It takes a little more thought

A minister friend of mine recently reflected on a line in the famous hymn version of Psalm 23. It was something that both of us had noticed even though we had sung that hymn many times. The first line of the third verse is “Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale”.  But the Bible (KJV) says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” While it is possible that the author of the hymn was thinking about a period of illness or weakness leading to death, my friend had an interesting point.  The valley of the shadow of death is something we pass through to something better beyond.

Some people think that David was referring to the practice of moving sheep from one pasture to another which might lead through a ravine.  Even if the shepherd might be out of sight, by striking the rocks on either side with his rod and staff he would assure the sheep of his presence.

But the moment of death is something we go through to that which is beyond.  For the Christian we certainly do not need to fear ill.

The Lord’s Prayer is another set of familiar words  that require thought.  As far as I am aware Judaism had no Prayer Book when Jesus was on earth.  So what he taught his disciples was probably more of a template than a set prayer.  However, it is a good prayer and bears repetition—as long as we think what we are saying.

Who were the intended ‘we’ and ‘our’?  Have you ever noticed that there is no ‘me’ or ‘I’? Whose daily concerns should we be concerned for?  Dare we pray that and not take action on behalf of others? Whose sins are we supposed to acknowledge in repentance?  Both Moses and Nehemiah assumed responsibility for the sins of the nation (see Nehemiah 1:6 for example).  Should we be acknowledging the sin within church and society and acknowledging a degree of culpability?  What about “..as we forgive those….”?  Are you asking God to act towards you with the same degree of mercy you extend to others?  Or do you see this as conditional?  Do you actually pause to think about its implications?

What about “lead us not into temptation”?  I actually find that I can find my own way quire easily.  Another Minister friend changes this with his congregation to “Help us not to fall in temptation”.  Again note it is not fall into temptation but not to fall when we are tempted (usually by our own sinful desires).

Maybe it would be good if we stopped to think before familiar words fall from our lips!

Notes from the diary

Germinate Conference on 11th October was a great time.  I believe there may have been almost 300 who attended this important rural ministry and mission conference. Quite a lot of interest was shown in the work I was representing (Rural Mission Solutions and Rural Evangelism Network). Plans are afoot to build on this event, so watch out for more news.

• Monday to Wednesday 13-15.  Flew to Glasgow then shared in teaching on a Salvation Army Safeguarding Couse for officers and youth workers through the Tuesday.  Flew back Wednesday morning (combination of train, bus, flight, taxi, train north to connect with train south), arrived Market Harborough 1.47pm ready for “Something to Sing About”.  This is a story of how God drew me to himself and won my heart, told in four gospel songs and words.  Encouraging responses on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Give thanks for perfect travel connections and his fruitful blessing.
• Saturday 18 “Get Messy” at Yelvertoft followed by Sunday morning meeting.  Give thanks for a good team.
• Moe this week.  Excellent time at HMP Gartree; men very responsive.  Thursday—Bible Discussion Group.  Sunday morning I will be taking the Family Service for Goodwood Evangelical Church.  Please give thanks and pray.  It has also been a productive admin week.
• Health—Sciatica pain became almost unbearable from 27th to 3rd, at times it was day and night and I was unable to work.  Requested prayer Friday night. Woke on Saturday little pain. Reduced pain killers.  Sunday t5th to present (22nd) completely free of pain.  Off all pain killers for last ten days.  Thank you for your prayers.

Please keep praying that I will know the Holy Spirits help to live the life that pleases God and exercise a fruitful ministry.

Barry

Faith and Sensibility

Thought for the Week—Faith and Sensibility

Most Christians, if asked to explain what faith is, will quote from Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for……”.  But I am not sure how far that takes the average non-Christian who might be trying to understand.  The word faith within a general context these days is used to describe any particular religion such as Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.  If we add the definite article and speak about the faith then that refers to a body of doctrine.  If we are wanting to explain faith to an unbeliever then we will need more.

In one of my previous posting I advocated using the word “trust” in place of “believe”.  This was because putting our faith in God and his promises is more than an intellectual academic exercise.  There is an emotional element of trusting.  On this occasion I want to suggest that we could use our five  senses as a useful illustration.  We use these senses to discern the reality of the world and immediate surroundings.  Taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell are the means by which things make sense.

The other day I watched a lady walking her dog which was suddenly aware of an interesting smell.  Try as she might she could not get the dog to leave that spot until he had finished interpreting all that was being conveyed by the odour.  Had she  sniffed the spot it is unlikely that she would have understood a fraction of what the dog was finding..  A bloodhound has 60 times more scent receptors in its nose than a human does.  Its brain devotes 40 times more space to analysing smells.  Dogs have between 1,000 and 10,000 more ability to identify all the nuances of a smell.

The gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8) is like a sixth scent.  It opens up a new world of reality that those without it struggle to understand.  But what might happen if they prayed “Help me to trust you and come to know you.

Physical healing!

This time last week I had endured seven days of excruciating and disabling pain from sciatica.  Many wrote to say they were praying as I faced a demanding weekend.  The very next day I had only mild discomfort.  The day after that (a busy Sunday) I was pain free, and have been every day since then apart from one day when the problem was only slight.  I cannot yet say that it has completely gone but this is wonderful

Germinate

Tomorrow (Saturday 11th) I am attending the Germinate Conference in Coventry.  This is a major conference for those engaged in rural ministry and mission.  Well over 200 people have booked in.  I get 90 minutes to say something about the work I am involved in and I also have some exhibition space.  Please pray for all involved in this special occasion.  The Churches Rural Group (which I currently chair) has been responsible for similar events in the past facilitated by the Arthur Rank Centre and this has been arranged similarly.  We are grateful for the great work done by Jerry Marshall and others at ARC making this possible.

Off to Scotland

On Monday 13th I will be flying to Glasgow where I will be joining up with Dean Juster who is responsible for safeguarding issues in the Salvation Army.  I will be teaching on Tuesday morning and afternoon on how abuse can happen within churches and Christian organisations.  A good grasp of the risk areas is essential if we want safe churches.  Too many good Christian leaders and good churches have hit problems because they did not understand the risks.  Please pray for Dean, me and others leading three days for SA officers and others in Scotland.

Something to Sing About

I fly back to the East Midlands on Wednesday morning arriving in Market Harborough at 1.45pm.  At 2.00pm I am due at the Wednesday Fellowship at Harborough Methodist Church.  Attempts to swop dates with other speakers failed, but it won’t hurt if I’m a little late.  Please pray that flight, taxi and train connections work perfectly.  This is an opportunity to share some of the wonderful ways God has worked in Doreen’s and my life and service for the Lord.  It will be interspersed with ministry in song.  Please pray for a sense of God’s presence, and that eyes will be turned to the Lord, and faith begun or strengthened through all that I share..

News from Yelvertoft

I would like to share briefly that we had a wonderful Area Assembly last Sunday.  Thank you for your prayers.  The church was full.  Some 30 people had taken advantage of the offer of lunch before the meeting.  My congregation provided this and an excellent tea for many more afterwards.  The title for the event was “To Boldly Go” and we explored in what way there are similarities in our calling to go forward in faith in the mission to which God calls us, and the fictional activities of the Starship Enterprise.  You can read all about it on the church website by clicking this link or by going to  www.yelvertoftchurch.org.uk

“What God Orders…”

As a relatively small but busy mission organisation, and working with small churches in the main, we do not naturally attract much support by donations or legacies.  However, over 26 years since Sunrise Ministries was started (the charity that covers the work that Monica Cook and head up) God has met our needs.  We sometimes wish we had more so that we could do more.  But we have found the saying true: “What God orders he pays for”. Please join us in giving thanks for his faithfulness.

Barry

Enduring the cross

For much of my life I have enjoyed good health.  However, I have had two painful health problems.  The first was gall stones.   The second health issue (with which I am struggling now) is sciatica.  Female friends assure me that either problem is more painful than childbirth (though obviously I cannot say). I can say that at present the various pain killers prescribed do not give much relief and at times I am groaning in agony and sweating as I try to cope with the pain.

Crucifixion was common at the time the New Testament was written so readers at that time would understand how horrendously painful it was. But it is easy for us to fail to grasp the degree of pain involved. Jesus shunned the pain-killing drink offered on a sponge. Each arm carries three quarters of his body weight.  Breathing becomes increasingly difficult.  To speak the words of comfort he gave would mean pulling on the mails through his hands while pushing against the nail through his feet. To be crucified in this way pushed pain to the limit.  And it lasted for hours.

Then there was the mockery and the spitting (crosses were arranged at a convenient spitting height). Added to this was bearing the shame of our sin. I don’t think that the cry “My God why have you forsaken me” implies that the father turned his face away; it is just the cry of a man in pain pushed to the limit.  I know how I feel when the pain has hit level 10 and for my Saviour it was worse.

