly one that enhanced the status of elders and ministers, carrying with it the expectation that others would submissively follow our lead.  Coming into the Congregational understanding of authority within churches was at first a rude shock.  But then it became personally liberating and exciting.  As I have written in earlier posts those in church leadership who feel that they have some greater authority given them by their call to ministry need to be careful that the authority they exercise has not been stolen from their congregations!

One of the words associated with Christianity is 'fellowship'.  It is a word that expresses something treasured among us.  It carries that sense of belonging, of good company, of caring for one another, and more.  You probably know that the Greek word in the New Testament we have translated into English as fellowship, is Koinonia.  It carries the sense of partnership and sharing.  It is my opinion that to have proper fellowship no one can be superior or subordinate.  As we think about the fact of the humble circumstances in which Jesus was born and the status of those with whom the news was first shared, perhaps "being nothing" in terms of importance is something we could all remember.  Perhaps too, we could try to seek out someone who feels less important than others and try to communicate how precious they really are.

The News:
On a personal level, Doreen was able to join us for church at Yelvertoft last Sunday morning and has made slow and quiet progress through the week.  I picked up one of the viruses (the one with the nasty cough) but will be OK for our special Christmas outreach service at Yelvertoft tomorrow
morning.

Last Tuesday in the prison the choir received an invitation to sing some Christmas carols and songs in the Prison Visitor Centre this coming Tuesday afternoon.  I guess it will be background music but it's an interesting opportunity.  All the men were happy to accept the invitation.

On Wednesday I was invited to lead a Christmas event at the village Senior Circle.  Not all are Christians so it was another opportunity to share something of the gospel.

I value your prayers as we have mailed out over 1200 Christmas newsletters to those on the Mission for Christ mailing list.  In the summer of 2012 when I became a trustee of that organisation the only database we could find had more names than that but many of them were people I had known in the 1970s.  The charity cannot afford to lose active prayer partners but neither has it the money to lose mailing to people who might either be in the glory or have moved long ago.  This is the last general mailing form which we hope to have a smaller but effective list.

We are grateful that a friend enabled us the use of a franking machine which saved us £200 on stamps as franking is discounted.

Seeing to the Mission for Christ newsletter production and mailing took up a lot of time and set back time needed to get our own messages out.  If you don't get one before Christmas I hope you will understand.  The Bible says something about preferring others!

I hope that, like the shepherds in the biblical account, we recognise the birth of Jesus as something to tell others about.  We pray that many will learn just why God came into the world in this way. The event this Sunday morning is all about celebration and welcome.  It starts with good hospitality and continues in the same way as we open the doors of the chapel to the village.  If you read this in time please pray for a good turnout.

I am in prison on Tuesday.  We have a Christmas communion service on Wednesday.  Next Sunday (29th) I will be leading the service at the prison before travelling to Yelvertoft.  Christmas and New Year is often a bad time for those in prison.  This presents both a challenge and an opportunity not only for those who serve through the chaplaincy but also for the Christians within the prison community.  Please pray for them.

If anyone has a spare moment and would like to chat during the holiday season you are welcome to call me on Skype or phone.  (if you don't have the details some are on the website at www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk)  If you are on your own then please do call, though we welcome hearing from anyone.  May I take this opportunity to thank those who have already sent cards and those who have sent their news and annual donations.  Thank you all.

Yours in happy fellowship,

Barry

Sunday 15 December 2013

Getting the facts right please.

At this time of year I find myself concerned to once again encourage those who share the account of the birth of Jesus to get the facts right - or at least as nearly right as it is possible. Watching the current TV series on the Bible disturbs me as various matters are omitted while others are injected into the story line that are in contradiction to the record of scripture.  If it is important for people to read and believe the Bible then it is vital that we take care neither to get the facts wrong nor to so embellish the story that it deviates from the truth.  Something as profound as the coming of the Son of God into this world ought to be treated with special care.

TV, cinema and computer games present us with fantastic stories with super heroes, people possessed of special abilities, and imaginary alien creatures.  I sometimes find myself wondering whether the gospel story sound like just another fantasy when we speak of a virgin birth, turning water into wine, walking on water and rising from the dead. But my anxiety is relieved when I remember that the Holy Spirit bears witness to, and convinces of, the truth.

A recent article in The Guardian newspaper revealed that children are generally not as gullible as many think.  However, the research has revealed that many more children believe that Santa is real (even up to the age of 9 sometimes) than believe that Harry Potter is real.  Of course, they may have a vested interest in believing in someone who can supply them with so many gifts each year!  Personally, I suspect that many children continue to act as if they believe in Father Christmas even when they have realised that is just a myth.

Of course, it will always be a matter of controversy for Christian parents whether or not they play along with the Father Christmas myth.  There is no evidence that going along with the myth leads later to psychological problems arising from disappointment.  It genuinely seems, however, that children are capable of discerning the difference between a report  about a man dressed in red who rides around on an airborne sleigh and drops down chimneys all over the world and the report of a miracle baby born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.  I don't have any qualms about playing Father Christmas for the children in reception calls in our local school.  Children seem to be able to discern truth.

But I feel altogether comfortable when I hear, in a church context, the story of Immanuel distorted and embellished with fantasy.  Mary was given an opportunity to check out the dependability of Gabriel's message having been told that her relative (unlikely to be a first cousin), Elizabeth was six months pregnant.  She did so without delay and remained with Elizabeth and Zechariah for three months.  Returning to Nazareth, having probably been away from Joseph, and now already three months pregnant, one can understand his initial concern.

There is no reference to Mary arriving on a donkey or of the wise men arriving on camels. It might have been more comfortable for Mary to be in a cart supported by cushions, but we don't know.  There is no reference in the Bible to a stable, though there is reference to a manger.  It is not uncommon in the Middle East for the living quarters to be upstairs above the equivalent of a modern-day garage.  The word sometimes translated "Inn" is elsewhere in the New Testament translated as the "Upper Room" or Guest Room".  It is possible that they would have headed for the home of a relative or friend but what is clear is that there was no normal accommodation for the visitors from Nazareth who had just arrived.

The Bible does not tell us that the angel and the host of angels appeared above the shepherds in the sky.  There is no reference to choirs or singing.  The shepherds "hurried off" to check out the angels' story so they would not have wanted to travel with sheep or deprive any young lamb of the care of its mother.  And of course there is nothing in the Bible about oxen or an ass.  Incidentally, that funny traditional manger depicted in many nativity plays would not be likely.  A manger was usually a wall-mounted item used to provide hay for horses and donkeys and at their head height.

Since Mary and Joseph had to present Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem (a few miles from Bethlehem but almost 100 miles from Nazareth) on the eighth day after his birth it is almost certain that they remained in Bethlehem  and that the Magi (not kings and not necessarily three - just two or more) visited them in the house after that date as they fled to Egypt that night after the Magi left.

It seems to me that we have a plain choice.  Either we tell the story in the way that Matthew and Luke record it for us, as part of the gospel of truth, or we wrap it up in fantasy and wonder why people don't believe. The inauspicious nature of his birth complements the wonder of his conception and the extraordinary nature of who was born that day - no mere male child but, as Charles Wesley puts it, "God contracted to a span".

Personal News this week
Doreen has ventured out to local shops a few times on her electric mobility scooter this week.  I'd rather she did not do so but understand her frustration and impatience for the fractures in her spine to heal.  I'm still having to do the bulk of domestic duties but Doreen is able to manage some tasks occasionally, but then needs to rest to relieve pain.

Ministry News
We were saddened to hear that Elaine Robinson died very recently.  While we rejoice that she is now with the Lord and that we shall meet again, this is  a sad time for those who were close to her, especially her husband, Don.  Don and Elaine have been active evangelists in rural areas for many years distributing gospel newspapers. Please pray for Don.

Last Sunday afternoon I was in HMP Gartree for the Christmas Service led by the Salvation Army band and songsters from Kettering.  The Prison Male Voice Choir sang one carol with the songsters and one partly written by me to a tune I composed a few weeks ago (I'd like to think it was a gift from the Lord).  This was received with long and generous applause.  The Salvation Army Band would like to arrange a setting for brass band, for which I am delighted.  The whole service was a great blessing.

Last week I gave a wrong date about forthcoming times in prison.  I shall be there on 24th and 31st but also taking the service on 29th December.

There was a good school assembly last Monday.  This Sunday, the Revd John Harris is taking the meeting at Yelvertoft so I have a little rest.  This Wednesday 18th I will be leading a Christmas carol event for the Senior Circle in Yelvertoft.  On Sunday 22nd we have our annual "Christmas Warmer" instead of a regular service.  This is built around hospitality and is very informal.  Carols are chosen by our visitors and the story of Christmas will be woven between these. Sometimes doing things differently to a traditional carols and lessons helps people to listen.

Thanks to all who have sent cards or messages already, and for the many kind comments of appreciation regarding these weekly missives.

I pray the Lord will abundantly bless you.

Barry




Saturday 7 December 2013

Latest Praise & Prayer News

Dear friends,

Personal News
In my last post I shared with you that Doreen, my wife,  had suffered from a bad fall and that we were expecting an MRI appointment.  On Monday 25th, following a school ministry I drove Doreen to the fracture clinic at Kettering General hospital.  She had been in acute pain since the previous Friday and some medicine for pain relief had to be stopped as it was causing a complication for another health condition she has.  The consultant with whom we  met felt that an MRI was not necessary.  He stated that x-rays showed that Doreen had suffered a number of compression or wedge fractures to vertebrae in the past and these had healed.  The current fractures would take time to heal but the best they could do was to advise on pain management.  He dictated a letter to our GP.

So last Monday we met with our GP who was very sympathetic (possibly because he had a bad fall recently and suffered a compression fracture!). He prescribed some pain management that is more helpful.  Overall I think there is some slight improvement but we are not expecting too much this side of Christmas.  Apparently Doreen has both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis in her spine.  For the past two weeks I have become responsible for domestic duties on top of trying to ensure that I honour my regular responsibilities as far as possible. In the last 48 hours we have moved towards sharing these but it remains a concern to try to get Doreen not to do what might prove harmful or extend her suffering.  Seeing Doreen in chronic and acute pain is a new experience after 38 years of marriage.  She only took paracetamol once previously!