It is all too easy for words such as “..even death on a cross..” (Philippians 2:8) and “...endured the cross.. “ (Hebrews 12:2) to become so familiar that we fail to understand the utter awfulness.  He endured that, not only so that our sin could be forgiven, but because he loves us.

Was it the nails O Saviour that bound Thee to the tree?
Nay ‘twas thine everlasting love; Thy love for me, for me!

Oh make me understand it. Help me to take it in
What it meant to Thee, the Holy One, to bear away my sin

Inclusive Churches

One of my roles is as a member of the Mission and Society Committee for the Congregational Federation, and we met last Saturday in Nottingham.   It was a useful and constructive meeting but I was especially encouraged to find ‘Inclusive Church’ on the agenda.  Various physical impairment often exclude people for full participation in meetings.  If we are able to cope with steps, read the hymn book or screen and hear the speaker we might not realise what it is like for others who have difficulty. 

Whether or not you currently have anyone in your church who is disabled I commend ‘Churches for All which embraces several enabling organisations.  Do click the link to visit the website where you will find all the organisations listed with links.  CfA is chaired by my good friend Dr Gordon Temple who is also part of the ministry team at Yelvertoft.  Gordon has written an excellent book, Enabling Church: A Bible-based Resource: Towards the Full Inclusion of Disabled People  which is available at good bookshops and Amazon.

Making Church a Safe Place

On 14th October I will be working with the Salvation Army in Scotland, teaching on their safeguarding course.  As part of the preparation for this I have just reordered a stock of Time for Action. This book is still probably the most comprehensive and useful tool for understanding how abuse can happen in churches and Christian organisations.  It is also particularly useful for knowing how to respond pastorally to anyone who has been abused in the past.  Recent high profile cases in the media has also increased the number of people in our churches reporting historic cases of abuse.  This book was produced by a team drawn from across the Churches and I can supply it to you post free for £7.95.  Often small rural churches think that this is a subject that does not affect them—but that is not true.  Be informed.

Germinate Conference - Encouraging numbers

I am looking forward to Germinate.  The idea for this event came from Jerry Marshall the Director of the Arthur Rank Centre.  He brought it to the Churches Rural Group which has held shared rural conferences in the past.  The CRG were happy to endorse the plan.  Also early on Jerry shared the idea with the Rural Evangelism Network which also gave it support.  Since then a wide range of church organisations have given this event their support.  Numbers booked in are most encouraging.  If you are going to be there please look out for me; it would be good to meet up.

A Busy Tuesday

I had an excellent school assembly on Tuesday morning on a harvest theme of sowing. Children and staff were very responsive as we considered how words and deeds can be seeds too. We finished with the story Jesus told about seed falling in different conditions.  There was just time for a pastoral visit before setting off to HMP Gartree for the afternoon.  The numbers attending choir keep growing and we worked hard through the afternoon.  Increased numbers brings a challenge as there isn’t sufficient time for me to do one on one training and it is a social (and often gospel) exercise as well as a musical.  HMP Gartree is the largest prison in the UK for men on life sentences.

News from Yelvertoft

We picked up a good idea from another church and have been writing Mark’s Gospel out by hand with illustrations.  At the same time I have been preaching through this Gospel.  Last Sunday we looked at Mark 11:27 through to 12:37 where the enemies of Jesus are closing in on him like a pack of wolves as he is teaching in the Temple. First of all it is the chief priests, teachers of the law and the elders. Then later some Pharisees and Herodians are  sent to challenge him. So he had both political and religious opponents. It seems that they had hardly gone when some Sadducees close in.  We started our service by reading Psalm 118—do look at verse 12.   I had used the story of Jonah for a children’s talk and the two accounts are similar but in contrast.  Both Jonah and Jesus go into the heart of the enemy camp but one went reluctantly while the other went willingly.

This Sunday, 5th October we are hosting the Autumn Assembly of the Congregational Federation East Midlands Area which I will be sharing in the ministry with our Chairman and others.  The event is entitled “To boldly go…” as we explore where God may be calling us to go as churches in a rapidly changing and, in many ways, alien culture.

Praying through your hand!

Many years ago when preparing churches for an outreach I used to encourage people to think about the five digits on their hand and use this as a focus for their prayers.  Their thumb and four fingers represented five categories from which they were encouraged to select one person for whom they would pray for them to come to know Jesus.  You might like to try this.  The five categories are family (or close relative), neighbours, people at work or school, people we trade with (could include your postman or paper deliverer), and people we meet with socially (such as a club we attend).  Pray for the salvation of one person in each category each day.

As always thank you for your prayers on our behalf,
Barry