Both of us wish to express appreciation for the many kind messages we have received.

Prison Ministry News
On Sunday 24th November I took the morning service at Gartree Prison and had an amazing time.  The sense of God's presence was wonderful.  I had great liberty in mininistry and there were copious expressions of appreciation.

On December 1st there was an inter-faith celebration of faith and hope mostly by music ad testimony.  I heard several amazing and clear testimonies from members of the choir I help to lead. These were really powerful.  Two members of the choir performed musical items on the piano.  One of these composes his own music and has won prestigious awards while in prison.  The choir chose to sing "In Christ alone my hope if found" and "The Holy City".  You probably know that the former is a more contemporary Christian hymn.  The latter is an older item based on Revelation 21.  The quality of the singing of The Holy City (especially) was absolute perfection and really communicated the message.  It's humbling to share in times like these with men who have been given life sentences, and to see how God is at work and to feel that perhaps I can play a small part in this.

This Sunday, 8th December we have a Christmas Carol Service led by Kettering salvation army.  The choir are singing two carols, one with words partly written by me and a tune recently composed and called "Gartree".  I shall also be in the prison on 24th, 30th and 31st December. The Christmas season is hard on prisoners so I value your prayers.

Yelvertoft Ministry News
Today (Saturday 7th December) we held our first "Messy" event which we called "Get Messy for Christmas".  This was both a stand-alone event but also serves as a platform from which to launch a regular monthly programme in 2014.  We had a team of five (two doing this kind of thing for the first time), 18 children and two mums. It has proved a hit.  Many mums picking up children joined with the two that stayed and helped in expressing appreciation and promising support for future events.  I am so thankful to God as I have been praying that we could get a children and family ministry established from the church.

Sundays and Thursday Bible Discussion (to which folk from the local Parish Church also attend) have continued to be blessed.  There is a spirit of love and generosity in the church which makes me rejoice.  The recipe books which resulted from the recent Pudding Festival are expected any day and are being sold to raise more money for the local Air Ambulance Service. We may be a small village church but what a privilege to have people with a heart to serve others in Jesus' name!

Mission for Christ/Action for Christ
My domestic situation has meant that there has been no further progress in preparing the Mission for Christ 2011 and 2012 annual reports and accounts.  Working on historic matters when the trustee who was running the charity failed to provide documentation for massive expenses is a real challenge.  Please pray that this will be completed before the year end and that the new trustees for Mission for Christ can be appointed and the charity put under Action for Christ for the continuance of its ministry.  My fellow trustees and I hope to send out a Christmas letter to MfC prayer partners but we only have a historic list to work with and have lost contact with many good friends.

Rural Mission Solutions/Sunrise Ministries
Sadly, I have not been able to pick up on the research work over recent weeks.  I mentioned ion the last post that the Charity Commission were pressing me to complete the MfC reports and accounts.  This has then been followed by Doreen's accident.  I find this delay very frustrating.  I am doing my best to keep up to date with administration and bookings.

It was good to hold a local rural mission support meeting for church leaders in south Leicestershire, north Northamptonshire and Rutland this week.  Our thanks are due to Torch Trust for the Blind that provided the venue.

Other matters for prayer
I would like to repeat the request for prayers for Heather who used to be employed by Action for Christ.  AfC can can only engage her services on an ad hoc basis and she really needs employment.  She was recently interviewed for a job that would be very suitable.  Heather is a faithful servant.  Please pray that the Lord will direct her into employment.

John, one of our trustees and who has worked for Churches Together in England is now redundant and is praying that the Lord will open up new ministry for him.  John has MS and in the summer underwent surgery for bowel cancer.  Travel is now very difficult for him.  John is a good friend and a faithful minister.

At the General Synod of the Church of England a resolution was passed calling the Church to prioritise intentional evangelism.  I am seeking, through my role in the Rural Evangelism Network to ensure that rural evangelism is a key part of these exciting developments.  Please pray for these discussions.

In the last two weeks two major Christian denominations have indicated that financial constraints have limited their commitment to rural evangelism.  With something like ten million people living in our villages and scattered communities this sounds bad.  If it were a city of ten million I cannot imagine they would withdraw from serving it.  Adding to my disquiet is the news that one Anglican diocese is making some key mission staff redundant and closing down two key departments.  One of those suffering through this decision is a good friend and colleague but it would be inappropriate to mention his name or the diocese here.

Closing Thoughts
I am grateful for the warm words of encouragement I have received regarding some of the topics I have written about in these postings. This time I thought I would keep it simple.  So all I want to add is to ask how you are going to follow in the steps of the Bethlehem shepherds and spread the good news of God's gift for our salvation?

Sunday 8th - 10.45am Yelvertoft.  3.15pm Gartree Prison
Monday 9th - 1.00pm Lubenham School
Tuesday 10th - 11.00 Yelvertoft School Assembly Planning Meeting. 1.30 Gartree Prison
Sunday 15th - Yelvertoft.

Thank you for your prayers and the encouragement of letters and emails.  Please keep in touch.

Barry